Sierra Madre Game Co. (1993, $16)
Designed by Phil Eklund
Players 1 (with 2 player option)
Playing Time 1 hour
Period World War I
Scale Tactical
Turn 10-1000 seconds
Map 50 meters
Unit individual aircraft

Components
1 ziploc bag
2 11"x17" unmounted mapsheets
101 un-cut monochrome counters on stiff card
12 sheets of rules stapled along left edge
4 11"x17" double-sided sheets (zeppelin ballast and aircraft)
1 sheet of charts and tracks
1 sheet of scenarios and play sequence
2 cardstock sheets with a total of 40 uncut situation cards

Counter Manifest
39 red 1/2" counters
61 blue 1/2" counters
1 blue 1/2"x2" Zeppelin counter
1 cover sheet
1 Sierra Madre advertisement

Sierra Madre says:

“The player controls the crew of a Zeppelin over Britain, Europe, or Africa during the First World War. Each game consists of a single bombing or patrol mission ... In earlier scenarios the airship commander faces only the elements and a few aeroplanes armed with Ranken darts and rifle grenades. In later years, the opposition includes anti-aircraft guns, fighters with incendiary ammunition, balloon barrages, and searchlights.”

The reviewer says:

“Hurdle number one is physical quality. Sierra Madre is a small outfit, not known for graphic presentation or game component quality. LS does nothing to change that perception ... Hurdle number two is the high hurdle. There is a lot of information in the rule book; unfortunately, it is scattered almost without pattern throughout ...

Once the hurdles are negotiated, players will be rewarded with an enlightening game experience. LS covers all imaginable aspects of Zeppelin operation ... The game is positively chrome-plated. Four types of Zeppelins, two dozens planes represented in great detail, lots of obscure equipment and weapons, ships, AA and flak, barrage balloons, etc. ...

The downside of this chrome is just that: it’s just chrome. The effect on the game is often nil ... As a solitaire system, LS does a great job of placing the player in the role of Zeppelin commander.” Mark Olson in Paper Wars 22.

Comments

A wargame that truly teaches you something about the subject matter it portrays. Luftschiff is regarded as the definitive boardgame treatment of the subject. These factors fully justify the high price tag of this DTP style production.

Two expansions have been released for the game. The first, Riesenflugzeugabteilungen, offers modified rules and seven scenarios depicting the “giant” bombers fielded during and after the First World War. The second, ZRCV, covers the aircraft carrying dirigibles Acron and Macon during the inter-war years, with hypothetical War Plan Orange scenarios.

Collector’s Notes

Luftschiff and its expansions can still be ordered directly from the Sierra Madre Games web site at www.io.com/ ~wasson/smg.html. Boone 4th lists Luftschiff’s low, high and average auction prices at 8/13/ 11. In Boone 3rd, auction prices were 8/ 8/8 and sale listings were 10/16/12.

Other Sierra Madre games by this designer

American Megafauna; Burros & Bandidos; Insecta; Lords of the Renaissance; Lords of the Sierra Madre; Pancho Villa; Rocket Flight: Lords of the High Frontier.

Capsule Profiles:

Longest Day
LA Lawless
Last Frontier
Laser Tank
Lesnaja 1708
Legend of Robin Hood
Lords of the Middle Sea
Luftschiff