More on GDW's Blue Max board game...

Lufbery · 7 October 2002, 10:00 AM

Hi all,

Last night my wife and I played GDW's Blue Max board game, and quite frankly, we had a ball!

Robin decided that she wanted to be an American, so she chose a Spad 13 painted as

Reed Chambers's post war American flag scheme (she wanted to be very American). I chose MvR's Dr.1. No, that's not a historical match up. No, we didn't care.

For those who don't know, Blue Max is a multi-player board game that simulates dog-fights over the Western Front during WWI. A good review can be found here:

http://www.panix.com/~sos/bc/bluemax.html

FWIW, I don't quite agree with the reviewer that the altitude rules of the second edition detract from the game. We've played the game both with and without the altitude rules, and we prefer the game with them. Neither my wife nor I are experienced war gamers, and we didn't find the altitude rules difficult.

The few other inconsistencies in the rules are easy to overcome.

The upshot is that Robin and I had a great hour or so playing the game (including setup). I was especially impressed with how well the game simulated the capabilities of the planes we used. Robin is not a WW1 nut like us, but she realized that her Spad was quite a bit faster than my Dr.1 and she kept her speed up throughout the engagement (until she spun due to a wing hit

). I, on the other hand, used the Dr.1's maneuverability to keep her in my sights for much of the dogfight.

However, her plane is much sturdier than mine, and after two long bursts and hits from my guns, she was still flying (but smoking) and capable of absorbing more punishment whereas I was a fews hits away from crumbling out of the sky after just one hit from a close range long burst from her. Furthermore, the dogfight spiraled downwards as was often the case historically.

The fight ended in a draw as it was time for us to turn it. We saluted and flew off (and then packed up the game).

I can see how one might be tempted to try to tweak the rules to achieve more "realism," but then the game would probably lose most of its appeal. This is a great game for me (the WWI aviation nut) and my wife (the non-nut) and other (non-nut) friends to play.

I don't have experience with other WWI aviation board games, but I would definitely recommend this one.

For those that have played Blue Max as well as other WWI aviation board games, what do you think of it and how does it stack up to other games with the same theme?

Regards,

wolfenbill · 7 October 2002, 01:31 PM

While I like air games that are probably more accurate than Blue Max's in representing the characteristics of any particular type of aircraft I think you are dead on regarding using a relatively simple game like BM when playing someone who doesn't game much and/or doesn't know much about WWI aircraft. The ones I like to play would turn someone like that totally against playing such games, and that's not a good thing, especially if it's your spouse.

Lufbery · 7 October 2002, 05:31 PM

I've been playing computer simulations for eight years or so, but only just got into aviation board games. It's neat playing the board game -- much nicer in many ways than playing the computer, or even multi-player on the computer.

It was cool afterwards when my wife started asking me questions about dogfighting and WWI planes. I even got out my copy of Spad Fighters in Action and showed her a profile of Chambers's plane.
Regards,

VictorVonDoom · 8 October 2002, 03:30 AM

You're a lucky man Luf...
A wife playing WW1 board games... :-*

Regards

Lufbery · 8 October 2002, 10:18 AM

Quote:

You're a lucky man Luf...
A wife playing WW1 board games... :-*

Regards

*grin* I've got a little brother (16 years old) who plays with me too sometimes.

Has anyone else on this board played Blue Max? I'd like to have someone to talk to when I've got a question.

Regards,

Lufbery · 9 October 2002, 09:48 AM

Does nobody else play this game?

Regards,

11 October 2002, 09:49 AM

since blue max is quit hard to come by here in the cajun country. i have Dawn Patrol. dont really know the similarities between the 2. havent had any to play DP wit yet tho!!

The Legend

Lufbery · 12 October 2002, 04:53 PM

Quote:

since blue max is quit hard to come by here in the cajun country. i have Dawn Patrol. dont really know the similarities between the 2. havent had any to play DP wit yet tho!!

Well, I haven't played DP yet, but I've checked out the web site. (www.dawnpatrol.org) and it looks like a neat game. From what I can tell, it's a bit more complicated than Blue Max. It has a very loyal following, though.

Regards,

15 October 2002, 08:14 AM

Blue Max is a fun game but in my opinion, Dawn Patrol by TSR is the better game. I used the BEAUTIFUL counters from Blue Max to make new/additional counters for Dawn Patrol. Use a color copier at Kinkos, reduce the counters to fit on 1" squares cut from matte boards for framing. You glue the aircraft to the matte square and when dry, use a clear coating (decopague?) to seal it. All the crafty stuff is avail. at Michaels or a similar store.
If you like the venue, check out the Indy Squadron Dispatch; die hard W.W. I Dawn Patrol gamers with great links.

Sincerely, Joe (Blue Max) from Kuwait

Lufbery · 15 October 2002, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Blue Max is a fun game but in my opinion, Dawn Patrol by TSR is the better game.

Would you be willing to post a comparison on the two games?

Quote:

I used the BEAUTIFUL counters from Blue Max to make new/additional counters for Dawn Patrol. Use a color copier at Kinkos, reduce the counters to fit on 1" squares cut from matte boards for framing. You glue the aircraft to the matte square and when dry, use a clear coating (decopague?) to seal it. All the crafty stuff is avail. at Michaels or a similar store.

Cool! The copy of Blue Max that I bought was missing a few counters (although not the planes, thank God!), so I've been scanning and creating counters for the game. I do desktop publishing professionally, so I've got the software and the know-how. I've been printing my counters out on card stock and then gluing them to stiff cardboard. I'll have to see about the sealant you mention. Do you coat both sides?

I've also addressed some of the errata by scanning and correctiong the combat chart and one of the maneuve schedules. My next step is to scan all of the maneuver schedules and mount them next to the sheet where you record your moves.

Quote:

If you like the venue, check out the Indy Squadron Dispatch; die hard W.W. I Dawn Patrol gamers with great links.

Sincerely, Joe (Blue Max) from Kuwait

I've checked out that web site. It's really cool that the game has such an active following. There's word of a new edition (4th?) coming out soon. Do you have any info on it?

Regards,