One of my favorite tv series of all-time is being revived, Airwolf, to soon be modernized.  I am hoping Hollyweird doesn't mess it up.

If I wanted to run a TTRPG based on Airwolf what should I choose that would capture the characters, combat, and air dogfighting well? What would you suggest?

Warbirds maybe?

GURPS Vehicles or perhaps In Harm's Way Wild Blue.

I recall some good experience with vehicle combat playing the robotech rpg back in the day.  Sadly, I can't recall enough details to tell you anything useful, but you might find it worth a look

Palladium actually does an excellent job with integrated vehicle rules.  Rifts is more accessible than Robotech as they lost the license from Harmony Gold years ago so Robotech is out of print.

If you're looking for some solid crunch, I think that Cyberpunk 2020 would be absolutely be a golden option option.  You'll definitely want Maximum Metal to go with it as it has the vehicle rules. 

If you're looking for something a bit more forgiving and a bit faster in combat, I can recommend the WEG D6 Star Wars game.  At first glance, that may seem like a poor choice requiring lots of conversion.  I suggest you simply reskin everything and just drop the vehicles that don't fit your needs.

The old Twilight 2000 from GDW might also be a good option.  The books are available digitally on DriveThruRPG and on CD from Far Future Enterprises.

I'm a big fan of the Mekton Zeta rules (ala CP2020) and the MZ+ companion is a great vehicle construction system for modelling just about anything.

Any version of D&D where I can make Stringfellow Hawke a Bard, with the ability to summon birds of prey by playing his Cello.

Quote from: Batjon on November 14, 2023, 07:09:54 PM
One of my favorite tv series of all-time is being revived, Airwolf, to soon be modernized.  I am hoping Hollyweird doesn't mess it up.

If I wanted to run a TTRPG based on Airwolf what should I choose that would capture the characters, combat, and air dogfighting well? What would you suggest?

Warbirds maybe?

Stringfellow Hawk will be a strong successful black trans crippled xir who after single handedly saving Seal Squad 6 from an ambush by the Taliban nuke strike heavy camel mounted infantry battalion was discovered by the super secret Feminine Hygiene and Weapons Research team to pilot Airhawk.  String uses Airhawk to buzz the State and protect the good Antifa members from repercussions for burning down buildings and beating people for their race.  String is assisted by codename Fatslob, a fedora wearing moribund obese xir with an eyepatch who has no gender and loves everyone equally especially 7 year old boys.  Together they make up Air Wolf.  There also is a white male whose a great big dummy who they make fun of.

Bought to you by Disney
Make it gay, make it lame.

Quote from: honeydipperdavid on November 15, 2023, 03:23:12 PM

Quote from: Batjon on November 14, 2023, 07:09:54 PM
One of my favorite tv series of all-time is being revived, Airwolf, to soon be modernized.  I am hoping Hollyweird doesn't mess it up.

If I wanted to run a TTRPG based on Airwolf what should I choose that would capture the characters, combat, and air dogfighting well? What would you suggest?

Warbirds maybe?

Stringfellow Hawk will be a strong successful black trans crippled xir who after single handedly saving Seal Squad 6 from an ambush by the Taliban nuke strike heavy camel mounted infantry battalion was discovered by the super secret Feminine Hygiene and Weapons Research team to pilot Airhawk.  String uses Airhawk to buzz the State and protect the good Antifa members from repercussions for burning down buildings and beating people for their race.  String is assisted by codename Fatslob, a fedora wearing moribund obese xir with an eyepatch who has no gender and loves everyone equally especially 7 year old boys.  Together they make up Air Wolf.  There also is a white male whose a great big dummy who they make fun of.

Bought to you by Disney
Make it gay, make it lame.

The sarcasm is strong with this one.

Quote from: zircher on November 15, 2023, 12:22:53 PM
I'm a big fan of the Mekton Zeta rules (ala CP2020) and the MZ+ companion is a great vehicle construction system for modelling just about anything.

I haven't played it, but yeah, I've heard really good things about Mekton Zeta. I'd look at HERO System or Savage Worlds before GURPS. Even though GURPS Vehicles is very thorough, I don't think GURPS in general is a good fit for what I remember of Airwolf.

Quote from: jhkim on November 15, 2023, 08:34:58 PM

Quote from: zircher on November 15, 2023, 12:22:53 PM
I'm a big fan of the Mekton Zeta rules (ala CP2020) and the MZ+ companion is a great vehicle construction system for modelling just about anything.

I haven't played it, but yeah, I've heard really good things about Mekton Zeta. I'd look at HERO System or Savage Worlds before GURPS. Even though GURPS Vehicles is very thorough, I don't think GURPS in general is a good fit for what I remember of Airwolf.

I would agree with that assessment; GURPS Vehicles is very good at getting mostly realistic numbers, but the practically impervious armor and the firepower sufficient to sink a c. 1980's US destroyer would require so much handwavium that you may as well go with something like Mekton Zeta that has "hero vehicle" options by default.

The big thing design-wise is going to depend on the number of PCs involved and whether a single aircraft will be sufficient or not... Pilot, Gunner, and Electronic Warfare are about the only in-combat positions for a single Airwolf unit.

Basically, if you're running for more than three I'd either consider something more narrative, one that can end fights as quickly as the 5-10 minutes they actually took on the show, or fudge the premise a bit to where there are multiple vehicles (maybe something fast/agile and then a tender or gunship type (nothing says loving like an AC-130; but it needs air support to keep it safe from fighters and such).

Warbirds would work quite well.
Atomic Highway might also work pretty good (and it is available as Pay What You Want).

I tried both games and if you want to go for cinematic action these... At least they would be my choice

I saw Everyday Heroes at Gen Con from Evil Genius which seems to be very much in this vein - haven't gone through the books (think they are a D20 Modern/5E blend?), but they have a bunch supporting various action films (Highlander, Pacific Rim, The Crow, Rambo, etc).

Don't know anything about them as a company, would be interested to learn how they are getting the licensing to work on all of these properties.

Really depends on which season of Airwolf you're talking about.

I just liked seeing an obese Earnest Borgnine being portrayed an action star in his 70's.  Good times, good times.  It's funny how a show that was a rip off of Knight Rider but with helicopters, was better than the original.  I think our parents put a lot of coke in our Kool Aid mix to get us to watch it.

As mentioned above the D6 Star Wars type system would work.  Thankfully, the newest version that really got me excited is free.

Mini-Six: Bare Bones Edition

https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/144558/Mini-Six-Bare-Bones-Edition

The game is genre neutral, so you can do modern day just fine.  It also has vehicle rules.

That's my pick.