Knights of the Skies - A new on-line game/experience, perhaps?

Hello All and Sundry,

I suppose my first action ought to be a swift self-introduction: My name is Christopher, a WWI historian and (among other things) a fiction author, web-site designer and (when I'm not sleeping or nursing a horrendous hang-over..) a 2nd year undergraduate in Ancient History/Philosophy at St. Davids University College, Wales, Uk. That -- to the gall of some -- makes me rather thoroughly English. )

Phew.

So glad to have got that out of the way...

Ok. To my point. I'm a newbie here at the Aerodrome and couldn't help but be mightily impressed with the whole site: everything here is beutifully polished and intelligently put together -- unlike the other 70% of the internet!

So impressed was I, in fact, that I thought I'd post on this here message board and spout ream after ream of (stereotypical?) British hot air...

No really.

I've had an idea for some time now that it would be immensely satisfying to play in a technically/historically accurate on-line 'paper-dice game' based around the characters and manouvres of the Westrn Front 1916 onwards.

The early theory goes thus...

That up to 100 'pilots' could register to take part in a campaign of arial combat, pursuing missions, objectives and ultimately each other through the medium of maps, schematics, tables, charts and messages posted on a forum not dissimilar to this very one.... as part of a website not dissimilar to this very one...

There would of course be little pressure/restriction to play in this game with the players simply posting their intention to partake in one of the scenarios I will have pre-arranged at certain times... and of course the bulk 'random fly' where players simply visit this site (for example) and drop off a message on the forum notifying the co-ordinator that they wish to play a turn over the next 10 hours or so (I say 10 hours but please don't have a seizure -- a turn would literally be a brace of 3-4 messages between myself and a player in which I will inform them of the outcome of their actions based on their designated airspace, nationality, squadron, rank and skills etc)

The idea is that over time everyone's individual pilot will pick up experience points from their sorties and such forth and can allocate them to improve skills such as their aim, skill with the aircraft they have chosen to fly, resolve, courage and a half dozen others statistics to boot)

In addition the pilpots can also pick up medals, ranks, kill-tallies and unique injuries that will make the true aces stand out as almost fictitious copies of the player's own alter-ego's)

This all sounds horribly complex.. but it really isnt. I already have a basic skelton of what we game desginers call 'the system/engine' and am all ready to start fleshing it out.

I can assure everyone that the end product is suprisingly enjoyable and of course all the associated tea and medals parties, ranking Ace of Aces tables and sundry would be great!

NB: One thing I would like to stress though is that this is a game for adults.. and not likely to be anything other than a light hearted and easy-to-get-on-with interface. I also want to produce a bi-weekly colour HTML on-line magazine packed with news of the latest missions, gazettas, photographs, cartoons, promotions, exploits and ranking tables.

I suppose what I'd like you folks on the forum to tell me is --- do you want to see anything like this? Does it appeal to you?

Ley me know your thoughts and questions!

Regards,
Christopher Gavin

PS: I have played Dawn patrol and the other lesser games... Great fun! But not nearly up-to-date enough. This new format will be much more realistic and involving... but still just as great as the classics!

[Billy_Bishop]

Well, it's been/being done by the Indy Squadron of the Fight In The Skies Society.** They've been doing it for a while now, using Dawn Patrol rules.



It works pretty well.



VBR,



Al Lowe

Hi Al,



) I think I made a few typos in that first post! <laughs> 'Pilpots' was probably my worst offence...



About ISD. I like it! It looks good and anything based on Dawn Patrol with a good bunch of dedicated gamers is bound to be great fun...



But ISD is just the beginning of the idea.** I don't know without actually talking to Mr. Skinner exactly how orthodox ISD is with regards to the Dawn Patrol system (I haven't played in ISD yet)and really it does look tremendous fun... but KOTS would be so much more. I suppose my ideal game would be a happy blend of Dawn Patrol with expanded influences from more action/chance games like the old Games Workshop Necromunda title: with a firm onus on character evolution and tactical play blended with the un-predictable.



I'd also work very hard to avoid a conflict with Dawn Patrol games...



Imagine Dawn Patrol with a friendlier more attractive image and a splash of the new age paper'n'dice style!



Regards,

Chris

Sounds good to me. What about the concept of players being assigned to a squadron to work as a team? When a pilot is killed or maimed he has to start in a fresh career in another squadron. The game could also include flying bombers a recon aircraft. Maybe even several people being in the same aircraft i.e 1 pilot and 1 gunner and any other players in any other position. If lets say the rear gunner pilot leaves the game (does not die) then the computer takes over. If he is killed he starts a fresh career. I think this would be a good game, but should included not just flying fighters but the other aircraft.



** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** Regards** **



** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** Ben.

Hey Ben!



This is exactly what I have been brooding on.. but the logistics of it are foxing me right now.**



The bias toward repetative single-player games was one of the things which put me off Dawn Patrol. My origonal motivation for a new take was arranging squadrons -- even having its own NPC mechanics and supplies stats. etc.



No detail is too technical -- but to keep the game accessible to beginners there must be an 'apprentiship' before being asigned a squadron.. Just like in real history where a healthy wedge of pilots served in ariel recon. etc. Maybe a few novice missions to ease people into it and for repeat offenders something else? Also there would have to be at least 3-4 players who are willing to act as SysOps as well, or I'll drown in it all. Either that or a slow turnaround!



Oh, I forgot to state unoquivicably that KOTS (a working title only) is going to FREE. 100% no matter how big it gets! (optimism pays, my old man used to say )



There may be a small, very, very small subscription charge on the Gazetta though. Just to cover domain registration costs. But the way I see it is -- the more people (there are 23+ already expressing a firm interest) sign up the cheaper that will be.. hopefully a matter of a couple of dollars postal order one-off.



Regards,

Chris Gavin

I loved Dawn Patrol, it was my first flight simm. I tried to play it, but it will not work on my new PC. I once flew one of the 2-seaters (computer error) in the mission of Max Immelmanns death. I always thought Dawn Patrol had good graphics for 1994. Most ww1 flight simms are fighter aircraft only, most people who play Red Baron, myself included. Are desprate to fly bombers and seaplanes etc from ww1. I am sure this game would be a hit. Also there has not been a ww1 flight simm for 2 years, as there is a current craze for ww2 flight simms. About 11 out later this year. But I bet in about a year or two, ww1 will be the in thing again.



** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** Regards,



** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** Ben

Ben,

<smiles> I think we have got crossed wires -- this isnt a computer game, its an on-line game. Not with graphics, with words and dice and stats.

3 years since a good sim? What about Flying Corps? That was highly rated and is now out in Gold format with 3d graphics and head-to-head play. I can stump you the URL if you'd like to go and have a look at it?

Back to KOTS though... sorry about that. But this is a hobby/gamne not a PC software title.

)

Regards,
Chris Gavin

Sounds good.** Keep me informed, I check the 'drome daily, or e-mail me direct at fmottern@mindspring.com.** Hope you will have room for a fair (when sober), good otherwise Bristol flying Yank in the RFC.

[Reinout]

Hi Christopher,

Sure, I'll sign on for a free game! I suppose that when it's ready, there'll be an online manual? Could be useful.

In the meantime, does anybody here play Games Workshop's Warhammer?

Kind regards,

Reinout