Into the home stretch!
about 2 years ago – Tue, Nov 01, 2022 at 01:03:32 PM

We're into the end-game of this KS campaign. A big thank you to all our backers thus far! A couple more Stretch Goals to go, including this for $95k:

This idea originated as "fan-made" Squadron Control Sheets on previous Leader games - and now one of each will be included in the core boxes respectively if we reach this goal! 

On the lost horizon…
about 2 years ago – Mon, Oct 31, 2022 at 06:08:53 PM

This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.

So, you think this is just a re-skin?
about 2 years ago – Sun, Oct 30, 2022 at 05:08:08 PM

Getting under the "hood"

We've realized that some questions of how different or similar Eagle Leader and Fulcrum Leader are from the "Jet Leader" titles (Hornet, Phantom and IAF Leader) are on many players' minds.

First, we will say that the underlying ruleset and game steps are similar. Hornet Leader is a proven, beloved system which has been played and enjoyed for over a decade, so the basic gameplay has remained the same. Fast Aircraft still act before Bandits and Sites, who act before Slow Aircraft. Flight Leaders can give Situational Awareness to their wingmen. Event cards can throw a wrench into your plans, or help you snatch victory (or at least a stalemate) from the jaws of defeat. You'll still need to manage your SO points to last the duration of your campaigns.

What has changed, however, is practically everything else, from the aircraft and munitions to new elements of gameplay.  For this project, a team of designers came together to look afresh at bringing Hornet Leader into the Cold War 80s setting, supported by an amazing group of consultants and specialists, who lent their experise and experience into creating these new games.

Rebuild of aircraft

For Eagle Leader and Fulcrum Leader, we have gone back to the drawing board and completely restatted every aircraft and pilot in the game from ground up, with reference to some of the models if they were previously in Hornet, Phantom and IAF Leader. Thus, you may find the same aircraft from different games with identical or slightly different stats, keeping in mind that Eagle Leader and Fulcrum Leader are set in the specific decades of the 70s and 80s.

Some of the Soviet and NATO aircraft also have capabilities which were unique to that model or nationality, not found in other models. For example, you might find MiG-29 Fulcrums and Panavia Tornados respectively from different Warsaw Pact and NATO nations with different AtA, AtG and ordnance capabilities, depending on the specific variant used by their air forces.  Some Soviet aircraft also have built-in ECM capabilities, as electronic warfare was an integral part of their doctrine of maskirovka (or deception) unlike their NATO opponents who viewed it as and added capability (reflected in the use of ECM Pods.)

Rebuild of munitions

The Aircraft Munitions in Eagle Leader and Fulcrum Leader have also been comprehensively researched and longlisted, then shortlisted and whittled down to what appears in the game. Some of these munitions have specific design features that reflect their capabilies, such as the R-27 "Alamo" AtA missile in Fulcrum Leader, which will out-range Bandits employing the AIM-7 Sparrow, but lacking the higher hit probability. Tactically, this might drive a Fulcrum Leader player to equip and launch them in pairs to increase the probability of getting a kill.

Eagle Leader also introduces new munitions, such as the Durandal anti-runway munition. French aircraft will come with French-specific munitions, such as the AS-30L anti-tank guided missile and the Martel anti-radiation missile. These French munitions are a bit different than the US weapons - some are more accurate, some are less accurate, but the intent is to introduce variety rather than merely cloning weapons.

Expanded Squadron Assets

We have greatly expanded the role of Squadron Assets in Eagle Leader and Fulcrum Leader.  These assets represent other aircraft which may support your mission, but are not directly under your command. For example, in Eagle Leader, the F-117A Stealth Fighters historically operated separately from the integrated packages of NATO aircraft, thus they are not represented as multi-level aircraft cards.  Instead, they are an asset you can purchase and assign to the mission which possess a specific ability to clear the path or mop up any remaining targets for your missions. In a different vein, Fulcrum Leader has the MiG-25RBSh "Foxbat D" Reconnaissance variant which can target NATO vehicles from high altitude and long range, via its Side-Looking Airborne Radar (SLAR), without ever entering the field of play. 

The Zampolit (Political Officer)

The Zampolit, or Political Officer, is a uniquely Soviet role in Fulcrum Leader whose job is to ensure continued loyalty and adherence to the Party norms. Historically, the Zampolit is also a fully-qualified combat officer in his own right, and thus can also be selected for missions. To simulate the presence of the Zampolit, you will make a daily card draw which may offer help (such as replenishing SO) or cause an impediment (like removing a pilot from flight status), and sometimes the Zampolit will want something in return! (Perhaps to share in the glory of the mission's success?)

The Party's perception of your suitability to command is also reflected on a Loyalty track that will also give rewards or penalties, depending on how confident your political masters are in your dedication to the cause. 

Multinational Operations

Another important part of Eagle Leader and Fulcrum Leader is the idea of multiple nations operating together. The Cold War is the story of the US vs the USSR, but it was turned into a greater ideological contest of NATO vs the Warsaw Pact. Both superpowers gathered allies (or client states pressed into service as allies) in a geopolitcal game of nuclear brinksmanship. For NATO, this culminated in an ambitious plan for air interoperability, based around NATO-owned E-3 Sentry battle management aircraft. For the Warsaw Pact, this meant arming their allied nations with Soviet aircraft capable of taking the fight to NATO, and in numbers.

We hope this gives you some insight into how Eagle Leader and Fulcrum Leader have extended and deepened on the original Hornet Leader gameplay, whilst telling their own "what if" story set in the Cold War 80s from both sides. It is our shared belief that Eagle Leader and Fulcrum Leader will allow players to create new stories in a familiar ruleset, and provide for many, many hours of enjoyable gaming.

*Also, check out Doug and The Gimpy Gamer chat about Fulcrum Leader: 

Coming up next in Eagle Leader
about 2 years ago – Sun, Oct 30, 2022 at 12:02:50 AM

We're nearing the $80,000 Stretch Goal, so here's a preview of the $85,000! For those asking about the dice, they will be making a return, at an even higher level.

In addition, Phil "Doc" Wohlrab, the designer of the Hellenic Air Force pack, wanted to put out a quick statement on what he envisioned. You can read it on Facebook on the Cold War Leader page:

https://www.facebook.com/coldwarleader/posts/190461413488271

We're entering the home stretch. The design teams plan on putting forward more information about Eagle and Fulcrum-- watch here for updates, but also follow Cold War Leader on Facebook! If you want to interact directly with DVG fans and the designers,  we also heartily recommend joining the DVG Games fan group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/348532516023

Thank you so much for all your support and enthusiasm.

New Stretch Goal
about 2 years ago – Fri, Oct 28, 2022 at 02:12:08 AM

You asked for them... here they are:

We heard the community, and we're giving you what you've asked for. The Cold War Leader post got more than enough shares, so we're putting the Alpha Jet in the Luftwaffe expansion, but on top of that, if we pass $80,000, every Eagle backer will get Alpha Jets in their core game. For our comrades in Fulcrum Leader, the Su-25 will be there to help break NATO's armored forces from the skies.

Both of these aircraft will be "Squadron Assets," specifically emphasizing their unique role as low-flying, hard-hitting, close air support aircraft. Your multi-role and suppression of enemy air defenses clear the way, then you send in the CAS aircraft.

Are you looking forward to the Alpha Jet or the Frogfoot? Tell us in the comments!