AirWar: 1918
	Author: David Manley & Matthew Hartley Publisher: Wessex Games Details: WW1 Miniatures rules (1/72nd - 1/300th) Availability: in print.

Review: First I have to admit I usually ignore aircraft over the wargames table, they drop paratroops and usually bomb or strafe as off table fire. This new set of rules from the same team that brought you AirWar: C21 deals with the period from 1918 through to 1930 and covers the golden age of the biplane fighter.

The rules themselves a straight forward and easy to follow, with each aircraft having stats to cover: speed, maneuver, damage, power etc. The pilot can also influence the game through his gunnery and pilot skills. Each aircraft has a max/min speed, but the various maneuvers cause a reduction in speed, drop below min and you stall. Fireing is also nice and simple with dice rolled against the target reduced/increased by maneuver and pilot skill. Damage occurs when a score of 6+ comes up on any dice, if a hit is achieved an additional role for a kind of critical hit is then taken.

The rules cover all types of escape maneuvers, which will reduce the effect of your opponent’s gunnery; these are easy to follow. Finally there are lists of aircraft with their game stats and a page of scenario ideas, very interesting and useful. Each maneuver is illustrated so even a complete novice could follow. I’ve tried the rules out with my 6-year-old using cardboard counters which we designed and coloured (very much like the old Aces High board game). We had a lot of fun and are planning to try larger games in future. AirWar 1918 also includes rules for ground attack and anti-aircraft fire. I am at this moment tinkering with them for use with my French Colonial set up. A neat set of rules, my thanks to Steve Blease for the review copy.

Credits

Thanks to Richard Baber for this review which origianlly appeared in The Journal.

If you want to discuss AirWar: 1918 (or any other WWI air wargames miniatures rules) join the AirWarSoc.org Yahoo group by clicking the link below...

Click to subscribe to the AirWarSoc.org List