Wing Leader: Victories 1940-1942
Anecdote
An original design by Lee Brimmicombe-Wood for GMT Games, Wing Leader recreates the great aerial battles of the Second World War in a system of rare elegance. Two players command air formations viewed in side profile, on boards representing altitudes and three-dimensional manoeuvres. The system combines morale management, speed, altitude, and armament in an aeronautically faithful experience. A game lasts approximately two to three hours, and replayability is sustained by around twenty scenarios covering 1940–1942. The learning curve is moderate, thanks to a very clear instructional booklet. Brimmicombe-Wood, a prolific designer in the aerial wargame field, drew on works by Alfred Price, Stephen Bungay, and combat reports to build an impressively faithful simulation. GMT's components are of very high quality, with superbly drafted boards and readable player aids. Wing Leader spawned a genuine series with Supremacy 1943–1945, Blitz, and Eagles, covering the full scope of the aerial war. Critical reception was excellent, earning several major awards including a Charles S. Roberts Award. The title's influence is considerable in the modern modelling of strategic aerial combat. The community is very active, supplying Vassal and BGG with variants and scenarios. No French translation exists, but the material remains accessible to experienced French-speaking players. For aerial warfare enthusiasts, Wing Leader is a landmark title. It embodies the pinnacle of a contemporary tradition that modernises aerial wargaming without betraying it. Brimmicombe-Wood confirms with this system his status as the benchmark aerial wargame designer. It is also a modular system whose successive volumes constantly enrich the line.
Popularity & reception
Awards — Charles S. Roberts Award - Best WWII Boardgame nomination (2015) · International Gamers Award - Historical Simulation nomination (2016) · Golden Geek - Best Wargame nomination (2016)
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