Crimson Skies

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Summary

Crimson Skies is a tabletop and video game franchise set in the late 1930s. Except the United States have Balkanized into dozen or so countries, and instead of railways and cars, you have giant zeppelins and planes. Which is awesome. You also have Air Pirates, Air Vigilantes/Militia, and a lot of other Air-related things. Combine this with rapidly advancing plane, zeppelin, and weapon technology, and you have a pretty bitching background on your hands, including Tesla Guns used by Nazis and Zeppelins which can hold airfields-worth of planes.

However, chances are, you probably heard about the vidja versions rather than original tabletop. And that only makes sense, since it's been out of print since the early 1990s. Saddening in a sense, but mind you, considering that the Crimson Skies were created with the vidja game base in mind (Microsoft actually owns most of the game's rights), it actually works very well. It does mean that much like BattleTech being known from the Mechwarrior games, mentioning tabletop Crimson Skies will probably get you strange looks.

The game itself is based on an older FASA game, "Rogue Legion". As a FASA product, there are many fanboy shout-outs in the Crimson Skies backstory, especially to the developing BattleTech fluff - in particular the appearance of "Paladin" Blake and the entire backstory of "Marshall" Bill Redmann.

Backstory

File:Crimson Skies US Map.png

The many Americas of 1930s.

1920: Prohibition laws allow individual states to choose if they can sell alcohol freely. This divides the United States into "Dry" and "Wet" states. 1927: The United States is hit by a second, massive Influenza Epidemic, and movement between states is locked down by state-by-state quarantines. Zeppelin trade is pretty much given exclusive rights. 1928: The Regionalist movement becomes a strong figure in United States politics. 1929: After the Stock Market Crash, Texas Secedes from the Union, followed closely by the Empire State. The remaining states break up along cultural and economic fault lines.

Factions

Countries of the Former US

• Alaska - Undeveloped, currently suffering from aftermath of Russian Civil War between immigrants. Used by Soviets for its rich oil reserves.
• Appalachian Territory - Pirate/Smuggler Heaven that somehow holds an effective government. Still, one of the more dangerous airspaces in North America.
• Arixo - Small country that is surprisingly prosperous. Assumed to be heading for a conflict with Air Pirates it's currently paying off.
• Atlantic Coalition - Run the largest and longest Zeppelin operations in North America. A large transport business rather than a country.
• Columbia - Columbia is the city of Washington D.C... and that's it. Considered the diplomatic/espionage capital of North America.
• Confederation of Dixie - Confederates. A lose union of states whose main connection is their shared Confederate Air Force.
• Deseret - Mormons. Really, that's all there is to them.
• Disputed Western Territories - Mad Max in the Air. Chaotic and uncontrolled region.
• Empire State - New York, New York. Oh, and Jersey.
• Free Colorado - Bootlegging capital with a strong Air Pirate presence in certain areas. Self-sufficient and independent, otherwise.
• French Louisiana - French outpost within North America, Louisiana is undeveloped and lacks the military strength to protect itself independently. Houses French Foreign Legion.
• Industrial States of America - Industrial heart of North America. Suffers from tariffs and unions. Trade with the Germans.
• Lakota Territory - Militant conservative injuns. No, this isn't an insult, it really is the best way to describe them.
• Maritime Provinces - New England. Holds the largest commercial (and otherwise) naval fleet of the North America. They are also hold a part of Canada.
• Nation of Hollywood - Caw-lih-foh-nia. Best known for Hollywood, Films, and being the Media Capital of the North America.
• Navajo Territory - Very isolationist Indians. Not much else to them, except being more multicultural than Lakota Territory.
• Pacifica - Hollywood's main economic rival. Currently concerned with Air Pirates and White Russians trickling from Alaska.
• People's Collective - Christian Communism. The irony is so delicious it's beyond any mere description. Not friendly to neighbors due to various reasons.
• Protectorate of the Outer Banks - Confederate protectorate. Kinda just there.
• Republic of Texas - First state to leave the United States. Was in conflict with Mexico. They give no fucks and do what they please (for better or worse).

Other Nations

In addition to the dozen-or-so countries created from the ashes of the United States and Canada, the game occasionally deals with others. Amongst the major players is Britain, which continues its Imperialistic expansion. They were last seen trying to annex Hawaii; Hawaii being a Pirate Heaven, they got their asses kicked quite well. The USSR is known to openly trade with the North American countries and even fields a large fleet of Texan Devastators (you know, instead of developing planes of their own, meaning lack of developments in the Il- line of airplanes). The Japanese Empire is a major Pacific power and opponent of the British, for rather obvious reasons (that is, Pacific island land-grab). They trade with Pacifica and Hawwai'i. Finally, there is Germany. No Hitler, still Fascist - they're major trading partners with the Industrial States of America, who are leaning towards a fascist government themselves. In the video games, the Krauts constantly use Wunderwaff(l)e(s) to try to conquer the Americas. Which they failed, but you know those whacky Germans, always out for it with their Tesla Guns and Tornado Zeppelins.

• British Empire - Brits. Prefer their tea with 3 tea spoons of sugar. With milk.
• Protectorate of Ontario - "Neutral" Canadians. Still protected by Brits but are taking steps to be self-reliant.
• Estados Unidos Mexicanos - Mexico. Known to have been in a conflict with Texas in the past. Otherwise, isolationist.
• France Currently in a proxy war with the British (supporting Dixie) and the Texans
• République de Quebec - Quebec got its independence. No one likes them. Is that a surprise to anyone?
• Imperial Japan - Japs are the Brits' main opponent in the Pacific. In conflict with China but are not in alliance with Germany.
• Kingdom of Hawaii - Pirate Heaven to the point where pirates are given medals for fighting off British expansionary forces. Otherwise a friendly Absolute Monarchy open for trade.
• USSR - Russians are going through their 30s like they would do otherwise, except with many more zeppelins. Surprisingly friendly to North American countries.

Militias

• Blake Aviation Security - Showoffs and glory hogs, they have dropped the ball a few times. Despite those event, Blake's Security still holds a positive place in the limelight, if only because most of the time they can come in such a force that it's impossible for them to lose the engagement.
• Broadway Bombers - Elite Militia force of Empire State. Not the most numerous, but are considered the best.
• Hollywood Knights - Hollywood's militia. One of the first to try out the new toys that are out there for public sale.
• Texas Rangers - Fortunately, no Walker. Unfortunately, he runs a pirate gang.

Pirate Gangs

• Black Hats - Main Antagonists of the first Video Game. Considered to be some of the bigger bastards around.
• Black Swans - Natasha Romanov and her White Russian pirate gang. Currently privateers in the service of the Empire State.
• Fortune Hunters - Main Protagonists of the Video Games. Considered honorable while being sufficiently infamous and piratey. Leader Nathan Zachary, seems to have slept with enough woman to start another North American country. And then to make an airforce to try to kill him.
• Los Muertos - Mexican Mercenary/Bandit/Pirate group. Were supported by Germans until the death of their leader "Muerte".
• Medusas - A Pirate Gang composed of your psycho ex-girlfriends. Even if you never had any before. Well, now you do - and they are angry.
• Ragin' Cajuns - Sea-based Air Pirates. Considered to be efficient at most things that they do. And they do a lot.
• Red Skull Legion - Biggest Air Pirate gang in the entirety of North America. Their leader is ruthless but honorable (if Lawful Evil can be called honorable).

Planes and Zeppelins

AIRPLANES AND AUTOGYROS

• Bell Valiant Mk II - Agile Speedster. Doesn't bring much dakka to the table, though.
• Bristol Type 140 Balmoral - Slow and steady Bomber. Best used for Rocket Spam.
• Curtiss-Wright J2 Fury - Fast, mainly used as an interceptor against Zeppelins.
• Curtiss-Wright P2 Warhawk - Another Rocket Platform. Somewhat average performance.
• Dassault MD 445 Dauphin - Used by Coastal Gangs like Ragin' Cajuns. Considerable firepower.
• Fairchild F611 Brigand - Air Bandit's favorite. Heavy, Fast, and should be painted Orky Red to go fastah.
• Focke-Wulf Fw 193 Hellhound - Rare German plane, rather average, otherwise.
• Focke-Wulf Fw 206 Doppleganger - Failed experiment of trying to use a bigger gun on a plane. For rather obvious reasons, wasn't that popular.
• Ford Hoplite - Civilian Gyro. Armored like a tank, making it popular amongst militias.
• General Motors Minigyro - One of the first Commercial Gyros. Mobile sniping points more than anything.
• Grumman E-1C Avenger - Good first-strike interceptor, but lacks agility for prolonged and frontal engagements.
• Hughes Bloodhawk - Fast, Agile, considerably armed - and comes with a turbo option. Only problem may be its armor, which may seem reduced in comparison to other planes.
• Hughes Bulldog - Bees. That is all.
• Hughes Firebrand - Flying wing design. Mainly used by Hollywood Knights.
• Hughes P21-J Devastator - Dated but solid design. USSR has a seemingly infinite amount of those, instead of own aerial developments. Texan design created for Texas-Mexican conflict.
• Marquette PR-1 Defender - American Communists' main plane of choice. Used for interception and dogfighting, rather than its intended ground-attack role.
• McDonnell S2B Kestrel - One of the best Rocket Platforms. Not as efficient in combat against other planes.
• Messerschmitt Bf 106 Piranha - Exclusively anti-fighter aircraft. Suffers from inability to do major damage to heavily armored foes.
• Ravenscroft Coyote - Indian and Air Bandit multi-role design. Sufficient, but not excelling in any action.
• Ravenscroft Desert Fox - Updated version of Coyote. Limited production and deployment.
• Ravenscroft Dust Devil - Lightly-armored and lacking in agility, but compensated with 5 machine guns that are able to shred most enemies expecting such firepower from a lowly crop duster.
• Sanderson FB14 Vampire - Heavily armed and armored fighter. Slow and lacking in maneuverability, but is easily able to shrug off most enemy fire with impunity.
• Whittly & Douglas M210 Raven - Agile and fast, created mainly for ease of maintenance, and is therefore generally popular.
• William and Colt Peacemaker 370 - Able to focus on speed and maneuverability or heavy firepower, Peacemaker is highly customizable and is popular amongst those who have the money to tweak it just right.

KNOWN ZEPPELLINS

• Pandora - Zeppelin used by Fortune Hunters. Armed with multitude of machine guns of .30 and .50 calibers.
• Workers' Voyage - Soviet Moscow-class Zeppelin. External engines present a fragile target.
• Gorgons' Head - Medusas' Zeppelin. Poor design choice of external fuel tanks.