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Volume 18, Number 14/15
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The Last Battle of Heinrich Bongartz flown by Ghost Jasta of MN Game report from 26 September 2006 April
26, 1918. Above Allied trenches on a narrow front - Wolfgang “Wolfie die Wüss” Wüßenstein (Andrew’s 10/5 Dr.1 pilot)
hurried to catch his squadron on the offensive when he was boxed in by three S.E.5a’s. (Joe
flying top cover with his 13/2 SE pilot, Kurt attacking from the front with his 4/1 SE pilot, and Kieron bringing up the rear
with his novice SE pilot) Andrew
won the initiative on the first turn, which was KEY to his survival! The SE’s
immediately boxed up, with the lucky target being the rookie Kieron. Andrew got
on Kieron’s tail and managed a decent spread burst into the SE. The crafty
Dr.1 was able to successfully tail the rookie for three more turns… only to have VERY poor luck missing TWICE in a row
from 150 feet! Kieron had one of his wing mates moving before him each turn so
the Allies were not able to pound the tripe hard early, giving him minimal damage and boosting his confidence. On
the third turn of successfully tailing, Andrew hit his mark and pounded the rookie again, this time paying the price for letting
the Allies move in for closer shots. Kurt was able to put two more engine hits
into the Bosch, and a plume of smoke began to trail from the tripe. Luckily for
Wolfie, it was a no effect carburetor hit. The German again stuck to the tail
of the wavering rookie, but this time the SE’s were very well positioned to pounce had the tripe continued its tail
attack. Wolfie, being “die Wüss” that he is decided to try and draw
the fight across his own lines. Showing just enough ‘leg’ to let the blood thirsty SE’s take
350-500' shots, the tripe coaxed the Allies across the German lines. Another 200ft.
attack & another miss by the tripe sent the German fuming into a twisting slug fest for the next few turns. Wolfie got on the tail of Joe’s SE ace and did his best to knock the Allied flight leader out of the
sky. The two SE’s behind him finally cleared gun jams, reloaded, and moved
in for the kill. Taking a tail crit that cut his dive by 100, then next turn a wing crit that cut
dive by another 300, knocked his climb down by 50 & erased opposites & fancies, Wolfie began to re-think his aggressiveness. With one point remaining in his RW, 2 in his LW, 3 in his tail and 2 in his engine,
Wolfie exchanged one last 450' head on with the rookie Kieron in hopes of glory, but both missed. Sticking to his nickname, the German ‘tucked his tail’ and headed for home. The
Allies, miffed they could not knock their single foe from the skies in NINETEEN turns, pursued the Bosch to no avail for the
last three turns before they broke off the attack and headed for home. Maybe they would have gotten some satisfaction if they
had followed Wolfie back to his home field, where on landing the wings finally gave way on the rough wing set down that left
Wolfie without a backup Dr. 1 for his next engagement!! Unlike Bongartz, Wolfie walked away with both eyes intact…
Andrew Hits
Scored 31*2= +62 Pilot
lived = +10 Hits
Taken 36*1= -36 Escape
Penalty= -8 TOTAL = +28 Kieron Hits
Scored 10*2= +20 Pilot
lived = +10 Aircraft
Flyable= +5 Hits
Taken 19*1= -19 TOTAL = +16 Kurt Hits
Scored 19*2= +38 Pilot
lived = +10 Aircraft
Flyable= +5 Hits
Taken 0 TOTAL = +53 Joe Hits
Scored 7*2= +14 Pilot
lived = +10 Aircraft
Flyable= +5 Hits
Taken 12*1= -12 TOTAL = +17 Enter content here Enter content here |
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HANDICAPPING THE FAVORITES ISD’s
Armistice Day Predictions In the name of good fun and for
the sake of Vegas odds-makers who are closely following this event, ISD offers this special handicapping preview of the upcoming
Armistice Day Fits Tournament. A few of the categories are quasi-serious but most of them are monuments to frivolity... then
again, sometimes having the Clock of Death, Ken’s Tinkerbell or a new set of Death Dice on your side can tip the scales
of an important game your way. So if you promise not to take this too seriously and forgive the author for giving himself
a “zero” in every category, by all means read on… We will primarily score the players
who have already committed to competing for the tourney title… and it is the tourney title we are debating (not the
squadron title) so we'll score even those players who may show up although they didn’t play with us this year. If you're
coming but not included here, let us know so you can be included in this mess! The scoring categories break down as follows,
with a high score of twenty and a low score of one to form a cumulative total: Game Experience
– How long you’ve been playing this game and how well you can stack the odds in your favor. Intangibles –
Some players can’t get a lucky roll when they need it, some have all the luck in the world. Some know when to call “sixty
seconds” and completely foul up your move. This category is for all those little things that don’t fit anywhere
else. Championship Mettle
– How well you fare when the chips are down in high-pressure, championship-level games. Dues Paid –
Every now and then a player comes of age… its just his day and there’s nothing you or any power on earth can do
to stop it. The planets align and his dice are hot. This category considers the notion that every dog has his day, and some
players are overdue for a break. Props –
The lack of a cheap, hoaky, stupid prop is a severe handicap in Dawn Patrol. A prop can be anything from a quick verbal jab
at an antagonist to Brian Halberstadt’s infamous Skull in which he would shake his dice around before rolling pilot
hits (it never worked). This category analyzes the presence, strength and effectiveness of player props. So… and this the last chance
for anyone who takes this seriously to stop reading... let the scoring begin!
Ken Mrozak handicap: 69 Game Experience: 20 Ken started playing this game in the
'70's. 'Nuff said. Intangibles: 16 Is there a player in Dawn Patrol who gets
more clutch rolls than Ken? Really? Well, tell me who it is! Championship Mettle: 12 Ken's record in high caliber games is very
good... but when he flops, he flops big. Note a couple of busts at Gen Con this year. Dues Paid: 1 He has absolutely nothing coming in this
category. Ken has won more than his share of DP events and is the returning squadron champion. Don't expect any favors from
fate and don't go back to the well too often. Props: 20 Well, actually this is 19+1. Ken's bell
is a great prop and he uses it regularly... that's good for nineteen points. He gets one extra because everyone hates it.
Rick Lacy handicap: 63 Game Experience: 18 Rick plays regularly and stays sharp. That's
worth a lot and puts him ahead of many old-time players who only show up once or twice a year. Intangibles: 10 Rick's luck in tourney games has been less
than impressive. Not a complete no-show, but sometimes he can't get The Roll when he needs it. Championship Mettle: 14 Although he has no Victory Medals to show
for it, Rick is never out of a game mentally and he never loses concentration. As a result he can never be taken for granted.
ISD gives him a "14" in this category despite his unspectacular tourney history. He remains a dangerous and clever opponent
and a solid bet. Dues Paid: 20 For six years he's paid his dues, rarely
missing a squadron game day and almost never missing a tournament. He's due alright, and winning is only a matter of when,
not "if." Will this be his year? Props:1 This could hurt him. He needs to steal Bart's
Clock of Death and bring it to the tourney with him. No bell, no clock, no gun... how does he expect to win anything?
Dory Oda handicap: 62 Game Experience: 10 Dory's been playing this game since 1989
but she doesn't play enough to stay sharp anymore. Does she still have the killer instinct that won her three straight titles? Intangibles: 14 She can certainly pull out all the stops
at tourney time... she won't hesitate to call sixty seconds, is critical of every opponent's move and does the little things
that can win games. Championship Mettle: 20 No one else in the 18-year history of this
event has won back to back titles... she's won three back to back titles. When the dice hit the fan at tourney time,
some people show up with claws bared and teeth clenched. Dory has always been one of them. If a higher score was possible
in this category she would get it. Dues Paid: 8 November has been way good to Dory and she
really can't expect much from Lady Luck... then again, her last title was a decade ago. Hmm. Props: 10 She gets extra points for timely verbal
jabs and deliberate taunting with her three (!) Victory Medals, but Dory is sadly lacking in useless, annoying physical props.
Scott Jones
handicap: 51 Game Experience: 16 Scott has played this game for
a long time and his savvy at the tourney table should not be underestimated. Intangibles: 5
If anything can go wrong for Scott,
it will… twice. Championship Mettle:
17 Scott has never had abundant luck
in November, but again, it would be dangerous to overlook the experience level of player with a fifteen year Dawn Patrol background.
When he's on his game, he's very good and often underestimated. He didn't get all those RBF titles by accident, you know. Dues Paid: 10 He used up all his luck when he
mopped the floor with the Indy Squadron in his successful bid for the 2000 championship. Lightning doesn’t strike twice. Props: 3 Aside
from the common effort to use peculiar dice for pilot hit rolls, Scott has no cheap, trashy props to rely on when the going
gets rough. This category may have cost him several titles in the past.
Wayne Richeson
handicap: 49 Game Experience: 12 Wayne is entering his fourth Armistice
Day Tourney and gets top notch queues from his dad... a solid base for a young player. Intangibles: 8
He would have gotten a very low
score here if it weren't for one thing... Wayne shoots. Above all else, his guns are working at every possible moment.
That can score big points when the chips are down. Championship Mettle:
20 You couldn't expect much more
at his experience level. He's already collected one Victory Medal and he knows how its done. Dues Paid: 6 Wayne is not one of those guys
who "has one coming." He got his in 2004 in only his second November outing. If anything, he's in a for a dry spell. Not his
fault, but we just can't score him big here. Props: 3 Another
weak area for Wayne. Dawn Patrol is no place for a sensible, level-headed gentlemen. Wayne needs a game face. He needs
a cheap prop that everyone hates. Send him home with Ken for a week.
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