Knights of the Air: Game of Deadly Combat in the World War I Air War [BOX SET]

by Avalon Hill

Product Details

• ASIN: B001AKLCH4
• Item model number: 867
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #642,167 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)

Product Description

CONTENTS: ? A 22" x 32" full-color gameboard depicting a section of trenchline on the Western Front. Actual battlefield photographs were consulted during the construction. ? Hundreds of die-cut playing pieces representing all of the airplanes and various markers needed for record-keeping. ? Six sets of maneuver cards. Each card contains a diagram of a specific maneuver just as it was actually flown. ? A set of Airplane Performance Cards. A different card has been prepared for each airplane. ~ "Avalon Hill's game, KNGHTS OF THE AIR, recreates the deadly combat of the World War I air war. You learn to fly the great airplanes of the period much in the same way the Aces did - right in the cockpit using control stick, throttle and rudder pedals. Each kind of warplane included in the game has been carefully researched to present the same strengths, weaknesses and idiosyncracies it demonstrated in real life. Once you have learned the tricks of your aircraft, you can dare to risk all in a dogfight. Air combat is conducted in a series of maneuvers as each pilot tries to position his plane for the killing run. With experience, new and more complicated maneuvers become available so that the ace can barrel roll and loop rings around the novice. Your success will depend upon your ability to master your plane and to exploit the weaknesses of your enemy's..."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Not for the faint of heart..., September 23, 2011

By 

M. Fonseca "carmarthen" (Thunder) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:2.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Knights of the Air: Game of Deadly Combat in the World War I Air War [BOX SET] (Toy)

So it came a time when Avalon Hill tried to ammend the mistakes contained in the classic, but highly unrealistic, RICHTHOFEN'S WAR. In this early classic, manouever was not simultaneous, and there were some impossible situations in the air. Anyway it was a fun game.

KNIGHTS OF THE AIR is anything but fun. After all, the designers must have thought, a live or die battle was not fun for those commited to it. So, they tried (and succeeded) in making thing more realistic here. But, here comes the cliche, at the expense of playability.

The pros first: you feel like you are flying a World War I aircraft, with all its clumsiness and frailty and lack of speed. The mapboard is gorgeous, one the best game boards I've seen. The cards for maneuvers are very good, as also are the Aircraft Data Cards.

The cons: lack of possibility of playing with more planes. The game components are for six planes maximum. IT would be no use to have more: he spotting procedure that starts each turn, although highly elaborate and apparently realistic, is a bore, but eventually the player figure it out. Also, there are a lot of mathematics in the game. It's not hard mathematics, of course.

Well, what I mean is that, even for the players wanting a "real" simulation, thsi game unexpectedly flawed. For a good World War I airgame with enough realism without stopping dead on its tracks, I'd suggest WINGS. For a good World War II air combat game also with enough realism but without burning your brain, I'd recommend AIR FORCE. For a World War II air combat game that will blow your mind with details and total commitment to learn even the more basic rules, the game to go is WHISTLING DEATH.