Description: Over the Reich review

It is a fairly detailed game, but the rules are presented in layers (so
you need never read the tactical, operational, or air-to-ground rules
if you just want to dogfight, leaving maybe 15-20 pages of actual
rules) and there are "training scenarios" interspersed to aid in
learning the game. It is definitely much more complex than Mustangs,
though it may make more sense.  Speed of play varies; a little 2 vs. 2
dogfight might take an hour for evenly-matched opponents with a
reasonable grasp of the rules (less for real experts - not me!), or you
can fly a mission with 36 B-17, maybe 16 escorts and a like number of
interceptors over the course of many days.  Pick a scenario to match
your taste (and time). I have already posted an exhaustive list of
aircraft; you'll find the Tempest and Spitfire in several variants, but
I'm afraid that's about it for the RAF and the rest of the
Commonwealth. That is because the focus is primarily on the daylight
strategic bombing offensive, but the next game in the series, Achtung!
Spitfire, will emphasize the Battle of Britain and will definitely have
the Mosquito, Typhoon, Hurricane - in fact, there was a big debate
about whether to include the Fairey Battle!

At the combat scale each turn is 4.2 seconds, each hex 100 yards, each
altitude level 100 feet. This makes each speed point 50 mph, which is
handy. Each turn all aircraft roll an initiative die to determine order
of flight. Wingmen may choose to fly based on the leader's initiative,
and aircraft "tailing" an enemy move immediately after the tailed
aircraft. All aircraft move and combat is resolved simultaneously at
the end of all movement except for head-on attacks (which carry
significant colision risks).

When you move, you acquire accel points based on your engine's power
and select a flight type (level or one of a few choices of dives or
climbs, restricted by the previous turn's choice). You then spend each
flight point (of which you have a number = your current speed) either
to move a hex, gain or lose altitude, or execute a maneuver (such as a
slip). As you lose altitude you accrue acceleration points; as you
climb and maneuver you accrue decel points. At the end of the turn, you
find the net accel or decel and change speed .5 speed points per 5 net
accel or decel (and carry any balance <5 into the next turn. Turning is
accomplished by cross-referencing your speed with several turn rates;
the result is the number of flight points you must expend to change
direction 30 degrees.  Provided you're going fast enough to pull that
turn without stalling (min speeds are on the data cards) you simply
turn in the direction of bank after spending the requisite flight
points and tally the decel point cost on your log.

The logsheets are logically arranged to guide you through the turn, and
the bookeeping is not too odious. The combat damage system is very
entertaining. When you score hits you generally also score a number of
"critical" hits, which represent damage to key systems ranging from the
engine to the pilot. A good battle results in bombers trailing smoke,
fighters with landing gear hanging down from hydraulic system damage,
fires, fuel leaks, and the occasional total structural failure of a
wing or tail. Every shot has the potential of imminent doom for the
recipient, which greatly enhances the tension of battle (last time out
my Fw-190 pilot took a golden BB through the skull at long range from a
B-26 tail gunner in an extremely low-odds attack that just managed to
score a critical hit).

If you're a real aviation fanatic and a wargamer you can't miss this.
The closest thing to this on WWII is Air Force, but OTR is a vast
improvement on Air Force and the only drawback is that the aircraft
selection is still limited. But this is, after all, just the first
release.
-- 
John Caraher
caraher@umich.edu

Date: 20-JAN-1994  18:25:04
Description: List of Over the Reich Plane Models & Variants
 
Here goes... 
 
#1 P-47C/D (Razorback)
 covers C-5 through D-23 models
#2 P-47D/M
 covers D models not on card 1, plus the M model
#3 P-51B/C
#4 P-51D
#5 P-38J
 base card is for J-25-LO with boosted ailerons, dive flaps
 variants include J-1 through J-15 (no flaps, control boost)
#6 Tempest V
 variant notes for Tempest VI
#7 Spitfire F. Mk.IXC
 variants are IXE (different guns), XVIE (Packard Merlin-powered)
#8 Spitfire F. Mk. XIVE
 variants are XIVC (different guns), F.R. Mk XIVE (recon)
#9 B-17F
 late model variants with extra fuel tanks
#10 B-17G
#11 B-24H/J
#12 B-26B
 variants: B-4 ("widowmaker" short-winged variant), B-10+
#13 Bf-109G-6
 variants: G-6/R1, G-6/R2 (rocket-armed), G-6/R3, G-6/R6 (extra cannon)
#14 Bf-109G-10/U4 + Bf-109K-4
 variants: G-10/R1, G-10/R5 (extra cannon), later model K-4 (better cannon)
#15 Bf-110G-2/R3
 variants: G-2/R4
#16 Me-410A-2
 variant: A-2/U4 (with Bk 5 50 mm cannon!)
#17 Fw-190A-4
 variants: A-4/U1, A-4/U3, A-4/U8, A-4/R6 (rocket-armed)
#18 Fw-190A-8
 variants: A-8/R1, A-8/R2, A-8/R3
#19 Me-262A-1
 variants: A-1a, A-1b (with R4M rockets), A-2a (bomber)
#20 Me-163B-1a
#21 Fw-190D-9
variants: unboosted engine D-9, D-9/R1, D-9/R2
#22 Ta-152H-1
variant: Ta-152H-0
#23 Do-335B-2
 variant: Do-335A-1
#24 Ju-88C-6
 
-- 
John Caraher
caraher@umich.edu