The Twenty Minuters
Scenario Background
With low cloud partially obscuring the battlefield, the Central Powers are having difficulty in accurately spotting from their observation balloons. Consequently, things are rather quiet across the battlefield this day. In order to liven things up and guide their artillery, German aircraft have been sent up to assist in the reconnaissance of enemy positions.
This day however sees that the skies over the trenches will not go uncontested. Entente aircraft from the British Royal Flying Corps patrol the skies looking for enemy encroachment. Led by non-other than the ace Lord Flashheart himself (Captain, RFC), two British fighters search for their Hun adversaries.
The Opposing Forces
Lord Flashheart is currently Squadron Commander The 20 Minuters. A mythical flying squadron of the RFC that comprises mostly freshly trained pilots. On patrol with him today is Berty Pemberton who recently graduated from flying school and newly arrived in France. He is more than a little eager to not be found wanting in the eyes of his hero and mentor Captain Flashheart. Berty accordingly has the Rookie trait in this scenario.
Lord Flashheart pilots an SE.5A whilst Berty Pemberton is flying a Sopwith Camel.
Opposing the British airmen today are two German Albatross C.III's. These are piloted by Fritz and Hanz. But that's unimportant right now. Accompanying each pilot is an observer. This fact however will be important in this scenario.
The Mission
The mission is a simple one. The Germans must get over the Entente lines and make an observation run of their enemy's position. The British must prevent this from happening.
The Briefing
If a German aircraft can reach the Entente lines, which is one target stick's width from the Entente side of the table, and return to their own table's edge and exit the board, they will score 1 Victory Point. This means that the Germans can gain up to 2 Victory Points if they can get both of their aircraft over the Entente lines to observer the enemy.
However, in order to "observe" the Entente line, the German observer onboard the aircraft must be alive. The observer doesn't need to be alive when the aircraft returns to the German side of the table as photos and notes will survive the observer should they be killed. The observer however must be alive when the German aircraft enters the Entente line. If the observer is killed whilst the aircraft is in the Entente line, then it's considered that the observer didn't get the job done. His notes are lost overboard, and the photos aren't taken.
The British must either chase away the German aircraft or shoot them down. Alternatively, if they manage to kill the observers on both German aircraft, the Germans will return to their own side unable to score Victory Points.
For each aircraft that is shot down, 1 Victory Point will be awarded. So, the Germans could win a total of 4 Victory Points for this scenario, from observations of Entente positions and enemy aircraft shot down, whilst the British can score only a maximum of 2 Victory Points for shooting down the German aircraft. If you want to be even handed, then give the British 1 Victory Point for each observer killed before the German aircraft can make or complete an observation of the Entente position.
House Rules
The following house rules apply to this scenario.
Traits
- Lord Flashheart has the Sharp Eye and Daredevil traits.
- Berty Pemberton has the Rookie trait.
Cloud Bank
- The banks of cotton wool cloud block line of sight (LOS). If an aircraft is either within the Cloud Bank, or a Cloud Bank is intervening between two opposing aircraft, then LOS is lost, and the aircraft cannot be targeted by each other.
Height
- Height rules aren't being played in this scenario. But can be used if so desired.
- If Height is being used, the Cloud Bank house rule still applies as the clouds are considered to be extensive enough in height to continue to block LOS.
- By mutual agreement, the Cloud Bank block of LOS can be disregarded if the players agree to a maximum height for the cloud tops. But don't overcomplicate things.
Charmed and Fated Life
- Lord Flashheart is considered to be as having a Charmed and Fated Life. This means that he is only able to be killed in a scenario where the Red Baron is also in that scenario. If the Red Baron is not in the scenario, and Captain Flashheart is "killed" or shot down, he miraculously survives by some twist of fate.
Solo Rules
- For Solo Rules play, choose three sets of the three movement cards for the non-player aircraft and place them in separate piles with the aircraft. Now roll a single d6 dice. On a 1-2, the lefthand set of movement cards will be used by that aircraft for the upcoming turn. On a 3-4, the middle set of movement cards will be used. On a roll of 5-6, the righthand set of movement cards will be used. Discard the non-chosen cards back into the movement card deck so as to not confuse yourself (like I almost did!).
- A logical set of movement cards should be chosen for these three piles each turn, and a pile chosen at random to simulate the pilot of the aircraft attempting to fulfil the mission objective for their side whilst not placing their aircraft in danger from enemy fire.
- Whenever an enemy aircraft is in range and has LOS, the non-player aircraft will shoot at the player aircraft. If there is a choice of aircraft to shoot at, the non-player will shoot at the closest enemy aircraft. If the distance is equal, then roll to randomly choose which aircraft is shot at.
Set-up
- Aircraft can be set up anywhere on their side of the table within their deployment zone. The deployment zone for each side is one Target Stick's length from their side of the table.
The length of the scenario will be as long as it takes for one side or the other to reach their objectives.
