WINGS OF GLORY: BATTLE OF BRITAIN (Ares Games)
With sirens blaring, it’s time to take to the skies with Wings of Glory’s great new starter set, Battle of Britain! Previously packaged without models as the much less excitingly titled Rules and Accessories Pack, Battle of Britain is a great introduction for Wings of Glory’s World War II line. Including two Spitfire and two Messerschmitt airplanes, along with all of the cards, rulers and tokens needed, it’s an adrenaline-drenched dogfight in a box!
With a number of scenarios included (some requiring additional models), players can re-enact historic engagements or create their own balanced battles using point values offered online for the many models available. After any set up, Wings of Glory plays out with simultaneous player actions. Players secretly select a movement card, move their models, check firing arcs, and then fire at each other if possible. Movement cards are placed in front of models with drawn start and end points and two range rulers are used for firing, so no tape measures are needed.

The additional rules that guide the turns are what make the “of Glory” series of games the best tabletop miniatures system out there. With a Basic, Standard, and Advanced rule set (with additional optional rules for even further depth of gaming) getting those cool looking models out on the table has never been easier. These aren’t three separate rule sets either, each one builds off of the other. The Basic rules will have you playing within a half hour of opening the box, the Standard rules add speed, advanced planning and special damage, and the Advanced rules add acceleration and altitude (represented with cool stackable pegs for your models). No unlearning simpler rules, just more details and flavor as you advance. It can be as simple or as complicated as you want. It’s brilliant.
There is one drawback to the “of Glory” miniatures though; they are very fragile. Wiggling the airplanes out of the snug plastic packaging that kept them safe in the box also knocked off one of the impossibly small and thin gun barrels on that airplane’s wings. For as fragile as Sails of Glory’s masts could be, the propellers, antennas and gun barrels require even more care. Of course, the game still plays fine if you accidentally break off a piece, but if they’re going to go through the trouble of making it, it seems a shame that you’ll inevitably break it. (Ares Games) by David C. Obenour