From: gregory_b@cubldr.colorado.edu (Brian Gregory)
Subject: Re: New WiF stuff (PiF)
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1992 21:45:40 GMT

Dave Casper asked for juicy details about the new WiF stuff.  I compiled
this for a friend, so and so will post it back for Dave, and whomever
else missed.  Sorry, only Planes if Flames is covered here, but to the
level that should meet Dave's request.

In: <1992Sep2.214536.22617@med.umich.edu> caraher@pn32.petnet.med.umich.edu
wrote:

>In standard WiF there are 5 air unit types:
> FTR = fighters;  TAC = tactical bombers;
> STR = strategic bombers; ATR = air transports.
> NAV = naval bombers;
>Each type is a composite unit representing 200-450 aircraft dominated by
>aircraft designed for a particular type of mission. Once each turn an air unit
>may fly to any hex within its range and attempt to either bomb ground units,
>bomb ships, bomb factories/resources, drop paratroops, or engage in air combat
>with enemy aircraft in that hex or sea area. All units within a type cost the
>same normally, and they all have identical ranges within a type 
> (range and capabilities info deleted.)

>   In PiF, there are more air units which are cheaper to build, and each unit
> is more homogeneous, so that each counter is labeled with the aircraft type 
> it represents (e.g. Me-163, P-51B, P-51D). Counter values now reflect the 
> actual performance of the aircraft type represented (so the Me-163 rocket 
> fighter has a zero-hex range but a huge air-air combat value, while the 
> P-51 models used as strategic bomber escorts have a range of 12 hexes, 
> reflecting their actual use in a way not possible in standard WiF with its 
> maximum FTR range of 6 hexes).  Also offsetting the cheaper cost of aircraft
> are the need to also buy pilot training and an increase in the deadliness 
> of naval flak, plus the addition of flak units defending key hexes.  The 
> TAC/STR distinction is unnecessary, and the two types are merged.  In WiF, 
> if you drew a good counter early in the war it is just as effective 4 years 
> later; in PiF, air combat values get better as new aircraft are introduced, 
> so all sides must continue to buy aircraft even when combat losses are low.

> PiF is an *expansion*, and I'd recommend playing straight WiF a few times
> before even beginning to worry about picking up PiF. The air game is
> necessarily abstract (the time scale of a turn is two months, after all), 
> and the original rules work fine.

This sounds pretty cool, extra detail with only 3 pages of rules, to mean
it shouldn't afftect play balance too much! 

And then, in <1992Sep4.125249.2215@med.umich.edu>, he added.

< "Planes in Flames" should be available through wherever you bought WiF;
< otherwise, just write to ADG in Australia. I think they want $25 (I bought 
< mine in a package including Fatal Alliances, the Canadian Wargamers' Journal
< WWI WiF variant, plus the Scandinavian add-on map and CWJ WiF annual (when 
< they come out; the map should be in the mail and the annual is due Oct 15, 
< so I'm not sure of the unit prices).  PiF includes not only rules but new 
< counters to replace all the existing air units. In fact, I think the new 
< counters are the heart of the expansion. There are more units, they are 
< cheaper but now you have to buy pilots separately, each unit represents one 
< actual aircraft type (rather than the generic/composite types in WiF), and 
< each type has a printed range right on the counter. (Have fun with that 
< 26-hex range US ATR, or that 0-hex range Me-163 fighter!) 

< Most of what you buy is 600 new counters, which are pretty amazing.  No
< silhouettes; each aircraft in drawn with nation-appropriate insignia, and
< with camoflage patterns that denote what class the unit is within a type 
< (for example, B-17Gs form a class with better combat values than the B-17Fs
< Obsolescent types may be scrapped, so the distinction is important.) I heard
< the counter art alone took 900 hours to complete; some of that effort is 
< lost on those small counters, but they're still quite attractive. The new 
< rules run 3 pages, with another page of optional rules. All the existing 
< scenarios have revised air unit setups, and there is an extensive listing 
< of the armament, performance and production stats filling out the scenario 
< booklet.

What I'm wondering is:  does this play exclusively with the 5th edition rules,
or could I fudge it on to my 4.5 ed. game?

Lastly, Carl Schurr (cjs@phy.duke.edu) provided some ordering info:
as well as some updated errata (from CWJ #32), that you can look up.

*****
Product News:
The WiF annual is supposed to come out on Oct.15.  Also, their variant
of WWI WiF, "Fatal Alliances" is now available.  The Annual costs $15,
Fatal Alliances $22, or $32 (US) for both.  Shipping is free for orders
over $20, $3 otherwise.    
Order from :
	Canadian Wargmers Group
	207 Bernard Drive NW
	Calgary, Alberta 
	T3K 2B6
*****

all for now,
Brian 

***---***---***---***---***---***---***---***---***---***---***---***---
Brian Gregory				||"When we try to pick anything 
I-net:  GREGORY_B@CUBLDR.COLORADO.EDU	|| out by itself, we find it
ECE Graduate Student			|| hitched to everything else in
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