What is Wings of War?
Wings of War is a tabletop game that allows players to compete against each other using miniature planes. Various cards and tokens help facilitate the gameplay -in the course of the game, players take control of the planes and try to outmaneuver each other. In order to win the game, players must fulfill a specific objective (which is, more often than not, completely defeat the enemy -though there are other possible mission goals). Players who are used to the system may choose to follow special scenarios in order to add a bit more fun to the games.
To play Wings of War, at least two players must participate. A single set like the WW2 Deluxe is enough to hold games, though having multiple sets will allow for larger scale battles. It is recommended that each player have their own set when playing in order to get the full experience.
What’s Inside the Box?
The Deluxe set certain is not easy to find, but it has plenty of things that make it worth the effort. First off are the well illustrated cards, there are 4 airplane cards, 6 each for AA troops, target cards, and bomb cards, and lastly, 72 maneuver cards. Also, prepare a nice bowl or small container for the tokens, as there are over 400 small tokens for markers, damage, and counters. The game also provides 4 airplane consoles and a couple of measuring sticks in order to help facilitate the game (for those wondering, the consoles allow players to put down thier cards and tokennnn.
Two of the most important things in the set are the 4 miniature planes and the rulebook. The rule book is small, but it packs a lot of detailed information about how the game is played and how the various items are used. There are illustrations that help show players how the game works, which is a very nice guide especially for younger players. It does have several charts, but the information and instructions provided is designed to not make anything too confusing.
Good Plane Details
All four miniature planes are so well done that they deserve to be discussed in detail. One of the first things that players will notice is that the colors of the planes are a little different from the ones in the rulebook (even if they are the same model). This is fine, as the actual colors in the deluxe set are so much better than the one in the booklet.
The four planes are, the Mitsubishi A6M2 Reisen, the Supermarin Spitfire Mk I, the Messerschimtt BF 109 E-3, and the Gumman FM-1 Wildcat; all of these come pre-painted and with their own stand (there is a small transparent rod that goes all the way under the cockpits). When standing, the miniatures are very stable -you can put them up on a busy table and not worry about them falling over.
Best of all, the detailing on each plane is incredible. The paint job is remarkably well done. While a bit of the undercarriage can have a few small paint flaws (there is a bit of bleeding sometimes), it is a rare thing to happen. Up close, the planes look great , the noses are pointed just a little bit upward and each model is uniquely shaped. There are small details that differentiate each plane -making these 4 sought after by collectors.
Expanding the Game
While Wings of War: WW2 Deluxe Set is a standalone, we recommend getting other kits (preferably also under the WW2 set as there are also WW1 packs); Fire From the Sky is one such recommended pack. The best part of this is that you can play together with friends for massive dogfights and epic missions.