Blue Max AAR

Blue Max, a WWI air combat game by Stratelibri, is apparently a reprint/update of the original Blue Max. Though I have never played the original, I have played a number of aircraft combat games using plotted, sometimes hidden movement, and have always been a fan. When I happened across this version of it I was excited for a chance to try a hex based version and the lovely pieces were too good to pass up.

For our first play test, my younger sibling (my usual test subjects) elected for a white Nieuport 24 while I opted for the Fokker Dr. 1, Red Baron style of course! After running over the rules briefly with him, I opted for us to set up along the long edge of the map, hoping for a close, fast game. We offset our starting so that we didn’t have to just fly straight at each other and plotted our movements. For the most part we both zipped across the board, trying to close the distance to see who could draw first blood. The point goes to my sibling who managed to get in a few shots against my side when I failed to guess his abrupt pivot. A few couple moves later suddenly found my cross-hairs on his tail which resulted in the shredding of his rudder and a spiral to the ground. One kill for the Baron!

 First Blood!

The rudder gets shot to pieces.

There was enough interest that we managed to get a second game in, this time with four players. Got to love have numerous younger siblings that also enjoy board games! Side Allies, two of my youngest siblings and my regular opponents for wargames, opted for Nieuport 24s while Side Axis, myself and yet another sibling, selected Fokker Dr. 1s. This time we set up with our planes along the short board edge to allow a longer distance for maneuvering and plotting. Both sides being eager for the fight, we effectively flew directly towards each other, only truly maneuvering when the distance was down to a couple hexs. As this was still our initial play through we opted not to try altitude rules which allowed for us to ignore collisions, a good thing when four planes are darting around a six hex spread. No one could get a bead on a target until suddenly there were two planes head to head with only a single hex separating them. The dice flew and the Allies got the brunt of it, the Nieuport 24 taking enough damage to destroy the engine which resulted in a glide and crash in the following round, counting as a shot down plane.

 The white Nieuport is spinning, taking extra damage.

 A dangerous head to head that saw the Allied plane going down.

 Things get tense!

A fatal error is made.

The remaining Allied plane, a familiar white 24, went into evasive actions, attempting to outmaneuver the closing Axis Dr. 1s. Unfortunately he positioned himself directly before the Baron, against piloted by me, resulting in another burst of fire to an already damaged plane. Both rudder and wing received enough damage to be considered destroyed the Nieuport spiraled down to the earth.

Both games were a great deal of fun and received praise from the siblings as being simple but fun, something we really enjoy as it allows everyone to join in on the fun despite the age range present in our large family. I am hoping to get this one to the table regularly and add in some of the more advanced rules as we go.