Volume 29, Number 5
Dory Wins Red Baron Fight XXVIII, Ends 28-Year Drought
The longest winless streak in the 28-year history of the Indy Squadron's Red Baron Fight ended on May 27, 2017, when Dory Oda captured her first Silver Goblet with a dramatic, last-second kill shot over Michael Morgan's Fokker DrI.
Dory's championship proved to be the most popular win in many years and was made possible by a sound strategy and teamwork.
Eight players gathered at the Oda residence in Franklin, IN and the sides were as follows:
Dory Wins Red Baron Fight XXVIII, Ends 28-Year Drought
The longest winless streak in the 28-year history of the Indy Squadron's Red Baron Fight ended on May 27, 2017, when Dory Oda captured her first Silver Goblet with a dramatic, last-second kill shot over Michael Morgan's Fokker DrI.
Dory's championship proved to be the most popular win in many years and was made possible by a sound strategy and teamwork.
Eight players gathered at the Oda residence in Franklin, IN and the sides were as follows:
British (Camel 130's) |
The game opened at 4,100 feet with a slow, tentative stand off until Rick's Camel ace hit Ethan's Triplane pilot with a light wound.
Losing initiative on the next turn, Rick then executed his team's strategy and dove to around 3,000 feet in an effort to split the German flight. The fast climbing German Triplanes of Michael and Ethan (still fighting despite his wound) easily soared above their Albatros teammates in an effort to either attack an enemy plane or avoid being shot.
With no other available targets and no ability to form a defensive box, the Albatri of Stephen and Bob took the only available option and dove down on Rick's Camel. The British strategy had worked. The German flight was scattered and remained so for the rest of the dogfight.
Losing initiative on the next turn, Rick then executed his team's strategy and dove to around 3,000 feet in an effort to split the German flight. The fast climbing German Triplanes of Michael and Ethan (still fighting despite his wound) easily soared above their Albatros teammates in an effort to either attack an enemy plane or avoid being shot.
With no other available targets and no ability to form a defensive box, the Albatri of Stephen and Bob took the only available option and dove down on Rick's Camel. The British strategy had worked. The German flight was scattered and remained so for the rest of the dogfight.
Meanwhile, Ethan and Michael made repeated attacks on A. J.'s Camel and forced him to escape the game with substantial damage. Bob's Albatros wasn't far behind. With wing damage and a jammed machine gun, Bob retired from the fray and badly crash-landed his Albatros behind German lines. His pilot survived and was promptly awarded a promotion to Hauptmann (see next story on updated house rules).
Stephen Dale flew well but struggled with his Camel's constantly jamming machine guns. Rick's British double ace consistently missed shots and, when he managed a hit, rolled very low damage to his opponent. Stephen's Albatros fired effectively on a few occasions but was generally unable to keep up with either the enemy or his own wingmen. That left Michael's red Triplane and Dory's Sopwith Camel as the most effective shooters in the game, each of them scoring consistently.
Despite having either one gun or at times none at all, Stephen Dale's Camel helped his team's cause considerably by tailing Ethan's Triplane for several turns until the German passed out from his prior wound (inflicted by Rick's Camel ace early in the game). Ethan's 4-mission pilot woke up and flew his heavily damaged Fokker to a forward landing field where he survived both a crash-landing and his wound.
Stephen Dale flew well but struggled with his Camel's constantly jamming machine guns. Rick's British double ace consistently missed shots and, when he managed a hit, rolled very low damage to his opponent. Stephen's Albatros fired effectively on a few occasions but was generally unable to keep up with either the enemy or his own wingmen. That left Michael's red Triplane and Dory's Sopwith Camel as the most effective shooters in the game, each of them scoring consistently.
Despite having either one gun or at times none at all, Stephen Dale's Camel helped his team's cause considerably by tailing Ethan's Triplane for several turns until the German passed out from his prior wound (inflicted by Rick's Camel ace early in the game). Ethan's 4-mission pilot woke up and flew his heavily damaged Fokker to a forward landing field where he survived both a crash-landing and his wound.
This left the German team at a serious disadvantage with only the Michael's Triplane and Stephen's battered Albatros to face the remaining three Camels (Rick, Dory & Stephen Dale), with the Germans engaged separately and far away from each other.
The Camels responded with Rick's ace chasing Stephen's Albatros while Dory and Stephen Dale, who had lost initiative, formed a strategic defensive box. Now desperately low on ammunition, Michael's Triplane flew in a top attack on Stephen Dale's Camel and fired his last burst.
Dory - forming the other half of the British defensive box - fired in support of her wingman and hit Michael's pilot with a fatal chest wound on the very turn that he ran out of ammunition.
The Camels responded with Rick's ace chasing Stephen's Albatros while Dory and Stephen Dale, who had lost initiative, formed a strategic defensive box. Now desperately low on ammunition, Michael's Triplane flew in a top attack on Stephen Dale's Camel and fired his last burst.
Dory - forming the other half of the British defensive box - fired in support of her wingman and hit Michael's pilot with a fatal chest wound on the very turn that he ran out of ammunition.
Stephen's Abatros was now alone against three Camels and was fortunate to escape the game, eventually making his way home for a safe landing. The British had scored a resounding tactical victory and cleared the sky of German planes.
Although Ethan, Stephen and Bob all sustained heavy damage, Dory's solo kill over Michael was the only confirmed aerial victory of the mission. After 28 years and 20 tries, Dory had finally captured her first Silver Goblet and Red Baron Fight championship title.
Although Ethan, Stephen and Bob all sustained heavy damage, Dory's solo kill over Michael was the only confirmed aerial victory of the mission. After 28 years and 20 tries, Dory had finally captured her first Silver Goblet and Red Baron Fight championship title.
Red Baron Fight XXVIII
Saturday, May 27, 2017
Oda residence, Franklin IN
1. Dory Oda, Sopwith Camel 130 109
2. Michael Morgan, red Fokker DrI 78
3. Rick Lacy, Sopwith Camel 130 53
4. Stephen Dale Skinner, Sopwith Camel 130 49
5. Stephen Skinner, Albatros DVa 180 39
6. Ethan Skinner, Fokker DrI 30
7. Bob Meister, Albatros DVa 180 24
8. George Henion, Fokker DrI*** 21
9. A. J. Meister, Sopwith Camel 130 17
10. Bruce Yoder, Fokker DrI*** 15
***RBF XXVIII was originally scheduled for April at the Whosyercon gaming convention but was postponed. These players held a similar, substitute game at Whosyercon to fill the game slot and their scores are included here. They are also credited with an appearance in the game (see Number of Appearances statistics in RBF records).
Indy Passes New House Rules
The following additions to Red Baron Fight rules pertaining to Albatros pilots were approved by an 8-0 vote on May 27, 2017:
Other rules pertaining to Albatros pilots in Red Baron Fight remain unchanged.
Regarding all general gaming, a clarification was made on a resolution for players who move out of turn, passed by a 6-1 vote on May 27, 2017:
The following additions to Red Baron Fight rules pertaining to Albatros pilots were approved by an 8-0 vote on May 27, 2017:
- Any Albatros pilot who wins the Red Baron Fight receives an immediate and automatic promotion in rank. Any Albatros pilot who survives Red Baron Fight receives a promotion in rank on a roll of 1-3 on 1D6.
Other rules pertaining to Albatros pilots in Red Baron Fight remain unchanged.
Regarding all general gaming, a clarification was made on a resolution for players who move out of turn, passed by a 6-1 vote on May 27, 2017:
- When a player moves out of turn (i.e., not in accordance with correct initiative sequence), that player is not permitted to declare a target in that game turn. Thereafter, the player moving out of turn may only be targeted by opponents who should have moved after him according to correct initiative sequence and would have been able to target him under normal circumstances.
This rule is designed to correct a situation in which a player moves out of turn and then another player moves prior to the mistake being discovered, creating a difficult "Fits Lapse" situation. Deliberately allowing a player to mistakenly move out of turn violates the spirit of this rule. Any player who recognizes that a plane is being moved out of sequence is obliged to speak so that correct movement order is preserved.
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