yrgael
New Member
Chillin at the Bohemian
Posts: 27 
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Post by yrgael on Nov 23, 2016 14:14:44 GMT -8
On the Marini-Henry
This rifle was a British service weapon for close to 30 years, starting in 1871. It was used in WW I and was still in use with the Afghan resistance to the Soviet invasion.
Although it is easy to associate the lever action rifle with US cavalry in the "Old West", the US and Britain retained "trap door" style rifles long after bolt and lever actions were available. Not only were they easier to use with the massive rounds they fired; but they also prevented troops from "dumping the clip". When firing a single shot weapon, one tends to aim a little more.
Another advantage that these types of rifles had was the gunpowder. Automatic gun actions tend to favor specific powder "blends" and do not work at all with "smoke powder". Single shot weapons of this type would operate with just about any mixture and even the easiest to make which would not work in automatics.
This style of weapon would work well for basic infantry or militias. Very little ammo would be wasted and there is little worry that the "new troops" might decide to turn their fire on their own army. This sounds perfect for the Purists.
The original Martini Henrys were probably closer to the HCR than Rifle Rounds of TME. They were sighted out to 1200m; but were only really effective versus a man sized target to 400m. Again, this could be useful for snipers without having to give them a Relic weapon.
I also think the design could be very popular with hunters. It could be manufactured in all the popular calibers; but is not so valuable to turn the hunter into the prey. The double barreled shotgun is of a similar construction.
Smooth bore trap door guns could almost be made with the Junk Crafter skill. Not very accurate, but they would be affordable, especially if arming the peasant levies of an army or for a hunter who needs something more than a crossbow. Good quality ones carried the British Army almost as long as the Brown Bess.
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Post by rexbannon on Dec 5, 2016 18:41:34 GMT -8
I'm Glad you like it. I thought it was perfect for the Epoch, especially for the Purists. They needed an upgrade to their weapons. The muskets and crossbows seemed to weak to me almost immediately, but then after playing a few sessions with my group I knew that they needed an upgrade. The purists in my campaign use muskets and crossbows for there first wave troops but their dedicated soldiery corps all use martini henrys and there is even a scrap tank division along with a scrap bi-plane air force now. The Purists are fewer in number then the mutants but they are better armed and more effective at war.
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Post by nds119 on Dec 6, 2016 11:22:06 GMT -8
I'm Glad you like it. I thought it was perfect for the Epoch, especially for the Purists. They needed an upgrade to their weapons. The muskets and crossbows seemed to weak to me almost immediately, but then after playing a few sessions with my group I knew that they needed an upgrade. The purists in my campaign use muskets and crossbows for there first wave troops but their dedicated soldiery corps all use martini henrys and there is even a scrap tank division along with a scrap bi-plane air force now. The Purists are fewer in number then the mutants but they are better armed and more effective at war. I thought about that too when I was rearming my HPE, since I imagine them as having WWI-esque technology and weaponry, but it still doesn't seem like a fair fight against the DOA, even if they have superior numbers. According to lore, the HPE is in a deadlock conflict with the DOA, but it doesn't look very even when the Dominion is throwing their giant bat and dog cavalry against non-organic scrap tanks and planes fitted with heavy weapons. |
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toddk
Junior Member
Posts: 69
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Post by toddk on Dec 11, 2016 9:32:13 GMT -8
I thought about that too when I was rearming my HPE, since I imagine them as having WWI-esque technology and weaponry, but it still doesn't seem like a fair fight against the DOA, even if they have superior numbers. According to lore, the HPE is in a deadlock conflict with the DOA, but it doesn't look very even when the Dominion is throwing their giant bat and dog cavalry against non-organic scrap tanks and planes fitted with heavy weapons. One option is that the HPE is taking advantage of their relatively common human body shape so they don't have to reshape armor or weapons for Aberrant body types. The armor might not be the proper fit depending on body type, but it will fit a humanoid better than it will someone with a different number/arrangement of limbs. For example, the Combat Shells are designed for a human body type, so a mutant with two left arms would not be able to use the Shell armor properly. But if the HPE can keep the combat shell it can remove the dead pilot and put in a new pilot (and replace and damaged/destroyed components). DoA would need to redesign the Shell depending on how many limbs the new user has, body shape/size, and any natural weaponry. HPE needs the advantages of technology as that is what lets them rapidly increase their combat capabilities (peasant levies + basic body armor = better defended peasant levies). DoA has to wait for troops to heal or get troops with new combat mutations to grow up. |
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Post by nds119 on Dec 12, 2016 21:02:14 GMT -8
I thought about that too when I was rearming my HPE, since I imagine them as having WWI-esque technology and weaponry, but it still doesn't seem like a fair fight against the DOA, even if they have superior numbers. According to lore, the HPE is in a deadlock conflict with the DOA, but it doesn't look very even when the Dominion is throwing their giant bat and dog cavalry against non-organic scrap tanks and planes fitted with heavy weapons. One option is that the HPE is taking advantage of their relatively common human body shape so they don't have to reshape armor or weapons for Aberrant body types. The armor might not be the proper fit depending on body type, but it will fit a humanoid better than it will someone with a different number/arrangement of limbs. For example, the Combat Shells are designed for a human body type, so a mutant with two left arms would not be able to use the Shell armor properly. But if the HPE can keep the combat shell it can remove the dead pilot and put in a new pilot (and replace and damaged/destroyed components). DoA would need to redesign the Shell depending on how many limbs the new user has, body shape/size, and any natural weaponry. HPE needs the advantages of technology as that is what lets them rapidly increase their combat capabilities (peasant levies + basic body armor = better defended peasant levies). DoA has to wait for troops to heal or get troops with new combat mutations to grow up. I guess I misworded by own question, but you really furthered the point I'm trying to solve. I meant to say the war seems pretty one-sided in favor of the HPE considering all their advances in technology, their lack of reliance on organic cavalry units (giant dogs and bats vs. tanks and bi-planes), and as you've just mentioned the usage of pre-fitted armors and no need of specialized mutated troops. How does one go about ensuring the war remains no-win for either side, at least not for a few more years at least, and several decades at the most? |
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toddk
Junior Member
Posts: 69
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Post by toddk on Dec 13, 2016 18:22:18 GMT -8
I guess I misworded by own question, but you really furthered the point I'm trying to solve. I meant to say the war seems pretty one-sided in favor of the HPE considering all their advances in technology, their lack of reliance on organic cavalry units (giant dogs and bats vs. tanks and bi-planes), and as you've just mentioned the usage of pre-fitted armors and no need of specialized mutated troops. How does one go about ensuring the war remains no-win for either side, at least not for a few more years at least, and several decades at the most? If DoA loses a mutant with a special ability, there are likely other mutants with something similar. If HPE loses a relic weapon, it is gone unless they can recapture it. So losing a relic weapon is effectively a permanent loss of capability to HPE forces. DoA doesn't need specialized equipment to make use of a mutant with claw arms, while HPE needs special tools to make weapons that are safe. Similarly, DoA troops that are injured can heal slowly, while HPE forces have to return their tech to be repaired. If the tools aren't available to repair the tech, it is scrap until it can be repaired. The tech also needs specific equipment to be built/maintained, meaning a large supply chain to ensure everything is okay. Crack part of that chain, and the whole thing slows down. So I'd expect plenty of supplies at different stages of the manufacturing/repair processes, so if one location gets raided, the places downstream in the material flow can keep on working for a bit. The manufacturing locations might be spread apart so a DoA raid only takes out part of the chain, instead of 'eggs in one basket' setup. The second is easier to guard, but if it gets attacked HPE will lose everything. I'd expect HPE having a bit of both in its territory, where the distributed model provides local access to repairs/replacements/tech training, while the central position allows for mass production (assembly line style). I.e. imagine a location in HPE producing rifle cartridges. The place assembling the rifle cartridges will have plenty of primer, powder, and bullets, so even if the DoA raids the location that produces the bullets (cracking the molds?), the place assembling the cartridges can keep on producing ammunition while new molds are made. DoA has a much more limited supply needs, as a mutant with eye beams only needs food, not reloading. Their troops can consume almost anything and consider it food, plus their troops and steeds use the same food. Humans need one type of food, their vehicles require pure alcohol or another type of flammable liquid. Despite attempts, pure alcohol is not a good fuel for humans. So DoA troops can take long trips to scout out HPE territory, hunting local critters for food (or stealing HPE food if practical/fun). HPE forces can only explore as far as their fuel will take them. This would allow for DoA forces to make lots of camps steadily over time, so HPE forces that explore only see miles of cropland tended by mutants and human slaves, and make HPE even more paranoid. Basically barbarians/raiders vs cities setup. In this case the barbarians have a territory of their own that they can us for relaxation/recruitment. |
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Post by rexbannon on Jan 26, 2017 19:02:40 GMT -8
I see both sides here but there is a key factor that I think you are both missing. The epoch is not a Safe place to be even on a good day. Every square mile harbors untold amounts of dangers, pitfalls, and mutated monsters of varying nastiness and number. the HPE and the DOA are at a stand still in my campaign setting because they are constantly defending their borders, Towns and cities from the mutated hordes of monsters that spawn unchecked and out of control in the wastelands. When they can marshal a large enough attack force and have a window of opportunity to attack each other, they take it to knock each other down a peg. War campaigns have happened of course in the lore but they come and go with the ebb and flow of the monster population in the region. When there are a lot of them its simply not possible without extreme losses on both sides. When monster populations are lower one side or the other can get a foot hold in the others territory and wage war effectively against the other.
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