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Aces High: World War I Deadworld
Written by by Daniel R Davis
Personalities
Here are several personalities from WWI. The Red Baron
has been "zombified" for the purposes of this Deadworld.
However, the rest of his story has been kept intact. Stats for
Boelcke have been added just in case the ZM wishes to begin the game
before the time of Boelcke's demise. All the personalities below are
Aces (meaning that they have more than 5 kills-8 kills for Germans).
The stats have been provided, but can be changed to suit each
individual ZM's tastes, knowledge, or needs. Further, only the most
relevant skills have been given, more can and should be added as needed.
| Oswald Boelcke
| Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen | Lothar
Freiherr von Richthofen |
| Edward Corringham "Mick"
Mannock | Richard Raymond-Barker | Edward
"Eddie" Vernon Rickenbacker |
| René Paul Fonck |
Oswald Boelcke
Country: Germany
Rank: Hauptmann (Captain)
Born: May 19, 1891
Died: October 28, 1916
STR 3 DEX 4 CON 4
INT 4 PER 3 WIL 3
LPs: 47
EPs: 35
Spd: 16
Essence: 21
Qualities/Drawbacks: Charisma (+3), Cruel (-1),
Delusion (Grandeur/Overconfidence) (-1), Hard to Kill (+3), Honorable
(-1), Fast Reaction Time (+2), Nerves of Steel (+3), Zealot (-3)
Skills: Brawling 3, Dodge 3, Guns (Handgun) 3, Guns
(Machine Gun) 4, Instruction 4, Notice 4, Piloting (Prop Plane) 5
(and others that the ZM feels are appropriate)
Attack: Punch D4x3 (6); Kick D4x4 (8); by weapon
In 1915, Boelcke was chosen to test Anthony Fokker's
new machine gun synchronizing device. Boelcke used the new invention
to become the first German ace. He and Max Immelman were awarded the
Orden Pour le Mérite on January 12, 1916. They were the first
two pilots to receive Prussia's highest award for bravery. By the
summer of the same year, Immelmann had been killed and Boelcke was
Germany's leading ace. He developed rules for air combat, known as
the "Dicta Boelcke," many of which remain relevant today.
While flying an infantry support mission, Boelcke's Albatros D.II
briefly collided with that of Erwin Böhme. Böhme survived
but Boelcke was killed. Boelcke commanded the Jasta 2 unit. Before
his death, he had scored 40 kills.
"Whatever Boelcke told us was taken as
Gospel!" Manfred von Richthofen
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Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen
(stats on the left are his living stats)
Country: Germany
Rank: Rittmeister (Captain)
Born: May 2, 1892
Died: April 21, 1918
STR 3/4 DEX 4/4 CON 4/4
INT 3/3 PER 3/4 WIL 4/4
LP/DPs: 47/-
EPs: 35/-
Spd: 16
Essence: 21
Qualities/Drawbacks: Charisma (+3), Cruel (-1),
Delusion (Grandeur/Overconfidence) (-2), Hard to Kill (+3) ,
Honorable (-1), Fast Reaction Time (+2), Nerves of Steel (+3), Zealot (-3)
Skills: Brawling 3, Dodge 3, Guns (Handgun) 3, Guns
(Machine Gun) 5, Intimidation 4, Notice 4, Piloting (Prop Plane) 6
(and others that the ZM feels are appropriate)
Attack: Punch D4x3 (6)/D4x4 (8); Kick D4x4 (8)/D4x5
(10); by weapon
Weak Spot: None/Special (+10)
Getting Around: As in Life (+7)
Strength: Strong Like Bull (+5)
Senses: Better Than Hawk; Life Sense (+11)
Sustenance: Who Needs Food? (+8)
Intelligence: Long Term Memory; Problem Solving;
Language; Teamwork (+25)
Spreading the love: Cursed by Association (-2)
Power: 92
The most famous ace of the war, Manfred von Richthofen
briefly served in the trenches before transferring to the German Air
Force in 1916. Oswald Boelcke's star pupil was a fast learner and
achieved immediate success. A month after receiving his first
Albatros, Richthofen had six victories against allied aircraft. As
his reputation grew, the "Red Knight of Germany" painted
the fuselage of his Albatros D.III bright red to flaunt his prowess
in the air. The British called him the jolly "Red Baron,"
to the French he was the "Red Devil." He was shot down as
he flew over the trenches in pursuit of Wilfrid May on April 21, 1918.
Although Arthur Brown was officially credited with the victory,
evidence suggests a single bullet fired from a machine gun in the
trenches hit Richthofe
n.
The Undead Richthofen is truly unstoppable. However,
there is a "catch" to his unlife. When his past comes back
to haunt him, he will be destroyed. Richthofen has no knowledge of
this. During his military career, Richthofen served in the following
units: FFA 69, Jasta 2, Jasta 11, JG 1, and KG 2. Before his death,
he had scored 80 kills, making him one of the top aces of the war.
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Lothar Freiherr von Richthofen
(at the ZM's discretion, Lothar may be one of the
Flying Circus himself.)
Country: Germany
Rank: Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
Born: September 27, 1894
Died: July 4, 1922
STR 3 DEX 3 CON 4
INT 3 PER 3 WIL 4
LPs: 53
EPs: 38
Spd: 14
Essence: 20
Advantages/Drawbacks: Cruel (-1), Delusion
(Grandeur/Overconfidence) (-1), Hard to Kill (+5), Honorable (-1),
Fast Reaction Time (+2), Luck 1 (+3), Nerves of Steel (+3)
Skills: Brawling 3, Dodge 3, Guns (Handgun) 3, Guns
(Machine Gun) 4, Intimidation 2, Notice 3, Piloting (Prop Plane) 4
(and others that the ZM feels are appropriate)
Attack: Punch D4x3 (6); Kick D4x4 (8); by weapon
When the war began, Lothar von Richthofen was an
officer in the cavalry. Following Manfred von Richthofen's example,
he transferred to the German Air Force and was assigned to Jasta 11
on March 6, 1917. Under the watchful eye of his older brother, Lothar
scored 24 victories in 47 days and was credited with shooting down
English ace Albert Ball on May 7, 1917. On May 13, 1917, Lothar was
badly wounded in a dogfight with a B.E.2e but recovered and assumed
command of Jasta 11 on September 24, 1917. Wounded again on March 13,
1918, he crash-landed his Fokker DR.I after being shot down by
Australian ace Geoffrey Hughes. The following month, he was still in
a hospital bed when he learned of his brother's death. In the summer
of 1918, Lothar returned to duty and achieved ten more victories by
the end of the war. Scoring his final victory on August 12, 1918, he
shot down a Sopwith Camel flown by English ace John Summers. The
following day, Lothar was seriously wounded for the third time when
another Sopwith Camel shot down his Fokker D.VII over the Somme.
Lothar served in the Jasta 11 and KG 4 units during his war career.
He scored 40 kills by the end of the war.
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Edward Corringham
"Mick" Mannock
Country: England
Rank: Major
Born: May 24, 1887
Died: July 26, 1918
STR 3 DEX 3 CON 2
INT 3 PER 4 WIL 4
LPs: 39
EPs: 32
Spd: 10
Essence: 19
Advantages/Drawbacks: Hard to Kill (+3), Honorable
(-1), Impaired Vision (-2), Fast Reaction Time (+2), Nerves of Steel (+3)
Skills: Brawling 3, Dodge 3, Guns (Handgun) 3, Guns
(Machine Gun) 4, Notice 3, Piloting (Prop Plane) 4 (and others that
the ZM feels are appropriate)
Attack: Punch D4x3 (6); Kick D4x4 (8); by weapon
When
the war began, Edward Mannock was interned in
Turkey while working as an inspector for a British telephone company.
After an unsuccessful escape attempt, he became deathly ill and was
repatriated by the Turks in 1915. When he recovered, he joined the
Royal Army Medical Corps before transferring to the Royal Engineers.
Despite a congenital defect that left him virtually blind in his left
eye, the Royal Flying Corps accepted Mannock in 1917. In April, he
was assigned to 40 Squadron. To the other flying officers, he seemed
aloof and perhaps overly cautious in the air. It was not until a
month later that he scored his first victory by flaming an enemy
balloon.
Eventually, Mannock earned the respect and friendship
of men like Keith Caldwell. In February 1918, he was reassigned to 74
Squadron as a flight commander, scoring thirty-six victories with an
S.E.5a before replacing William Bishop as the commanding officer of
85 Squadron on July 3, 1918. Mannock never achieved the public
notoriety of Albert Ball, but he was revered by his men and proved to
be one of the greatest flight leaders of the war. Often physically
ill before going on patrol, Mannock routinely shared victories with
ot
her pilots or did not bother submitting claims for enemy aircraft
that he had downed in combat. After selflessly sharing his 61st
victory with Donald Inglis, a newcomer from New Zealand who had yet
to score, Mannock was killed when his aircraft was shot down in
flames by machine gun fire from the ground. Inglis was also brought
down by ground fire but survived. Mannock served in the 40th, 74th,
and 85th units. Before his death, he had scored 61 kills.
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Richard Raymond-Barker
(zombie stats are explained later)
Country: England
Rank: Major
Born: May 6, 1894
Died: April 20, 1918
STR 3/4 DEX 4/4 CON 3/3
INT 3/3 PER 3/3 WIL 4/4
LPs/DPs: 34/-
EP's: 38/-
Spd: 12
Essence: 20
Advantages/Disadvantages: Cruel (-1), Hard to Kill
(+1), Honorable (-1), Fast Reaction Time (+2), Nerves of Steel (+3)
Skills: Brawling 3, Dodge 3, Guns (Handgun) 3, Guns
(Machine Gun) 4, Notice 3, Piloting (Prop Plane) 4 (and others that
the ZM feels are appropriate)
Attack: Punch D4x3 (6)/D4x4 (8), Kick D4x4 (8)/D4x5
(10), by weapon.
Weak Spot: None/Special (+10)
Getting Around: As in Life (+7)
Strength: Strong Like Bull (+5)
Senses: Better Than Hawk; Life Sense (+11)
Sustenance: Who Needs Food? (+8)
Intelligence: Long Term Memory; Problem Solving;
Language; Teamwork (+25)
Spreading the love: Nobody Loves Me (-5)
Power: 81
Manfred von Richthofen shot down Raymond-Barker's
Sopwith Camel in April 1918. His body was never found. He was the Red
Baron's 79th victim. Raymond-Barker served in the 3rd, 6th, 11th,
16th, and 48th units during his career. Before his death, he had
scored 6 kills.
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Edward "Eddie" Vernon Rickenbacker
Country: United States
Rank: Captain
Born: October 8, 1890
Died: July 27, 1973
STR 3 DEX 4 CON 4
INT 3 PER 3 WIL 4
LPs: 53
EPs: 36
Spd: 16
Essence: 21
Advantages/Drawbacks: Cruel (-1), Hard to Kill (+1),
Honorable (-1), Fast Reaction Time (+2), Luck 1 (+3), Nerves of Steel (+3)
Skills: Brawling 3, Dodge 3, Guns (Handgun) 3, Guns
(Machine Gun) 4, Notice 3, Piloting (Prop Plane) 4 (and others that
the ZM feels are appropriate)
Attack: Punch D4x3 (6); Kick D4x4 (8); by weapon
The son of Swiss immigrants, Rickenbacker was
the
American "Ace of Aces." He recorded 26 official victories
against German aircraft during World War I and was awarded the Medal
of Honor. Between WWI and WWII, Rickenbacker bought and administered
the Indianapolis Speedway and became president of Eastern Airlines.
In October 1942, he was aboard a B-17 bomber that crashed in the
Pacific Ocean while on a secret mission to New Guinea. "Iron Man
Eddie" and six companions survived 24 days afloat on life rafts.
Rickenbacker served in the 94th Aero unit during WWI.
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René Paul Fonck
Country: France
Rank: Capitaine
Born: March 27, 1894
Died: June 1953
STR 3 DEX 4 CON 3
INT 3 PER 4 WIL 3
LPs: 43
EPs: 32
Spd: 14
Essence: 20
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Advantages/Drawbacks: Cruel (-1), Delusion
(Grandeur/Overconfidence) (-3), Hard to Kill (+3), Honorable (-1),
Fast Reaction Time (+2), Luck 1 (+3), Nerves of Steel (+3)
Skills: Brawling 3, Dodge 3, Guns (Handgun) 3, Guns
(Machine Gun) 4, Notice 3, Piloting (Prop Plane) 5 (and others that
the ZM feels are appropriate)
Attack: Punch D4x3 (6); Kick D4x4 (8); by weapon
Fonck was the highest scoring ace for France and the
Allies. As a boy growing up in the foothills of the Vosges, he was
fascinated by stories of men and their flying machines. Yet when he
was conscripted in August 1914, he refused to serve in the French Air
Service, choosing instead to go to the trenches. By early 1915, he
had changed his mind and began his flight training in a Penguin at
Saint-Cyr. Displaying an inherent talent for flying, he was soon
serving with Escadrille C47, flying an unarmed Caudron on
reconnaissance missions over the lines. In April 1917, after more
than 500 hours of flight time, Fonck was assigned to Spa103. Flying
the SPAD S.VII, he developed a reputation for studying the tactics of
his opponents and conserving ammunition du
ring a dogfight. On two
separate occasions, he shot down six enemy aircraft in one day. As
his fame grew, so did his ego. Even French ace Claude Haegelen, one
of Fonck's few friends, felt he boasted too much and too often; but
no one could deny that Fonck was an excellent pilot and superb
marksman. Fonck served in the C47 and Spa103 unit during WWI. By the
end of the war, he had scored 75 kills, making him one of the top
aces of the war.
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Deadworld by
Daniel R Davis-An avid gamer and creator of many
things unpublished. Hopes to become a full time writer for a game
company or designer of his own game system some day. Current projects
in the works are: Ristaria the RPG and many more Deadworlds for the
AFMBE RPG. Current pipe dreams: An online store for Print on Demand
full length and fully detailed adventures and worlds for various game systems. |
