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Post by wisercj on Mar 31, 2016 13:28:10 GMT
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Post by hardlec on Apr 1, 2016 2:14:31 GMT
Now we need recruitment posters for the tank Corp and aerial Corp.
Silk scarves will be common to Rough Riders, Pilots and Tankers. A scarf is used to prevent chaffing when you have to swivel your head, to filter out smoke and dust, and a wet scarf could cool you off.
Now, that babe clad in seven scarves, enticing me to enlist, will very nearly always succeed. Check out Noel Neil's pin-ups. Yes, friends, before she was Lois Lane she was Betty Grable's competition.
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Post by madmorgan on Apr 1, 2016 9:38:02 GMT
Well, the hotties on the forum are now going into the sublime. Seven Scarves Sally wants you (to Join)! Okay its getting warm in here as my wife is a middle-east dancer and the occassional 'scraf' dance is performed much to my likings (yesterday Was my B-day!). Anyway I think its time to dampen these flames least we offend any of the rare beast - the female AQ gamer! (Are there any on the forum Q?)
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Post by phgamer on May 11, 2016 14:44:07 GMT
The main reason for the lack of activity from the major European powers is that Alien Dungeon went bankrupt before they could get around to producing a unique figure line for each country. Anything else is just sophistry.
Along the lines of that sophistry, is that the ability to force project substantial forces, and more importantly, maintain the supply lines beyond their rail nets, is minimal. Most of the fights in Africa and Asia involving Europeans had really small contingents of Europeans, supplemented by Native forces. The mix of Artillery and Machine-Guns in an overseas force was much diluted compared to a first class corps in the homeland. A single German active duty Korps in 1914, of which they had 26, has 45,000 men, 144 guns 77mm and above, 144 Machine-Guns, and required 240 tons of supplies per day at rest, and about 1,500 tons per day of combat. At rest, the supplies can be foraged somewhat being mainly food and fodder. But combat requires bullets and artillery shells. I don't see much in the ability of the Europeans to invade Martian held lands over seas.
I think this war will have to follow the rail lines. As they move into Africa and recover Asia, they will have to build those lines as they go. And as Scott's Book seems to allude, the Martians on the ground can double their numbers every year. So it is also important to keep the pressure up on all fronts. Their numbers in Central/South America must be staggering by now.
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Post by hardlec on May 12, 2016 9:32:47 GMT
Rail lines and rivers. Barges can carry heavy loads as well as trains. European imperialism is somewhat parallel to what the Martians are trying to do and that parallel was part of HG Wells original novel.
I still enjoy babes on bikes Babes on tanks Babes standing on wrecked Martin Machines.
Indeed, AOW was silly with the plan to have so many different factions with so many different models. They really poisoned the well with their inept business practices. While quite off topic I'll add here: Because my health sucks, I am way behind in painting. I have an unbuilt Veteran Tripod, Harvester, and Scientist. I'm going to try to get the parts scanned in a 3D scanner to allow 3D printing of Martians. Someday.
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Post by madmorgan on May 12, 2016 11:36:12 GMT
Hmmm, if a new generation of Martians think 'out of the cyclinder', would they possibly come up with the idea to 'spare' a group of humans if said humans cooperate (ei spy etc.)?? It seems logical that the Martians new generations would see the need for more intel on the prey-that-stings. Obiviously, the early generation were sadly lacking in forward thinking about a protracted war possibility. This also brings up the question of a new wave of cyclinder landings - if Europe was to be a target at some point, wouldn't a new launch be forthcoming?? Unless they plan on taking Europe from Russia, it would require another launch barring some method of crossing oceans. Would it be possible for the Martians here to build a cyclinder launcher?? That would allow a bridge to the European theatre. Comments??
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Post by phgamer on May 12, 2016 13:49:46 GMT
The Martians will have to take Europe from Asia and Africa. There is no way the Martians will get a foothold by launched Cylinders into mainland Europe. The countries are just too will armed. The French had in 1914 29 Corps mustered, each about 45,000 men. The Germans 42 Korps. The Austro-Hunganians similarly armed. Even the Serbians had about 4 Corps equivalents. Even if, as with Scott's book, they launched 10 cylinders a day, with 30 tripods assembled in 24 hours, they would fall to the fire power of a single corps, even if it took a week to mobilize into the area. In points that would be 6,000 points for the Martians, while the Artillery batteries and MG's would be worth at leas 5,700 points. And if I have it right, 13,440 points of divisional infantry. Couple this in terrain where Line of sight rarely goes beyond 1,200 yards.
That comparison is against the armies that existed in 1914, not ones that have had nearly a decade to prepare for the Martian invaders. Ironically, I think the only problem the Europeans will face is the Martians have taken all their "trading" partners in the 3rd world. England without a regular supply if tea and bananas. Much heavy metals from Africa. The German Empire's economy was ruined by the British blockade in WWI, so there was something they needed from overseas. England had insufficient farming to feed itself. Modern fertilizers had only just been invented but were not in heavy production or use.
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Post by terrance on May 12, 2016 18:33:23 GMT
Hmmm, if a new generation of Martians think 'out of the cyclinder', would they possibly come up with the idea to 'spare' a group of humans if said humans cooperate (ei spy etc.)?? It seems logical that the Martians new generations would see the need for more intel on the prey-that-stings. Obiviously, the early generation were sadly lacking in forward thinking about a protracted war possibility. This also brings up the question of a new wave of cyclinder landings - if Europe was to be a target at some point, wouldn't a new launch be forthcoming?? Unless they plan on taking Europe from Russia, it would require another launch barring some method of crossing oceans. Would it be possible for the Martians here to build a cyclinder launcher?? That would allow a bridge to the European theatre. Comments?? Depends heavily on the ability to communicate between humans and Martians. If the proposed Martian telepathy is accepted there may not be any possibility of communication. The Martians will view humans as mute, but clever, animals. But would some Martian bright light then come up with the idea of training these animals, much like we train working dogs?
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Post by madmorgan on May 13, 2016 11:31:20 GMT
Agreed, you could see a 'trained' human unit based on not being eaten to perform - at what level is questionable. I mean, do this or get eaten is a far cry from gathering proper intelligence. How about the cyclinder idea? Any thoughts there?
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Post by hardlec on May 13, 2016 13:34:32 GMT
Pigeons can be trained to play ping pong. Pigeons are trained to look for survivors of downed aircraft at sea, their visual acuity exceeds that of humans significantly. Dogs do much more than play tricks. Trained animals can work. Humans communicate. This should be evident by the level of cooperation shown. Humans have been able to "understand" how bees and ants cooperate.
There are already 15mm figures for French(ribbit) German, Austro-Hungarians, Russians and probably Japanese WW1 militaries.
What we need is a source of more Martians. Not a dozen different machines, but decent looking cheap tripods.
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Post by terrance on May 13, 2016 17:00:58 GMT
Sub-orbital cylinder launches. A very interesting idea. It might be possible. Things that come to mind to think about: - The Martians should know the technology to build launchers since they got here that way.
- How much effort would building a launcher take away from pacifying the country side?
- Given the greater gravity on earth, more g-force may be involved in getting a cylinder in the air than was needed on Mars. Although if it is sub-orbital less g-force is needed than to achieve orbit. Can the Martian physiology withstand the launch forces?
- What is the energy source to launch a cylinder? What would it take the Martians to produce rocket fuel or whatever they are using?
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Post by phgamer on May 13, 2016 18:27:14 GMT
I don't know the exact math, but to obtain escape velocity on earth, a projectile would have to reach 7 miles per second. I am not sure, but with Mar's gravity being about 40% that of Earth, the escape velocity should be 2.8 miles per second. Of course a ballistic shot from Earth to Earth would be less than 7. But could they still take the G's necessary during launch? I guess the answer is how do you want the story written. As far as resources goes, Scott's book covers the Martian perspective on this and the launchers construction on Mars was with considerable resources, so much so, it was going to shorten the life expectancy of the planet.
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Post by madmorgan on May 14, 2016 9:01:24 GMT
Agree with hardlec entirely - plenty of human forces available, we need a consistent good source of basic tripods and drones to make this go.
Interesting ideas about the European targeted cyclinder shots. I think it would be possible for the following reasons. 1/A much lower escape velocity would be needed as they won't actually be escaping the atmosphere. 2/A much more hardy and perhaps smaller cyclinder could be used, made of some Terran materials, at least on the outer shell that burns off. 3/The Martian passengers would be well protected in a gel-like substance that reduces the G somewhat, aided by internal Hover drone type anti-grav generators. Alot depends on the angle of the arc fired - less arc would mean more air resistence & flatter trajectory, so the amount of energy needed to fire into the European countryside just about balances out vs a high arc'd shot. I don't see why, given a proper amount of time, this couldn't be done. As far as why, the next generations of Martians would be looking for a way to break up the human lines, especially on the Martian (ei. East) front. The first projector would be designed for a very short shot, just over the various lines that have successfully resisted Martian attacks. These "proto-projectors" as I'm calling them, would deliver a smaller cyclinder, with enough crew & materials to build a limited number of tripods and drones; which would then advance onto the rear of said lines and cause general havoc in the human rear areas. Rather like a WW2 paratrooper/glider drop, these units would need to link up at some point with a main Martian force to survive for long in the 'heat' of battle. If the proto-projector initial attempts go well, the 2ndgen Martians have the prospect of both breaking the human resistence substancely in the USA and looking forward to a longer series of shots for the cross Atlantic venture. Short of developing a true flying machine to cross the oceans, I think this is a better use of their current technology. This would also lead to some interesting battles as scenarios to destroy the construction of these proto-projectors would be top priority. If nothing else, the humans would recognize one heck of a large 'artillery' piece and destroy it whether they figure out the true use or not. Comments??
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Post by boxholder on May 14, 2016 15:48:43 GMT
An ICBM range shot needs "only" about 12,000 mph. So, if the Martians had figured out how to survive the interplanetary launch acceleration, this would be a piece of cake. Shorter ranges need even less.
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Post by hardlec on May 14, 2016 20:44:44 GMT
The weakest part of the system to launch suborbital cylinders is going to be the Martian. A human can tolerate about 7G. Martians, used to a much lower gravity, may very well not be able to tolerate the acceleration needed to launch suborbital cylinders.
In game terms:
Humans will locate the Martian launch cannon and endeavor to destroy the project while it is under construction. This will probably involve light units, infantry and Rough Riders, dropped behind the Martian Lines to do the deed. Easily a mini campaign.
On the other hand: I'm of the opinion that in England they are watching the skies. Perhaps the big cities in England are protected by 500 pound coil guns.
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