Ace of Aces Handy Rotary Series

Ace of Aces is also the title of a 1987 flight-simulation game. See Ace of Aces (computer game).

Ace of Aces is a two-player combat picture book game designed by Alfred Leonardi and first published in 1980 by Nova Game Designs. In 1981, Ace of Aces won the Charles Roberts/Origins Gamers choice of 1980. Image File history File links Ace_of_Aces_Handy_Rotary. ... Image File history File links Ace_of_Aces_Handy_Rotary. ... Ace of Aces is a computer game flight simulator developed by Artech Digital Productions in 1986. ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Charles S. Roberts Awards are given annually for excellence in the historical wargaming hobby. ... The Origins Awards, presented by the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design, are presented at the Origins International Game Expo for outstanding work in the game industry. ...

Gameplay

Each set includes a pair of small books, one for each player (generally marked 'German' and 'Allied'). These are like gamebooks in that instead of reading through them, a person is 'at' one particular page, and the book represents a World War I fighter. Each player turns to the same page number in his book; the illustration on that page shows the view from the cockpit of his airplane, looking at the opponent. Along the bottom of the page is series of maneuvers that can be performed, with page numbers listed under them (while the page numbers are different with each page, the maneuvers are constant). A gamebook is a book with a branching storyline that serves as a medium for gameplay. ... Combatants Entente Powers Central Powers Commanders {{{commander1}}} {{{commander2}}} Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties > 5 million military deaths > 3 million military deaths {{{notes}}} World War I, also known as the First World War and (before 1939) the Great War, the War of the Nations, War to End All Wars was a world... A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for attacking other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed to attack ground targets, primarily by dropping bombs. ... A maneuver (spelled manoeuvre in Commonwealth English) is a tactical or strategical move or action. ...

Each player selects a maneuver. Both players then announce the corresponding numbers. Each player turns to the page number announced by the opponent, looks up his own maneuver there, and turns to the page number listed under it. After both players have done this, they are on the same (new) page, looking at new views of each other. The process is repeated until one player has maneuvered his opponent into the sights of his guns and can shoot him down.

The maneuvers in both books are the same, with each set representing a range of aircraft with similar handling characteristics. Different sets are completely compatible with each other and can be used together, as long as opposing books are selected.

Expansions

• Handy Rotary Series (1980)
• Powerhouse Series (1981)
• Flying Machines (1983)
• Balloon Buster (1985)
• Handy Rotary Deluxe Edition (1986)
• Wingleader (1988)
• Jet Eagles (1990)

1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on a Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ...

Other games

Ace of Aces was the first game of this type, but others were done later. Bounty Hunter used much the same format for an old west gunfight (only one set was released, Shootout at the Saloon). Dragonriders of Pern used the Ace of Aces format in a contest to stop threadfall. Alfred Leonardi also designed the Lost Worlds combat book game system which is sometimes mistakenly described as using the Ace of Aces system. Broncho Billy Anderson, from The Great Train Robbery The Western movie is one of the classic American film genres. ... The Dragonriders of Pern books are written by Anne McCaffrey. ... Thread is the name of a deadly phenomenon that appears throughout Anne McCaffreys series of science-fiction novels about the fictional planet Pern. ... Lost Worlds is a combat picture book game designed by Alfred Leonardi and originally published in 1983 by Nova Game Designs. ...

External links

• Flying Buffalo's home page for the game
• Ace of Aces Collector's Guide by Joseph J. Scoleri III
• Gamebooks.org description of the game and list of available game books
• BoardGameGeek reviews and pictures of the game