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Post by hardlec on Aug 23, 2016 15:24:53 GMT
I await the opportunity to purchase one.
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Post by hardlec on Aug 23, 2016 15:15:25 GMT
I don't like the idea of rules that are intended to make the game more complex. Things can get hot and heavy really fast.
I can understand and desire keeping things limited and simple.
A single aircraft or dirigible or balloon can be used for forward artillery control. It does nothing else. Its effect is to allow a single pre-designated unit of artillery the ability to "see," and therefore have the range of, the board. The FAC plane is unarmed, it has traded its guns and ammo for a radio.
Aircraft may be assigned for a ground attack mission. Prior to the start of the game, they are assigned priorities of type of tripods to attack. First Scientists, then Slavers, then Reapers, then Grenadiers (as an example, in this case take out the drone controllers then the Grenadiers; the owning player makes the list.)
Aircraft should have minimum movement and use "turning circles," but I hesitate to suggest this because it really muddies things up.
The Assault Tripods will now have to double up on their tactical utility. They have the weapons with the range to be a threat to the aircraft.
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Post by hardlec on Aug 23, 2016 14:48:24 GMT
At first blush, it appears that Skwyre is much easier to customize. There are about 20 pages of instruction to create a module for Vassal. Skwyre uses an intuitive series of drop-down menues.
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Skwyre
Aug 22, 2016 18:07:27 GMT
Post by hardlec on Aug 22, 2016 18:07:27 GMT
I'm not familiar with Vassal, yet.
I've been using NBOS products for almost 15 years. I have had some of my maps published, for money. I'm getting back in practice.
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Post by hardlec on Aug 22, 2016 17:50:38 GMT
Sky Blue has been the "underside" color for combat for a long time. a darker Blue-grey or Navy blue for the upper area.
In the early days of aviation, a kaleidoscope of color was used.
Sky blue is still my choice.
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Post by hardlec on Aug 22, 2016 17:42:19 GMT
Lasers/heat rays: I don't need to see the fall of shot with a heat ray. It will hit where I aim it. I don't need to calculate a lead, like a duck hunter. The martian heat rays will be devastatingly accurate. Get the aircraft in my sight, pull the trigger; the craft with crash and burn. Every time.
Martian Flying Machines: Humans have been studying aerodynamics since ancient times. Model ornithopters go back to ancient Greece and Ancient China. Leonardo Da Vinci helped start the very, very long empirical research that lead to the first flight by humans. Humans may not be as intelligent as Martians , but it took humans hundreds of years of research and development to learn to fly. How long will it take the Martians? There is not enough water on Mars for the Martians to have developed boats or a knowledge of buoyancy in water. Balloons, buoyant in air, are a complete mystery to the Martians. Dynamic lift would literally be an alien concept to the Martians.
The Martians have not attempted to communicate with humanity. They have no way of stealing human ideas via espionage.
Humanity will endeavor to destroy aircraft rather than let the martians capture and try to reverse engineer them.
Even with intact aircraft to examine, how long will it take the Martians to learn so alien a technology? 20 years? 50? They must develop and understanding from nothing.
In the 5 years of WWI, aerial technology of earth went from essentially powered kites to actual, useful war machines. In 5 years of WWII, the world went from the Bf. 109 to the ME 262 (there were some Horten Brother's Flying wings that were more advanced but not in production) Bombers went from the B-17 to the B-29. Human capacity to weaponize the skies was limited by funding (government interest.) As air power shows itself to be useful, humanity will devote its full industrial might to advance this technology. Exploitation of a millennia of research. Humanity has a big lead in a technology race.
Mars and Earth will probably achieve a technological some sort of state of equilibrium. Humans will have control of the Sea, and of the Air, but Mars will stay master of the Land. (Well, some of the Land... all areas will be in dispute.)
Then it becomes a test of wills. I see no clear advantage, as humans are a stiff-necked race, and Martians have no no neck to bend.
It's going to be a long war.
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Skwyre
Aug 22, 2016 16:31:58 GMT
Post by hardlec on Aug 22, 2016 16:31:58 GMT
NBOS is in the process of offering a new product
Skwyre
It is a virtual tabletop, designed to allow people to play miniatures games (primarily RPG but others are possible) in real time.
It appears that players can design their own map, i.e.use the image(s) of their existing play surface, and use digital images of their figures as virtual playing pieces.
So we yanks can play with our international kin, etc.
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Post by hardlec on Aug 21, 2016 23:05:56 GMT
I'd also like a black and white (uncolored) version in the PDF, so I can print them on colored paper to save ink.
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Post by hardlec on Aug 21, 2016 14:03:38 GMT
I have found the smaller the model the more challenging the assembly. I'd suggest making the model at 1:100 and give instructions for converting to 1:144.
I don't think it would be a problem for most to create a base. I almost always add weight to aerial bases. Add some suggestions in the instructions.
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Post by hardlec on Aug 21, 2016 13:45:26 GMT
Well, then. The Babe hunt is on. Tally Ho.
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Post by hardlec on Aug 21, 2016 13:30:07 GMT
Concur
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Post by hardlec on Aug 20, 2016 14:24:45 GMT
(Marvin the Martian voice) I am very very happy.
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Post by hardlec on Aug 20, 2016 14:20:17 GMT
I hope Ironclad can avoid and reverse the slow slippage toward warhamster.
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Post by hardlec on Aug 20, 2016 14:14:43 GMT
I (we?) May need to rethink how aircraft attack.
Fixed forward firing machine guns are great for engaging enemy fighters. There are no enemy fighters. There are probably no fighters at all.
Strafing would be suicide. A battery of side mounted machine guns or auto cannons might work. Rockets might work even if they were newly made Hale Rockets from the Civil War. Recoilless guns were invented for Aircraft but repurposed as anti-tank guns.
I like the idea of planes circling a tripod at altitude (to increase the range) shooting with side-mounted guns like Puff the Magic Dragon.
If not, well, BANZAI.
NO NUKES!!!
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Post by hardlec on Aug 20, 2016 13:51:36 GMT
The Burgess-Dunne was considered too stable in flight to contend with fighters. There are no fighters. Stability makes it a great bomber, a great aerial photographer, and a better platform for other missions. Put 3 or 4 machine guns in the pontoon and she can fly circles around a tripod like"Puff the Magic Dragon."
The idea of a Vic of four coming off a Dirigible Aircraft Carrier make me warm and fuzzy. 😂
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