Rise of the Luftwaffe (1993)

Rise of the Luftwaffe is the first in Down in Flames series of card games that simulate WW2 air combat. Each player has a hand of maneuver cards which he uses to improve his position relative to an enemy plane or fire on the enemy. The opponent is allowed to counter the maneuver by playing cards of his own, to which original player can counter back, etc. The last player to play a card determines whether the original action occurs or not.

Each plane is rated with horsepower (which indicates how many card you can draw), performance (how many cards to be held), burst (the values of fire cards that can be played), etc. The number of cards in your hand abstractly represents the momentum of each aircraft.

A dogfight lasts a mere 6 turns and take about 15 minutes to play. There are also campaign games which represent a number of interconnected missions and various operations the players can take. A campaign can take about 2-3 hours.

Expanded by:

• Eighth Air Force
• Air War Spain in Alea Magazine #22.
• Rise of the Luftwaffe - KUBAN BRIDGEHEAD
• Down In Flames: Poland 1939 - Module
• Winter War 1939-1940
• Air Umbrella Over Dunkirk

Microbadges

Down in Flames fan - Rise of the Luftwaffe
Down in Flames fan - Zero

Variants:

• Optional Rules for Wingman Gunner Attacks, Air-to-Ground Rockets and Critical Hits from C3i Magazine, Issue #7
• Optional Rules on how to model the use of the British Vic formation in the DiF series from C3i Magazine, Issue #10.
• Experten of the Luftwaffe Part 1 from C3i Magazine, Issue #13.

Campaigns:

• Malta under siege 1940-1942 is a new Air Campaign Module introducing rules for Air Transport missions, Torpedo Bombing and new color aircraft cards for the CR42 Falco, Hurricane II, Gladiator II, Swordfish I, Wellington III, MC200 Saetta, SM79 Sparviero and the Ju52 "Tante Ju". This module was published inside C3i Magazine, Issue #3. Click here to download the extra material.
• Operation Pedestal - Malta Convoy, August 1942 from C3i Magazine, Issue #10.
• Flying Tigers is a new Air Campaign Module including new color aircraft cards for the P-40B Tomahawk, Ki-21 Sally, Ki-27 Nate, Ki-43 Oscar, and Ki-30 Ann. Also introduced is a new type of Morale Target - The Village. This module was published inside C3i Magazine, Issue #10. Click here to download the extra material.
• Battle of Britain day from C3i Magazine, Issue #10.
• Kuban Bridgehead is a new Air Campaign Module including new color aircraft cards for the P-39N Airacobra, Yak-9D, Il-2m and Pe-2. This module was published inside C3i Magazine, Issue #11.

Errata:

• Errata and Rules clarifications from C3i Magazine, Issue #11.