Sopwith (1978)

A simple, fast-playing and very enjoyable game of World War I aerial dogfighting.

The board is hexagonal, and up to 6 players may play at once. You have your own airstrip, to which you can return for repairs and ammunition reload; however, their approach is severely constrained, leaving you vulnerable to other players awaiting to pounce on you. Each player simultaneously selects which way he'll fly, and later on the bullets rip through the air. Clouds complicate maneuvers somewhat.

Similar to Blue Max but a lot simpler.

The game was originally published by Gametime Games. A second edition was published (apparently by the designer) under the company name "Gamer."

Substantive changes made in the Gamer edition:

1. The board has 9 hexagons on a side instead of 10.
2. There are 7 cloud pieces instead of 6, and 1 of the Gametime shapes is not included.
3. If using the optional Ace rules, when an Ace makes an Immelmann turn they cannot move in steps 2 and 3 (previously there was no such restriction).
4. The optional rule for placing clouds via die rolls has been removed.
5. There are a number of new optional rules:
   • Non-storm clouds (no damage)
   • Repairing aircraft
   • Guns and balloons: each player has an anti-aircraft gun and a balloon; the goal is now to protect the balloon
   • Bombs, which can be dropped on aerodromes or guns
   • Robots, which are like planes except a player controls several of them and only one can move per turn