DCS type board games

[Lace]

Anybody else play this stuff?

I have the original 'Thunderbolt Apache Leader' from GMT circa 1991, and later relaunched by DVG.  They also produce 'Hornet Leader' and 'Phantom Leader'  which are solitaire games of moderate complexity, but very much in the spirit of our DCS modules and simulated Ops.  They are good fun and if nothing more offer a way to expand understanding of tactics, ROE, threat systems and weapons employment.

In more of a naval context, there is of course the classic Larry Bond's 'Harpoon', and the 'Fleet' series of games, which although mostly surface warfare based, offer an element of air action from carrier based assets and shore based MPAs.  Harpoon of course evolved into the computer versions, which have been superseded by the excellent Command: Modern Operations, but it is nice to get the old, tactile feel of a physical game sometimes.

There are others, 'Tac Air', and the more recent excellent 'Red Storm' and 'Baltic Approaches' add-on, which game out a 1987 cold war turned hot scenario in central Europe.

Anyway, I thought there may be some DCS players who are not aware of this stuff who might find it interesting.

[Hawkeye60]

The Sub sims are the best of the lot.

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameversion/319287/second-edition

Using a app called Vassal,

https://vassalengine.org/

You can play all these free, on your PC!

 

[Lace]

Yeah, I use Vassal for Red Storm/Baltic Approaches, since the play area and set up time can be quite significant.  I think the 'Leader' series works well enough as a physical board game though, and to be honest I spend too much time at my computer as it is!

[Mr_sukebe]

I bought CMO a couple of years ago, one day I’ll get around to learning how to play it 

[Beirut]

Is there the same wait time for new modules?

 

F-13 arriving Q2 2025 Pre-order now!

 

[Lace]

2 hours ago, Mr_sukebe said:

I bought CMO a couple of years ago, one day I’ll get around to learning how to play it 

Do it.  It is worth it, but be warned, I have >2800 hours logged on C:MO, and that is only since the upgrade from CMANO.  God knows how much in total.

It also makes you realise how much is missing from DCS in terms of assets and sensors.  It literally has every sea, air and land unit from the end of WWII until the near future modelled, plus a full globe (including orbital assets).

[Beirut]

11 hours ago, Lace said:

Anybody else play this stuff?

I have the original 'Thunderbolt Apache Leader' from GMT circa 1991, and later relaunched by DVG.  They also produce 'Hornet Leader' and 'Phantom Leader'  which are solitaire games of moderate complexity, but very much in the spirit of our DCS modules and simulated Ops.  They are good fun and if nothing more offer a way to expand understanding of tactics, ROE, threat systems and weapons employment.

In more of a naval context, there is of course the classic Larry Bond's 'Harpoon', and the 'Fleet' series of games, which although mostly surface warfare based, offer an element of air action from carrier based assets and shore based MPAs.  Harpoon of course evolved into the computer versions, which have been superseded by the excellent Command: Modern Operations, but it is nice to get the old, tactile feel of a physical game sometimes.

There are others, 'Tac Air', and the more recent excellent 'Red Storm' and 'Baltic Approaches' add-on, which game out a 1987 cold war turned hot scenario in central Europe.

Anyway, I thought there may be some DCS players who are not aware of this stuff who might find it interesting.

 

In  truth, you do make that look very cool. 

[Stonehouse]

Used to play this one. Took a long time to resolve a combat however due to only 2.5 secs being represented by a turn. Very complex rules as well.

Air War (game) - Wikipedia

 

[Super-B]

Back in the day, I played Avalon Hill Panzer Blitz and Luftwaffe.  Both were, for their time, great board games.  I still have them, but have not played either since the 90's

 https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2238/panzerblitz

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3646/luftwaffe-game-aerial-combat-over-germany-1943-45

[Lace]

On 12/23/2023 at 7:45 AM, Stonehouse said:

Used to play this one. Took a long time to resolve a combat however due to only 2.5 secs being represented by a turn. Very complex rules as well.

Air War (game) - Wikipedia

 

I looked at adding that one to my collection, but the turn time does seem like a headache.  Not that I actually get much time to play any of them these days.

I do really like the contemporary Cold War ones, in the same way I like Cold War era books - when much of the enemy intel was based on guesswork and grainy photos, rather than the post-89 stuff, when we actually got to peek behind the proverbial (iron) curtain.

[Dysko]

I always wanted to try aviation wargames! Could you suggest some, both solitaire and for 2 players? (I already know Hornet Leader and the other DVG games)

[Trigati]

I had Air Superiority as a teenager but didn’t know anyone as geeky about planes….so never got to play it.




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[Lace]

11 hours ago, Dysko said:

I always wanted to try aviation wargames! Could you suggest some, both solitaire and for 2 players? (I already know Hornet Leader and the other DVG games)

Honestly, in terms of slick, refined gameplay, the DVG Leader series takes some beating.  I've even played as a co-op 2-player with the kids.

'Red Storm' is a better 2-player game, and is based on the older 'Downtown' game, which is Vietnam themed.  These are slightly less accessible than the Leader series though, and take a bit more set up and resolution, but it is possible to game out some large battles, especially with RS.

[Stonehouse]

Another one I had as a kid was a book based two player game. I used to play it with siblings in the back of the car while we were going to holiday destinations. Both of my sets are WW1 aircraft and each set had two books. One for each aircraft. The idea was you could pick a meeting engagement or ambush, or other situation and the rules would give each player a starting page in their book. It showed a picture in each book of what you would see sitting in the pilot seat looking towards the enemy. There was a table of maneuvers under each pic, and you picked a maneuver and called out the page number listed for it to the other player, and they would call out theirs to you. You then looked up the number you'd been given and see a new pic showing the result of both aircraft's maneuvers from your viewpoint. Eventually if you did it right you would end up in a shooting position at either long, medium or close range. Then you could either roll a dice to determine if you hit the other aircraft or apply a fixed damage amount based on range. Each aircraft had a number of hit points and first to lose them all lost. 

I still have them somewhere I think but can't remember what the series were called. Pretty sure there was WW2 ones too.

Edited January 6, 2024 by Stonehouse

[louza]

I've never played DCS, but I think it's really cool.

 

 

_{Mini Militia App Lock}

Edited January 30, 2024 by louza