Alright, so, i've been thinking about a game i'd like to be in. Why not a game that's focused on piloting? For example, a WWII aerial squadron, or a sci-fi fighter group, or something along those lines.

The players would be pilots, and they'd do what fighter pilots do; fly fighters.

it doesn't need to be fighters, but i think i'd prefer that.

So, anyone have any games that relate to this? Or ideas for a game? I'm fine with modern-day, WWII era, sci fi, etc.

I think it's safe to exclude fantasy, because they don't have aerodynamic vehicles...

You might consider checking out the game Night Witches.  I could swear I've seen a game or two of it on offer around here.

http://bullypulpitgames.com/games/night-witches/ for more info.

I think there was a Crimson Skies game as well.

I was considering a Blue Max or Dawn Patrol sort of game as well. I love WWI Arial stuff.
This message was last edited by the user at 23:35, Wed 24 Aug 2016.

While I am not familiar with any particular system, I would be interested in this type of aero-combat game; WWI to Modern.

If modern, I would put forward the possibility of using the aircraft stats developed for Twilight 2000 (http://www.pmulcahy.com/aircraft/aircraft.html) as source material.

Now that you mention it, I was thinking of running some mercenary flavored action, either modern-day (Strike Commander or Ace Combat inspired) or sci-fi (drawing on Privateer or Starlord).

I wouldn't necessarily rule out fantasy... the pilots could be flying dragons or giant hawks.

And there could still be magical-powered skyplanes.


I played a game called Foxbat and Phantom a long, long time ago... before RPGs existed. And there was a game I played at a convention about WWI aerial combat. It was supposed to be a one-on-one game, but I managed to shoot down 3 enemies! Go figure! I was heading home to England on a wing and a prayer, though... oil spraying in my face, etc. The game's designer was beta testing it. I don't know if it ever made it into production.

I would think Crimson Skies would translate to RPoL.

While i understand what you mean Starmaster, aerial combat in fantasy and aerial combat in everything else is just extremely different. Even dieselpunk/clockwork's got the general appeal that aerial combat has (Guns of Icarus, anyone?)

Anyways, i'll be honest; i didn't expect to get 5 replies this fast.

Anyways, any of these suggested systems work, although i'll have to learn them; which shouldn't be hard. Hopefully we see a game made here soon.

I don't have the time or the rules to GM this, but I could be interested in playing. Anything by Bullypulpitgames attracts my attention, and I fancy playing something Biggles-like set in WWI/WWII. Crimson Skies, Blue Max, Dawn Patrol, all sounds good, though I've never played any of them. Not sure I'd be up for other eras, though.

Do you gents want something like a hex-based (or miniature) game, like Phantoms, or something more operational-level, like Mercenary Air Squadron?

I can't say a mini-game would be as intriguing as a full game.

I've never done something like this before, but I can roleplay it. As for delving into the systems, I can figure it out along the way

I could run both the rp and piloting aspect with RISUS. The cascade fight optional rule looks like it should capture the chaos of air combat maneuvering without delving into wargame territory.

Or, I can leave rp to a rp system, and use a wargame to run the actual fights. The real question is what amiunt of detail you want. Is it the fluffy white clouds and explosions, or the crunchy thrust-to-weight ratios, corner speeds, aspects, loadouts, and do on? Hint: answering "a bit of both" would not be helpful. :-)

When it comes to the detail, I'd like something that can capture and portray the chaos in the skies; the fighting, explosions, maneuvers, intensity, etc.

I'd also like to get into the "science" behind it; the speeds, aspects and ratios, and so on.

Only issue with the latter is that I have no knowlege of the more numerical aspects of flight; nor do I have a general idea on how to roleplay that bit of detail. Learning, however, would be great.

When I roleplay stuff that involves things like medical stuff or engineering, I don't like to chalk it up to a simple "Character does this". I like to go into detail on what they do, if I can help it.

I did a hack of Aerotech a little while ago that actually worked super duper well for space fighters. Easily the best non-abstracted fighter combat I've experienced.

People talk about how Aerotech is all super complicated and whatever, but honestly, if you just keep everything in space and don't worry about atmospheric flight or low-orbit gravity, it's super simple. (and even those aren't that complicated.)
This message was lightly edited by the user at 15:04, Thu 25 Aug 2016.

So, you're looking for something less cinematic? For that I'd strongly recommend using a board game. I grew up with "Fight in the Skies" (later called Dawn Patrol), which I loved. I currently have Aces High, which does much of the same thing.

(I used Aces High as one of my reference documents for converting early-war aircraft into Savage Worlds.)

In reply to Davy Jones (msg # 14):

That's not cinematic?

Okay, upon.digging through available systems, and some experimentation, I think we can try this. I'll run it in the Strike Commander universe (modern, with things gone to Hell) with player characters being pilots in a mercenary outfit. Objections? Wishes?

Well, aside from your aid in learning how to set myself up and play, which will hopefully be brief (I'm a quick learner, most of the time) a link would be grand when you've got the game set up. Thanks for running it!

Count me in!

link to another game

Not yet totally done, but the outline is there.