B-17: Queen of the Skies (1981)

"B-17: Queen of the Skies" is a strategy game which re-creates the early bombing missions and aerial combat of the B-17 (F Model) bombers of the US Eighth Air Force over Europe between October 1942 and May 1943. Movement to targets is through zones. Die rolls and game tables determine appearance, type, and position of enemy fighters. Charts are used to determine if hits are made, where the damage is located, and how serious the damage is. Game tables and die rolls also determine everything from the bomber's target and formation position to weather, flak, and German fighter opposition as the B-17 makes its way over land and sea to its target.

The game has a low complexity and typically, the playing time is generally less than one hour after your first few games.

Game components include :
- Gameboard
- Strategic Movement board
- Crew Placement board
- 5 Game Tables & Charts cards
- 88 Counters/Markers
- 16 German Fighter cards
- Mission chart pad
- 2 Dice
- Rules booklet

B-17 is designed to be primarily a solitaire game. The player controls a B-17F Flying Fortress bomber, trying to survive German fighter attacks and drop its load of bombs on the selected target, then return home safely. Optionally, a second player can control the German fighters (to some degree; their appearance is determined randomly, but successive attacks are under the control of the German player). If each player has their own copy of B-17, then they can fly their bomber while playing the German fighters in their partner's game.

Online Play:

• VASSAL, http://www.vassalengine.org (real-time, PBEM)

GENERAL:

Detailed list of B-17:Queen of the Skies material appearing in The General:

• The GENERAL Vol.20,No.2 - Question Box: B-17: Queen of the Skies Errata – Six brief bits of B-17 rules errata on page 46.
• The GENERAL Vol.20,No.6 - The Lonely Numbers: Playing the Odds in B-17 (Rex A. Martin) – Analysis of many of the odds in the game.
• The GENERAL Vol.20,No.6 - The Saga of the Memphis Belle: Simulating a Survivor (Bruce C. Shelley) – Shows the 25 missions of the Memphis Belle, along with the historical results.
• The GENERAL Vol.20,No.6 - Raid On Detroit: The 1983 Origins B-17 Tournament (Bruce C. Shelley) – Description of a B-17 tournament held at the 1983 Origins convention.
• The GENERAL Vol.20,No.6 - The Rest of the Royal Family: Variant Models for B-17 (James E. Meldrum) – Description of variant models of the B-17, including the B-17C, B-17E and the B-17G.
• The GENERAL Vol.20,No.6 - Question Box: B-17 Errata – 27 more pieces of B-17 rules errata (pg 46).
• The GENERAL Vol.23,No.1 - 15th Air Force: A Variant for B-17 (Lawrence Cirelli) – A variant using the 15th air force based in Italy.
• The GENERAL Vol.23,No.1 - Filling The Skies: The Woes of B-17 Addiction (Rex A. Martin) – An article detailing the experiences of many prolific B-17 players.
• The GENERAL Vol.23,No.5 - The Queen in Germany: More Targets for B-17 (Doug Bleyaert) – Adds more mission targets, especially in Germany, to the original game.
• The GENERAL Vol.23,No.5 - Question Box: B-17 – Eight B-17 questions and answers.
• The GENERAL Vol.24,No.6 - Theater Modifications: More Expansions for B-17 (John E. Ockelmann) – Some additional variations including group formations, evasive action, formation defensive gunnery, crew experience and weather.
• The GENERAL Vol.26,No.5 - Operation Porcupine: A “Killer” Variant for B-17 (Craig Posey and Gilbert DeMichele) – A variant using the YB-40 escort bomber.
• The GENERAL Vol.28,No.2 - The Target For Today Is…: Reminiscences and a B-17 Tournament Scenario (Don Hawthorne) – Don recounts two B-17 convention experiences and adds another scenario, the raid on Schweinfurt.
• The GENERAL Vol.28,No.4 - The Battle of Berlin: A Variant for B-17 (Larry Cirelli) – Variant for British night raids on Germany using the Lancaster heavy bomber.

BattlePlan Index Article List:

• Battleplan,No.7 August-September 1988
  • B-17: Queen of the Skies "Cousins of the Queen" - two experimental B-17 models, Phil Hichards
  • B-17: Queen of the Skies "Squadron Command" - rules for leading a quadron of B-17s, Phil Richards

Other magazine references include:

• The Boardgamer Special Issue – The Boardgamer's Special B-17 Issue – This 72-page issue is devoted entirely to B-17:QotS; it includes a variety of variants and strategy articles
• The Boardgamer Vol.7,No.4 – A Bomber's Moon: And Other Sundry Items, A B-17 Variant– Tom Cundiff (Variant)
• The Boardgamer Vol.8,No.4 – The 'Liberator' of Europe!: The B24J Joins the Queen of the Skies– Tom Cundiff (Variant)
• The Boardgamer Vol.9,No.2 – Down with the Queen!: Evening the Odds in B-17:QotS – Chris Bradley (Strategy)

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