Blue Max: Nieuport Pilots
- 2–6 players
- 2014
- BGG rank
- BGG #8,122
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Blue Max: World War I Air Combat
2013
Rules assistance for Blue Max: World War I Air Combat
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 90 min
- 13+
- Complexity 2.3/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Blue Max: World War I Air Combat
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Blue Max: World War I Air Combat is a board game released in 2013 for 2–6 players, 90 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Phil Hall and John Harshman and its main mechanics are Simultaneous Action Selection, Grid Movement, and Hexagon Grid.
Expansions
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About the game
In the midst of a tragic war, WWI fighter pilots fought bravely in a modern version of the medieval joust, much like the gallant knights that preceded them. Their survival depended greatly upon not only their skills, but also the quality of their aircraft. Blue Max, the famous game of World War I aerial combat, is back with new graphics and updated rules! In Blue Max, two to six players take the roles of pilots belonging to one of two teams, either the Allies or the Central Powers and aim to shoot down as many enemy planes as possible. With rules that account for altitude, fuel reserves and the maneuverability of your plane, Blue Max places you squarely in the cockpit and you'll need to both master your machine and outwit your foes in order to win. The famous Philip Hall aerial combat game is back with new graphics and updated rules. Components: 1 rule-book, 1 game board (with a map on each side), 6 player screens (3 per team), 18 maneuver charts, 18 plane cards, 144 small size cards, 3 punch boards with 168 cardboard pieces, 60 tracking sheets, 6 custom dice.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Edge Entertainment
- Hobby Japan
- Heidelberger Spieleverlag
- Giochi Uniti
- Stratelibri
Questions and answers
Blue Max: World War I Air Combat supports 2–6 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 Blue Max: World War I Air Combat is 90 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 Blue Max: World War I Air Combat for ages 13 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.
Blue Max: World War I Air Combat has a complexity rating of 2.3 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light 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.
Blue Max: World War I Air Combat belongs to these categories: Wargame, Aviation / Flight, and World War I. Its main mechanics are Simultaneous Action Selection, 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 Blue Max: World War I Air Combat are: Phil Hall and John Harshman. 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 Blue Max: World War I 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.