This is the ICQ Log file generated when Mike Montesa and myself (Martin Moser) played the first Mission out of the Invasion of Poland (Early Sept.) campaign from GMT's Rise of the Luftwaffe (Down in Flames Series). We agreed to use the8th Air Force expansion set rules from the same Series(excl. rules sections 23 - 35 which deal with the campaigns specific to8th AF)

The first Mission turned out to be #7, Airfield, to be attacked by 4HE-111Hs. For Options the Germans (me) chose #1: Blitzkrieg, Bf-110C, the Poles #2: Sneak Attack, P.11c, P.11c (Skalski)

Below follows the Log which I edited in a few places for better understanding (comments inserted afterwards by me are written in red). It still might be “raw” in places, but remember this was recorded in the middle of a fight …

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       ICQ Chat Savefile     
Started on Sat Feb 27 01:08:11 1999

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<Mike> Okay...whenever you're ready
<martin>one sec
<Mike>take your time
<Mike> Don't know if you noticed, but Skalski has a counter for him flying with the RAF, in a Spitfire! 
<Mike> Guess he escaped from Poland...
<martin> hm, and I thought I got him for good last time...

we had played this Mission before but agreed to redo it as we noticed afterwards that we had made a couple of grave mistakes

<Mike> Those wiley Poles...
<martin> anyway, I think I am ready to go
<Mike> I'm ready
<martin>just checking the pilot counters
<Mike> You want me to pull yours?
<martin> is there no 110 pilot counter for the Germans?
<Mike> There is, Streib and Schnaufer
<Mike> only one
<Mike> I have that and four others
<Mike>(non aces)
<martin> ah, yes, forgot to mark that one as a RotL counter
<martin> agree
<martin> please draw for me
<Mike> Okay I'll draw now...
<Mike> Guy named Nagel, sorry
<martin> was expected
<martin> np
<Mike> I put his counter on the 110 leader (ldr)
<martin> ok
<Mike> My other leader is Kalinski
<Mike> no skills
<martin> got him
<Mike> Choose altitude?
<martin> bombers 1-4, left to right again

Bombers were laid out in a row and designated numbers 1-4 from right to left for ease of reference

<martin> alt(itude)= low
<Mike>right
<martin>110s are unloaded

Mike’s Sneak Attack made (scared) me choose unloaded (the option allowed the ME 110Cs to start loaded with bombs) to be able to use the ME 110Cs to full effect in defending the bombers (kind of didn’t work :-/ ) and themselves. As it turned out he attacked the bombers vigorously and ignored the 110s (good strategy).In hindsight I guess I should rather have started loaded as I could always have jettisoned those bombs…

I took one look at the P11Õs and instantly knew they weren’t going to go anywhere in a dogfight except straight into the ground! To score any kind of win in this mission, I would have to kill bombers, pure and simple. With such short Target Bound and Home Bound segements (4and 3 turns respectively) I couldn’t waste any time tangling with Martin’s 110’s. 

<Mike> alt= med

This way would deny Mike the possibility to attack with his Wingmen but on the other hand give him an additional card to attack the bombers for diving down on me

<Mike> 4 turns in 3 out?
<martin> right
<martin> I flip for turn order
<martin> axis
<Mike> OK
<martin> 110s are #1
<martin> #2 is?
<Mike> Skalski
<martin> ok
<Mike> so Kalinski is #3
<martin> order counters placed, lets go
<Mike> you're up

Start Target-bound Turn 1

<martin> straight
<martin> done

Because of the Polish Sneak Attack option the Germans were not allowed to play cards/respond on Turn 1

<Mike> OK, Skalski and wgm (=Wingman) go to low drawing one
<martin> -
<Mike> your choice of bomber
<martin> bo(mber)1
<Mike> IMS 2B/2D
<martin> 2 dam taken
<Mike>return fire?
<Mike> ah right none
<Mike> duh
<martin> would like to...
<Mike> discarding 2, drawing two
<martin> -
<Mike> #3 goes to low drawing 1
<martin> -
<Mike> choose a bomber
<martin> bo1
<Mike> IMS 1B/1D
<martin> 1 dam for 3tot(al)
<Mike> and IMS 1B/1D
<martin> 4 total
<Mike> drawing one, both hands at 4
<martin> ok
<Mike> T2

Start Target-bound Turn 2

<martin> 110 wgm att(ack)Skalski
<martin>draw 1
<Mike>ok
<martin> full thr(ottle) - ne
<Mike> -
<martin> ldr att Skalski
<martin> Maneuv(ering)
<Mike> you got me

Skalski disadvantaged

<martin> IMS 1(B)/1(D)
<Mike> 1dam
<martin>Maneuv
<Mike> on my tail

Skalski tailed

<martin> ok, draw3
<Mike> can Skalski's wgm go after a bomber or does he have to stay and help?
<martin> Skalski is engaged so I think no for the bombers
<martin> only engaging ldr or his wgm
<Mike> right
<Mike> wgm @ 110 ldr
<Mike> drawing 1
<martin> -
<Mike> scissors, ne
<Mike> :-(
<martin> ok
<Mike> no alt change
<martin> -
<Mike> half loop
<martin> he got away

110 and Skalski at Neutral again

<Mike> go for a bomber you choose
<martin> bo2
<Mike> IMS 1b/1d
<martin> draw 2 def(ensive mini-hand cards).
<martin> take 1 dam
<Mike> nothing?
<martin> no

For the first couple of attacks I continued to draw mostly useless cards, suffering damage without being able to negate or pay back :-/ 

<Mike> drawing two
<Mike> #2 up
<Mike> wgm @ bmbr
<Mike> #?
<martin> bo2 again
<Mike> drawing two
<Mike> IMS1b/2d
<martin> draw 2 def
<martin> take 2 dam and counter fire IMS 3/3
<Mike>vertical roll!
<martin> lucky!
<Mike> what's the dam for your bombers?
<martin> bo2 at 3dam total
<martin> bo1 at 4 dam
<Mike> ok
<Mike> no alt change
<martin> -
<Mike> ldr2 @ bmbrs your choice
<martin> bo2again
<Mike>O(ut)o(f)t(he)S(un) 2b/3d
<martin> draw 2 def
<martin> ack, 6 dam total, bo2 flip

Bomber #2 is flipped to the damaged side

<Mike> roger that drawing 1
<Mike> to you
<Mike> T3

Start Target-bound Turn 3

<martin> wgm att Kalinski
<martin> draw 1
<Mike> right
<martin> full thr. again, ne
<martin> :-/
<Mike> right
<Mike> ;-)
<martin> ldr dis(card) 2, draw 2, h(and) = 4
<Mike> roger that
<martin> over to#2
<Mike> wgm @ bmbr you choose
<martin> bo3
<Mike> ah wait a sec
<martin> yes
<Mike> I draw first and if I have a maneuvering card I can try to choose?
<martin>I think, checking ...
<Mike> otherwise the wgm could never choose
<martin> agree

It took me a little while to get the rules for attacking bombers down pat.  For me that has always been the most tricky part of the game, especially the differences between the way wingmen and leaders attack.
 
<Mike> maneuvering to choose B1
<martin> 110 plays T(ight)T(urn)
<Mike> okay your choice
<martin> bo3
<Mike> right IMS 3b/3d
<martin> def draw 2
<martin> IMS 2/2 w/ spoiled attack :-)
<Mike> a stinker
<martin> a smoker

Yes! I managed to damage the first enemy wingman! 

<Mike> no alt change
<Mike> Skalski @ bmbrs you choose
<martin> (flip wgm)
<Mike> right
<martin> bo3 again
<Mike> IMS 1b/1d
<martin> draw 2 def
<martin> take one dam and play IMS 1/1
<Mike>full throttle
<martin> ok
<Mike> drawing 2 cards
<martin> -
<Mike> #3 is up
<martin> -
<Mike>wgm going after bmbrs drawing 2
<martin> -
<Mike> choose one
<martin> bo3
<Mike> IMS fuel tank hit!
<martin> draw 2 def....
<martin> he goes down!!!
<martin> but a last shot
<martin> IMS 2/2
<Mike> barrel roll that!
<martin>darn
<martin> bo3 elim

The first HE-111His shot down! 

<Mike> ldr up
<martin> ok
<Mike> maneuvering to select #1
<martin> ok
<Mike> IMS 1b/1d
<martin> draw 1(only) *-/
<martin> spoiled att!
<Mike> frack!
<Mike> drawing 2
<Mike> both hands at 4
<Mike> T4 then Ingress

Start Target-bound Turn 4

<martin> wgm att. Kali(nski)
<Mike> ok
<martin> ace pilot...
<martin> ne
<Mike> -
<martin> ldr att. Kali.
<martin> IMS 1/1
<Mike> TT
<martin> and TT
<Mike> TT again
<martin> Scissors
<Mike> ?? scissors responds to a TT?
<martin> yes :-)
<Mike> oh yea
<Mike> ok 1 dam
<martin> ok, draw 2,h=2
<Mike>right
<martin>Skalski
<Mike>wgm @ bmbrs he can do this right?
<martin> yes
<Mike> drawing 1
<martin> -
<Mike> got a maneuvering but that won't help without attack cards right?
<martin> yes :-/
<Mike> ok no alt change
<martin> -
<Mike> Skalski @ bmbrs
<martin> -
<Mike> half loop to choose #1
<martin> ok, at 4 bursts then
<Mike> 2b/2d IMS
<martin> draw 1 def
<martin> take 2 for 6tot, flip

Another one flipped - now I have 1 bomber lost and 2 damaged already …

<Mike> no return fire?
<martin> nope
<Mike> okay drawing 2 hand at4
<martin> -
<Mike> #3 up
<martin> -
<Mike> wgm going for bmbrs drawing 2
<martin> -
<Mike>Maneuver and b(arrel)r(oll), ne
<Mike> no alt change
<martin>:-O
<martin>-
<Mike> ldr draw two hand at 4 done
<martin> ok
<Mike> Ingress 1

Start Ingress Turn 

After the fighters broke off, I really had my fingers crossed. If the dogfights went poorly for me, I wouldn’t be able to go after the bombers after they came off the bomb run. I had a hand full of defensive cards for Skalski that I hoped would get him through the next three turns... 

<martin> break off, you have to announce first
<martin> (defender)
<Mike> breaking off
<martin> 110s breaking off too
<Mike> I thought so ;-)
<martin> ok
<martin> wgm att Kali.
<martin> draw 1
<Mike> bring it
<martin> IMS 1/2
<Mike> BR that
<martin> got nothing to respond :-(
<martin> stay at low
<Mike> roger that
<martin> ldr att Kali's wgm
<Mike> ok
<martin> IMS 1/2
<Mike> drawing 2
<martin> no, 1

Kalinski’s wingman was already damaged at that time, reducing his defensive mini-hand to 1

<Mike> right
<Mike> ok
<Mike> done
<martin> any response?
<Mike> sorry, TT
<martin> too bad
<martin> he got away
<martin> draw 3, h=4
<Mike> ok
<martin> over to you
<Mike> Skalski wgm is out of it

A damaged P.11c has 0 offensive rating …

Tragically awful planes...

<Mike> no alt change
<martin> -
<Mike> Skalski att. 110 wgm
<martin> ok
<Mike> IMS 1b/2d
<martin> draw 2
<martin> wait, you have 0 Bursts
<martin> need to play Maneuv etc. first
<Mike>ah right forget that then
<Mike> IMS discarded
<martin> ok
<Mike> discarding 1 drawing 2 h=4
<martin> ok
<Mike> #3 Kalinski
<martin> -
<Mike> wgm @ 110 ldr
<Mike> drawing 1
<martin> -
<Mike> TT ne
<martin> phew
<Mike> no alt change
<martin> -
<Mike> ldr discards 1 draws 1 h=4
<martin> ok, area flak then
<Mike>sorry draws 2
<martin> agree
<Mike> ok
<Mike>here goes

drawing cards for area flak

<martin> aim high
<Mike> b1
<Mike>Full throttle ne
<martin> ok
<Mike> b2 BR ne
<martin> good
<Mike> b3 V(ertical) r(oll) ne
<martin> lucky here
<martin>Bomb turn then
<Mike> that's it b3 shoulda been b4 since 3 went down...
<martin> right, b4
<Mike> ok

Start Bombing Turn 

<martin> wgm att Kali.
<martin> draw 1
<Mike> ok
<martin> Half loop
<Mike> oi! ace pilot
<martin> ok
<martin> :-/
<martin> he is a good one that Kalinski
<Mike>lucky rabbit's foot
<martin> ldr att. Kali's wgm
<Mike> ok
<martin> IMS 1/1
<Mike> TT
<martin> damn
<Mike> whew!
<martin> dis 1, draw 2, h=4
<Mike> ok
<martin> Skalski & co
<Mike> ok Skalski's wgm is out, no alt change
<martin>-
<Mike> Skalski@ 110 ldr
<martin> -
<Mike>no never mind that, no maneuvering cards I keep forgetting

There’s nothing like playing the Poles for a challenge. With a Burst rating of zero you HAVE to be advantaged on your opponent just to get ONE lousy burst!

<martin> no attack then?
<Mike> Skalski no attack no discards no draw h=4

My glut of defensive cards worked against me here as I had nothing to attack with. I didn’t discard and draw because I had already declared an attack I couldn’t make and it didn’t seem fair. Skalski thought he had a shot, but didn’t really..
 
<martin> -
<Mike> Kalinski wgm @ 110 ldr
<martin> -
<Mike> drawing 1
<martin> -
<Mike> maneuvering
<martin> got me, disadv.
<Mike> Kalinski @ ldr maneuvering
<martin> tailed:-/
<Mike> "watchout for the bloody gunner!"

I had suffered mightily from Martin’s gunners in our test game..

<martin> :-)
<Mike> IMS 1b/1d
<martin> 1 dam
<Mike> drawing 2
<martin> -
<Mike> hand @ 2
<martin> ok
<Mike> bomb run
<martin> bombing then
<martin> b1,damaged draws 1 + 1 for Low
<martin> 2x Hit
<Mike> drawing 3 flak, 1 spoiled att nothing else
<Mike> 1 hit on target
<martin>so one hit
<martin> ok
<Mike> 1 dam
<martin> bo2 then
<martin> dam, draw 1 +1
<martin> 2x Hit again
<Mike> drawing 3 flak
<Mike> no spoiled attack but IMS 1b/2d & IMS2b/2d
<martin>which brings him down (6 +2+2)
<Mike> 2 hits 2dam target has 3 dam
<Mike> kaboom!
<martin> :-(

Lost the 2ndbomber - this attack is costing me dearly …

<martin> last time was better ...
<martin> bo4 then
<Mike> target is at Damaged
<martin> undamaged(bo4), draw 2+1
<martin> 2x Hit, 1x Direct
<Mike> !!! drawing 3 flak
<Mike> FT spoiled attack cancels direct
<martin> :-/
<Mike> OotS 1b/2d
<Mike> and Maneuvering, ne
<martin> take 2 dam for 2 total
<martin> target at 5
<martin> Cratered
<Mike> target has 5 hits and is cratered
<martin> Egress
<Mike> ok

Last time was better for Martin in terms of damage he’d done to my fighters (in our test game, he’d shot down two, including Skalski, and damaged one, all before the bomb run). This time, however, he’d damaged the target more (Cratered) than last time (Damaged).

Start Egress Turn 

<martin> wgm att Kali
<martin> draw 1
<Mike> ok
<martin> Maneuv
<Mike> no response, disadv
<martin> ok, no alt change
<martin> ldr
<martin> Maneuv.
<Mike> neutral
<martin> dis 1, draw 2, h=4
<Mike> ok
<Mike> Skalski up
<martin> go
<Mike> Skalski discards 1 draws one
<martin>-
<Mike> Kalinski wgm @ 110 ldr
<Mike> drawing 1
<martin> -
<Mike>IMS but no good w/o maneuvering
<Mike> no alt change
<martin> wait
<Mike> Kalinski @ ldr ok
<martin> why no good?
<Mike> 0 burst rating right?
<martin> wgm don’t have a burst rating
<Mike> ah not for the wgm ok
<martin> they can play any card
<martin> :-/
<Mike> IMS 1b/1d
<Mike> sorry my bad
<martin> np
<martin> BR
<Mike> safe
<martin> ok
<Mike> now for Kalinski @ ldr
<martin> -
<Mike>maneuvering
<martin> TT
<Mike> safe, drawing 2 hand @ 3
<martin> ok
<martin> egress area flak
<Mike> ok
<Mike> b1 drawing 1
<martin> -
<Mike> ne
<martin> -
<Mike> b2, ne
<martin> :-)
<Mike> that's it
<martin> home, boys, home

Start Home-bound Turn 1

<Mike> 3 turns home!
<Mike> I got your number today...
<martin> looks like
<martin> ok, wgm at Kali again
<Mike> OK
<martin> draw 1
<martin> IMS 2/2
<Mike> argh! spunk spunk spunk 3 dam and flipped
<martin> took long enough
<martin> ;-)
<Mike> can't be lucky forever
<martin> ldr draw 2,h=4
<Mike> ok
<martin> Skalski
<Mike> Skalski's wgm at bmbrs drawing 1
<martin> -
<Mike> maneuvering does no good
<martin> right
<Mike> no alt change Skalski @ bmbrs
<martin> -
<Mike> your choice
<martin> bo1
<Mike> ah never mind not enough bursts even with the bonus discard 1 draw 1...
<Mike> damn...
<martin> what cards ...
<Mike> h=4
<martin> ok
<Mike> Kalinski wgm @ bmbrs drawing 2
<martin> -
<Mike> nothing ne
<martin> -
<Mike> Kalinski discards 2 draws 2
<martin> -
<Mike> Homebound 2
<martin> ok

Start Home-bound Turn 2

<martin> wgm att Skalski's wgm for a change
<martin> draw 1
<Mike> drawing 1
<martin> BR
<martin> ne
<Mike> ok
<martin> ldr att Kali's wgm
<martin> Maneuv
<Mike> ok drawing 1
<Mike> no response
<martin> +1 burst
<Mike> right
<martin> IMS 2B/fuel tank
<Mike> kaboom down inflames
<martin>yeah!

First wingmen down, this took way too long

<martin> draw 2, h=4
<Mike> you were saving that..  ;-)
<martin> for a long time now :-)
<Mike> okay Skalski going after the bombers for some payback
<Mike> you choose
<martin> b1
<Mike> ok plays maneuvering for +1 bursts
<martin> I don’t like that...
<Mike> then you won't like this either OotS 3b/4d
<martin> draw 1 def
<martin> you are right
<martin> I don’t like it
<martin>NOOOoooooooo......
<Mike> kaboom!
<martin> IMS 1/2 before he goes
<Mike> Full throttle that
<martin> ok

… and the 3rdbomber down, I am going to start this campaign in the negative!!!

<Mike> drawing 2 h=3
<martin> 3rd bomber down
<Mike> my deck is almost finished!
<martin> the flak....
<Mike> Kalinski discards 2 draws 2 h=3
<martin> ok
<Mike> last turn!
<martin> last turn

Start Home-bound Turn 3

<martin> wgm at Skalskis wgm
<martin> draw 1
<Mike> bring it
<martin> vert roll, ne
<Mike> drawing 1
<Mike> ok
<martin> ldr at Skalskis wgm
<Mike> ok drawing1
<martin> OotS1/2
<Mike> boom dead!

Both wingmen down, but I always lack the cards to gain position on the leaders :-/

<martin> good, dis 1, draw 2, h=4
<martin> one bomber left ...
<Mike>Skalski has a whole lot of nothing draws 1

Again, Skalski’s defensive cards left me looking for some IMS cards, or better, some Maneuvering Cards.

<martin> wgm may attack I think
<Mike> Kalinski goes in at the last bomber
<Mike> all wgm dead
<Mike> only Skalski and Kalinski left
<martin> ah, forgot to take him away
<martin> sorry
<martin> Kalinski then
<Mike>OK?
<martin>ok
<Mike>Kalinski @ last bomber
<martin> -
<martin> will he make it?
<Mike> ah no, I have no attack, can't get the bursts
<martin> phew
<martin> over then
<Mike> Wow! That was a fight!
<martin> and pretty much without mistakes as well, I think
<martin> (though I liked the first version better)
<martin> ;-)
<Mike> I had only three cards left
<Mike> I'm sure you did!!
<martin> :-)
<martin> VP count?
<Mike> ok
<martin> me
<martin> 2 fighters down = 10
<Mike> Skalski escapes to England! ;-)
<martin> 1 fighter dam = 2
<martin> (yes, he gets away ... :-( )
<martin> target Cratered = 6 x2(Blitzkrieg) = 12
<Mike> right
<martin> 1 med bomber returns = 5
<Mike> ok
<martin> 29 total
<Mike> right
<Mike> 3 bombers down for me, that's 30
<martin> right
<Mike> and that's all
<martin> which keeps me in the abysmally bad range to start
<Mike> Well, it's not over till the fat lady sings...as they say
<martin>I sure hope...
<martin> wanna continue?
<martin> or rather next time?
<Mike> It was good though, not too many mistakes
<Mike> I have to go. next time for sure!
<Mike> Mission #6?
<martin> ok
<Mike> Thanks Martin! I'll post a note on the GMT board later on...
<Mike> and get back to you about mission 2
<martin> thanks to you!
<martin> ok, I will wait for your mail
<Mike> Ok good nite!
<martin> nite

Ahh, what a feel to play DiF again! Even if the start was everything but promising I am looking forward to the remaining missions. It is reassuring to know that Mike has used his most powerful option, but unfortunately (for me) to very good effect. Also I think he made a good choice in not letting himself be drawn into any dogfights, but rather concentrating on the bombers. I will need to score high from now on if I want to land anywhere but in the “miserable” range …