Squadron Dispatch #11
- Phil Yates
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
Dear Squadron Pilots,
Welcome back to Squadron Dispatches! We've been busy—demonstrating the game at Warbirds over Wanaka, we have a new playtest programme, new video content, and more. Lots to cover, so let's get airborne.
New to the Squadron? You can read all previous Squadron Dispatches on the blog at AngelsOneSix.com/blog.
WARBIRDS OVER WANAKA - WHAT A SHOW!
Ian and I had a great time at the Warbirds over Wanaka airshow, looking at the aircraft and demonstrating Angels One Six.
Ian took a great snap of the Spitfires buzzing the crowd, and I managed some shots of the WW2 warbirds on the flight line.
The weather was cold, but the response to the demo games was everything we could have hoped for—curious people turned up, picked up the game, and some didn't want to leave! Several of our newfound friends turned up several times a day for another game. The youngsters even started teaching new recruits the ropes after a game or two.
There's something about seeing the flight stands in action, with aircraft at different heights manoeuvring for position, that draws people in. To everyone who came over to the table, asked questions, flew a sortie, or just stopped to watch, thank you.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Angels One Six will be at Hobby Lords Takapuna (449 Lake Road, Takapuna, Auckland,) this Saturday 18th from 10am.
We will also be attending Armageddon on Anzac weekend (Upstairs in a room overlooking the Main Floor). If you want to learn how to play, or just chat about the game, we look forward to meeting you in person and sharing a great time!
What’s Your Callsign?
Unless you joined the squadron newsletter in the last few months, you won’t have a callsign yet. What’s a callsign? It’s just what you want your squadron mates to call you, something cool like ‘Hawkeye' or ‘Wolf’, or perhaps something from a shared experience, like ‘Barf’ who still carries the memory of an event from his teenage years as a badge of honour!
If you want your newsletters and other communications addressed to your callsign, click here and add a callsign.
WING COMMANDERS CLUB
A brief word for those who missed Dispatch #10. The Wing Commanders Club is a limited membership—twenty spots—that gives you lifetime access to a free copy of everything that Savage Mouse Games ever manufactures, and a direct stake in getting Angels One Six made. A few spots are still available, so if you've been sitting on it, now's a good time to have a look.
How to Play Video
If you're the sort who likes to read the rules to learn a game, you can download the rules. Want a written explanation of how the turn works? We have one in Dispatch #8 and the Sample Turn post.
However, if you prefer learning from a video, we have just the thing for you. The How To Play video is now up. It walks through a complete turn—actions, engine power, shooting, and movement.
If you want to review the video or check a mechanic, it's all here at AngelsOneSix.com/media.
More Angels One Six Videos
We’ve also got two new interviews on the website. The first is with the team at Lead Pursuit Podcast. We talked design philosophy, the energy management system, and—for those coming from other aerial games—why Angels One Six uses alternating activation rather than simultaneous movement. If you've ever wondered what's going on under the hood, this is the one to listen to.
The second is with Lack of Foresight Gaming, a great conversation covering the game from a different angle and my background as the designer of Flames of War. Well worth a listen despite the technical difficulties with the video quality!
Campaign Playtest Group—Auckland
Here's something I'm genuinely excited about. We're forming an Auckland playtest group to put the Campaign Pack through its paces.
The Campaign Pack is the full linked-mission experience—pilots gaining experience, taking wounds, being replaced, squadrons changing as the battle goes on. It's the heart of what makes Angels One Six more than a skirmish game, and it needs more testing before it goes to print.
If you're in Auckland and you can commit to one night a week for the next few months, I'd love to have you in the group. We'll most likely be based in Takapuna, and the night of the week will be decided once we know who's in.
No experience with Angels One Six required. Willingness to give honest feedback absolutely is. If you're interested, contact me at phil@angelsonesix.com with Auckland Playtest in the subject line and which nights work for you.
Overseas Playtesters Also Welcome!
If you're not in Auckland but you want to help test the Campaign Pack, you can join in as well. You'll need:
A group of at least four players who can meet weekly
A regular place to play
A playtest set built from the files in the downloads section at AngelsOneSix.com/downloads—either print-and-play cardboard components, or proxy aircraft you already own
As with the Auckland playtest group, I’m looking for honest, detailed feedback in return for being part of shaping the final product. If your group is keen, get in touch at phil@angelsonesix.com with Overseas Playtest in the subject line and an explanation of how you plan to meet the above requirements.
Pavs Award Finalist
Great news is that Angels One Six has been selected as a finalist in the Australia-New Zealand PAVS Awards—The Tactile Taste: Excellence in Physical Games category. The winner will be announce at the awards ceremony in Wellington on 9 May during the NZ Games Festival play-by-play conference.
Sculptors Needed
If you are an aircraft sculptor, or know one, and would like to see your work appear in future Angels One Six releases, Savage Mouse Games is looking for aircraft sculptors. We already have some great sculptors, but we need more.
If you are a sculptor, we’d love to see your portfolio and some of your digital files, especially for 1:144 scale WW2 aircraft. If you're interested, contact me at phil@angelsonesix.com with Aircraft Sculpting in the subject line and your references.
What’s Next?
Our next Squadron Dispatch will have some new videos of the new Hurricane fighter and Hampden bomber that have just arrived from the manufacturer. To go with this, we’ll look at what the markings on these and the other aircraft we are making for the Battle of Britain and the histories of the squadrons they represent.
We’ll also be opening a survey as to which other squadron markings you’d like to see on the freebie decal sheet that early subscribers to this newsletter will receive for free in the Kickstarter in July. Get your thinking hats on and list your favourite Battle of Britain squadrons for the Spitfire, Hurricane, Hampden, Skua, Me 109, Me 110, He 111, and Ju 87.
If you have questions or just want to talk about the game or the warbirds of WW, join the discussion at facebook.com/groups/AngelsOneSix or discord.gg/6WFTv9m3HD.
Meanwhile, stay safe up there, watch your six, and keep the feedback coming.
Red Leader, Out.
Phil Yates
Designer, Angels One Six
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