
- BGG rank
- BGG #12,123
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Sniper!
- 2 players
- 180 min
- Complexity 3.3/5
- 1973

1972
Rules assistance for Flying Circus: Tactical Aerial Combat, 1915-1918
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Flying Circus: Tactical Aerial Combat, 1915-1918 is a board game released in 1972 for 2–6 players, 90 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Jim Dunnigan and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Variable Set-up, and Grid Movement.
"Plane to plane combat in the age of the 'knights of the air.' Movement and combat rules permit the re-creation of the 'dog-fighting' characteristic of the period. Famous aircraft included for use in the scenarios are: Fokker III, Dr I, D VIII, Albatross, Pfalz, Sopwith Camel, SPAD 13, Nieuport 11, SE 5A, and many others. Each aircraft type has its own customized control card used to keep track of its speed, ammunition, damage, and climbing. A 'streamlined' version of the rules is also provided to introduce players to tactical aerial simulation." SPI's first air combat game, originally published as a magazine game in Strategy & Tactics magazine #31. Facets of the game mechanics would be used in their later air games Spitfire and Foxbat & Phantom. 200 counters
Flying Circus: Tactical Aerial Combat, 1915-1918 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 Flying Circus: Tactical Aerial Combat, 1915-1918 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 Flying Circus: Tactical Aerial Combat, 1915-1918 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.
Flying Circus: Tactical Aerial Combat, 1915-1918 has a complexity rating of 2.4 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.
Flying Circus: Tactical Aerial Combat, 1915-1918 belongs to these categories: Wargame, Aviation / Flight, and World War I. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Variable Set-up, and Grid Movement. 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 Flying Circus: Tactical Aerial Combat, 1915-1918 are: Jim Dunnigan. 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 Flying Circus: Tactical Aerial Combat, 1915-1918 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.