WW1 Pilot Roleplay

[Roran Hawkins]

Basic idea: A RP about WW1 fighter pilots.
Casual roleplay most likely.

Inspired by the movie flyboys.

The RP goes as following:

You are a person "volunteering" for any of the involved nations' air forces. We will restrict ourselves to the Western front. You undergo a long and hard training about whatever is needed to be able to fly your plane and do what is required of you with your plane. Each nation had his/her own way of drilling the recruits, and I have a detailed book about WW1 piloting at hand for that. Once you are allowed to fly, either as one of the glorious attack planes, vulnerable bombers or pityfull spotter planes, you get sent into the air. I have a map with all airports on the Western front with name and nation, and according to those we will make sure there will be player contact. I will give you a lot of freedom when encountering NPC's, and trust on your good senses of realism.

Take in mind that in average the lifespan of a pilot was about 2-3 weeks, the average age for a pilot was 22 years, and that after destroying 5 enemy planes one was called an "ace". A rare achievement. For the sake of the RP the player characters all have the chance to become an ace, but will not be allowed to overdo it.

Aside from the perilous life as a pilot we will also RP the time on the ground in the messes and their time off. Every so many time pilots were given 2 weeks off, which they'd spent in a major city or at home. Life as a pilot was comfortable, often housed in nearby villas or other luxurous places, and were allowed to wear whatever they wanted. And during bad weather, in that time suicide to fly in, just like fling at night (which still doesn't mean it wasn't done, it was highly dangerous) meant time off. They were without doubt the most free units in the back then so regulated armies, just growing out of the Napoleonic style of wars of thight formations and colourfull uniforms. The only times when the pilots wore uniforms is when generals came to take a look. Even the planes were free to be decorated.

This all still doesn't weigh up against the murderous life as a pilot. Out of a new rookie escadrille, often only 2 or 3 made it past the first few weeks, and planes did not only die to enemy planes. As AA developed flying too close to the trenches was a hazardous affair, and the infantry MG's were just as lethal if not more lethal than the other plane's MG's. It wouldn't be the first time an artillery spotter was taken down by the artilleries' own shells, and the young and unreliably machines were prone to malfunctions without enemy aid. Not only physical injuries were frequent, but psychological terror was widespread.

The players are free to follow their own beliefs in the air, either signifying the 'knights of the skies' in virtuous combat, leaving wounded enemies or enemies without ammo or fuel alone, or could choose to be murderous hunters striving for effectiveness and kills. Not only taking down enemy planes was a matter of prestigue, balloon-hunting was frequent as well. These heavily guarded spotter ballons, held in place and lowered by winches provided theheight for effective spotting. Some pilots took it upon themselves to hunt ballons instead of planes, and quickly the highly volatile objects were named 'Drachen', 'saucisses' and 'blimps'.

Players are encouraged to try and invent new tactics, as the art iof dogfighting was new. All tactics were yet to be invented. I have detailed information about the different fighting planes to provide aid in seeing how PvP and PvE will be done.


Last but not least, every fighter pilot did his job on patrols. The average plane could patrol for about 2.5 hours before returning due to lack of fuel. The reasliesdt patrols started at 5 o'clock, the last ending in the evening. Aside from these obligatory patrols, pilots were free to and encouraged to do vuluntary patrols, aka, refining their skills and going on the hunt on their own or with friends.

This RP will start in 1917, as the first 2 years of the war is the actual refinement of the fighting planes. Untill halfway 1915 firing through the propellor was suicidal for example. We will include otehr existing pilots in the RP to spice things up. Lance Hawker got his first 3 kills in a single mission with a hunting carabine from his scouting plane, while Renée Fonck holds the record of taking down 6 enemies in one day, 3 of which within 45 seconds. In his plane there was never found but a sinlge bullethole. Manfred and his circus' offcourse will be present too, while Immelman, the author of the first aviatory tactc guides will be widely renowned. Pilots were often bathed in awe and luxe by both the public and the plane manufacturers, as they used their wares and as such promoted their use. They also liked to listen to advice from pilots to improve future models.


OOC

[KnightsTemplar]

Interested in a fighter pilot role.
can we command our own squadrons ?
remember folks.... no parachutes.

[Somewittyname]

Interested.
That was movie was awesome up till the love interests.

[KnightsTemplar]

Agreed, Love interests should be banned in war movies.

[Somewittyname]

Yes, or at least kill the girl or something.

[KnightsTemplar]

LOL, yeah, something tragic...
another question for the GM... You gonna accept Pilots for the German side too?

[Roran Hawkins]

Only Eastern front will not be allowed, so yes!

PS: Read the OP carefully. Everyone starts as a volunteer just having passed the physical requirements and controls and will now start his training, but progressing is practically unlimited. New pilots can become the squadron leaders fairly soon if they're good enough.

[Roran Hawkins]

Bump.

I assume you guys will want to join this? Then we have 4 people so far, including myself. That should be enough to start with imo. I'll try to make an OOC soon. Starting the 27th I'll be gone for 10 days though.

[KnightsTemplar]

Am in.

[Roran Hawkins]

OOC posted.