I've been busy over the last week so nothing has been achieved as far as painting goes, but I have been sorting out some resources for Algy games including an improved version of the manoeuvre charts from the rules. I've added a colour coding system for Easy. Hard and Tricky manoeuvres, as well as notes on pilot skill tests, climbing and diving, so a one stop shop for players to refer to. I've also corrected a couple of points and added a missing bit about losing altitude in a hard turn. It's a available to download from the Algy FB group if you are interested.
After a top tip from David M. I had a crack at converting some Navwar Osa FAC models into something resembling a Komar FAC. This involved chopping off the aft section of the Osa then adding a new plastic card stern and missile rails, so nothing too complicated but still worthy off some colourful language. The end result is passable despite being aittle over length, so I might order some more of the Osa models to expand the Indonesian missile flotilla.
I downloaded a copy of Long Face Games Konfrontasi! campaign supplement for Find, Fix and Strike this morning. It's a really well thought out campaign system, with an emphasis on the political constraints for both sides which I think is a critical aspect of the conflict. There is well thought out and comprehensive campaign system to play through and a series of stand alone scenarios, most of which involve a small number of warships and aircraft, primarily based on strikes by Indonesian Komar FAC's or interdiction of attempted landings by Indonesian special forces. There are also some higher level scenarios featuring the heavy stuff including anti-shipping strikes by Tu-16's, for example, which allow use of some of the major warships including the carriers and guided missile destroyers. It's given me some ideas for a solo campaign of my own at some point, as I have a lot of what's needed apart from the Komars, a couple of carriers and the aircraft. Very good value too and well worth the price tag.
Despite having a bout of man flu, in June of all months, I've bumped along the 1/600th scale Rolands, Albatros and Nieuport to the ink wash stage, ready to be cleaned up with highlights and detailing. They look pretty grubby at the moment but will be much better after some highlights and touch ups, which don't take long to do but really make a difference. I should get these finished at the weekend.
I was excited to learn that David Manley of Long Face Games has written a full campaign system for the Indonesian Confrontation, designed for Find, Fix and Strike. I've run my own solo campaign for this before using Naval Command, so have a lot of the models required and a good background grasp of the conflict, which will enable me to pick this up and run with it almost straight away. It's a fascinating subject and ideal for campaign purposes, as well as allowing for some iconic naval warships and aircraft to be deployed. Brilliant!
I'm thinking of devising a mash up of the dogfight game generator I designed a few months ago with the balloon busting rules (Section13 p31), to create a simple system for balloon busting sorties in Algernon Pulls It Off!
The initial ideas include a random number of balloons (1D4+1) placed by the defender, within certain restrictions, each defended by an Archie zone (6 hexes in radius)
There will also be defending fighter aircraft, again generated by die roll (1D6), which begin off table. They will enter individually after the attackers but will have to roll to do so each turn, possibly using a countdown mechanism of some sort.
The number (1D4) and skill level of the attackers will be randomly generated as well. Attacking aircraft will choose a high altitude or low altitude approach when entering the table. Attacking aircraft may be fitted with rockets and may also have incendiary ammunition.
All pilots on both sides will be Junior Ace, Veteran or Regular. No Top Aces (too sensible or too valuable to be risked) or Sprogs (too inexperienced to be permitted). I'm thinking of limiting the number of Aces to probably a maximum of one Junior Ave per side, so as not to imbalance the game.
One thing I might include is a chance that one balloon may be designated as a decoy, possibly on a die roll made by the defender. This will explode when the attacking aircraft is within 3 hexes. The attacker will then have to roll on the exploding aircraft table (10. 1.8) but modified to cause (2C) damage. The identity of the booby trapped balloon will be kept hidden until it goes boom!
