RAF: Lion Introductory Scenario - Full Game Report (Revised)

This is a full game report of a solo session of RAF: The Battle of Britain 1940 (Lion). This is a revised video of one previously published. This video corrects the original version in various aspects of gameplay.

[@f12mnb]

Your videos are terrific: (1) steady camera, (2) well lit, (3) clear audio, (4) your comments are very clear - complete sentences and easy to understand, (5) nice use of pointers, markers, (6) editing is sharp, (7) I assume you are working from a script or did some rehearsal - more professional and polished. Really well done - wish more game videos are like this. I really got a sense of the game from this video and the one you did on the hardest days.

[@FreeFragUK]

Fantastic video, thanks Joe. You've sold it for me, I was on the fence before but now I'm going to have to track this down. I'd love to get my hands on a copy of "Raid on St. Nazaire" but alas, I doubt that will happen.

[@oldreliablerc]

getting in there and just showing how to play is great. many thanks

[@freddieyu]

Well done! Just got this and now I have an idea of the general flow of play!

[@RiccardoMasiniWLOG]

Fantastic video, as always, with your peculiar and very clear style. I just received my copy of RAF Deluxe Edition and I will be trying it soon with the sequence cards for player aid: thank you for all your efforts in making wargaming nicer, easier and even more fun!

[@StukaJoe]

Thank you, Riccardo! I recently uploaded the latest version. I hope you find the game easier to play and enjoyable! Cheers!

[@RiccardoMasiniWLOG]

@@StukaJoe Just downloaded: will cut them this weekend and hopefully I'll be able to do a first try at the game before Christmas. :)

[@chicoadler]

I still don´t have wargames in air battles and campaigns and his explanation are excellent and is good incentive to try the play the wargame,thank you,Francisco from Brasil...

[@StukaJoe]

Thank you, Francisco. I'm happy that you liked it.

[@mcfudpucker7904]

I have the original RAF but have yet to play it. I hope it's as interesting as you make this to be. Thanks, Al.

[@StukaJoe]

The game is tense and fun for me. Hope you enjoy it.

[@GrumblingGrognard]

Just picked up the solo PC version of this game... Almost as much fun as watch your video. :)

[@UKCommandPost]

Great, concise intro video, I have the original, but am inspired to try the new version on Vassal which I downloaded recently.

[@alexandrospapadopoulos1474]

Fantastic playthrough as always!

[@ronniebutler2608]

Another great video!

[@wetdigestive]

Quick question: does the game come with those swanky aerial photo cards for the bomber box, or did you make those? Also, the different colored plastic chips for marking info, are they your own addition, and if so how many separate colors do you suggest we pick up to adequately cover our needs? ...ok, it wasn't 1 question...sorry?! 😥

[@StukaJoe]

The materials you refer, just used one color to indicate radar stations that are functional. The other materials don’t come with the game. Here’s the link at boardgamegeek.com/filepage/116695/raf-props-and-markers-used-stuka-joes-playthroughBGG: Joe

[@wetdigestive]

@@StukaJoe you are a gentleman sir! I pick my copy of the game up tomorrow and I cannot wait to dive right in, with your added bonus content too! Best; -Bruce.

[@wetdigestive]

@@StukaJoe your download material has 3 combat result charts...what do the 3 different types represent? Sorry if it should be obvious to me but I'm not seeing why?

[@erwinbona]

Plannig a travel to London in september, and this game will be one of my secures buys.

[@StukaJoe]

Great, Job. You'll have a great time with this game. Saludos!

[@gillesderais3848]

Great playthru, I own the original game, wish someone did the German solo play on KZbin, expensive to get in Europe, but could be worthwhile.

[@StukaJoe]

I know this is a late response, Giles, but I recently uploaded a one turn video of the Eagle version (using sequence of play cards). Cheers.

[@eviltediz43]

Well done video. Do you feel like the RAF player has enough significant decisions to make this an interesting solitaire game? Or is it more of a narrative builder?

[@StukaJoe]

There is some decision-making in chosing whether to intercept and numbers of squadrons, moreso if you use the Advanced Rules, such as delayed response.

[@eviltediz43]

I see. I ask because I own Steel Wolves. Certainly an impressive piece of work that I enjoy very much, but there is not much game to it. Now that I realize RAF actually consist of three games (two solitaire, one 1v1), I am actually much more interested. Thanks for the very informative video about its mechanics!

[@ramonsarrate9146]

Nice video. Very instructive. Just two comments: 11:50 You should have drawn a raid event card after the hunter attack and apply the target event, shouldn’t you? 25:25 A new raid event card should be drawn and revealed.

[@Chav0202]

Very interesting video, well done. I'm thinking buying the game, it looks exciting. I just wonder what is the size of the game's card?

[@StukaJoe]

All cards, except four, are poker-sized (2.5” x 3.5”). Four Leader Cards are 2.5” x 4”.

[@Chav0202]

@@StukaJoe Thanks ;) 👍✌

[@StukaJoe]

@@Chav0202 Correction: Leader cards are 2.5” x 4.5”. Cheers!

[@Jim1954a]

Where did you get the glass cubes that you are using to denote patrolling aircraft?

[@StukaJoe]

They are mosaic tiles I purchased at Home Depot. They are 5/8 of an inch each tile.

[@jobu88]

Just picked this up and started playing. Very imaginative system so that you can play solitaire from either side.

[@chadvader974]

DO the clear counters and cubes come with the game?

[@blueonblack83]

Would you recommend this to a beginner wargamer? Looks a bit complicated, but interesting as well...

[@StukaJoe]

I would not recommend this game to a beginner. This game has many procedures that must be followed step-by-step. However, if the person wants badly to play this game, I would recommend he do so using the RAF-Lion Flipbook. This is a summary of each of the steps necessary to play the game. I used it for my RAF videos.and it helps a lot. The flipbook can be found in the Files section for RAF in Boardgamegeek. (Sorry I couldn't paste the hyperlink here, I tried.) Hope this helps.

[@blueonblack83]

Yep, it helps a lot. Looks daunting, but I think I'll buy it. I simply love air combat. Thanks Joe!

[@EdiSquant]

Where can I get the glas stands for the on raid planes?

[@StukaJoe]

+EdiSquant I purchased the mosaic tiles at the Home Depot. I did a short video on this. Here is the link:kzbin.info/www/bejne/an_ah6qjrLh8jKs. Joe

[@riff2072]

+EdiSquant I purchased these when I bought another game from CoolStuffInc. The mosaic tiles may be better bang for the buck. www.coolstuffinc.com/p/137054  Have to love this channel. Stuka Joe is one of the best! GL EdiSquant And thanks Stuka Joe

[@wetdigestive]

Here is what I use. The plane markers fit exactly on the square, and the lighter wood tone blends in nicely.www.amazon.com/Craftwood-Wooden-Cubes-36-Pkg-Natural/dp/B007F0UQR0

[@chadvader974]

Things look pretty grim for the British! :(

[@riff2072]

Hello Fellow RAF players. Link is to RAF: The Battle of Britain 1940 page on Game Board Geeks web site. You can find Stuka Joe's RAF props and markers as well as a RAF: Lion 2013 Rules Flipbook. Flipbook can help in learning game play. boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/40209/raf-battle-britain-1940 Good Luck and Have Fun

[@StukaJoe]

Thanks, Riff.

[@vstar7196]

Not your best tutorial video. No explanation of the game mechanics. You just get right into it, making the assumption that the viewer all ready knows the game rules. If that’s the case, then there’s no need to watch this video. Ronnie Tucker does a much better job of not only explaining the solo gaming system, but he does a nice follow along of a typical game turn. By the way, the use of those glass tiles is irrelevant. Placing the counter in the “Patrol” box does exactly the same thing.