Woohoo....just heard from the reseller that it'll be there soon and to make my payment.
I'm glad I pre-purchased this back in 2014 at £42 - god knows what it would be now with the pound plummeting faster than one of my Cold Water subs!
My copy arrived today! :D
Quote from: JudgeDredd on June 19, 2017, 01:05:07 AM
Quote from: PanzersEast on June 17, 2017, 05:00:05 PM
My copy arrived today! :D
Review? AAR?
Just some quick observations. This maybe my favorite Air Leader game (B-17 Claims that spot followed by TAL)..... maybe.
Some highlights, there are a lot of assets to choose from as it covers the gambit of the Israeli conflicts from Spitfires to Falcons. I like the fact you can purchase skills for your pilots at the beginning of a campaign (Legendary Pilot) to give them certain bonuses. The invasion cards ramps up the difficulty and puts pressure on you. No secondary missions, unless specified by specific objectives (as I understand it). The stress levels in this one are pretty tough to manage. I had one pilot receive 8 stress point on his first mission. They implemented everything that worked well in Phantom Leader Deluxe and expanded on it. This is not a copy with a theme pasted on, it feels like a separate game to me, with all the variety of assets and campaigns...... very glad I picked this one up!
Quote from: PanzersEast on June 19, 2017, 10:43:48 AM
Quote from: JudgeDredd on June 19, 2017, 01:05:07 AM
Quote from: PanzersEast on June 17, 2017, 05:00:05 PM
My copy arrived today! :D
Review? AAR?
Just some quick observations. This maybe my favorite Air Leader game (B-17 Claims that spot followed by TAL)..... maybe.
Some highlights, there are a lot of assets to choose from as it covers the gambit of the Israeli conflicts from Spitfires to Falcons. I like the fact you can purchase skills for your pilots at the beginning of a campaign (Legendary Pilot) to give them certain bonuses. The invasion cards ramps up the difficulty and puts pressure on you. No secondary missions, unless specified by specific objectives (as I understand it). The stress levels in this one are pretty tough to manage. I had one pilot receive 8 stress point on his first mission. They implemented everything that worked well in Phantom Leader Deluxe and expanded on it. This is not a copy with a theme pasted on, it feels like a separate game to me, with all the variety of assets and campaigns...... very glad I picked this one up!
Excellent - though I'm a touch surprised from your mention of B-17 - my "limited" understanding is that's it's got problems.
Anyway - thanks. Really looking forward to this. My favourite has always been Phantom Leader with TAL second and Hornet Leader third.
Looking forward to receiving my game.
Quote from: JudgeDredd on June 19, 2017, 04:40:34 PM
Quote from: PanzersEast on June 19, 2017, 10:43:48 AM
Quote from: JudgeDredd on June 19, 2017, 01:05:07 AM
Quote from: PanzersEast on June 17, 2017, 05:00:05 PM
My copy arrived today! :D
Review? AAR?
Just some quick observations. This maybe my favorite Air Leader game (B-17 Claims that spot followed by TAL)..... maybe.
Some highlights, there are a lot of assets to choose from as it covers the gambit of the Israeli conflicts from Spitfires to Falcons. I like the fact you can purchase skills for your pilots at the beginning of a campaign (Legendary Pilot) to give them certain bonuses. The invasion cards ramps up the difficulty and puts pressure on you. No secondary missions, unless specified by specific objectives (as I understand it). The stress levels in this one are pretty tough to manage. I had one pilot receive 8 stress point on his first mission. They implemented everything that worked well in Phantom Leader Deluxe and expanded on it. This is not a copy with a theme pasted on, it feels like a separate game to me, with all the variety of assets and campaigns...... very glad I picked this one up!
Excellent - though I'm a touch surprised from your mention of B-17 - my "limited" understanding is that's it's got problems.
Anyway - thanks. Really looking forward to this. My favourite has always been Phantom Leader with TAL second and Hornet Leader third.
Looking forward to receiving my game.
One reason I like B-17 so much is the totally different feel to the game and the subject matter. I don't think the issues are too serious from enjoying the game, although it does not play as fast as the others. TAL and Phantom Leader are right there at the top for me. The variety in IAFL is probably the best in the series as far as Aircraft and Campaigns (ordnance selection is ok).
Quote from: PanzersEast on June 19, 2017, 05:07:31 PM
Quote from: JudgeDredd on June 19, 2017, 04:40:34 PM
Quote from: PanzersEast on June 19, 2017, 10:43:48 AM
Quote from: JudgeDredd on June 19, 2017, 01:05:07 AM
Quote from: PanzersEast on June 17, 2017, 05:00:05 PM
My copy arrived today! :D
Review? AAR?
Just some quick observations. This maybe my favorite Air Leader game (B-17 Claims that spot followed by TAL)..... maybe.
Some highlights, there are a lot of assets to choose from as it covers the gambit of the Israeli conflicts from Spitfires to Falcons. I like the fact you can purchase skills for your pilots at the beginning of a campaign (Legendary Pilot) to give them certain bonuses. The invasion cards ramps up the difficulty and puts pressure on you. No secondary missions, unless specified by specific objectives (as I understand it). The stress levels in this one are pretty tough to manage. I had one pilot receive 8 stress point on his first mission. They implemented everything that worked well in Phantom Leader Deluxe and expanded on it. This is not a copy with a theme pasted on, it feels like a separate game to me, with all the variety of assets and campaigns...... very glad I picked this one up!
Excellent - though I'm a touch surprised from your mention of B-17 - my "limited" understanding is that's it's got problems.
Anyway - thanks. Really looking forward to this. My favourite has always been Phantom Leader with TAL second and Hornet Leader third.
Looking forward to receiving my game.
One reason I like B-17 so much is the totally different feel to the game and the subject matter. I don't think the issues are too serious from enjoying the game, although it does not play as fast as the others. TAL and Phantom Leader are right there at the top for me. The variety in IAFL is probably the best in the series as far as Aircraft and Campaigns (ordnance selection is ok).
Does it have the same terrain mechanic as TAL? In your opinion, does the game itself compare favorably to TAL? I LOVE TAL..and if this is anywhere near the quality, then I'm gonna hafta bust out the MC.
I thought it was along the lines of Phantom\Hornet Leader
Anyway - mine has been dispatched :notworthy:
It came!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4023/35590833446_667a33ca4f_b.jpg)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4027/34821395933_f61cb9df12_b.jpg)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4078/34821394763_ab3bea36f6_b.jpg)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4279/34821394483_8ee2d59f5b_b.jpg)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4208/34821393543_fdb0be3985_b.jpg)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4260/34821394263_c6e57924cc_b.jpg)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4232/34821392493_3e48a10e1b_b.jpg)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4148/34821392043_d11a684840_b.jpg)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4264/34821391763_2f0f71b55d_b.jpg)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4287/35462067452_8370fc1950_b.jpg)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4022/35462066672_04b0ece929_b.jpg)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4253/34821390133_b817a4713b_b.jpg)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4217/34821390103_09d5e4b7d1_b.jpg)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4071/34821388743_d022251651_b.jpg)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4037/35462064632_150ce10f06_b.jpg)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4283/35499703741_5e5a94bff2_b.jpg)
Let me say - this is superb quality. There are a plethora of game cards on good card stock. All the campaigns and help sheets are good quality and the chits seem to be very good quality and look like they might easily popout. The game board is hard back mounted and looks great.
This looks like the quantity of kit you might have got with Phantom Leader Deluxe. I only ever had the standard Phantom Leader and this has plenty of stuff in it. I can't believe this only cost £45. I'm sure Phantom Leader Deluxe is kicking around for about £60-£70!
Looking forward to this one - thanks Dan O0
Oh - and those chits look clipped O0
Quote from: JudgeDredd on June 30, 2017, 09:48:55 AM
Oh - and those chits look clipped O0
They are not "clipped", they are rounded punched. No mangling required. ;)
Quote from: Barthheart on June 30, 2017, 10:11:05 AM
Quote from: JudgeDredd on June 30, 2017, 09:48:55 AM
Oh - and those chits look clipped O0
They are not "clipped", they are rounded punched. No mangling required. ;)
"Properly rounded" is the term you're looking for.
Quote from: mirth on June 30, 2017, 10:16:05 AM
Quote from: Barthheart on June 30, 2017, 10:11:05 AM
Quote from: JudgeDredd on June 30, 2017, 09:48:55 AM
Oh - and those chits look clipped O0
They are not "clipped", they are rounded punched. No mangling required. ;)
"Properly rounded" is the term you're looking for.
Still not mangled by you heathens.
I don't care how the rounding gets done.
Quote from: Barthheart on June 30, 2017, 11:47:25 AM
Quote from: mirth on June 30, 2017, 10:16:05 AM
Quote from: Barthheart on June 30, 2017, 10:11:05 AM
They are not "clipped", they are rounded punched. No mangling required. ;)
"Properly rounded" is the term you're looking for.
Still not mangled by you heathens.
Muh mangled countaz is seeeeeexaaaaaay!
Much work goes into them. They can always look better.
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fapocalypstick.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F04%2Fpatrick-bateman-axe-gif.gif&hash=9986c26d0ab709acb51e0b5566d7edc6b4ac4a00)
That's the kind of intensity I bring to my counter clipping.
I just wanted to say I've started popping the counters out of their sheets and man, do they pop out clean - and clipped (or whatever you lot want to call it so you're "seen" as not loving clipped counters).
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4138/35515746071_8df2b57f1b_b.jpg)
Quote from: JudgeDredd on July 01, 2017, 05:12:48 AM
I just wanted to say I've started popping the counters out of their sheets and man, do they pop out clean
It is nice how well some of the new games are die cut. No need for trimming at all O0
Just as well - there's ALOT of counters O0
Quote from: JudgeDredd on July 01, 2017, 05:12:48 AM
I just wanted to say I've started popping the counters out of their sheets and man, do they pop out clean - and clipped (or whatever you lot want to call it so you're "seen" as not loving clipped counters).
Yessir!
I finally picked up
Gato Leader last week. Has the same well cut counters.
Less wear & tear on my corner cutter tool (and my kung-fu grip). :bd:
Just played a couple of missions of the 1948 campaign War of Independence. They were both close calls as your aircraft have a carry weight of 1. I had to take out a target that needed 3 hits with 2 aircraft with 1 weight point each!
I opted for Mk81 bombs which require an 8 to hit. Both pilots had a +1 and +2 for AtG - but that's still 7 and 8 to hit. I got all 3 hits and managed to avoid the air attacks, though one pilot suffered 1 stress.
End of the first mission, target destroyed, 4 stress for one pilot and 3 for the other (campaign has +3 stress level)
The second mission was as tight. I needed 6 hits on target but had a B-17 which had 5 weight points for weapons. It scored 4 hits. Each of the fighter bombers hit with 1 each of their Mk81s. Target destroyed and huge stress awarded again!
This looks like a good game. I'm stoked given my first two missions which show it's going to be a tight campaign. There's a lot of game in here. 9 campaigns!!
What A/Cs are included for the 1948 war? Any Israeli Messerschmitts or Flying Forts? IIRC, they also used some Dakotas as ad-hoc bombers.
DVG sent me a copy for review for the site...it went to the house, so it'll be a week or so before I get there to get it. Wish I had it here!!!
It's not available on the DVG site. Wonder if it ever will.
Quote from: Staggerwing on July 02, 2017, 04:48:41 PM
What A/Cs are included for the 1948 war? Any Israeli Messerschmitts or Flying Forts? IIRC, they also used some Dakotas as ad-hoc bombers.
I'll let you know when I get home. I can't recall off hand. Certainly Spitfires - XI I think - and a couple of B-17s (according to the campaign or rule book (can't recall), the US gave Israel 3 B-17s)
IAF Leader's BGG page has a thread (https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1797630/plane-roster) that lists all aircraft in the game, but doesn't break it down by campaign, unfortunately:
QuoteP-51D Mustang
B-17 Flying Fortress
MK.IX Spitfire
Avia S.199
Mosquito Mk.VI
Mystere Mk.IV
Ouragan
Mirage IIIC
Super Mystere
F-4 Phantom II
A-4 Skyhawk
Nesher
F-15 Eagle
F-16 Fighting Falcon
C.2 Kfir
F-35 Lightning II
Its Kickstarter page (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dvgames/israeli-air-force-leader) has a bit more information:
(https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/014/505/697/e1c749b1ea4e2f8a8642d124a7f4542b_original.jpg?w=680&fit=max&v=1479115338&auto=format&q=92&s=2cf539d2297571a2ed76f82b4c83238d)
Aircraft available in 1948
Spitfire Mk IX
Avia S.199
P-51D Mustang
B-17
That's all
The Avia wasn't a fun plane for pilots to fly back then...I wonder if it's the worse of the three fighters in the game? I can only imagine it is.
Quote from: BanzaiCat on July 03, 2017, 09:14:44 AM
Avia S.199
That would be the Messerschmitt (actually a Czech-built variant re-engined with power plants from He-111s).
Quote from: Staggerwing on July 04, 2017, 12:24:36 PM
Quote from: BanzaiCat on July 03, 2017, 09:14:44 AM
Avia S.199
That would be the Messerschmitt (actually a Czech-built variant re-engined with power plants from He-111s).
Well I never knew that!
Me, either. I was thinking it was a Czech-built and -designed aircraft. Never knew Messy had anything to do with it.
It was based on the 109G.
The Spanish also made an Me109 after the war but used, of all things, Rolls Royce Merlin engines.
RR Merlin engines... best of the era. O0
Funny the Israelis flew Me-109s...
Quote from: BanzaiCat on July 04, 2017, 07:14:53 PM
Funny the Israelis flew Me-109s...
Even funnier is that a number of those early Israeli pilots were actually USAAF combat vets who helped smuggle those planes from Czechoslovakia into the Levant against the wishes of the US gov't.
Quote from the rule book on the B-17
Quote
The US gave Israel just 3 B-17 bombers, so they were used in almost every operation. Being used so often meant they needed repairs frequently
That
frequent repairs statement is employed by making the user pay 1 Special Option point everytime they are used.
But you will likely have to use them everytime because you've only got fighters that have a weight point of 1 allowing either 2 Mk81s (with only 1 hit chance each at a roll of 8 ) or 1 Mk82 (with 2 hit chances - though at 7 and 10, only 1 is remotely likely). Taking a B-17 along gives you 10 Mk81s or 5 Mk82s
So picking pilots with a positive ATG is essential to assisting in destroying targets.
Quote from: Staggerwing on July 04, 2017, 07:21:49 PM
Quote from: BanzaiCat on July 04, 2017, 07:14:53 PM
Funny the Israelis flew Me-109s...
Even funnier is that a number of those early Israeli pilots were actually USAAF combat vets who helped smuggle those planes from Czechoslovakia into the Levant against the wishes of the US gov't.
There's a good documentary, regarding this subject, on Amazon Prime IIRC.
You play any of the other campaigns yet, JD?
I'm just now finally getting to getting through the rules after punching and organizing everything. Looks much the same as some other Leader games but with some twists. I'll be doing a video review of it soon.
Quote from: BanzaiCat on July 28, 2017, 06:58:09 PM
You play any of the other campaigns yet, JD?
I'm just now finally getting to getting through the rules after punching and organizing everything. Looks much the same as some other Leader games but with some twists. I'll be doing a video review of it soon.
Nope. I played my campaign and had a terrible score. It's now boxed for the time being whilst I try out Advanced Platoon Leader and then Time Over Target.
As you quite rightly put in another post somewhere - just not enough time for all these games
As with all my games, I look forward to getting it out again some time - when that will be, God alone knows.
I just completed a review of APL...a video review, so it'll take me a couple of days to edit it together.
Quote from: BanzaiCat on July 29, 2017, 09:15:21 AM
I just completed a review of APL...a video review, so it'll take me a couple of days to edit it together.
I look forward to it. Front page?
Quote from: JudgeDredd on July 29, 2017, 04:48:27 PM
Quote from: BanzaiCat on July 29, 2017, 09:15:21 AM
I just completed a review of APL...a video review, so it'll take me a couple of days to edit it together.
I look forward to it. Front page?
Oh aye, front page it 'tis! O0 (Next weekend, I believe - Aug 5 or so.)
It's probably going to be a bit on the long side; I think I have about 52 minutes or so of footage. I've edited about 1/3 of it and know I should be able to shave a few more minutes off of it. There's a lot to talk about. :)
Quote from: BanzaiCat on July 29, 2017, 06:06:57 PM
Quote from: JudgeDredd on July 29, 2017, 04:48:27 PM
Quote from: BanzaiCat on July 29, 2017, 09:15:21 AM
I just completed a review of APL...a video review, so it'll take me a couple of days to edit it together.
I look forward to it. Front page?
Oh aye, front page it 'tis! O0 (Next weekend, I believe - Aug 5 or so.)
It's probably going to be a bit on the long side; I think I have about 52 minutes or so of footage. I've edited about 1/3 of it and know I should be able to shave a few more minutes off of it. There's a lot to talk about. :)
Oh - I'll be drunk all that weekend. Army reunion C:-) - it'll maybe help me ease into Sunday :notworthy:
^ Hahahaha
I think you said your first mission was 1948. That one is not an introductory game; it's rated as 'skilled' and if that's what you started with, likely it's a good reason why you had your arse handed t'ye. :)
The first (chronologically, anyway) campaign that's introductory is the 1967 one. Much more forgiving. Then again you might learn more from the game by diving into the deep end, so...
Quote from: BanzaiCat on July 30, 2017, 08:53:28 AM
^ Hahahaha
I think you said your first mission was 1948. That one is not an introductory game; it's rated as 'skilled' and if that's what you started with, likely it's a good reason why you had your arse handed t'ye. :)
The first (chronologically, anyway) campaign that's introductory is the 1967 one. Much more forgiving. Then again you might learn more from the game by diving into the deep end, so...
Oh I learnt some.
Resources are scarce. Weapons are scarce. Weapons are crap. Pilots aren't great. A lot of cannon work required, though AA is pretty poor also, thankfully.
Quote from: Nefaro on July 05, 2017, 04:04:47 PM
Quote from: Staggerwing on July 04, 2017, 07:21:49 PM
Quote from: BanzaiCat on July 04, 2017, 07:14:53 PM
Funny the Israelis flew Me-109s...
Even funnier is that a number of those early Israeli pilots were actually USAAF combat vets who helped smuggle those planes from Czechoslovakia into the Levant against the wishes of the US gov't.
There's a good documentary, regarding this subject, on Amazon Prime IIRC.
Above and Beyond. It's available on Prime and Netflix. Well worth a watch.
Quote from: mirth on July 30, 2017, 02:31:01 PM
Quote from: Nefaro on July 05, 2017, 04:04:47 PM
Quote from: Staggerwing on July 04, 2017, 07:21:49 PM
Quote from: BanzaiCat on July 04, 2017, 07:14:53 PM
Funny the Israelis flew Me-109s...
Even funnier is that a number of those early Israeli pilots were actually USAAF combat vets who helped smuggle those planes from Czechoslovakia into the Levant against the wishes of the US gov't.
There's a good documentary, regarding this subject, on Amazon Prime IIRC.
Above and Beyond. It's available on Prime and Netflix. Well worth a watch.
That's the one.
I just watched a couple of youtube videos on this one.
Not keen on the mechanic of the game map. I much prefer TAL's way of having semi-random hexes. Much more replayability that way.