More photos I forgot to add from my trip to the museum.
More photos I forgot to add from my trip to the museum. Rear view of the same plane. The Russian on the side translates to “Vengeance for Duchia!” who was a pilot in the Night Witches killed in battle. The 23 on the tail fin was chosen to commemorate the 23 pilots who were awarded HSUs.
The plane apparently came from Poland where it was discovered wrecked and restored by an aviation society. Before bought by Paul Allen. Not sure about the rest of the history surrounding it.
In addition, right next to the PO-2 was a German searchlight and generator. Apparently the searchlights operated in three truck groups. One with a searchlight, one towed the generator and the third carried the visual range finding and sighting equipment and a audio direction finder. Operated by a crew of 13 people.
After work today I ran across the street to the Flying Heritage Museum and snapped some pictures of their Po-2.
After work today I ran across the street to the Flying Heritage Museum and snapped some pictures of their Po-2. The thing that struck me the most was the control mechanism is nothing more than an external lever that pulls a cable to adjust the flaps and ailerons. You can clearly see it on the middle of the fuselage. In addition to the flap elevation cables that run from the front to the rear. It’s very primitive with just foot pedals that pivot the wires via tension.
I was able to reach out and touch the wing. it’s about as sturdy as cardboard.I asked the museum people if I could get a closeup of the control panels. But, they wouldn’t let me cross the barrier to snap a picture. Much sadness.
I’ve been asked to run Night Witches as a one-shot at an upcoming game day. Has anyone done one-shots? The game seems really suited to longform play, but I am a little unsure how to run it as a game that won’t move on into a campaign. Does anyone have any advice?
Hi, folks! I came across Night Witches via The Warren and had a question.
Hi, folks! I came across Night Witches via The Warren and had a question.
Does it ever happen that the GM can directly prevent a player from achieving an advance? For example, the Pigeon/Protector uses her Bedside Manner to try to patch someone up but misses the roll, and the GM chooses “Have death collect what is due,” thereby preventing her from earning an advance by saving someone’s life.
Just curious whether this might happen frequently, rarely, or not at all.
In our last game (still at Trud Gornyaka), Sergeant Nastya Primakova went to considerable lengths to get hold of a…
In our last game (still at Trud Gornyaka), Sergeant Nastya Primakova went to considerable lengths to get hold of a TT-30 pistol (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TT_pistol) of the sort the boys in the 218th Regiment are issued. (I realise that the Night Witches probably were issued with sidearms but my rule of thumb is that if a player wants something they have to earn it.)
As a result of a Scrounge roll, Nastya attracted unwanted attention and incurred a debt. She got the gun but at no small cost in personal dignity (in case you think I’m being coy, it involved sex) and this is likely to lead to further complications in later games.
However, It occurs to me that there is no particular mechanical benefit that comes from Nastya getting the gun. I realise that the fiction is the main thing to worry about but in mechanical terms a pistol or other piece of useful equipment does not do anything more for the character than having a gutsy attitude or a winning personality would, even though getting the gun came at a genuine (and ongoing) narrative and personal cost for the character. This wouldn’t be a big deal in a one-shot game but over the course of a campaign I like the idea that you can accrue useful gear (although I am mindful of not overdoing this). I also think there out to be a bit of “Chekhov’s gun” pay-off at work as well – Nastya got the gun so she ought to be able to make use of it in a way that can affect the game at a mechanical level.
So, I came up with the following rule for Nastya: “Hold one. When you use the TT-30 to threaten or intimidate someone as part of Acting Up like a hooligan, spend this hold to succeed as if you had rolled a 10+.”
As you can see, this is based on the Sparrow’s Ghost Move but made more specific and without any cost; I think the character has already paid the price for getting the gun and narratively there might be consequences for sticking a pistol in someone’s face anyway. I have attached a picture of a little card prop I made for the player as reminder to hold onto until she is ready to use it.
Fans of Night Witches will probably be very interested in this new anthology of games about women in World War 2.
Fans of Night Witches will probably be very interested in this new anthology of games about women in World War 2. It features work by Mo Jave, Kira Magrann, and Claudia Cangini, all of whom were a big part of making Night Witches a success.
Originally shared by Unruly Designs
We are pleased to announce that the War Birds Kickstarter has launched!
War Birds is a collection of larp and freeform games about the experience and contribution of women during World War II.
I found these great diagrams of biplane combat manoeuvres.
I found these great diagrams of biplane combat manoeuvres. Fall into a side slip if you get caught in the searchlights. Maybe the Germans will think you’re hit and look for another target.
