Very enjoyable review, thank you. I recently hunted this down with much anticipation (I stupidly failed to ever get B-17 QotS back in the day). Overall it is very nicely done and clearly a labour of love. The style I like - lots of tables, but a great "story generator. However, I found what I consider a significant issue for my storytelling. Basically the number of German fighters shot down by my bomber is ludicrously and unrealistically high, which drags me from immersion. I was getting 4-5 kills by my plane on the "out" leg of the mission alone. Not damaged, but outright kills. There is an optional rule online for reduced claims, but that merely adjusts if "kills" are awarded - the Luftwaffe plane is still destroyed either way. Now from the point if view of the bomber, this is irrelevant so arguably this is not a big deal. The probability of the bomber being hit itself seems pretty credible. But I find it an immersion killer. I am also surprised at it, given the evident huge attention to detail in the game overall. I have shelved it for now, but I need to triple check I am not misreading the rules/tables (pretty certain I am not) . If I am indeed correct, then I need to do some research on actual losses and then rejig the hit likelihood and kill likelyhood tables. Otherwise a very nice game :)
I enjoyed both games. But what I found missing from the update is the map of Europe. I know it's just a fancy turn track, but it really added to the enjoyment, as I felt I was actually trying to get somewhere and back, rather than just looking at a number on a track.
Played my first mission over three sessions. Good game. Worst bit was an FW190 that did 'walking fire' along the fuselage. Lightly wounded both pilots and did a fair bit of damage.
In Skies Above the Reich, you are playing the fighters trying to down the Bombers. In Target for Today, you are playing the role of a Bomber and hoping that the fighters do not shoot you down. (like B-17 Queen of the Skies). I have both and enjoy both, but you do play opposite sides of the war in each.
I’m looking forward to playing this game. I managed to find a copy in the UK and it’s due any day now. It will be the first counter wargame that I own.
Very enjoyable review, thank you. I recently hunted this down with much anticipation (I stupidly failed to ever get B-17 QotS back in the day). Overall it is very nicely done and clearly a labour of love. The style I like - lots of tables, but a great "story generator.
However, I found what I consider a significant issue for my storytelling. Basically the number of German fighters shot down by my bomber is ludicrously and unrealistically high, which drags me from immersion. I was getting 4-5 kills by my plane on the "out" leg of the mission alone. Not damaged, but outright kills. There is an optional rule online for reduced claims, but that merely adjusts if "kills" are awarded - the Luftwaffe plane is still destroyed either way. Now from the point if view of the bomber, this is irrelevant so arguably this is not a big deal. The probability of the bomber being hit itself seems pretty credible. But I find it an immersion killer. I am also surprised at it, given the evident huge attention to detail in the game overall.
I have shelved it for now, but I need to triple check I am not misreading the rules/tables (pretty certain I am not) . If I am indeed correct, then I need to do some research on actual losses and then rejig the hit likelihood and kill likelyhood tables.
Otherwise a very nice game :)
I enjoyed both games. But what I found missing from the update is the map of Europe. I know it's just a fancy turn track, but it really added to the enjoyment, as I felt I was actually trying to get somewhere and back, rather than just looking at a number on a track.
Great review, thanks Marco!
Played my first mission over three sessions. Good game. Worst bit was an FW190 that did 'walking fire' along the fuselage. Lightly wounded both pilots and did a fair bit of damage.
Hi
I love Skies above the Reich.
Would you compare them even if mechanisms are différent and tell me which one you prefer please ?
Thanks
In Skies Above the Reich, you are playing the fighters trying to down the Bombers. In Target for Today, you are playing the role of a Bomber and hoping that the fighters do not shoot you down. (like B-17 Queen of the Skies).
I have both and enjoy both, but you do play opposite sides of the war in each.
I’m looking forward to playing this game. I managed to find a copy in the UK and it’s due any day now. It will be the first counter wargame that I own.
Shane Ellswood where did you manage to find a copy?
I believe that I had the last copy from www.limeyyankgames.co.uk/. You could also try snafustore.com/en/, in Spain I think.
Trust me. you will not be disappointed!
It looks like B-17 Queen of the Skies maybe the better game without all the over complex details