Andy Watkins  - Apr 10, 2009 7:10 am (#2966 Total: 2971)  
Down in Flames - Aces High - questions

Hi all,

It's funny I think my name is first on the box of pre orderers and yet I
only finally got a chance to play the game for real yesterday!! 

Played about half a dozen 1 on 1 fighter games and then a 2 on 2 fighter
game. Most importantly I have some questions and a then a few
observations. 

Actually the fighter on fighter games went very smoothly, apart from not
being able to find the rule for barrage (found it afterwards) we did
fine. Very small queries. 

If you play an "in my sights" and the opponent blocks it with something
appropriate, are you then allowed to block his card with Ace Pilot. If
you are then as the Ace Pilot card is almost impossible to block it
means you are almost guranteed a hit?? Is this correct. 

Now onto the main question. Bombers. We did not use them yet but want
to. I am confused about what can be blocked and what can't when either a
fighter fires at a bomber or a bomber fires at a fighter, I am confused!
Does anyone have any clear explanations, examples etc??

I do understand the number of cards a bomber gets, the turrets value
plus support from neighbouring bombers. What I don't understand is when
and how the bomber uses his cards. I get the impression some are used to
attack the fighter, some are maybe kind of used to protect the bomber
somehow, and I think some cards may not be any use for anything if
played by a bomber? is that correct?? 

Now on to my observations. I found it interesting that the game rules
very much tout the game as 1 fighter V 1 fighter. We played like this to
learn the rules and it was fun at first, but if the planes are equally
matched it can get dull and if they are not matched it is very one
sided. We played one whole game of 2 spitfire I's V 2 ME109's even
though these were evenly matched aircraft the game was radically
different and MUCH better, I really think one on one fighter battles are
only for learning the game, what do others think? 

I have not yet tried bombers and campaign missions but they seem to add
TONS more depth than just 1 fighter V 1 fighter. 

I am interested in others opinions, and I mean this in a positive way. I
think the game is underselling itself by promoting itself in the rules
as 1 fighter v 1 fighter, used that way the game is quite simple and
light. Start increasing the numbers and it becomes a much more
interesting game.... Andy Watkins


Dan Verssen  - Apr 10, 2009 12:47 pm (#2969 Total: 2971)  
Dan Verssen Games (DVG) 	 

>If you play an "in my sights" and the opponent blocks it with something
appropriate, are you then allowed to block his card with Ace Pilot. If
you are then as the Ace Pilot card is almost impossible to block it
means you are almost guranteed a hit?? Is this correct. 

--Yes, you can block with an Ace Pilot and it will be hard for the enemy
to block. He can play an Ace Pilot to stop the attack, or an Evasive to
stop 2 Hits of the attack.--

>Now onto the main question. Bombers. We did not use them yet but want
to. I am confused about what can be blocked and what can't when either a
fighter fires at a bomber or a bomber fires at a fighter, I am confused!
Does anyone have any clear explanations, examples etc?? 

--Bombers can only play In My Sights cards, Out of the Sun cards, cards
that give a +1 Hit, or cards with a "Bomber" notation.

If a fighter is about to take Hits from a bomber, it can respond as
normal. The bomber cannot respond to a fighter's response.

When a fighter plays a card against a bomber, the bomber can play any of
the above mentioned cards. A fighter can respond to stop the Hits
targeting the fighter, but cannot stop the bomber from subtracting
hits.--

>Now on to my observations. I found it interesting that the game rules
very much tout the game as 1 fighter V 1 fighter. We played like this to
learn the rules and it was fun at first, but if the planes are equally
matched it can get dull and if they are not matched it is very one
sided. We played one whole game of 2 spitfire I's V 2 ME109's even
though these were evenly matched aircraft the game was radically
different and MUCH better, I really think one on one fighter battles are
only for learning the game, what do others think? 

>I have not yet tried bombers and campaign missions but they seem to add
TONS more depth than just 1 fighter V 1 fighter. 

--Agreed! The rules were written for 1v1 to keep them as understandable
as possible. Once you get into campaigns, having a couple fighters and
bombers in the air is a lot of fun and really adds to the game play.--