- BGG rating
- 5.3
Air War '80
- 1–4 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 4.4/5
- 1979
- BGG rank
- BGG #30,386
- BGG rating
- 5.4
Air War: Modern Tactical Air Combat
1977
Rules assistance for Air War: Modern Tactical Air Combat
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 120–360 min
- 12+
- Complexity 4.6/5
Rules assistant for Air War: Modern Tactical Air Combat
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Air War: Modern Tactical Air Combat is a board game released in 1977 for 2–4 players, 120–360 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by David C. Isby and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, and Hexagon Grid.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 5.7
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About the game
(from the box lid:) Air War: Modern Tactical Air Combat is a unique, ultra-complex simulation of almost every facet of modern aerial combat. Thirty of the most important aircraft types to emerge since 1952 - from the Soviet Union, United States, Great Britain, France, Israel and other nations - do battle in historical scenarios from the Middle East to Vietnam, from Korea to India-Pakistan, and in various hypothetical scenarios that include World War Three. The game is played on a geomorphic map across which playing pieces move through a hexagonal grid, which functions like the squares of a chessboard in regulating movement. Probability charts reveal the outcome of various game functions. Contents: 48-page rules booklet; 16-page booklet of additional rules & scenarios; 72-page chart booklet; 700 die-cut cardboard playing pieces; eight 8-1/2" x 11" soft map sections; and various play aids. Level of Complexity: Very High Average Playing Time: 2 hours Suitability for Solitaire Play: Very Low (BGG description:) At one point called the most complicated wargame ever. This modern air combat game has a scale of 1 airplane per counter, 500 feet per hex and 2.5 seconds per turn. The rule book is 48 pages long with 28 of those being rules. There is a large display for keeping track of each plane (4 per display) with a separate track for throttle, weapons, acceleration, turning at 5% increments, altitude and attitude giving each plane a true xyz position. Included is a 16 page booklet of 39 charts and tables. There are also individual sheets for each plane with info, charts and tables. There are also individual charts and tables for each type of missile. The game rightly suggests that you fly an individual plane around at first to learn how a plane operates before adding weapons. The game for all its detail is not without controversy as to realism. The energy rules and the claim that some aspects of the game are based on educated guesses because of the info on some planes being top secret, have caused this feeling of fudging. All in all one of SPI's most ambitious projects. There is also an expansion - Air War Update Kit.
Designers
Publishers
- Hobby Japan
- Tactical Studies Rules (TSR)
- SPI (Simulations Publications, Inc.)
Questions and answers
Air War: Modern Tactical Air Combat supports 2–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Air War: Modern Tactical Air Combat is 120–360 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Air War: Modern Tactical Air Combat for ages 12 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Air War: Modern Tactical Air Combat has a complexity rating of 4.6 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a heavy game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Air War: Modern Tactical Air Combat belongs to these categories: Wargame, Modern Warfare, and Aviation / Flight. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, and Hexagon Grid. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Air War: Modern Tactical Air Combat are: David C. Isby. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Air War: Modern Tactical Air Combat as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.