
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Down in Flames: Guns Blazing – Extra Decks
- 2–12 players
- 30 min
- 2010

2010
Rules assistance for Down in Flames: WWII-Guns Blazing
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Down in Flames: WWII-Guns Blazing is a board game released in 2010 for 2–6 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Dan Verssen and its main mechanics are Hand Management and Campaign / Battle Card Driven.
From the publisher's website: Guns Blazing is the 2nd game in the Down In Flames series. This stand-alone game adds 63 more types of aircraft, new campaigns, and action cards featuring the new aircraft! Down In Flames places each player in the cockpit of a Leader and Wingman as they enter combat against other aircraft. By playing cards, you gain advantageous positions on your targets, fire your guns, and send them down in flames! The game is based on a unique action-reaction card mechanic. Each card can be countered by specific other cards. At the bottom of every card is the list of cards it is allowed to cancel. This makes for exciting card play back and forth between players... Player #1: "I Play an In My Sights for 3 Hits. If you don’t stop it, you’re going down." Player #2: "I counter with a Barrel Roll." Player #1: "I react with a Yo-Yo." Player #2: "You got me." Each aircraft is accurately simulated with several ratings including: Performance (the maximum cards you can hold), Horsepower (the maximum cards you can draw each turn), Bursts (how many times you can fire), Damage (how much damage your attacks inflict), and Airframe (how much damage your aircraft can sustain). The air combat is simulated using a Positioning system that allows aircraft to be Advantaged, Tailing, Disadvantaged, or Tailed in relation to other aircraft. An aircraft’s position determines if it can attack, and how many bonus Bursts it receives if it is Advantaged or Tailing. The game uses a simple Altitude system to add this vital aspect of air combat. Aircraft get to draw cards when diving, and must discard cards when climbing. The game also includes Light, Medium, and Heavy Bombers that are used in the historical campaign games. Components 110 Full color Action Cards 126 Full Color Aircraft Cards Full Color 24 Page Rulebook Full Color Counter Sheet (176 - 5/8” counters) 6 Full Color Campaigns Full Color Player Log Sheet Scheduled Aircraft Cards: GERMANY Bf-110G2, Fw-190A6, He-177, Ju-87D, Me-163, Do-335, He-162, Henchel, Bf-109G10, Bf-109F2 JAPAN G8N Rita, N1K2 George, J7W1, Ki84 Frank, Sally, A6M8 Zeke, A6M6 Zeke UK Buffalo, Spitfire IX, Lancaster, Meteor, Tempest, Halifax, Typhoon, Beaufighter USA P-38F, P-47B, B-25, B-17G, Avenger, B-29, B-24J, F4U-4 SOVIET I-15, I-153, I-16-29, LaGG-3, La-5, Yak-3 FRENCH M.S. 406, D.520, Potez 630, MB-152, Amiot 143, LeO.451, Farman F.222 ITALIAN C.R. 42 Falco, M.C. 200 Saetta, M.C. 202 Folgore, M.C. 205 Veltro, G.50 Freccia, Re-2001, Re-2005, Breda Ba.88, Savoia-Marchetti SM.79, Savoia-Marchetti SM.81, Breda Ba.65, Piaggio P.108 Scheduled Campaigns Italian French Daylight 1945 Pacific 1944 Soviet North Africa The aircraft and campaign list is still a work in progress. In the end, there will be 63 different types of aircraft totaling 126 cards, and 6 campaigns.
Down in Flames: WWII-Guns Blazing 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 Down in Flames: WWII-Guns Blazing is 30 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 Down in Flames: WWII-Guns Blazing 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.
Down in Flames: WWII-Guns Blazing has a complexity rating of 2.1 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: WWII-Guns Blazing 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: WWII-Guns Blazing are: Dan Verssen. 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: WWII-Guns Blazing 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.