
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,460
- BGG rating
- 7.7
Wild Blue Yonder
- 1–8 players
- 15–180 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2017

Rules assistance for Down in Flames: The Netherlands East Indies
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Down in Flames: The Netherlands East Indies is an expansion for Rise of the Luftwaffe released in 2002 20 minutes per game. It was designed by Roger Horky and its main mechanics are Hand Management and Campaign / Battle Card Driven.
The Netherlands East Indies is an extension part/ module to the "Down In Flames"-Series - Volume 2: Zero! game by GMT Games. This DiF Module was published in RBM's C3i Magazine Nr14. The invasion of the Netherlands East Indies began on 11 January 1942 when Japanese troops based in the Philippines landed on Borneo and the Celebes. Two weeks later, other Japanese troops, using Malaya as a staging area, invaded Sumatra. "Down in Flames" series is a card-driven game that simulate WW2 air combat.
The listed playing time for Down in Flames: The Netherlands East Indies is 20 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.
Down in Flames: The Netherlands East Indies has a complexity rating of 2.0 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.
Down in Flames: The Netherlands East Indies belongs to these categories: Card Game, Wargame, and World War II. Its main mechanics are Hand Management and Campaign / Battle Card Driven. 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 Down in Flames: The Netherlands East Indies are: Roger Horky. 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 Down in Flames: The Netherlands East Indies as an expansion for Rise of the Luftwaffe. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Rise of the Luftwaffe to use it. Check that your edition of Rise of the Luftwaffe is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.