Volume 37, Number 4
Rick Dominates Late to Beat Stephen Dale in RBF XXXVI
For a while the 36th Red Baron Fight didn't really feel like Red Baron Fight. The largest field since 2018 gathered at Nelson Skinner's house in Lewisville, Indiana on May 17th for the annual event that featured new ammunition rules for the first time. Each pilot was allotted 3 long bursts, 3 interrupted bursts and 2 short bursts with gun jams rolled as usual - although all jams were automatically fixed for the following turn (see New Ammo System Adopted in this issue). The sides for the seven-player game were:
Kevin Richeson, Camel 130 (LT Collier Smith, 14/6)
Bob Meister, Camel 130
Stephen Skinner, Camel 130
Dory Oda, red Fokker Dr1
Rick Lacy, Fokker Dr1 (UNT Lawrence Reiter, 31/7)
Ethan Skinner, Albatros DVa 180 hp revised stats
Stephen Skinner, Albatros DVa 200 hp
Rick Dominates Late to Beat Stephen Dale in RBF XXXVI
For a while the 36th Red Baron Fight didn't really feel like Red Baron Fight. The largest field since 2018 gathered at Nelson Skinner's house in Lewisville, Indiana on May 17th for the annual event that featured new ammunition rules for the first time. Each pilot was allotted 3 long bursts, 3 interrupted bursts and 2 short bursts with gun jams rolled as usual - although all jams were automatically fixed for the following turn (see New Ammo System Adopted in this issue). The sides for the seven-player game were:
Kevin Richeson, Camel 130 (LT Collier Smith, 14/6)
Bob Meister, Camel 130
Stephen Skinner, Camel 130
Dory Oda, red Fokker Dr1
Rick Lacy, Fokker Dr1 (UNT Lawrence Reiter, 31/7)
Ethan Skinner, Albatros DVa 180 hp revised stats
Stephen Skinner, Albatros DVa 200 hp
Click here for the updated all-time records of Red Baron Fight!
The game began slowly when initiative forced several players to retreat rather than suffer double or triple attacks. Stephen Dale was the lone aggressor in his 200 hp high compression Albatros.He bravely dove into the fray only to be double attacked by Bob and Kevin on the same turn and suffer 13 hits. The following turn, Stephen Dale flew east to drag his attackers back among his German wingmen. The ploy might have worked if anyone could have hit anything. Instead, Bob missed Stephen Dale's Albatros twice in a row, Kevin missed him as well, and Dory's DrI missed Kevin's Camel. Rick's red DrI (UNT Lawrence Reiter, 31/7) made up for the loss and spent three straight turns hammering Kevin's 6-victory British ace.
By Turn 5, Kevin had been double attacked twice and damage was beginning to mount on his Sopwith Camel. Bob flew brilliantly and tailed Stephen Dale for five turns only to miss on three of them, while Stephen Dale generally continued his attacks without pause. Ethan's revised stats Albatros DVa was the slowest plane in the air yet good flying continued to reward him with decent shots despite his continual disapproval of the situation.
Dory's Fokker was in rough shape midway through the game after Stephen's Camel (Capt Bretton Pyle, 8/2) spent the last three turns sending 16 hits through her DrI. Turns 8 and 9 were pivotal. Stephen had consecutive chances for a decisive shot to take out her engine and possibly win the game, but both were clean misses and his chance at the Silver Goblet was lost.
The game began slowly when initiative forced several players to retreat rather than suffer double or triple attacks. Stephen Dale was the lone aggressor in his 200 hp high compression Albatros.He bravely dove into the fray only to be double attacked by Bob and Kevin on the same turn and suffer 13 hits. The following turn, Stephen Dale flew east to drag his attackers back among his German wingmen. The ploy might have worked if anyone could have hit anything. Instead, Bob missed Stephen Dale's Albatros twice in a row, Kevin missed him as well, and Dory's DrI missed Kevin's Camel. Rick's red DrI (UNT Lawrence Reiter, 31/7) made up for the loss and spent three straight turns hammering Kevin's 6-victory British ace.
By Turn 5, Kevin had been double attacked twice and damage was beginning to mount on his Sopwith Camel. Bob flew brilliantly and tailed Stephen Dale for five turns only to miss on three of them, while Stephen Dale generally continued his attacks without pause. Ethan's revised stats Albatros DVa was the slowest plane in the air yet good flying continued to reward him with decent shots despite his continual disapproval of the situation.
Dory's Fokker was in rough shape midway through the game after Stephen's Camel (Capt Bretton Pyle, 8/2) spent the last three turns sending 16 hits through her DrI. Turns 8 and 9 were pivotal. Stephen had consecutive chances for a decisive shot to take out her engine and possibly win the game, but both were clean misses and his chance at the Silver Goblet was lost.
While Ethan's Albatros struggled for speed and Bob's Camel continued to miss, Stephen Dale's 200 hp Alb finally scored a telling hit. His burst lit up the engine of Bob's Sopwith, forcing Bob to immediately descend from the scrap to fight the flames. Meanwhile, Rick's DrI attacked Stephen's Camel twice and continued to score points. "The next 2 shots I got were longer shots on Stephen, but both hit," Rick said. "Of the 8 bursts I could fire, I hit on all three of my interrupted, my two shorts and all three of my long bursts for a 100% hit rate."
At this point it still looked to be Stephen Dale's game, but like his father a few turns before, he was unable to score the winning hit when he needed some luck. Stephen Dale fired at Kevin and scored another five hits but the stubborn Camel refused to go down. Worse yet, Bob finally extinguished his flaming engine and scrambled safely home, robbing Stephen Dale of two kills and what could have been his fourth RBF title.
Kevin, meanwhile, was down but not out. Flying his still-dangerous ace pilot in a battered Sopwith Camel, he sent a volley of 8 hits into Dory's Triplane, knocking out her interrupter gear. Now defenseless, she was forced to escape the battle.
The fight came to a close when Rick scored four bottom hits on Kevin's Camel despite a gun jam. The burst flamed Kevin's engine and his ace fell to his death, unable to extinguish the fire.
Ethan got as much as could be expected from his Albatros. Dory, Bob and Kevin earned hero points for staying in the fight until the last possible moment. Both Stephen and Stephen Dale were factors at various points in the game, but in the end it was Rick's 100% shooting accuracy that earned his 6th Silver Goblet.
Rick called the event a "Weirdly chaotic game. Several things happened differently than normal. For example, the Albs split up more than they were together yet still were effective. Everyone was making shot choices differently, which led to some interesting circumstances through the game."
Rick Lacy, Fokker DrI 109 points
Stephen Skinner, Sopwith Camel 130 61
Stephen Dale Skinner, Albatros DVa 200 hp 51
Kevin Richeson, Sopwith Camel 130 42
Dory Oda, red Fokker DrI 37
Bob Meister, Sopwith Camel 130 37
Ethan Skinner, Albatros DVa 180 hp 25
At this point it still looked to be Stephen Dale's game, but like his father a few turns before, he was unable to score the winning hit when he needed some luck. Stephen Dale fired at Kevin and scored another five hits but the stubborn Camel refused to go down. Worse yet, Bob finally extinguished his flaming engine and scrambled safely home, robbing Stephen Dale of two kills and what could have been his fourth RBF title.
Kevin, meanwhile, was down but not out. Flying his still-dangerous ace pilot in a battered Sopwith Camel, he sent a volley of 8 hits into Dory's Triplane, knocking out her interrupter gear. Now defenseless, she was forced to escape the battle.
The fight came to a close when Rick scored four bottom hits on Kevin's Camel despite a gun jam. The burst flamed Kevin's engine and his ace fell to his death, unable to extinguish the fire.
Ethan got as much as could be expected from his Albatros. Dory, Bob and Kevin earned hero points for staying in the fight until the last possible moment. Both Stephen and Stephen Dale were factors at various points in the game, but in the end it was Rick's 100% shooting accuracy that earned his 6th Silver Goblet.
Rick called the event a "Weirdly chaotic game. Several things happened differently than normal. For example, the Albs split up more than they were together yet still were effective. Everyone was making shot choices differently, which led to some interesting circumstances through the game."
Rick Lacy, Fokker DrI 109 points
Stephen Skinner, Sopwith Camel 130 61
Stephen Dale Skinner, Albatros DVa 200 hp 51
Kevin Richeson, Sopwith Camel 130 42
Dory Oda, red Fokker DrI 37
Bob Meister, Sopwith Camel 130 37
Ethan Skinner, Albatros DVa 180 hp 25
New Ammo System Adopted for Special Events
The Indy Squadron voted unanimously to try a new ammo system for all three of its special events. Each player will be allowed three long bursts, three interrupted bursts and two short bursts. Gun jams will result in a universal 50% reduction in hit factors (rounded up in the shooters' favor) but all jams are automatically cleared for the following game turn.
This system was used in Red Baron Fight XXXVI with mixed reviews. The game lasted 14 turns, which is only slightly shorter than the historical average. A survey of the four previous RBF's to feature seven players showed the following total scores (for all seven players combined):
1994 - 314 combined points from seven players
1999 - 330 combined points from seven players
2001 - 317 combined points from seven players
2008 - 425 combined points from seven players
Historical average for seven-player RBF games - 346.5
Total points scored in 2025 RBF - 362
Average winning score for 7-player RBF games - 100.0
Winning score for 2025 RBF - 109
The number of ammo points available to each player remains at 25, so the only difference is how those ammo points are spent. Clearly, the point totals will remain very much the same as in the past and our record keeping should remain consistent. The question is, do we want to keep this system? Do we want to adjust or alter it?
This year's RBF winner said, "Everyone was making shot choices differently, which led to some interesting circumstances... the roll for jams and immediately recover rule kept it feeling more 'traditional' for want of a better word, and it didn’t seem to detract much."
The Indy Squadron voted unanimously to try a new ammo system for all three of its special events. Each player will be allowed three long bursts, three interrupted bursts and two short bursts. Gun jams will result in a universal 50% reduction in hit factors (rounded up in the shooters' favor) but all jams are automatically cleared for the following game turn.
This system was used in Red Baron Fight XXXVI with mixed reviews. The game lasted 14 turns, which is only slightly shorter than the historical average. A survey of the four previous RBF's to feature seven players showed the following total scores (for all seven players combined):
1994 - 314 combined points from seven players
1999 - 330 combined points from seven players
2001 - 317 combined points from seven players
2008 - 425 combined points from seven players
Historical average for seven-player RBF games - 346.5
Total points scored in 2025 RBF - 362
Average winning score for 7-player RBF games - 100.0
Winning score for 2025 RBF - 109
The number of ammo points available to each player remains at 25, so the only difference is how those ammo points are spent. Clearly, the point totals will remain very much the same as in the past and our record keeping should remain consistent. The question is, do we want to keep this system? Do we want to adjust or alter it?
This year's RBF winner said, "Everyone was making shot choices differently, which led to some interesting circumstances... the roll for jams and immediately recover rule kept it feeling more 'traditional' for want of a better word, and it didn’t seem to detract much."
| Ethan, Kevin Save Triple Crown With the anticipated demise of Indy's participation at Whoyercon (see article in previous issue), both Ethan and Kevin stepped forward to recommend that Indy's Triple Crown be preserved. The Triple Crown consists of Indy's three annual events - Whosyercon Open in March, Red Baron Fight in April and the Armistice Day Fits Tournament championship in November. Rather than entirely eliminate the Whosyercon Open, Ethan and Kevin have enthusiastically suggested it continue as a midsummer event to save the Triple Crown. Kevin has recommended that the former Whosyercon Open become a dedicated single-gun battle that begins in a tight tourney box. Ethan has asked that it be held at his house as a tradition. We hope to set a date for July to begin this event. |   |
May 17 Gaming Report
Ben and Jon Shepherd joined us for the first three games of the day. Game 1 featured the Halberstadt DII's of Kevin, Bob and Rick against the FE 2d's of Jon, Ethan, Ben and Stephen. Everyone who fired on Turn 1 missed, and all except one missed on the second turn. Unsurprisingly, the battle produced no casualties.
Game 2 sped up a bit with the French SPADs of Ben, Kevin and Bob against the Fokker DVII's of Rick, Stephen and Jon. Ben's SPAD was badly shot up but he flew well enough to bring it home safely and save his pilot's life. Kevin's SPAD ace, Jean Claude Museir, logged his 14th mission to go with the 7 kills he'd already earned. Kevin said, "He's the closest thing to a legend I have left on my roster."
Game 3 was a test game for the new ammo system described in the previous story. Ethan, Ben, Jon and Bob were in Pfalz DXII's against the Sopwith Dolphins of Kevin, Rick and Stephen. Midway through the game Bob's Pfalz hit Kevin's Dolphin pilot on the same turn that Kevin hit Ben's Fokker pilot. Ben got the worst of the exchange because his pilot was killed instantly while Kevin's survived with a No Effect wound. Rick's DVII was so battered that he had to cut his engine and glide across the lines where he landed safely and saved his pilot.
We had a great crowd on hand all day and Nelson served a nonstop buffet of wonderful food and snacks. Stephen Dale made a tremendous effort to rejoin us for his first game in quite some time. It was great to see the Shepherd boys again, and Kevin as well.
Ben and Jon Shepherd joined us for the first three games of the day. Game 1 featured the Halberstadt DII's of Kevin, Bob and Rick against the FE 2d's of Jon, Ethan, Ben and Stephen. Everyone who fired on Turn 1 missed, and all except one missed on the second turn. Unsurprisingly, the battle produced no casualties.
Game 2 sped up a bit with the French SPADs of Ben, Kevin and Bob against the Fokker DVII's of Rick, Stephen and Jon. Ben's SPAD was badly shot up but he flew well enough to bring it home safely and save his pilot's life. Kevin's SPAD ace, Jean Claude Museir, logged his 14th mission to go with the 7 kills he'd already earned. Kevin said, "He's the closest thing to a legend I have left on my roster."
Game 3 was a test game for the new ammo system described in the previous story. Ethan, Ben, Jon and Bob were in Pfalz DXII's against the Sopwith Dolphins of Kevin, Rick and Stephen. Midway through the game Bob's Pfalz hit Kevin's Dolphin pilot on the same turn that Kevin hit Ben's Fokker pilot. Ben got the worst of the exchange because his pilot was killed instantly while Kevin's survived with a No Effect wound. Rick's DVII was so battered that he had to cut his engine and glide across the lines where he landed safely and saved his pilot.
We had a great crowd on hand all day and Nelson served a nonstop buffet of wonderful food and snacks. Stephen Dale made a tremendous effort to rejoin us for his first game in quite some time. It was great to see the Shepherd boys again, and Kevin as well.
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