F is for... Foxbat & Phantom

Tactical Aerial Combat in the 1970’s
SPI (1973, flat box edition $9, Designer’s Edition $14)
Designed by James F. Dunnigan
Players 2 to 8
Playing Time 30 minutes to 1-1/2 hours
Period Modern
Scale Tactical Turn 30 seconds
Map 1000 meters
Unit individual aircraft

Components

SPI flat box with cover sheet or 11½"x9" Designer bookcase box
22"x34" unmounted mapsheet or 2 22"x17" mounted mapboards
255 die-cut counters rules folder
8 pink perforated aircraft control charts
8 blue perforated aircraft control charts
“no dice” letter or 3/8" six-sided die
SPI advertising pamphlet with gummed and perforated reply card.
“Important Note” sheet
black plastic counter tray

Counter Manifest

8 different colored sets of 30 counters (24 aircraft numbered 1-24, speed, climb, RH missiles, HS missiles, acceleration, and trial)
2 sets of 3 different colored counters (ECM, inexperienced pilot, and missile)
6 bomber formation counters
1 game turn counter
2 blanks

SPI says:

“Foxbat & Phantom provides a variety of radar intercept missions, in which intruder and interceptor aircraft engage in combat. Any two different aircraft types may be introduced into this basic situation, providing the Players with an opportunity to compare the abilities and characteristics of [the] aircraft.”

The reviewer says:

“In an admittedly limited way, the game vividly depicts some of the elements of modern air combat . . . restrictions of the design and some inaccurate assessments distort the capabilities of various aircraft . . . Nonetheless, the game is fun and far more playable that its ‘successor’, Air War.” The Complete Book of Wargames (Simon and Schuster, 1980.)

Comments:

Until someone modifies GDW’s Blue Max system for the jet era, Foxbat and Phantom deserves the title of beer and pretzel king of jet combat games. While such a description may have been taken as an insult at the time the game was released, that very attitude is what lead to the monstrosity that was Air War (SPI.)

The stripped down approach of Foxbat and Phantom makes for a quick playing game that still conveys basic air combat tactics. Be prepared to accept large doses of speculation and abstraction. If you are looking for a bit more realism, pass this one up and go directly to MiG Killers (Gamescience) or any of J.D. Webster’s jet games: Speed of Heat (Clash of Arms), Air Strike or Air Superiority (both GDW.)

Collector’s Notes:

This one doesn’t rise to the price peaks of more popular SPI titles.

Boone lists low/high/average prices of 3/ 25/10.50 at auction and 3/50/18.54 for sale.

A few other ampersand games:

Air & Armor (West End), Axis & Allies (Milton Bradley), Battles & Leaders (Yaquinto), Blood & Thunder (GDW), Kroll & Prumni (International Team), Search & Destroy (SPI), Sticks & Stones (Metagaming), Wooden Ships & Iron Men (Battleline & Avalon Hill.)

How could you fail to mention C&O/ B&O (Avalon Hill) or Tinian & Guam (Kriegspiel Union Press) -ed.

More Capsule Profiles F

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Fall of South Vietnam A Game of Combat in South Vietnam: 1973-1975
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Fight in the Skies A Realistic Game Simulating WWI Aerial Combat 4th ed
Flying Circus Tactical Aerial Combat, 1915-1918
Foxbat & Phantom Tactical Aerial Combat in the 1970’s
Fury in the West Battle of Shiloh - April 6 & 7, 1862