As the leader of the defense forces of Tinkertown it was Ludwig's job to protect its citizens from Scavengers and Creatures that come from the barren wasteland that lies in the south of it. In an attempt to prepare the city for an expanding group of raiders, he suggested an arms race to assert dominance over the region. This idea was ultimately to denied by his brother Otis who wanted the city to focus on medical advancements rather than war machinery. This caused a disgruntled Ludwig and a group of loyalists to focus their work on a flying Fotress that would provide a safe place for the citizens of Tinkertown.
Once Otis got wind of the plans for this war driven machinery he intervened and denounced the leadership of his brother. Filled with hatred and anger, Ludwig declared a war on his own blood and bombed Tinkertown. With his loyalists he fled from the collapsing city and founded his own state within the clouds - The Airship Alliance.