Seth Owen
United States
Norwich
Connecticut
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I first played Dogfight in the mid-1960s shortly after it came out.
In my opinion Dogfight is the best of the old American Heritage line of games from Milton Bradley in the 1960s. It had the neatest pieces (model World War I SPADs and Fokker DVIIs) and the best gameplay. There was some player skill required, not just luck. Unlike the other games, Dogfight's game mechanics bore some resemblance to the history that inspired it, enough so that it could be considered a light wargame and not just a war-themed games like the rest of the American Heritage games.
Each player controlled two three-plane squadrons based at airfields in the comers of the map board. For the Germans the aircraft in Jastas 10 and 11 were Fokker DVIIs, which was considered the best fighter of the war. The American 94th and 95th Squadrons were equipped with SPAD XIII fighters. Each squadron could play one plane at a time, with the other planes staying in reserve.
Movement was controlled by dice. Each turn a player would roll two D6. If two planes were aloft, then each would use one roll (so a roll of 2, 5 meant one plane moving two squares and the other moving 5 squares -- no more, no less) If only one plane was airborne then the controlling player could pick one die roll to use.
Combat was not resolved with the dice, however. When a plane moved next to an enemy plane and pointed its nose directly at it the player was entitled to play a "burst" card from their hand. Bursts came in values of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. If the two planes were involved in a head-on pass they would compare bursts (the target plane could shoot back) with the higher card winning. The loser was shot down. In case of a tie both planes were shot down. Naturally, it was less risky to fire from the side or rear aspects where the target couldn't shoot back. A target plane was not without options in that situation because there were also two varieties of defensive cards available. A "barrel roll" caused a side shot to miss automatically. A "loop" allowed a plane being attacked from the rear to change places with its attacker and turn the tables! The target could now play a burst card against its erstwhile attacker. It was possible for the new target to play a loop card in return, reestablishing the original situation, but requiring yet another burst and possible countering loop. This could not go on indefinitely, however, because each plane had a limited number of cards, usually four, that could only be replenished by returning to the aerodrome. It was all very entertaining, however.
Besides the tactics of moving an maximizing card play, players faced strategic decisions, too. After shooting down an enemy plane a plane earned an "ace" marker that entitled it to a bonus of two additional cards the next time it took off. So instead of starting with a four-card hand the "ace" had a 6-card hand. Shooting down a second plane made a "double ace" entitled to an 8-card hand. More cards meant more options naturally, making very aces dangerous. As a matter of fact, the safest way to eliminate an ace was to attack the enemy airfield and strafe the ace while it was on the ground. This tactic had its own risks, because each airfield was protected by four "Archie" (AA guns). Two of the guns were "hits" and two would "miss" when flown over, so it could be expensive to test those defenses.
Of all the American Heritage line, Dogfight is the one best suited for a reissue. The use of quality plastic plane models and cards would let Dogfight fit in quite comfortably with contemporary designs.
I think this one is still a good play. As a simulation it's rudimentary, but it's not valueless. There is at least a passing resemblance to actual tactics. The enclosed historical booklet is very high quality. I credit Dogfight and Broadside with paving the way for me to move into more serious wargames a few years later such as Midway and 1914.
Check out other reviews, game comments and other topics at my blog: http://pawnderings.blogspot.com
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Harvester of Eyes.
United States
Louisville
Kentucky
My demeanor was meaner.
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Dogfight as well as Broadside were my war games until I discovered Tactics II. The game died in a flooded basement but my poorly painted aircraft were recovered and are still in the basement of my ex-house.
My friend Ken and I did keep pilot records, made easier by my distinctively and poorly painted aircraft minis. I cannot recall if any pilot made it to our house rule triple ace (10 cards) but risking sacrificing a rookie pilot on a strafing run was a common tactic versus a double ace on the ground.
BTW, we house ruled that a Barrell Roll* card also switched aircraft positions. It occasssionaly took two aircraft in line astern to bring down an enemy from 3 or 9 o'clock, if the target had a Barrell Roll* card.
BTW #2: I saw a Power Point presentation at work yesterday in which loose was used for lose AND role was used for roll.
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Tom McHugh
United States
San Francisco
California
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Great post. And I couldn't agree more. Dogfight (and Broadside) would make great reissues and would fit right in with a lot of games produced today - great-looking boards, quality components, good (if a little light) strategy. Plus oversized boxes with those vivid oil paintings on the cover - awesome!
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Dan Edwards
United States
Shoreline
Washington
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Dogfight! is one of those games I wish I still had. I agree that a re-issue would be most welcome.
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Leo Zappa
United States
Aliquippa
Pennsylvania
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Seth - I completely agree. I also have a copy that I played quite a bit when I was a kid, but, like Scrib, my copy was damaged when our basement flooded years ago, and is no longer playable. I might have to get over to eBay and get me another copy!
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Derwood Willard Tripp
United States
White Trash
Idaho
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This was the first game I bought with my own money. Five hard-earned dollars.
In the early 70's I bought two copies and spliced the boards together onto a custom-made folding wood frame. I then created advanced rules for the 4-player campaign. It was a gas... I have no idea what happened to the board and the pieces.
Dogfight was also highly adpative for solitaire play.
One of the best designs ever and perhaps the first CDG created. Nice review and thanks for reminding me of how great this classic is.
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Mark Gray
United States
Glenwood Springs
Colorado
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Received DOGFIGHT for Christmas one year long ago and just played the hell out of it. Along with Broadside definitely helped lead the way to D-Day and the early Avalon Hill titles. Both of my sons were introduced to Dad's hobby through Dogfight, and I have a feeling that it will hit the table this weekend.
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Doug Wank
United States
Parma
Ohio
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I couldn't agree more! It still sits with my other board games as a perennial favorite and certainly inspired me to move on to such Avalon Hill offerings as Richtofen's War, Stalingrad, and Alexander! I just bought Wings of War and some of the planes and I'm anxious to see how it measures up to the "old reliable"!
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Steve Bullock
United States
Palm Coast
Florida
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I was just old enough to buy this game when it game out in 1963, but my interests did not lie there at that time.
So I bought the game on Ebay last week for 6 times the original amount! I am painting the airplanes (very simply, I might add), and then plan to give the game a go in a week or so.
I have read the rules and looked over all the components. A real gem of an older game. This baby belongs in any gamers collection who is at least 40 years old and remembers the "good old days" of gaming.
You know, when Risk was the wooden-cube wonder and the end-all-be-all wargame of the moment.
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Myron Shipp
Australia
CLARE
SA
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Hi
I have the board and rules but no other parts, I can buy 1/300th scale planes but need the card decks, could someone who has them upload them to this site so I can print them and play it again, the guy on ebay wont ship international.
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