Wings of the Motherland (2019) Board Game

Wings of the Motherland is a board game that takes players back to the intense air battles of World War II. Designed by Ian Wedge and published in 2019, this game allows players to take on the roles of pilots from various nations as they engage in dogfights and strategic missions.

Game Components of Wings of the Motherland

Rule Book: The Third Edition rule book, which includes comprehensive updates and major revisions for increased modeling accuracy and ease of play.

Maps: Four 34×22″ maps, back-printed to provide four different playing surfaces, including city, woods, rural, and sky maps.

Counters: 280 air counters, 280 land counters, and 70 1″ ship counters. Counter art is by Ian Wedge.

Aircraft Data Cards (ADC): Nearly 50 ADCs detailing various aircraft and their variants, as well as data cards for ships.

Scenario Book: A 120-page booklet with essays on historical background and nearly 200 scenarios.

Play Aid: A 32-page booklet containing tables and charts to help understand rule interactions.

How To Setup Wings of the Motherland

Setting up the game involves organizing the maps, counters, and data cards. Players need to select a scenario from the scenario book, which will guide them on the initial setup, including the placement of aircraft, terrain, and other elements. The game-specific rules are found in the *Rules Supplement*, which includes examples of play to help new players.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Air-Air Combat: Simulates dogfights between aircraft.

Air-Ground Combat: Involves air attacks against ground or naval units.

Night Combat: Expanded rules to model night fighting accurately.

Game Objective: Players aim to achieve scenario-specific objectives, such as destroying enemy aircraft or completing ground attack missions.

Player Experience

Wings of the Motherland offers a detailed and immersive experience for players. Each individual aircraft move is designed to be quick to resolve, typically taking 5 to 10 minutes to plan and execute. Once familiar with the system, players find that most of the time is spent deciding on the actions rather than the actual movement and recording. The game is praised for its well-organized rule book and beautiful, serviceable components.

Pros

Detailed Simulation: Accurately models aircraft flight characteristics and combat.

High-Quality Components: Beautiful maps and well-researched data cards.

Extensive Scenarios: Nearly 200 scenarios and essays on historical background.

Improved Rules: Third Edition rules incorporate 15 years of improvements and major revisions.

Cons

Complexity: Despite being playable, the game has a reputation for complexity.

Binding Issue: The scenario booklet has a perfect bound binding, which some players find less convenient than a spiral binding.

Personal Thoughts on Wings of the Motherland

Wings of the Motherland is ideal for wargame enthusiasts and those interested in detailed simulations of air combat during World War II. The game’s complexity and depth make it more suited for experienced players, but the examples of play and well-organized rules help new players to get started. With its high-quality components and extensive scenarios, it is a valuable addition to any wargamer’s collection. However, it may not be the best fit for casual gamers due to its intricate mechanics and detailed rules.

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