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Post by madmorgan on Apr 29, 2019 9:02:08 GMT
Good points boxholder. For those underground assaults, a blinding light would be effective, if not short-lived. I think the Martians would have a least one drone unit in the hive or maybe more. These units capture any vermin that may get into the tunnel complex, to be used as a snack by the Martians. The drones would certainly go after a blinding light. And a large assaulting force of humans represents a nice banquet!
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Post by hardlec on May 31, 2019 6:29:34 GMT
Star Shells or flares might serve to blind a tripod for a turn or two.
Doubtless someone has used one in a desperate situation. Whether or not they lived to tell the tale is the question.
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Post by David N.Tanner 07011959 on May 31, 2019 14:09:50 GMT
Searchlights.
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Post by scottwashburn on May 31, 2019 14:22:39 GMT
Yes, high powered searchlights could be blindingly bright. Anyone remember the scene from Allister McClaine's HMS Ulysses where they used a searchlight to blind a Stuka pilot? Pop Quiz! In my "Counterattack" book, what scene did I shamelessly borrow from HMS Ulysses?
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Post by boxholder on May 31, 2019 17:21:56 GMT
And the brilliant, blue-white light from the carbon arc is full of UV which the Martians probably are not adapted for.
Can you say"Seared retina?" I knew you could.
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Post by hardlec on May 31, 2019 18:23:07 GMT
Searchlights will blind a target. They have been used to blind humans and will probably be even more effective against Martians.
Star Shells and flares also.
My idea: Starting point.
Attacks
Searchlights: cost 5 points, range 20. If target is hit roll on the damage chart below. Star Shell: cost 5 points for one volley. Range: range of gun. Area effect only. (Area is as normal for the gun) one damage roll if a hit is scored.
Roll. Effect 1. No effect 2. No effect 3. No effect 4. Target may not move 1 round 5. Target may not shoot 1 round 6. Target may not move 2 rounds 7. Target may not shoot 2 rounds 8. Target may not move or shoot for 1 round 9. Target may not move or shoot for 2 rounds 10. Roll major damage
Major damage to follow.
Used defensively, a unit with searchlights or Star Shell volleys may use them to add to their defence. If so used, the defender gains +3 to its defense, for one turn. Should searchlights work continuously?
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Post by scottwashburn on May 31, 2019 21:11:05 GMT
I'm not so sure about this. I get the impression that the tripod pilots are not looking out of windows but instead have some sort of video monitor in their cockpits. The vision pick-ups would have an automatic filters to prevent damaging levels of light being transmitted like could happen by accidentally turning toward the sun--which is probably brighter than any searchlight or flare.
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Post by boxholder on May 31, 2019 23:26:55 GMT
A very good point Mr Washburn. Tripods might be so equipped if that has been recognized as a problem. Mars is about 50% further from the Sun, so total solar radiation of all kinds is reduced to about 45% of that at Earth.
However, for exploration of a holdfast, this might be a really useful adjunct for the Humans.
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Post by hardlec on Jun 1, 2019 1:08:35 GMT
As I think about it more, I'm thinking a searchlight or flares might function like a form of concealment. No offensive function.
KISS comes to mind also.
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Post by hardlec on Jun 1, 2019 1:22:22 GMT
I'm not so sure about this. I get the impression that the tripod pilots are not looking out of windows but instead have some sort of video monitor in their cockpits. The vision pick-ups would have an automatic filters to prevent damaging levels of light being transmitted like could happen by accidentally turning toward the sun--which is probably brighter than any searchlight or flare. I've seen soldiers with permanent vision loss because they were using "Starlight Scopes" when a Star Shell went off. I should think that for a while, the searing light will be very effective, but the Martians will adapt. So, scenarios might include searchlights as blinding lights, but the standard would be a +1 or maybe a +2 to defense for the prey critter. The clan that discovers the technique to adapt to the bright light might decide to use this as leverage against other clans. Might be a short story plot.
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Post by boxholder on Jun 1, 2019 12:20:10 GMT
The unending dynamic of technology in war: One side fields a technology - Other side fields counter-measure - then comes a counter to the counter-measure... The process continues until a fundamental limit (physics or engineering) is reached or until a jump to a new technology.
This is the heart of the process that accelerates technology in a wartime setting. THe penalty for getting too far behind the opponent is pretty grim.
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Post by madmorgan on Jun 6, 2019 8:20:56 GMT
All good comments - a Martian looks red to us humans because that is the color of his sun block! My only negative comment about this 'blinding' effect is that it's yet one more rule that needs to be tracked that not a unit card type. I support the idea that the filters on the machines keep such things from happening.
That said, the use in an underground dark Martian complex is more likely. Flares over spotlights as power source isn't an issue with flares. Perhaps the spotlight would also be available if unit brought batteries for the lights. Will take another look at my work on Martian complex battles and see how the effect might be worked into it.
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gunnyhighway
Scout Tripod
Just because your from Mars doesn't mean we can take warm showers in the wee hours of the morning...
Posts: 195
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Post by gunnyhighway on Jun 29, 2019 17:32:05 GMT
I'm thinking in night scenarios it would help the humans more to increase their ability to see and fire up to their normal ranges. In Scot's books the Martians realize that humans are handicapped at night. Not so much a penalty against the Martians but a bonus for observing at night for the humans...
Respectfully, Gunny
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Post by hardlec on Jun 30, 2019 19:10:24 GMT
So: Flares can offer a temporary boos to defence, or, they may be used (at night) to mark targets and hence to lower the defence value of specific Tripods.
Flare: Cost 10 points each. Range Base-to-base A flare may be used to give a unit +1 defence for one turn. OR range: 15 inches A flare may be fired at a tripod, if a hit is scored, the tripod is -1 to defence. A given unit may use one flare per turn. Results do not stack.
Consider (to simplify) Flare/Smoke as above. Smoke is used to mark Tripods in the light and to obscure humans in the night. This way the time of day is less important.
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Post by madmorgan on Jun 30, 2019 20:43:14 GMT
Hmm, okay maybe a little high priced. I seem to recall a lot of command types had flare pistols for going over the top, alerting command to objectives reached, coordinating rolling barrages, etc. How about Flare: Cost 5 points each. Range 15" Effects: A flare ... Another consideration is the poor Forlorn Hope units, which, I believe should automatically have the Base-to-Base flares for their attacks. Anything to give them a 'leg up'(pun intended) against a tripod. ;-)
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