Mission Type Changes during the course of the war: Germans, French (and Americans)

These two tables correspond to Bletchley's, above. Mark refers to them as his "von Bletch" tables.

20 “Extreme” Rules for Red Baron 3D SP Campaigns

A while back someone suggested that it would be interesting to create a set of ‘extreme’ rules for SP in Red Baron.  These would aim for the greatest realism in a career by trying to replicate the restrictions under which pilots would have operated.  Here is a set based on what I do.  I’d be delighted if others would comment and maybe suggest changes or additions.   Essentially, given the way RB works, these rules are designed to (1) put more realistic levels of pilot caution into the game – your life and the lives of your squad mates are on the line every time you fly – and (2) award victories more realistically. 

*Most Rules assume you are the patrol leader. 

** To follow these rules you have to be comfortable with hex editing campaign files, as Tymophil’s Editeur won’t allow you to add kills or medals.  Don’t panic – it’s easy.  In any case Sygrod’s campaign editor will probably make these ‘addition’ actions possible before too long.

1.  Use the available rules and utilities already available to enhance historical realism.  These include using a historical patch - WFP - with CM to incorporate date-based changes, Nowi’s RB3D Tempo Management ‘System’, or some variant of it, to ensure that the ebb and flow of activity in the game corresponds with historical peaks and troughs, and Bletchley’s rules for engine failures, gun jams and rotary controls.

2.  No restart.  Take the mission result on the chin.  Sure you can resurrect pilots or use Nowi’s system to save maimed pilots.  But that’s not extreme.  Knowing that dead means dead is the sort of fear that makes you think twice before making that one last pass over the enemy aerodrome, or chasing that fleeing foe to finish him off.

3.  Captured means captured.  Escapes from POW camps and return to duty were very rare.  If RB ‘releases ‘ you, ignore and end campaign anyway.

4.  Mission aims must be adhered to.  Don’t chase targets of opportunity when en route to a rendezvous or other mission target. 

5.  Delete missions if they conflict with historical practice.   Specifically, airfield and infantry attacks by scouts should be discarded until mid-1917.  No long range escort missions by JG Staffeln.

6.  Use Mission Generator before each mission.

7.  Weapon load must match the mission aim.  Rockets only for balloon attacks.  Rockets not even used for balloons by British after April 1917.   No rockets for anyone in 1918. 

8.  Climb to patrol height BEFORE you approach or cross the lines; if necessary add additional waypoints before flying (only after applying Mission Generator) to allow time to climb to patrol height before approaching or crossing the lines.  Remove waypoints that are redundant.  Move waypoints if you can find a safer alternative route.

9.  Never loiter or transit over enemy AAA sites at less than  1800 m /5000 ft.  If regaining height near such sites (lines, aerodromes, railyards, etc), fly away from the machine guns as you climb.  Autopilot will tend to place you smack above heavily fortified waypoints so you need to fly manually to avoid them.

10.   Don’t lead attacks on numerically or altitudinally superior scout formations as targets of opportunity.  Only attack such formations when the mission aim dictates, as in escort or point defence type assignments.  Fly away from such formations before they ‘see’ you.

11.  Don’t pursue enemy planes far into enemy territory; break off once it becomes clear that pursuit will take a long time over hostile terrain.  If German, always abandon pursuit once behind Allied lines.

12. Protect your mates.  Don’t persist in chasing a beaten foe while a squadron mate is under attack.

13.  If a combat gets you alone and low over enemy territory, don’t waste time trying to finish off a damaged opponent.  Once he is clearly damaged and therefore no longer a threat, break off, find altitude and head for home.  You are not really giving up a victory - under these circumstances, it would be very unlikely a victory would be confirmed (see rule 18).

14. When wounded, break off combat (restrict further combat to immediate self-defence) and return to nearest friendly aerodrome.

15. After suffering significant damage (e.g. collision, minor structural failure), return to nearest friendly aerodrome as soon as possible.  Avoid combat manoeuvres.

16. After a combat, ctrl-R, circle and climb throttled back to ensure that the flight regroups and regains altitude before continuing the mission.

17.  After a major combat (roughly: half ammunition expended) lead the flight back to base (ctrl-H) (after applying rule 16).

18**. Victory claims.  YOU (ie, not just the Red Baron debrief) must see the enemy machine crash, burst into flames or break up in the air while you are firing at it in order to put in a victory claim. Exceptions for British pilots who can also claim ‘Out of Control’. This should mean that “slow-oil-leak-flamers” that wander off to die will mostly be ignored.  Enemy machines that land safely on your side of the lines should  be claimed, even if RB debrief doesn’t. 

Confirmation of victories must be awarded according to nationality of the pilot as follows:

                British: Victory must be observable by a friendly witness. Ground confirmation assumed if victory occurs over friendly territory or over the lines.  For victories over territory beyond the German lines, only awarded if enemy falls within observation range of a friendly aircraft.  Shared victories should be awarded by editing the campaign data file.

                French/USAS: Victory awarded only if enemy machine falls where ground observers can confirm  (limit is German front lines).  All other victories may be recorded if desired but logged only as ‘probables’.  Shared victories should be awarded by editing the campaign data file.

                German: Victory awarded only if enemy machine falls where ground observers can confirm  (limit is Allied front lines). All other victories may be recorded if desired but logged only as ‘unconfirmed’.  If several pilots have fired on an enemy machine which falls, victory to be awarded by arbitration (read: roll a dice; bias result in favour of higher ranking/scoring officer); the campaign data file should then be edited.

19**.  Award decorations yourself by editing the campaign file, based on national practice.  RB or CM’s awards are too approximate and you will often need to edit out game awarded decorations.  One thing to remember is that in 1915-1916, all armed forces were more impressed by aerial victories than was the case later, so award medals more freely early on, then make ‘em earn them later.  And give a few medals to your successful squaddies too.

British:

MC (DFC from April 1918) after 7 to 12 victories.  Second and third awards (bars) were added if this level of service was sustained, but more than two bars would be very unusual. 

                For RNAS, “MC” = British DSC.

DSO for sustained outstanding service (20 victories) or for a single act of unusual courage and leadership. Multiple awards as bars are possible, but more than one bar is unlikely. 

VC: rare award and mostly only for single acts of outstanding braver

French:. 

 Croix de Guerre awarded for an act of bravery (‘mentioned in despatches’).  Subsequent mentions accrue further awards – allow up to 15.  Nature of these awards depended on significance of the action: Escadrille or Groupe level: bronze star (étoile de bronze)

                                                Division level: silver star (étoile d’argent)

                                                Corps level: gold star (étoile d’or)

                                                Army level: palme

Medaille militaire: single award for an act of bravery.  The Croix de Guerre was automatically awarded with this decoration.

Legion d’Honneur.  Chevalier after 20 confirmed kills. (Higher ranks – Officier, Cammandeur, Grand Officier, Grand Croix)

 US: (USAS service):

US DSC after 5 victories.  Subsequent awards recognised by an Oak Leaf cluster. NB: DSC only passed by Congress from 9 July 1918.

The Medal of Honor, like the British VC, was a very rare award most often for a single act of exceptional courage. 

German:

EKII – after 1-3 victories or an outstanding feat of arms

EKI – after 6-8 victories or an outstanding feat of arms

Hausordern der Hohenzollern – (officers only!) after 5 victories (1915) 10 victories (1916) 15 victories (1917) or 20 victories (1918).

                Blue Max – (officers only!) after  10 victories (1915) after 15 victories (1916) after 18 victories (1917) after 25 victories (1918).

 (For heroic German NCOs, the equivalent decoration to the HOHo or Blue Max would be the Gold Military Cross of Merit [Goldene Militär-Verdienst-Kreuz] ) 

20*.   If you are not the patrol leader, most rules still apply (but not 8, 10 and 16).  You have one new rule as well – follow your patrol leader!  Even if he takes it into his head to attack a swarm of enemies or fly 50 km into enemy territory.  As far as you can, try and protect the leader even if the halfwit is trying to get you both killed.  However, once you have engaged in an unequal combat or found yourself alone over hostile territory, head for safety at the first opportunity. (“…I lost touch with him in the dogfight…”). 

Strongly recommended: When you visit Nowi’s site [ http://majpalmer.com/horst/] to get Nowi’s “System”, you should also download Beck and Bluevoss’ Pilot Personality Profiles 2. Its rules and recommendations enhance immersion and flesh out the game world.