WWI Aviation ASCII RPG
July 1914. The guns of August are about to change everything.
Coming Soon to Steam Early Access
You arrive at the Royal Flying Corps as a fresh-faced pilot in the summer of 1914 — before the guns of August change everything.
Over four years you'll witness the birth of air combat, survive the Fokker Scourge, endure Bloody April, and fight through to the Armistice. Earn your reputation through kills, missions, and service — and with it, medals that open doors to better aircraft and postings across seven Western Front aerodromes. Every pilot who survives the war has a different story. Most don't survive.
Earn your reputation through combat, missions, and service. Seven British decorations from Mentioned in Despatches to the Victoria Cross. Request transfers between 7 Western Front aerodromes — each with its own character, commanding officer, and mission focus.
35 new era-specific events, enhanced mission briefings with historical detail, and Hauptmann Viktor Kreuz — your first campaign boss in the Fokker Scourge.
Your reputation is everything. Complete missions, survive ace encounters, and serve with distinction to earn merit — and with it, seven British decorations from Mentioned in Despatches to the Victoria Cross. Each medal unlocks new aircraft and new opportunities. HQ is watching.
Seven aerodromes along the Western Front, each with its own commanding officer, mission focus, and character. Start at Saint-Omer, earn your way to the elite fighter station at Clairmarais — or request a transfer to a recon wing where your observation skills matter more than your kill count.
Altitude bands. Combat abilities. Named German aces who remember you. Every dogfight is a tactical puzzle — climb for advantage, dive to escape, or trust your gunnery and go head-to-head. When the Red Baron's Jasta appears over Arras, you'll know real fear.
Three origin stories shape your pilot's temperament — Daring, Methodical, or Cautious. Your personality affects how your CO assigns missions, how aces treat you in combat, and how your squadron remembers you. No two pilots play the same war.
Your base is your lifeline. Build workshops and hangars, manage fuel and ammunition, assign personnel, and juggle HQ assignments with deadlines. When the Spring Offensive hits and supplies run thin, every decision about where to spend resources matters.
History unfolds whether you're ready or not. The front line shifts with real offensives — the Somme pushes east, the Kaiserschlacht drives west. Supply strain rises during major battles. Aircraft evolve from unarmed scouts to Sopwith Camels. You survive, or you don't.
═══ After-Action Report ═══
Lt. James Ashworth — Bertangles (Fighter Wing)
Mission: Dawn Patrol over Arras sector
Result: VICTORY — 1 confirmed kill (Albatros D.III)
─── Merit Earned ───
Combat kill ............... +10
Mission complete .......... +3
HQ assignment (urgent) .... +12
Total ..................... +25
─── Decoration Progress ───
Distinguished Flying Cross: 135/150
"Fifteen more, Ashworth. Keep it up."
HQ Standing: 52 → 55 (+3)
The CO nods approvingly. "Good show."
Press any key to continue...
No sprites. No pixel art. Just meaningful choices and your imagination.
We're building Rotary Knights alongside our community. Here's what's coming:
Available Now
Complete 1914-1918 campaign. 37 aircraft across 5 eras, 21 mission types, 7 aerodromes along the Western Front, tactical dogfights with altitude bands and combat abilities, merit and decorations system, 10 named German aces, pilot temperament, permadeath, and the Armistice ending.
Coming Soon
Deeper tactical combat with maneuver library and gun jams. Personal rival ace system. Pilot perk trees. Aircraft mastery with legendary modifications. Historical timeline events from Fokker Scourge to Armistice.
Q2 2026
Explorable Western Front sector map. Patrol between locations. Multi-phase special missions. Sector influence and control. Aerodrome specialization paths.
Q3 2026
Named NPC characters with relationships. Mess hall social hub. Romance storylines. 12-stage campaign narrative spanning the full war. Pilot renown system.
Q4 2026
Squadron command with wingmen. Challenge modes (Ironman, Bloody April). Elite pilot titles. Regional dominance. New Game+ with legacy pilots.
2027
Full release with all systems polished, balanced, and integrated. 88+ achievements. Complete audio. The definitive WWI aviation text RPG.
Roadmap is subject to change based on community feedback. Join our Discord to help shape the game.
The core campaign is complete — 37 aircraft, 21 missions, merit and decorations, 7 aerodromes, and the full 1914-1918 arc. Early Access lets us add depth: an explorable world map, named squadron characters, and richer tactical combat.
We're targeting 8-12 months, with major content updates every 2-3 months.
Grounded in real history — real aircraft, real aces, real battles, real dates. We take creative liberties for gameplay, but the war's arc is authentic.
Yes. Your pilot can die. Permanently. All merit earned, decorations won, and aerodrome progress — gone. That tension is the point. Easy mode reduces lethality if you prefer a lighter experience.
The full game is free to play in your browser at choicerealms.com/rotaryknights/play/ — merit system, all 7 aerodromes, the complete war. Steam adds achievements, cloud saves, and supports development.
Get notified when Rotary Knights updates drop. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Have feedback? Let us know what you think.