T.L.W.
United States
Maryland
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I get enjoyment out of playing games for two different reasons: the competition among other players and learning more about historical events. In some games (and probably most wargames) these two different reasons can overlap. The majority of the games that I own are geared more towards the competition aspect. However, one of my games, B-17: Queen of the Skies, is almost a pure history lesson.
Some people "knock" this game by stating that it is more of a simulation than a "real" boardgame in the sense that we think of traditional boardgames. Truthfully, these people have a good point. However, if you are interested in gaining some sense as to what it might have been like to fly these bombers over hostile Germany in WWII and feeling the tension that the crew must have felt in trying to fulfill their 25 (and later in the war, 35) missions, than this is the perfect game.
The objective of the game is to try and complete 25 bombing missions for the Allies in WWII over different targets. That is an important point to remember as it is easy to think that the game is just one mission. The first 10 missions are fairly close to the home base in England and although there can be some tense moments; the real test begins on the eleventh one. On these missions you start to bomb targets deep into Germany without the support of your little Mustang friends. Oh, and the ground flak becomes a little more dangerous as well.
The game is very easy to learn and once you go through one or two missions, you will hardly need to look at the rules. Basically, a bombing target is chosen for you based upon the number of missions you previously have flown and the result of a die roll and consulting a chart. For me, I see this as reality as the crew did not have any say in which missions they flew so one can say for them it was random (although, obviously to the command, it was not random, but then, this game is not about you being the command). After the target is selected, you start to head towards it moving in zones closer and closer to your target. Zones that are closer to England give you a better chance to be accompanied by some P38-Lightnings. This helps determine the number of German fighter planes that will try and attack you. If it is determined that German planes will attack you, you get to fire on them first using your different guns, depending upon which position the enemy is attacking you from. If any enemy planes are still around after you fire (and you usually need a die roll of a six to hit them) then they get a chance to fire on you. If a hit is made, then consulting a chart determines where the damage occurs. This damage can range from superficial to severe (killing crew members, knocking out engines, disabling bomb bay doors, etc.). I think that this is where the primary criticism of the game is made as once the Germans attack, there is not much you can do except hope that you roll a favorable die roll. But then again, there was not much these flying fortresses could really do in terms of maneuvers to avoid the enemy fire. These bombers were part of a large formation and any drastic maneuvers could really affect the much larger force. If you made it to the target, avoided to much damage from the ground flak, then you can drop your bombs. It is then time to head back home, dealing again with the same chances for enemy attack until you get back to the safe confines of England. Of course, any damage you sustain on your plane will affect how you get back (if you are even able) and how you will land. There is a chance that you may have to bail out before you can get back or crash land in the sea or enemy territory.
As I alluded to in the title and earlier in the review, the first ten missions can be pretty routine as you are usually just one or maybe two zones outside of the cover of the P38s. This reduces your chance of coming under high pressure of an enemy attack. However, the real test comes later when you get out into the German targets. The further the target the more chances you have of running into some enemy fighter planes and, if your plane gets damaged, the less likely that you will have of being able to get back to the home base. Here, the temptation to cheat a little (re-roll the die so as to not get the last critical hit, etc.) can be great, but just remember in reality a lot of these planes did not make it back and crew members did not survive. The real game is to fly the 25 required missions and if a plane does not make it back, you continue on with a new plane and crew members.
After playing this game several times, it really got me interested in what the lives of these crew members flying in these bombers must have been like. It got me so interested, I read "The Bomber Boys" by Travis Ayres and "Half a Wing, Three Engines, and a Prayer" by Brian O’Neill (books I highly recommend that give true-life accounts of some missions). After reading these books and then playing the game again made the game play even more intense and life-like. It even got me so interested in this part of WWII that I also bought the game London's Burning. For this reason, I judge this game a complete success.
If you can get past the stigma that this game "plays itself" (which as I mentioned above, it does) and you want to get some feeling what it was like to experience the tension in flying these missions, then I would highly recommend that you give this game a try. But, just do not stop playing it before you get past the tenth mission.
Edited to correct error of stating P51-Mustangs escorting the bombers instead of the correct P38-Lightnings as pointed out in the below post by
John Kovacs
United States
Elyria
Ohio
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Great article and I agree completely. I have been playing this game for over 20 years off and on. I have just recently used some of the links on this site to download the new and improved mission charts and updated German fighters. I have played well over 800 missions and the most I've ever been able to complete is 19. The worst is the fuel tank fire. Once that's rolled, you're bailing out one way or another!
But the first 10 missions are really just getting the numbers in, trying to get a crewmember closer to becoming an ace, etc. No such thing as a milk run, even to St. Omer in zone 2. You can still get hammered by a lucky shot or facing 5 FW's! I have started to employ the spray fire option from attacks from 3 and 9 o'clock and that has proven to be beneficial. I won't be using it past zone 6 or so since ammo is best to keep when needed.
I've been to Berlin twice and both times made it all the way there intact and, even with a +2 for flak, was off target with no negative modifiers! Very frustrating indeed knowing that the chances of making it there back are slim.
All in all, I love this game and knowing that missions 11+ are the real nail biters keeps me slugging through the first 10.
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John Kovacs
United States
Elyria
Ohio
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Excellent post but one thing I need to clear up for you - B-17: Queen of the Skies takes place in a period of the war before the P-51 Mustangs became available for bomber escort service. The fighters available to the Allies during the period of this game were Spitfires, Hurricanes, P-38 Lightnings, P-40 Warhawks, and P-47 Thunderbolts, all of which lacked the range to escort the bombers into Germany. The P-51s in Europe at that time were the early A models or A-36 Apaches (with Allison engines), which were used for low level or dive bombing. The Merlin-engined P-51Bs and P-51Ds didn't get to Europe until late 1944, much later than the period depicted in the game. Their appearance with the bombers over Berlin spelled the end of the Luftwaffe's dominance of the air over Germany.
I enjoy this game for the same reasons you do - to experience what it must have been like to be in an unescorted B-17 bomber deep into German territory and to see how they managed to survive. I consider this to be a great solitaire game.
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T.L.W.
United States
Maryland
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Infomanohio wrote: Excellent post but one thing I need to clear up for you - B-17: Queen of the Skies takes place in a period of the war before the P-51 Mustangs became available for bomber escort service. The fighters available to the Allies during the period of this game were Spitfires, Hurricanes, P-38 Lightnings, P-40 Warhawks, and P-47 Thunderbolts, all of which lacked the range to escort the bombers into Germany.
You're absolutelyl right! I actually meant to say P-38 Lightnings but did not verify my facts before I wrote it. Thanks for the clarification.
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Posted Wed Dec 23, 2009 4:20 pm
