Aces High: World War I Deadworld Written by by Daniel R Davis Planes Most of the planes are virtually the same in durability. The information below is for additional flavor. Any plane from the war can be created using the stats from these planes. The guns can, for the most part, be brought straight from the AFMBE main rulebook. Treat them as 7.62mm machine-guns for damage and range. The bombs can use the Mortar shell stats.   The Ghostly Planes of the Flying Circus To make the planes of The Flying Circus and The Red Baron into supernatural implements of destruction, add 20 points to the DC and give the planes themselves the equivalence of the Zombie Aspect Damage Resistance. To make it more interesting, when a Cast Member scores a hit on the plane roll percentile dice. On a roll of 10% or less, the pilot of the plane is hit. In this case, treat the AV of the plane as armor for the pilot. The Red Baron may not be killable, but his plane is. Destroying his plane puts him out of commission for a while, as he needs to spend time bringing it back (and crashing is pretty inconvenient). | Albatros D.III | Albatros D.V | Fokker DR.I | Sopwith Camel | Sopwith Pup | Bristol F.2b | Sopwith Triplane | Nieuport 17 | | SPAD S.VII | Caproni Ca.4 Series | Luger P.04 pistol |   Albatros D.III Country: Germany Manufacturer: Albatros Werke GmbH First Introduced: January 1917 Engine(s): Mercedes D.IIIa Wing Span: 29 ft 8¼ in [9.05 m] Length: 24 ft ½ in [7.33 m] Height: 9 ft 9 ¼ in [2.98 m] Gross Weight: 1,949 lbs [886 kg] Max Speed: 109 mph [175 km/h] at 3,281 ft [1,000 m] Ceiling: 18,044 ft [5,500 m] Endurance: 2 hours Crew: 1 DC: 38 AV: 2 Acceleration: 30 Toughness: 1 Handling: 5 Armament: 2 Spandau light machine guns (550 rounds) Agile and heavily armed, the Albatros D.III looked similar to earlier models. Using V-struts, the size of the lower wing was reduced to improve downward visibility. But the struts allowed the wing to twist in flight. Manfred von Richthofen, one of the first pilots to receive the new plane, experienced this problem first hand when the lower wing of his D.III cracked in flight. | top | Albatros D.V Country: Germany Manufacturer: Albatros Werke GmbH First Introduced: Late 1917 Engine(s): Mercedes IIIa Wing Span: 29 ft 8¼ in [9.05 m] Length: 24 ft ½ in [7.3 m] Height: 8 ft 10¼ in [2.7 m] Gross Weight: 2061 lb [936.8 kg] Max Speed: 116 mph at 3281 ft [approx 185 kmh at 1000 m] Ceiling: 18,700 ft [5699.8 m] Endurance: 2 hours Crew: 1 DC: 38 AV: 2 Acceleration: 35 Toughness: 1 Handling: 5 Armament: 2 Spandau light machine guns (550 rounds) The Albatros D.V and D.Va retained the wing and tail design of the Albatros D.III. As soon as the D.V entered service, there was a series of fatal crashes caused by wing failure. Small struts and additional wire bracing were added to increase wing strength and pilots were warned not to dive too steeply when flying the D.V, but the crashes continued. | top | Fokker DR.I Country: Germany Manufacturer: Fokker Flugzeug-Werke GmbH First Introduced: August 1917 Engine(s): Oberursel UR.II Wing Span: 23 ft 7 3/8 in [7.19 m] Length: 18 ft 11 1/8 in [5.77 m] Height: 9 ft 8 in [2.94 m] Weight: 1,289.2 lb [586 kg] Max Speed: 103.12 mph [165 kmh] @ 13,120 ft [4000 m] Ceiling: 20,013 ft [6100 m] Endurance: 1.5 hours Crew: 1 DC: 40 AV: 2 Acceleration: 30 Toughness: 1 Handling: 6 Armament: 2 Spandau light machine guns (550 rounds) "It climbed like a monkey and maneuvered like the devil." Manfred von Richthofen The Fokker DR.I triplane was built after the Sopwith Triplane. While not as fast as contemporary biplanes, the Dreidecker could easily outclimb any opponent. Small, lightweight and highly maneuverable, it offered good upward visibility and lacked the traditional bracing wires that could be shot away during combat. This combination of features made it an outstanding plane in a dogfight. When the DR.I first entered service, antagonists scoffed at its design. However, Werner Voss shot down 10 British aircraft in 6 days of aerial combat during September 1917, which showed quite well what it could do in a fight. Unfortunately, the DR.I had its share of problems. By the end of October 1917, it was temporarily withdrawn from service when several pilots, including Heinrich Gontermann, were killed as a result of wing failures. Despite structural improvements, the Fokker triplane's reputation among German airmen never recovered. | top | Sopwith Camel Country: Great Britain Manufacturer: Sopwith Aviation Company First Entered Service: May 1917 Engine(s): Bentley BR.1 Wing Span: 28 ft [8.5 m] Length: 18 ft 8 in [5.7 m] Height: 8 ft 6 in [2.6 m] Weight: 1,422 lb [646.4kg] Max Speed: 118 mph [189 kmh] Ceiling: 19,000 ft [5791.2 m] Endurance: 2.5 hours Crew: 1 DC: 40 AV: 2 Acceleration: 35 Toughness: 1 Handling: 6 Armament: 2 Vickers .303 machine guns; 1 Vickers .303 and 1 Lewis .303 machine guns; or 2 Lewis .303 machine guns (600 rounds) An agile, highly maneuverable biplane, the Sopwith Camel accounted for more aerial victories than any other Allied aircraft during World War I. Credited with destroying 1,294 enemy aircraft, it was called the Camel due to the humped fairing over its twin machine guns. Much like a real camel, this aircraft could turn and bite you. Noted for its tendency to kill inexperienced flyers, many pilots feared its vicious spin characteristics. Until sufficient speed was developed during takeoff, Camel pilots maintained full right rudder to counteract the torque of the rotary engine. Failure to do so often resulted in a ground loop with the Camel crashing on its starboard wingtip. During World War I, 413 pilots died in combat and 385 pilots died from non-combat related causes while flying the Sopwith Camel. On June 4, 1917, Canadian ace Alexander Shook became the first ace to shoot down an enemy aircraft with the Sopwith Camel. Canadian ace Roy Brown was flying a Camel when he was credited with shooting down Manfred von Richtofen. | top | Sopwith Pup Country: Great Britain Manufacturer: Sopwith Aviation Company First Introduced: October 1916 Engine(s): Le Rhône 9C Wing Span: 26 ft 6 in [8 m] Length: 19 ft 3¾ in [5.86 m] Height: 9 ft 5 in [2.9 m] Gross Weight: 1225 lb [555 kg] Max Speed: 106 mph [161 kmh] Ceiling: 18,500 ft [563 m] Endurance: 3 hours Crew: 1 DC: 39 AV: 2 Acceleration: 30 Toughness: 1 Handling: 6 Armament: 1 Vickers .303 machine gun (600 rounds) The Sopwith Pup quickly became a favorite with pilots of the Royal Naval Air Service. It was superior to the Fokker D.III and more than a match for any of the new Halberstadt and Albatros scouts. Armed with a single synchronous machine gun, it was lighter and less dangerous than its successor, the Sopwith Camel. Although underpowered, pilots liked the plane because it was maneuverable and fast. It could climb and hold its altitude better than any other fighter. In August 1917, the Sopwith Pup was the first aircraft to land aboard a moving ship, the Royal Navy's H.M.S. Furious. | top | Bristol F.2b Country: Great Britain Manufacturer: The British and Colonial Aeroplane Company Entered Service: April 5, 1917 Engine(s): Rolls-Royce Falcon III Wing Span: 39 ft 3 in [11.96 m] Length: 25 ft 10 in [7.87 m] Height: 9 ft 9 in [2.97 m] Gross Weight: 2,779 lb [1,261 kg] Max Speed: 123 mph [198 km/h] at 5,000 ft [1,524 m] Ceiling: 21,500 ft [6,553 m] Endurance: 3 hours Crew: 2 DC: 39 AV: 2 Acceleration: 38 Toughness: 1 Handling: 5 Armament: 1 Vickers machine gun, forward firing (600 rounds); 2-3 Lewis machine guns on a Scarff ring (97 rounds), rear cockpit; 240 lb [108.9 kg] of bombs The versatile Bristol Fighter was a maneuverable, heavily armed two-seater biplane designed by Frank S. Barnwell. One of the most successful fighters of the war, it got off to a poor start during "Bloody April" when it was introduced to the Western Front by the inexperienced pilots and observers of 48 Squadron. In the mistaken belief that the aircraft was structurally weak, pilots were instructed to avoid violent maneuvers during combat. Heeding this advice, the pilots of six B.F.2a fighters encountered Manfred von Richthofen and his flight of five Albatros D.IIIs nea r Douai. In a fight that lasted almost 30 minutes, four of the Bristol Fighters were shot down. The fight with Jasta 11 almost convinced the British to withdraw this aircraft from service. | top | Sopwith Triplane Country: Great Britain Manufacturer: Sopwith Aviation Company First Introduced: November 1916 Engines: Clerget 9Z Wing Span: 26 ft 6 in [8.07 m] Length: 18 ft 10 in [5.73 m] Height: 10 ft 6 in [3.20 m] Gross Weight: 1,541 lb [698 kg] Max Speed: 117 mph [188 km/h] Ceiling: 20,500 ft [6,248 m] Endurance: 2¾ hours Crew: 1 DC: 40 AV: 2 Acceleration: 35 Toughness: 1 Handling: 5 Armament: 1 Vickers .303 machine gun (a handful were equipped with twin machine guns) (600 rounds) The Royal Naval Air Service used the Sopwith Triplane in combat. The stack of three wings reduced wingspan and increased wing area making it handle and climb better than biplanes. Visibility from the cockpit was outstanding but the "Tripe" was slower and less heavily armed than its German opponents. The Germans were impressed with its performance and a captured Triplane inspired the development of the Fokker DR.I. The Triplane was eventually withdrawn from service and replaced with the Sopwith Camel. The "Black Flight," commanded by Canadian ace Raymond Collishaw, shot down 87 German aircraft in three months while flying the Sopwith Triplane. | top | Nieuport 17 Country: France Manufacturer: Societe Anonyme des Etablissements Nieuport First Introduced: March 1916 Engine(s): Le Rhône 9J Length: 18 ft 10 in [5.74 m] Height: 7 ft 10 in [2.4 m] Gross Weight: 1246 lb [565 kg] Max Speed: 110 mph [177 kmh] Ceiling: 17,388-ft [5,300 m] Endurance: 2 hours Crew: 1 DC: 39 AV: 2 Acceleration: 30 Toughness: 1 Handling: 6 Armament: 1 Lewis .303 machine gu n and/or 1 Vickers .303 machine gun (600 rounds) Many of the French and British aces began their careers flying the Nieuport 17. The highly maneuverable "Superbébé" was a larger, improved version of the Nieuport 11. Like its predecessor, it was initially equipped with a Lewis gun but was upgraded to a synchronized Vickers machine gun. Helping end Germany's domination of the air war, the Nieuport 17 easily outclimbed and outperformed the Fokker E.III. The superior design was so successful that German high command ordered it copied. | top | SPAD S.VII Country: France Manufacturer: Société Anonyme Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérives First Introduced: September 1916 Engine(s): Hispano-Suiza 8A Wing Span: 25 ft 7¾ in [7.82 m] Length: 20 ft 2 in [6.15 m] Height: 7 ft 6.5 in [2.3 m] Gross Weight: 1632 lb [740 kg] Max Speed: 119 mph [191.5 kmh] Ceiling: 17,500 ft [5334 m] Endurance: 1.5 hours Crew: 1 DC: 39 AV: 2 Acceleration: 35 Toughness: 1 Handling: 6 Armament: 1 Vickers .303 machine gun (600 rounds) The French Air Service replaced the Nieuport 17 with the SPAD S.VII. Although disadvantaged by poor forward and downward views from the cockpit, the SPAD S.VII was fast, durable and difficult to shoot down. A good performer, it was flown by nearly all the French aces. It proved less successful in the hands of the British, possibly due to the combat tactics employed by the pilots of the Royal Flying Corps. | top | Caproni Ca.4 Series Country: Italy Manufacturer: Società di Aviazione Ing. Caproni Type: Heavy Bomber First Introduced: 1918 Engine(s): 3 Isotta-Fraschini Wing Span: 98 ft 1 in [29.9 m] Length: 42 ft 11¾ in [13.1 m] Height: 20 ft 8 in [6.3 m] Gross Weight: 14,793 lb [6,710 kg] Max Speed: 78 mph [126 kmh] Ceiling: 9,842 ft [3000 m] Endurance: 7 hours Crew: 4 DC: 50 AV: 4 Acceleration: 20 Toughness: 1 Handling: 4 Armament: 4 to 8 machine guns; 3,197 lb [1,450 kg] of bombs Patterned along the lines of the Caproni Ca.3 series of biplane bombers, the larger triplanes of the Ca.4 series were designed to be more effective in combat. Sometimes armed with up to eight machine guns, these cumbersome bombers were capable of accurately deli vering large payloads of bombs to distant enemy targets. Although mainly used at night, they took part in daylight raids towards the end of the war. Of thirty-two Ca.42s manufactured in 1918, the Royal Naval Air Service used six of them. | t op | Luger P.04 pistol George Luger was the developer of the Luger P.04 pistol. The Swiss Army was the first to officially adopt the Luger P.04 pistol and were followed by the German Navy in 1904 and the German Army in 1908. Produced by Deutsche Waffen und Munitions, the Luger Parabellum became the world's most widely used military handgun. It fired a 7-round clip of 9mm ammunition. It is estimated that 1.5 million Lugers were produced in Germany during the First World War. In essence, this is a 9mm parabellum. The stats for a 9mm pistol can be used straight from the AFMBE main rulebook. | top | The Characters Personalities Planes The Conclusion Resources 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.