RED BARON, by Bill Koff. From The Emperor's Press, Chicago.

This is really just a 60+ page book of miniatures rules for WWI aerial combat. But it is so well done, with so much information and technical-looking goodies, that I threw it into the mix for those interested in this sort of thing. Designer Bill Koff is the original editor of the Civil War magazine, "Volunteers", and also the designer of the possibly-never-to-be-released wargame, Zeppelin. (Time to get some ballast on that sucker, boys.) I don't pretend to have much knowledge in this area - either WWI flying OR miniatures. But this book appears to sport a diceless resolution system, loads of charts and tables to drool over, and excellent use of old and new paintings and pictures. (I especially liked the Brit poster that suggested it was better to take a bullet at the front than to get splattered by a bomb at home. Ingenious ad campaign; I bet that brought 'em in in droves.) The umpteen thousand playtesters listed include many boardgame notables, such as Jim Epperson, Chuck Everett, Hank van Hout and even Rabbit Rob Markham, who had to be physically restrained from placing pictures of Lord Montrose all over the planes. I have been informed by several cognoscenti that for WWI air, this is IT. So consider this a passing on of Rumor, rather than a review. Whatever, just from leafing through it, it looks kinda fun to me.

For those wondering where to get this, Emperor's Press is part of Todd Fischer's Monument to Napoleonic Schizophrenia: The Emperor's HQ in Chicago. Ask your dealer, or dial information. More than that I canna tell ya.