Canvas Eagles : War in the Skies 1914-1918
by Eric Hotz
This month we will look at a derivitave of the Blue Max game compiled by Eric Hotz: Canvas Eagles. Canvas Eagels is a
freely available world war I airplane miniatures game that expands and improves upon the basics of the Blue Max system.
The scuttlebutt is that Phil Hall (the original Designer of Blue Max) and Eric Hotz (Designer of Canvas Eagles) are collaborating on a new version that can only be the next evolution in World War I air to air miniature wargaming. I can't wait.
Canvas Eagles (Eric Hotz) $FREE
Canvas Eagles takes the core systen of Blue Max and expands it into an excellent, realistic game of aerial combat. The freely downloadable rules (current version is V3.6.2a) and aircraft sheets can
be obtained at
generalissue.com.
The rules booklet is in PDF format and is about 35 pages in length. There are some great additions from the Blue Max game, and the aircraft sheets and charts were modified and tweaked to provide great reference during a game.
The rules are well written, clear, and easy to follow. The example illustrations in the rules are excellent, and there is even a random mission generator in the Appendix, as well as some brief, but solid rules for a campaign game.
Gameplay is just like the Blue Max system: You select your maneuver (more detailed tailing rules are included), and once all aircraft are plotted, everyone moves. That's when the shooting starts. The shooting is also simultaneous, so even if
your aircraft is shot down, you still have the possibility of slinging lead as you are going down yourself.
The damage chit system seen in Blue Max is used in Canvas Eagles, and the chits are also available for download. To be honest, I have never actually seen any one using the chits. Everyone I have witnessed playing Canvas Eagles has gone to a
table system for damage resolution (the damage tables are also available for download).
The altitude system from Blue Max has been expanded to include 10 altitude levels. The altitude levels are to be placed on the aircraft stands (as chits) for all to see. Again, I have only witnessed folks playing the game with either AireStands
or a pin and clip method that clearly defines the altitude levels, so have never seen the chits in action. There is a nice selection of pics on the GeneralIssue.com website that you can view to take a look at how the chits, as well as some of
the antenna altitude stands are being used. I never did like to use the antenna method, I have always preferred either pin and clip or AireStands.
One addition that I really like in the Canvas Eagles game is the fire arc templates. These are little hexagons telling you how the weapons on the aircraft can fire. At first, they look like hieroglyphics, but after you start using them
thay become a great tool to have on the aircraft sheets themselves.
Basic anti-aircraft rules are also included in the booklet, and I thought that they did an adequate job of shooting me down (er... I mean 'of portraying the crude anti-aircraft guns of world war I).
In my opinion, the best part about this game is its campaign game system. There are rules for keeping track of experience for pilots, their skills, etc. There are special abilities that your pilot can get that after a few games makes them
rather deadly opponents. There is an ACE ability that allows you to concentrate your fire on one area of an opponents aircraft. In our Jasta-11 campagn of the Second Battle of Arras, it was a beast to see in action. If one of the aces (Richtoffen for example)
got even a short burst at you, you most likely were going down in flames, or your aircraft was turned into what my friend calls a 'Lawn Dart' (ie - no Tail or Engine!)
The maneuver schedules for each aircraft are provided online, and each sheet is set up to allow you to cotrol a single aircraft and mark its damage, maneuvers, and ammunition expenditure. If you Laminate a sheet and use a dry-erase or china
marker on them, you could re-use them (very handy - especially in the campaign game.)
On the GeneralIssue.com website, there is a ton of information about how to mount and use stands, smoke and fire markers (using cotton and clips), hex mats, etc. The aircraft availability charts are there as well for you to use.
The pictures they have show the mats from the old BattleMasters game from MB being used. I have used them myself and found them to be very effective. Although now I use AireMats exclusively.
This World War I air to air combat game is the one that I have played the most (Dawn Patrol by TSR, come in a far second, followed by Blue Max), and it seems like every where I go there is a gaming club that
has or is in the middle of a campaign of Canvas Eagles. The best time I have ever had playing a miniatures game was playing Canvas Eagles, in a flowing game where we just kept adding aircraft in a continuous battle.
I give Canvas Eagles a 5, as it addressed all the issues I had with Blue Max (granted, there weren't many), is easy to learn, and fun to play.I give Canvas Eagles a rating of 5.
Johann