Night Fighter Ace

Air Defense Over Germany 1943-44

by

Compass Games

 

 This is an unboxing and review of Nightfighter Ace from Compass games.  From the moment you open the box you will be astounded by both the amount and quality of the components that come with the game. BGG has a rating of 8.38 for the game right now, and I believe that is right on the money. This is a solitaire game with you playing the German aviator side.This is the product information:

• Complexity: 6 out of 10
• Solitaire Suitability: 10 out of 10
• Time Scale: 3-4 days per Turn
• Map Scale: Abstract
• Unit Scale: individual aircraft, individual weapon systems, individual electronic systems, specific crew members, and ammo rounds
• Players: one (with option for two or more)
• Playing Time: two to three hours

This is what you get with the game:

• One Countersheet of 9/16" unit-counters
• Sixteen Aircraft Display Mats 8.5" x 11" (double-sided, 32 total)
• Four Player Aid Cards 8.5" x 11"
• One Combat Display Mat 8.5" x 11"
• One Bomber Target Mat 8.5" x 11"
• One Pilot Awards Display Mat 8.5" x 11"
• One Air Operations Display Mat 11” x 17”
• Forty Ace Pilot Cards
• Sixty Combat Cards
• Rules Booklet featuring extensive Historical Background
• One Logsheet 8.5” x 11”
• Two 6-sided and one 10-sided die

  The addition of a real logbook instead of just one page to copy is a great one.

 One of the game's greatest assets is the amount of different airplanes and variants of them that the player can use.

This is a list of them done by their availability:

Bf 110 F-4 - Start of Game

Bf 110 F-4a

Bf 110 F-4/U1

Bf 110 G-4/U1

Bf 110 G-4/U5

Bf 110 G-4/U6

Do-215 B-5

Do-217 J-2

Do-217 N-1/U1

Do-217 N-2/R22

He 219 A-0

Ju-88 C-6b

Ju-88 R-1

He 219 A-2

Bf 110 G-4a/R3

Bf 110 G-4b/R3

Bf 110 G-4c/R3

Bf 110 G-4d/R3
Ju-88 C-6c

He 219 A-5/R1

He 219 A-5/R2

He 219 A-5/R3

He 219 A-5/R4

He 219 A-7/R1

He 219 A-7/R2

He 219 A-7/R3

He 219 A-7/R4

Ta 154A-1

Ju-88 G-1

Ju-88 G-6b

Do335A-6

Do 335B-2 - July 1944

  That is one long list.

 The game is really a very good simulation of this part of World War II, or at least it feels it. To me that is one of the biggest challenges to a game designer, to try and make the player feel that he is in that moment of time. The game is one of those that really draws the player in. You develop a interest in your made up or cardboard aviator. It helps that you can actually win medals etc. The component sheet below actually comes with a uniform where you can put the various medals your ace accumulates. This is a very nice touch. 

  The rulebook is up to the high standards of the other components. It is full color and is easy to read with many examples of how to play. Strangely for such an immersive game, the rules themselves are only sixteen pages long with another page for optional rules. A nice touch is that the back of the rulebook has an index of all the rules for finding them quickly if needed. The last part of the rulebook is an entire eight pages of:
Designer Notes
Historical Notes
Aircraft
The Top Five German Nightfighter Aces

 The optional rules allow you to play the game cooperatively or in competition. You can also play with 'Ace Pilot Cards' albeit starting earlier in their careers. One optional rule adds pilot fatigue to the game. There is also an 'Extremely Optional Rule'. I think this is the first game I have ever seen this in. You get the chance to kill Adolf Hitler when receiving one of the higher Knights Cross medals. 

 Theses are some of the skills your pilot and crew can increase during the game:

Aim
Gunnery
Landing
Navigation 
Radar Operation
Situational Awareness
Schräge Musik Gunnery
Situational Awareness

 Your pilot can win medals all the way through to the Knights Cross with Diamonds. 

Schräge Musik installed in a Bf110

 This next part I call: what the **** is Schräge Musik? Well, it's literal translation is 'Slanted Music'. This was the German phrase for Jazz Music. What does this have to do with the game? Well, Schräge Musik was the name of the cannons that we're usually slanted 70 degrees out of the top of the cockpit behind the pilot. You would fly below and slightly behind a bomber above you and aim for the wigs of the the Allied bomber. You did not aim at the fuselage due to the chance of setting off the bomb load.  Most if not all of the planes have at least one other crew member. He is especially useful once radar becomes a large part of the game. 

 Are you interested in the night fighting over Germany in World War II? If so, then buy the game. If you are interested in the aerial war, pick it up. If you just want to have an enjoyable solitaire experience, then the game is also for you. Compass games has become a powerhouse gaming company that has begun turning out excellent games at a fast rate. They also sponsor a gaming convention in Ct. in the fall. I went to it last year and was able to get some great deals on their games. Here is the link:

https://www.compassgames.com/expo2019-overview

Compass Games Link:
https://www.compassgames.com/

Nightfighter Aces Link:
https://www.compassgames.com/nightfighter-ace.html 

I also did an unboxing of another excellent game from the Compass Games Red Poppies Campaigns: The Battle For Ypres:
https://www.awargamersneedfulthings.co.uk/2018/01/red-poppies-campaigns-volume-i-battles.html
 

 Robert

Island of Fire

The Battle for the Barrikady Gun Factory in Stalingrad

by

Jason D. Mark

 

 Death in a small place would be a better title for this book. This is a reference book of the fighting around the Barrikady factory in Stalingrad. It is also much more than that. Reading the book also gives an overview of the entire battle from November 1942 until the bitter end. The author, Jason D. Mark, has become a specialist on the Battle of Stalingrad, and it definitely shows in this work.

 The book itself is a large, almost coffee table sized book. It is also long, as it is almost 600 pages in length. Almost every page has a photo of the men, machines, or aerial views of the battlefield. The author has also jammed it full of what is needed in every military history book- maps, and has them by the ton. This is especially needed to help the reader follow along with the actions that are described. The maps zoom down to house by house level, so you are never at a loss in following the attack and defense descriptions.

 For those of you who like personal accounts of the fighting, this book is a goldmine. For me, who for the most part eschews individual stories of battles, the book has enough overview and dry history to keep me interested. I have never been interested in where private Daniels slept the night before Waterloo. So for this book to have so many recollections and diary blurbs and still keep my attention on every page is quite an accomplishment. The book does almost too good a job in describing the hell on earth the combatants had to face, sometimes separated by floors or just a few feet. This book is so good I have gone out and purchased one of the author's other books, 'The Death of the Leaping Horsemen'.

 Even though I am very acquainted with the battle I was still rapt on every page by the story at this level. For anyone with even a slight interest in Stalingrad, this is a must buy. The book is a steal at its present price of $49.95. Thank you, Rowman & Littlefield for the chance to review this excellent book. I am looking forward to anything Mr. Mark will write next.

Island of Fire link:
https://rowman.com/ISBN/9780811719919/Island-of-Fire-The-Battle-for-the-Barrikady-Gun-Factory-in-Stalingrad

Rowman & Littlefield link:
https://rowman.com/


Robert

 

The Sniper Encyclopedia

An A-Z Guide to World Sniping

by

John Walter

  

 Once again a book I am reviewing has been misnamed. The Sniper Encyclopedia should be called 'a history of snipers and their weapons'. Almost half of the book is dedicated to just the weaponry of snipers going back a few hundred years.

 The book itself is over 300 pages long. The description reads:

750 Standard Entries

100 Extended Features And 'Top 20' Lists

Over 400 Biographies

200 Illustrations

 This is a one stop reference for almost anything to do with the sniper and his weapons. It is a pretty amazing piece of work. I am certain the author has done a ton of research, judging by the incredible volume of information listed in the book. The only problem some people may have is with his 'Top 20' lists. For male snipers he has Simo Häyhä listed fourth behind three renowned Russian snipers of World War II. Everything else I have read puts the Finn in first place by a wide margin. In my research of the list some people believe that some of the Russian 'kills' were exaggerated for propaganda purposes. I am in no way able to confirm or deny this. I am just adding this to inform the reader.

 A listing of some of the companies and rifles include:

German manufacturers' codes
Natalia Kovshova
Mannlicher sniper rifles
Minute of Angle
Österreichische Waffenfabriks-Gesellschaft  (Steyr)
Remington sniper rifles
Serdyukov & Kraskov sniper rifles
Trench rifles
Top twenty Vietnam snipers

 Ignoring the above possible argument point, the book is still the best one I have ever read in regards to snipers and sniper rifles. From Kentucky Long Rifles to today's 50 caliber extreme long range rifles, all of them are here. If you are interested in the history of sniping this is your book. If you are looking for Biographies of the top snipers then look no further. If the reader is looking for a detailed description of just their weapons, then again this is your book. Thank you Casemate Publishers for letting me review this great book.

Robert

Book: The Sniper Encyclopedia: An A-Z Guide to World Sniping
Author: John Walter
Publisher: Casemate Publishers

Campaign Eylau-Friedland

by

John Tiller Software

 

 I have been waiting for this with bated breath for so long that I should be a cadaver. All other battles, including my least favorite Waterloo, pale in comparision to Eylau, in my mind. The desperate battle in a snow storm is the stuff of legends. Augereau, who should have been on sick leave, is ordered by Napoleon to attack the Russians. In the swirling snow storm his corps is led astray into the belching mouth of numerous Russian artillery. His corps devastated, Napoleon then orders Murat to attack with all 10,000 of the available cavalry. The greatest cavalry charge in Napoleonic times then takes place. The Russian center is then sliced through. Numerous Russian units are ridden down or dispersed. Then the cavalry regroups in the middle of the Russian Army, and cuts its way back out. Now that would be something to see in CGI in a film. Then of course we have Friedland. The Russian general Count von Bennigsen loses all caution, and apparently his mind. He crosses a river into a bottleneck that not only has his army trapped by the river behind, but his two flanks are pretty much cut off from each other by the topography. He does this with Napoleon somewhere on the other side of the river. His attempt to sneak into the tiger cage works all too well. A rejuvenated Grande Armee proceeds to utterly destroy his army. Eylau is the first real time that Napoleon is held at bay by another army. It sent shock waves through Europe, until his completely lopsided victory at Friedland. The Russian troops who had earned a reputation in the Seven Years War as incredibly tough only add to their glory.

 So what comes in the game:

Scenarios

• Twenty-two battles and over two-hundred and twenty scenarios, to include the battles of Eylau, Friedland, Heilsberg, Guttstadt, 1st and 2nd Ostroleka and Mohrungen
• Tutorial scenario that helps the player learn the game system.
• A wide range of scenarios which allow the players to command an entire army or just a few brigades.
• A select group of campaign scenarios available for play as stand alone battles.
• Bonus battles that add in forces that were not used in the campaign or standard scenarios.

Campaigns

• The 1806 Winter Campaign - Includes the Battles of Pultusk and Golymin.
• The 1807 Winter Campaign - Includes the Battle of Eylau.
• The 1807 Spring Campaign - Includes the Battles of Heilsberg and Friedland.
• The full 1806-07 Campaign - Covers the entire campaign in Poland.

Features

• Turn scale is either 10 or 15 minutes.
• A Design folder includes files and information that will aid the customer in learning how to build their own scenarios.
• A Terrain Effects Chart is included that helps the players determine the effects of terrain and the movement allowance of their units.
• A Weapons Chart is included that allows the players to determine the range and effects of all weapons in the game.
• Over sixty-two maps (to include submaps) are included covering the famous battles such as Eylau, Heilsberg and Friedland
• Scenario and Campaign Editors.

Changes

• New 2D Magnified view
• Night turn length extended to 4 hours (240 minutes)
• Maxium visibility range can be extended up to 180 hexes

I have had my say about the changes in the games since they came out. The graphics are totally updated and while not state of the art are still fully functional on 2D, and eye pleasing on 3D. I usually play on the 2D magnified view now, unless I need the big picture for a moment. As far as the AI, again I have pontificated enough about it. There are now many scenarios that were built from the ground up as single player ones. They are tough to win, and not because the computer cheats or has extra troops by the ton (this is the usual practice in computer games to try and make single player worthwhile). Napoleonic tactical warfare was a sophisticated game of rock, paper, and scissors. For those of us who are sticklers for historical battles down to the last musket and grenadier, this game delivers. The campaign games adds a little of what if for players who enjoy that aspect of a game. In a day and age when the amount of scenarios that come in a game can be counted on two hands, this game comes with over 220! To put that in layman's terms, that is enough to be stranded on a desert isle for a very loooong time.

 For those of us who suffer from enjoying reading an encyclopedia or a PDR (Physicians Desk Reference, yes I liked to read through it as a child), the game comes with all these extras:

Preview Documents

• The Armies of Campaign Eylau-Friedland - pictoral display of the uniforms and soldiers of the various nations and minor allies which fought during the 1806-07 Polish Campaign.
• The Battles of Campaign Eylau-Friedland - a listing of each historical battle in the game to include a jump map image, strength comparison and historical briefing.
• Terrain Effects Chart - lists each terrain type and the movement costs for each troop type.
• Weapons Effect Chart - lists all of the weapons in the game and their firepower value by range.
• Parameter Data File Guide - breaks down each line in the PDT files and is for the customer in designing their own battles.
• Situation Maps - helps the players understand the history of the campaigns in CEF and acquaints them with the locations where the battles were fought.
• Order of Battle Guide - gives a detailed explanation of the units in the order of battle files.
• Order of Battle Compendium - a PDF of all of the order of battle listings for the battles in CEF.
• Campaign Eylau-Friedland Artwork - lists all of the units in the game and their location in the graphics files.
• Leaderlist for Campaign Eylau-Friedland - lists all of the leaders in the game and their location in the leaders graphics file.
• Turn Tracks - useful for the long battle and campaign scenarios.
• Special Rules - used in the certain scenarios where certain restrictions need to be applied for more historically accurate game play.
• NEW: Unit Listings for Campaign Eylau-Friedland - lists every unit's order of battle line entry for review by the players or in building new OB files for custom scenarios.

  So for those of us who are only happy when steeped in minutiae this is a game for us. For the casual gamer of Napoleonics, it has many shorter scenarios for your gaming pleasure. You can play by Direct-Play, Email, or Hot-Seat among others. I have been a fan of John Tiller games since they were first brought out by HPS (HPS Simulations). As I mentioned, the bar of the games keeps rising. Not only that, but all of the updates on the newer games are always implemented for the consumer on the older games. Imagine other companies updating almost twenty-year old software. Thank you, John Tiller Software for the chance to review my new favorite game of theirs.


This is a link to the game page:
http://www.johntillersoftware.com/NapoleonicBattles/CampaignEylau.html

A link to John Tiller Software:
http://www.johntillersoftware.com/index.html

A review of Petersburg from John Tiller Software:
https://www.awargamersneedfulthings.co.uk/2019/03/petersburg-by-wargame-design-studio-and.html

A review of Panzer battles North Africa 1941 by Wargame Design Studio and John Tiller Software:
https://www.awargamersneedfulthings.co.uk/2018/12/panzer-battles-of-north-africa-1941-by.html


Review of Panzer Battles of Normandy by Wargame Design Studio and John Tiller Software:
https://www.awargamersneedfulthings.co.uk/2016/07/john-tillers-panzer-battles-of-normandy.html#

Review of Panzer Battles Kursk Southern Flank by Wargame Design Studio and John Tiller Software:
https://www.awargamersneedfulthings.co.uk/2016/12/panzer-battles-kursk-southern-flank-by.html

Robert