Sky Pirates Origins

[Ironworker]

Well I'm trying to figure out when and how to start my Sky Pirates Campaign.  I thought it might be interesting to have them start out as part of the White forces during the Russian Civil War or perhaps in the Imperial service prior to the revolution.  

Actually I would like to see them do battle with both the Reds and the Central Powers air units.  

I was thinking of putting them in the Black Sea area as part of the Southern White forces.  

I'm really not sure how to get them in there.  My thought is to model them after the Laffayette Escandrille in that they would be sponsered by a Russian American industrialist sympathetic to the White cause.  I figured it would be best to use a fictional person as their sponser and try and stay out of major historic events as I can while still allowing them to effect my campaign.  

Any ideas on how I could do this or if it's even remotely realistic from you know a pulp perspective......

[warrenpeace]

I think that you are on the right track with the Russian Civil War as part of the story arc.  What you might want to do is plot a series of wars to include in the story arc in which mercenary or volunteer international fliers participated. WW1 is a must because of the Lafayette escadrille, with action for your group of pilots centered in France or Italy or Greece. Some pilots might come from parts of the Austro-Hungarian Empire as it broke up, Czechs for example defecting to other nations.

Move the story to southern Russia where the French had a presence supporting the Whites with airplanes and troops.  Then your mercenary international group of pilots could go to South America and China.  Later they could fight in the Spanish Civil War.  After that they could go back to China until the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, after which the group of pilots could split up to fight in both Europe and Asia in WW2.

[Wirelizard]

If you wanted to keep the White Russian influence going, you could posit a Tawain-style White Russian outpost surviving the end of the RCW - White Vladivlastok, perhaps, or an Island of Crimea. (google that last, there's a Russian novel of the same name)

[JollyBob]

Or you could go for a set-up like in the movie Porco Rosso, where you had a load of veterans forming plane clubs and pirate gangs based out of the Adriatic area.  A very Balkan/Greek/Italian feel to things there.

You could then have them hired out to various conflicts during the inter-war years from a permanent base on a hidden Greek island. A bit Thunderbirds, maybe, but it might work.  

[Ironworker]

Or you could go for a set-up like in the movie Porco Rosso, where you had a load of veterans forming plane clubs and pirate gangs based out of the Adriatic area.  A very Balkan/Greek/Italian feel to things there.

You could then have them hired out to various conflicts during the inter-war years from a permanent base on a hidden Greek island. A bit Thunderbirds, maybe, but it might work.  

Not that's not a bad idea at all although I would like to start them during WWI but your idea does sound pulpier!  Perhaps I should just focus on the Inter-war years.  No reason I can't use your idea for the second phase of the campaign.  So many decisions. 

[Aaron]

You also have the dust-up between Poland and Russia in 1919-1921 (I think) to work with. There was the Kosciuszko squadron of Americans and Canadians who flew for the Poles.  http://air-combat.suite101.com/article.cfm/kosciuszko_squadron.

[Aaron]

You also have the dust-up between Poland and Russia in 1919-1921 (I think) to work with. There was the Kosciuszko squadron of Americans and Canadians who flew for the Poles.  http://air-combat.suite101.com/article.cfm/kosciuszko_squadron.

Oh, and I should point out that Merion Cooper flew with the Kosciuszko squadron. He made King Kong, a version of The Four Feathers, and some other films!

[BaronVonJ]

I'm thinking of doing something similar during the inter-war years. World's the same but two independent forces (for trying to take over the world, one trying to stop it) are also in the mix (insert G.I. Joe vs. Cobra). Who's been selling those advanced arms to the Chinese warlord? Cobra!!!

[Ironworker]

I'm thinking of doing something similar during the inter-war years. World's the same but two independent forces (for trying to take over the world, one trying to stop it) are also in the mix (insert G.I. Joe vs. Cobra). Who's been selling those advanced arms to the Chinese warlord? Cobra!!!

The Cobra Organization background has the organization starting in the 1980s but there is an alternate ancient Cobra-La background that could easily fit into a pulp game.  I've been thinking of putting some aspects of Cobra into my games as well if for no other reason than I really dig the idea of putting the Cobra symbol on all kinds of things. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobra-La

[Ironworker]

My problem with getting this campaign off the ground are twofold. 

For one thing it seems there are almost too many options but not enough solid facts about the intra-war period.  I keep comming across all these wild stories and events that just seem like pure fiction but they are real but there aren't a lot of technical facts.  I think I might be leaning a bit too strongly on historic events and I need to dial up the pulp meter and use these events mearly as inspiration or a way to kick off my own stories.  I keep getting worried about having the right planes and troops and trying to fit what I'm doing with historic events as if I was writing a hard edge historic fiction and not a Pulp action adventure.  I think I need to relax my standards a bit and just have fun with it. 

Another problem is that I haven't settled on rules yet.  I like .45 but I just don't think it's got the mechanics for aircraft or really big battles that might become a part of this campaign.  I think I am going to switch my BMAP games to .45 though because it seems perfect for them.  I've been using my own version of No Limits because I can custom stat everything I need but those rules are really designed for wargames with no RPG elements which I want.  Straight up RPGs can't handle the action they way I would like to either.  I have considered using the Canvas Eagles mod of the Blue Max game for the high altitude combat segments because I really like it but I would have to use something else entirely for ground action.     

[Aaron]

I would suggest giving Triumph and Tragedy a look. It will handle larger actions and it even has a board on this very forum for some strange reason.

[BaronVonJ]

Hey Ironworker,
My local group (Basement Generals in KC,MO) have been doing Pulp using "To be Continued" by the GASLIGHT guys. Gives a little role-play and a little skirmish. For bigger battles we move up to GASLIGHT (it's VSF but works for Pulp era). Then we use Crimson Skies for air battles.
Just bought Mutants and Deathray Guns and it looks great. Might modify for Pulp (especially Flash Gordon-y stuff).
BTW Cobra works great as a 1930's organization.
-J
http://baronvonj.blogspot.com/
www.basementgenerals.com

[commissarmoody]

So Ironworker how comes the the project?

[odd duck]

I like your Black sea idea you have europe on one side Turkey and the middle east to the south and  the caucasus mt.s and central asia to the east and as this is pulp flight times and max AC ranges can be adjusted as required( eg.secret fuel additive) so a variety  of locales  can be included,the fictional east european country is a stock Pulp locale . Mad scientist in charge ala Dr DOOM?  as to how they get there I have read of white Russian or allied air units being based on trains Freight cars being converted to workshops ,the planes with their wings removed or folded being transported on flatcars just stop the train near a suitable field instant aerodrome , probaly have to move to that secret island base when the R. cival war ends or head into the back of beyond?unless your lads happen to capture an aircraft carrying airship from the germans/czarists in the last days of the conflict(best kept off board).You also could base them on a flat topped island or plateau with steep unclimbable sides. Personaly for sky pirates I'd use floatplanes based from a tramp steamer but you've already bought your planes so that's out. just throwing Ideas at you ,hope some are usefull looking forward to seeing your results

[flooglestreet]

Look at the Wings of War cardgamefor dogfights, its popular and I am planning on using it for my secret squadron .45Adventures game.

For origins look at Blackhawk comics from DC, they have reprinted the origin story several times. Also consider the pirates starting as a way to rescue Russian Aristocrats a la the Scarlet Pimpernel. In a novel based on the Blackhawk comics the author introduces a Jewish American industrialist who supplies the Blackhawks with their Grumman Skyrockets.

good gaming