Poor Quality - my favourite negative trait card

 

There is tendency in our local Blood Red Skies club in Warsaw to choose planes with Poor Quality Negative trait. I'm one of them who support this way of thinking especially while preparing for competitive playing.

Taking into consideration that Poor Quality plane is 3pts cheaper than regular AND the negative consequences are one-time troubles which cold be - by the way - easily discounted it is worth to consider Poor Quality aircrafts.  To better imagine scale you: can save 15pts in average on Poor Quality which means that one of your pilots. 

Where to find PQ aircrafts?

There are some nations full of PQ aircrafts as Italian: all except Fiat G.55 and Reggiane Re.2002  Japaneese: J2M Raiden, N1K1-J Shiden, Ki84 Hayate, Italian. French: Ms-406, D-520, MB-152 but in fact PQ aircrafts could found everywhere.There are some British: Westland Whirlwind, American: P39D, P51A, P40C, Soviet: Yak-1, Łagg-3, Ła-5, Ła-7 and even German: He162.

How to discount Poor Quality effect? 

While rolling for starting advantage level for the PQ aircrafts you need to deduct 1 from the result. To avoid consequences you can try to raise your chances using Theatre or Dictrine cards of being Advantaged (Radar Support) or move element to in High cover (Top Cover, Big Wing) or at least being not Disadvantaged (Swarm Flying).

The other option to regain upper level is to use clouds. You can of course have an option to hide there or go though them to be Advantaged in the next turn. 

How to deal against Poor Quality aircrafts?

Fortunately in our game every strategy could be countered by your opponent. The same story referes to the Poor Quality aircrafts. Their weaknesses could be exploited by: (1) placing the aircrafts at nearest possible distance to catch PQ opponent unprepared before they climb for advantage. (2) use the weather special cards as Down Drafts (very nasty), Storm Clouds, Overcast, or event High Clouds or Doctrine cards as Intruders.

My favourite PQ plany is P39D which is chaep as water and - while using in the historical context (i.e. on Far East)- it gains high advantage over main opponent A6M Zero. Aircobra ist faster that Zero which gain the P39 higher initiative. Due to the Poor Quality your squadron will have additional 15pts to utilize, which is quite high advantage. If you cover your weakness (which is low agility) with some boosters as Vertical Separation Doctrine or Mother Hen Ace skill the Aircaobras becaming very dangerous opponent esopecially in the close combat (with Heavy Hitter). 

National traits

Having more and more Blood Red Skies airplane cards in my collection I saw some regularities in their characteristic. There are some specific traits that are typical for particular nationalities. Though subsidiary traits could change the core oneremain unchanged.

British - a snake

Typical British Fighter: Supermarine Spitfire is Agile as a snake. Getting into horizontal fight with him is a suicide. Though the later versions bacame faster, better armed, this fighter keeps a abilities of snake.

German - a falcon

Each Bf-109 starting with Emil and ending with Gustav can climb high and suddenly dive for a prey as a falcon. Easy climbing and diving are their immanent atribute. Each subsequent Messerschmitt 109 is faster than predecessor - what is obvious - and less agile but stays falcon in the heart.

American - a Rhino

The immanent atribute of American fighters (which is not connected with any particular brand) is solid construction giving them enormous ability to stay in the air and strong - and growing - armament. Each subsequent American fighter is faster, better diving aircraft but still with rhino agility.

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