Those of us who flew Air Warrior back “in the day” remember the “Aggressors” all too well. Hardy lads with wool in their teeth and a song in their hearts who would gladly take off from a field under heavy attack. Over and over … and over … and over … and … over.
Darwinism may have (mercifully) passed these amiable sheep-lovers by, but in my vast wanderings upon the Internet I unearthed a photograph of a rare exhibit of fossilized remains of the earliest known practicing of the “Regressor Mating Ritual.”
Shocking, isn’t it!?
Some folks on the Aces High BBS were goofing around with some despair.com style “motivators” for the game. Given what goes on in it, there is a lot to get sarcastic about. So I did a few as well. Funny thing is that they apply to just about any MMOG flight sim … some things never change. I’ve put the 16 best of these designs here.
If you’re looking at this stuff and it makes no sense to you, well, they’re all kind of “inside jokes” for an online game community that’s been around since 1987. The original game – Air Warrior – and all that followed has developed it’s own lingo and code of conduct. Some of which is represented in these posters.
Sheepless in Seattle … So many dweebs, so little time … How to stop worrying and love the warps …
What follows are my recollections from 15 years of involvement and/or association with Air Warrior. At least as best as my memory can recall such things. My serious activity in the game was from 1987 through 1992, so much of this will be unfamiliar to most AW readers. And odds are I’ll get some of the chronology wrong. But screw it. “The game’s afoot,” as Holmes used to say.
The Story of the “Blood Dragon” in WarBirds
Many people today refer to the B-17 in gunship mode as an “ack-star.” Which is more or less true – grinding around in circles spewing tracers isn’t all too challenging a feat. But the noble beast has roots, as the reader will soon find …
Welcome to the Machine
“Creative” use of the B-17 (or bombers in general) began back in Air Warrior. The two favorite ships were the F/A-26 “Blood Pig” and the “A/B-17 Blood Dragon.” The ‘Pig was used as follows – swoop in, pop acks, land at enemy field, taxi and park behind take-off spot at enemy field, kill people as they appear. Ho ho.
The ‘Dragon was used more like a conventional AC-47 or AC-130 gunship – put it in a pylon turn over the enemy camp and let the gunners have at it. Occasionally break the pattern to kick a few bombs out at stubborn defenders. And,…
DiKta GonZo
Rules for Success and Survival in Online Flight Sims
I wrote these rules up back in the mid-1990′s. Inspired by the “Dicta Bolke” from the World War I fighter ace, these are meant to be very simple rules which still capture the complexity and subtlety of virtual air combat. Suprisingly, even though the technology of these games has come a long way in ten years, the rules still apply. I am reposting these rules on my blog, but for the first time with a paragraph of explanation attached to each.
