B-17 FLYING FORTRESS LEADER

OPTIONAL RULES

1. RANDOM GROUP SELECTION

Randomly choose Groups at the game start and when purchasing additional Groups.

2. TARGET INTELLIGENCE
This Option uses the current Intelligence Level of each target (Low, Medium, and High) to modify the Target’s Flak Defense and your Bombing Accuracy
(AtG). It’s assumed that the more you know about the target, an optimal approach vector to the target will reduce Defensive Flak Gun effectiveness and
highlight critical areas of the Target to destroy.
Target Intel Levels - A Low Intelligence Level is initially assigned to all Targets. All Low Intelligence level targets have a AtG or Flak penalty assigned
(based on a die roll). The Intelligence level of a Target can be increased to Medium or High (with Intel bonuses) by purchasing a Recon unit and flying a
Recon mission against the target.
Purchase Recon Aircraft - If there SO points available, you can purchase up to two Recon Assets (purchased at the Start of the Campaign or at the start
of a week). Recon Assets perform Recon Missions against Targets to increase their Intelligence Level. Place the purchased Recon Asset counters on the
Display.

1 - SO Cost
2 - High Intel Die Roll
3 - Asset Destroyed Die Roll - always on a die roll of 1.
4 - Medium Intel Die Roll
5 - Medium Intel Modifier - If the Target is already at the Medium Intel level, add the modifier to the die roll to
try for High Intel.

Perform Recon Missions - Recon Missions are performed just prior to the Morning Briefing.
For each Recon Asset, you can perform a Recon Mission against one selected Axis Target that has a Low or Medium Intel Level.
For each mission, roll a die, add a +2 modifier for Medium Intel targets, and evaluate the results. Place the appropriate Intel counter on the target. If you
rolled a Natural 1 (before modifications), the Recon Asset is destroyed.
Low Intel Target Modifiers - At the start of the Over Target Resolution phase, for Low Intel Targets, roll a die and apply the indicated penalty:

Roll Penalty Based on the result, add the appropriate Low Intel Penalty counter(s) to the Target.
Remove counters after bombing is complete.
1 None

2-3 -1 AtG

4-5 -1 AtG, +1 Flak

6-7 -1 AtG, +2 Flak

8-9 -2 AtG, +1 Flak

10 -1 AtG, +1 Flak Die

Medium Intel - For Targets at Medium Intel, place the High Intel - For Targets at High Intel, place the High INTEL
Medium INTEL counter on the Target. There are no modifiers counter on the Target. Apply the Flak and AtG modifiers on
at Medium Intel. Keep the Intel counter with the Target until the counter. Keep the Intel counter with the Target until
destroyed or replaced with a High Intel counter. destroyed.

3. WEATHER
Weather played a major factor in the Bombing Campaign. Doing precision bombing through an optical site in daylight at 20,000 feet required clear weather.
On the ETO map, there are four different weather zones (one is the UK Base area) that can have different weather conditions during the week.
The weather can be:
• Stormy - no missions can be run in that sector
• Mostly Cloudy – a -2 AtG modifier is applied, but also a -2 Luftwaffe Response Modifier. The H2X Radar Technology removes the -2 AtG modifier
• Partly Cloudy – no modifiers
• Clear – a +1 AtG modifier and +1 Luftwaffe Response modifier is applied
Mostly Cloudy weather over the UK Base can cause issues forming up your Mission group (requires successful Formation Check for each Group).
You can delay the mission to the next day, allowing a weather re-roll for a 6 SO point cost.

Determine Sector Weather - For each of the 4 sectors on the Map, roll a die and add the appropriate Weather Condition counter. For the UK Base, add
+1 to the Weather result.
Roll Weather Condition
1 Stormy
2 Mostly Cloudy
3-7 Use Default Partly Cloudy Weather
8+ Clear

Mission Rendezvous - This step only applies if the Weather over the UK is Mostly Cloudy. All Bomber Groups participating in a mission must successfully
pass a Formation Check, or else the Group immediately returns to Base. For returning Bomber Groups, all costs for purchased weapons and equipment are
still spent, and no experience points are earned.

4. LUFTWAFFE STRENGTH
Remove 8 No Bandit counters from the Bandit cup. Certain periods during the war, the Luftwaffe was more aggressive in attacking the Allied bombers.
5. LUFTWAFFE RESPONSE
For Campaigns in the years ’43 – ’45, use the Luftwaffe Response +2 modifier for every Luftwaffe Response roll. For Campaigns in ’42, use the Luftwaffe
Response +1 Response roll.

6. VETERAN/NOVICE BANDITS
The skill of the Luftwaffe pilots varied throughout the Bombing Campaign. Pilot training early in the war was very extensive, and in 1942 many pilots had
experience in other theaters. As the war progressed, and more and more veteran Luftwaffe pilots were killed, pilot training time was reduced to meet the
demand for more pilots.
Bandit Counters
Add the following number of Veteran and/or Novice Bandit counters to the Bandit cup based on the Campaign year.
When a new year starts, update the Veteran and Novice counter count in the Bandit cup.

Veteran Novice
Year
Counters Counters
1942 5 0
1943 4 1
1944 3 4
1945 1 5

7. FIGHTER GROUP ENGAGEMENTS

After an engagement with Bandits, some of the Fighters became low on fuel or ammo and had to return to the Base.
Engagement Counters - The Engagement Counters have an Escort side (used when your Fighter group is an Escort) and a Sweep side (used when your
Fighter group is doing a sweep). There are various engagement values on the Engagement counters. Place all of the Engagement counters is a cup to draw
from.

Escort Side

Sweep Side

Fighter Engagements - After the Fighter Engagement with Bandits is complete, draw one random Engagement counter from the cup and place it on the
Fighter Group card. If the Fighter Group is an Escort (High or Low), place the Counter on the Escort side. If the Fighter Group is performing a Sweep, place
the Counter on the Sweep side.
The Engagement value counts as Destroyed losses for the current mission.
At the end of the mission, remove all Engagement counters from the Fighter Group. Fighter Groups that Have Engagement counters and reaches a loss
of 16 are not destroyed.
Example : The 55th Fighter Group is flying as a Sweep on the Mission. The Mission group attacks several Bandits, and the 55th Fighter Group loses 2
points of Strength. After the attack is complete, an Engagement counter is drawn and placed on the Sweep side. The Fighter Group now has 5 losses.
If the Fighter Group attacks additional Bandits on another turn, another Engagement counter is drawn.

8. BOMBER WINGS
Bomber Groups were organized into Bomber Wings, where a wing typically contained 3 Bomber Groups.
Assign Groups to Bomber Wings - Assign 2 to 4 Bomber Groups (default of 3 unless extra Groups) to a Bomber Wing. All Bomber Groups in a Bomber
Wing must attack the same target (unless a Group is assigned to an ASW mission or Diversion). All of the Bomber Wings can be reorganized when a new
Bomber Group is added or removed.
Renowned Commander - A Bomber Wing can have a Renowned Wing Commander that can fly with any group in the Wing for a mission (only one
mission/week). The Wing Commander stays with the Wing until killed.
Replacement Points - Divide the Monthly Replacement points evenly across each Bomber Wing (assign leftovers as desired). Within a Bomber Wing, you
can divide the assigned Replacement points any way you want to the Bomber Groups.

9. M30 BOMB WEIGHT

Increase the M30 Bomb Weight from Weight 2 to Weight 3 to increase Airfield destruction difficulty.

Copyright © 2017 DVG. Optional rules sheet made by Damian Szpryngiel © 2024 ver.1.2