Turn: 1781-1782
Governmental In response to the events of the prior year, the governmental forces open up offices to distribute their own newspapers and other material in order to aid in the morale of their civilians and military forces.
Technology
The Loyalist Board of Engineers have a year with few problems, though do not make the major strides attempted by the other nations. They overhaul the entirety of their casting process to improve their cannons, holding basis in the French Gribeauval system. As a result, they construct the Imperial 6 pound cannon, able to fire a ball shot seven hundred meters effectively and can be used interchangeably with the standard 6 pound cannons. As well, they do a minor revision to their London class of ships in order to produce the Dover class. The new ship class is slightly smaller than the London and carries less cannon, as it was designed instead for transport of goods and men rather than for combat.
The Atterton Monarchy’s Glorious Hall of Engineers have much better luck than they had the prior year. The two varieties of twelve pound howitzers, the AM-R 12 Pound Howit and the AM-R-II 12 Pound Howit. The former has an effective range varying from seven hundred meters with ball shot to three hundred meters when using canister shot. The latter varies from this by being unable to use the ball or canister shot, but instead uses six hundred meter effective case shot and four hundred fifty meter effective low explosive shot.
In comparison to the prior year, the Dunwich offices have dismal luck. Their attempt to produces a pistol version of their Victoria rifle suffers from numerous problems, the least of which being it cannot be stopped when the trigger is pulled. Its initial distribution to officers is met with distrust, until its use in Fort Combe at desperate times saves their lives. With odds heavily wound or kill the officer that fired it nearly as well as a chance to permit survival in a situation of certain death, the term 'Deadman's Gamble' is used to describe its use. The other attempt of the Dunwich engineers with a canister shot goes better, having them to come across a design that has the effective range equal to eighty percent that of standard ball shot. This is the result of the Dunwich Canister Shot having a more focused arc than the standard canister shot.
As for the other forces upon the island, the pirates bring in a cheaper form of cannon to allow for greater speed in response to the Loyalist forces. The nation based out of Fort Alton produces a six meter by two meter bullet shield moved with carriage wheels mounted on either side and held up by two wooden legs in order to protect its soldiers so they may get into range of their Brown Bess muskets while under Victoria and Samara fire. Fort Combe produces a revolving musket in order to be able to increase the rate of fire provided by its defenders to counter the power of the Victoria Rifles.
Military
The advent of the new Atterton howits' utterly negated whatever advantages the Combe Dragoons had provided. Now, they had to keep moving or else fall prey to explosive bombardment. When not interested in the cavalry, the artillery were able to cause havoc amongst infantry as well, due to the serious morale affects of everything around you suddenly blowing up. Atterton forces were able to regain all ground lost in the previous year. <Atterton 3/4, Ft Combe 1/4>
Upon the high seas, the Loyalists stuck out with their new London class, the HMS Beaumont and the HMS Collingwood. These new ships, combined with the retrofitted HMS Nelson struck hard at the pirates that raided the waters around the Roberts Islands. The new Jaegar of the pirates, the Berserker, was crippled by having its mast severed by cannon fire from the HMS Beaumont. Lacking the means to bring it into port, the crew of the Beaumont sunk the vessel after recording what they could about its construction. With the loss of the vessel and the devastation inflicted upon them, the pirates withdrew from the waters around the Roberts Islands. Bolstered by their success, the Loyalist fleet turned their attentions to the main islands and struck out at the Monarchy’s naval forces. With the degree they outpaced their foe, the British destroyed their fleet with ease. (British: 6/7 Confederacy: 1/7 Pirates: 0/7 Monarchy: 0/7)
Ft. Alton, satisfied with its advances into Confederate territory, decided to modify its focus. Rather than following up with a second assault to attempt to take Bradford, the nation instead targeted the nation to its west, a small empire that had started up between the lands of it and Ft. Combe. The empire was quickly subdued by the much more powerful force built up by the fortress nation, and soon brought under the fort’s influence. (Ft. Alton: 2/3, Ft. Combe: 1/3)
The assault on the fortified mountain top of Fort Combe was preceded by three solid days of artillery exchanges. The entrenched defenders weathered constant fire and although outnumbered gave as good as they got. Through the haze of smoke, and illuminated solely by the muzzle flashes of the fortress artillery, the Confederates saw the outer wall of the fortress had been breached in multiple areas. Taken as his cue, the Confederate general gave the order to storm the remnants and seize the bastion. The Infantry advanced towards the Jettyson pass, a steep featureless slope that is the only way in or out.
As the infantry advanced, the Independents did everything in their power to hold them at bay. As the first cannon ball landed amongst the Confederate forces, they increased their pace to a jog. When the first muskets opened fire, they formed a firing line. The moment they'd fired, the next line stepped in front, then the next, and the next. Despite vision being reduced to the tens of meters by smoke, and the ground thick with the wounded the Independent's seemed to be maintaining an unbelievable rate of fire. Any more shooting was thus deemed pointless, and the men were ordered to charge into the breach.
The assault thus devolved into a brutal melee. Bayonets and sabers saw more use than rifles here, with the Whateley Cavalry Pistol being used in desperate times by the officers, sometime saving its users from death at a cost of the occasional wound. On occasion independent Infantry would hold a long corridor due to the simple death sentence involved in advancing down. These were dealt with in most part by Victoria rifles, their rate of fire out competing the Independent muskets. However when the entrenched firing points were seized the Confederates discovered how the Independents had maintained their rate of fire. They had developed a 'Mini Cannon', a large musket with a revolving magazine. The next shot can primed by winding a crank. On occasion an example is found with the workings ruptured.
The bastion eventually succumbed, and flags of the Confederacy flew proud over the broken remains of the fortress. The final pockets of resistance quickly surrendered.
Of the 20,000 Confederate Infantrymen to assault the fortress, less than 4,000 were still standing after the last shot was fired. Reports indicate the Fortress was garrisoned with 8,000 Independents. It is believed Lord Combe died in the fighting. <Fort Combe seized by Confederate forces>
Around Port Silver and Bradford, the forces of the Monarchy and Confederacy prepare for an attack that never comes. Probing strikes are made out against the opposing lines, but are rapidly rebuffed by the other side’s forces with such a degree that it is believed that an assault force may come at any moment during the year. A force that never comes to strike.
International
On March 13, the planet Uranus is discovered by British astronomer Sir William Herschel. It carries the original name of George’s Star, in honor of King George III.
On October 19, the Siege of Yorktown ends with the British General in charge of the defending forces to be forced to surrender to the rebels. When the news reaches the Roberts Islands early in 1782, it causes a drop in morale among the Loyalists, only held off by the massive success brought about by the fleet during the prior year. On the larger island, the morale of the Confederates and Monarchists soars with the news, countering the fear of what the Loyalists had done at sea.
Details
Morale
50
Soldier Gear
Wool Uniforms - These basic uniforms are made of wool and are partially dyed red to mark loyalty to the British Empire.
Technology
Muzzle Loading
Smoothbore
Flintlock
18 mm Musket Shot
6 lb. Cannon Balls
Horse Domestication
Carriages
Fishing Boats
Sabers
Bayonets
Gunpowder
Chaser Cannons
Brig-Sloop War Vessel
Wagonways
Interlocking Carts
Improved Casting
Brig Transport Vessel [Turn 1 Expensive]
Weapons
Infantry
Brown Bess Musket - A smoothbore flintlock weapon that fires a .69 inch (18 mm) shot. It has accuracy variable to a range between 50-100 meters. These are designed to be able to be equipped with bayonets. (Cheap)
Saber - The sword used by boarding crews and Officers of the British Loyalists. (Cheap)
Artillery
Imperial 6 Pound Artillery - A lighter variant of the six pound cannon with an effective range of 700 meters. Vast modifications to the casting and production processes of the cannon are made in order to achieve this. This cannon is able to replace the old six pound cannons on vessels that used it. (Expensive)
6 Pound Cannons - Smoothbore cannons taken from, or based off of the ones found in, the island's city and mountaintop forts. Each has an effective range of around 400 meters. (Expensive)
Navy
Gun boats - Fishing boats retrofitted in order to support a single 6 lb. Cannon. (Expensive)
London-class Brig-Sloop - A ship with a 95 foot by 27 foot gundeck that is fitted with eighteen six pound cannons. These cannons are arranged in a manner of having eight on the port and starboard, with two cannons able to be shifted between gunports at the fore and aft of the ship. The cannons furthest back on each side have a minor ability to fire backwards, but only by a minor amount. The four foremost cannons of the ship, not including the ones facing directly forewards, have a similar angle towards the front. The ship has a speed and maneuverability slightly lower than that of the future Cherokee-class Brig-Sloop of the British Empire. (Very Expensive)
Dover-class Brig - A ship with a 95 foot by 27 foot gundeck that is fitted with two six pound cannons. Those are able to be shifted between its original positions at the sides and gunports at aft of the ship. Most of its ammunition and powder storages have been replaced with holds for cargo and supplies for longer voyages. (National Effort (First Turn only))
Transportation Infrastructure
Horse and Carriage - The most basic form of transportation. Able to transport a single material resource for weapons production each year.
Wagonway Trains: A transportation system composed of a number of horses pulling a long train of carts along 2' gauge wagonways. There are numberous issues when trying to use the system down large slopes or taking a curve at speed. Able to transport a second material resource each year.
Resources
Board of Engineers Facility - Provides an ability to design a new creation and revise an existing construction each year.
Colonial Government's Construction Yard - Allows for promotion of production of a single weapon or other piece of technology in a year.
Scouting Operations Headquarters - Allows for the usage of a single espionage action to be performed each year.
British News Service – Allows for the widespread use of propaganda to affect morale.
2 Ore - Artillery greater than three pounds is Expensive. Gun Boats are Expensive
Morale
50
Soldier Gear
Wool Uniforms - These basic uniforms are made of wool and are dyed gold, the color of the emblem of the Atterton Monarchy.
Technology
Muzzle Loading
Smoothbore
Flintlock
18 mm Musket Shot
6 lb. Cannon Ball
Horse Domestication
Carriages
Fishing Boats
Sabers
Bayonets
Gunpowder
Paddle Wheel Boat [Expensive]
Steam Engine [Expensive]
Rifling [Expensive]
Gravity-Fed Magazine [Expensive]
Compressed Air Reservoir [Expensive]
12 Pound Howitzer
Canister shot
12 lb. Cannon Ball
Weapons
Infantry
Brown Bess Musket - A smoothbore flintlock weapon that fires a .69 inch (18 mm) shot. It has accuracy variable to a range between 50-100 meters. These are designed to be able to be equipped with bayonets. (Cheap)
'Samara' rifled musket - A variation of the Brown Bess designed with 4 rifling grooves cut down the barrel, used with lead bullets that expand into the grooves upon detonation of the gunpowder. The barrel is shortened to facilitate easier loading, resulting in a lower muzzle velocity. However, due to the rifling grooves, the effective range is still improved, but not as much as it could have been. The grooves do cause some problems for reloading on occasion, but very rarely does it prove to be impossible to fix. The Samara's most effective range is 100-150 meters. [Expensive]
Victoria Air Rifle - See: Dunwich Meritocratic Confederacy Victoria Air Rifle. (Very Expensive)
Cavalry
Saber - The sword used by the Cavalry forces and Officers of the Atterton Monarchy (Cheap)
Artillery
6 Pound Cannons - Smoothbore cannons taken from, or based off of the ones found in, the island's city and mountaintop forts. Each has an effective range of around 400 meters. (Very Expensive)
AM-R 12 pounder Howit: This 12 pound Howitzer weighs 2350 pounds in total with an effective range of 700 meters for ball ammunition. It has a gun frame that may be pulled by horses or in a limited manner by infantry. Its tube is reinforced breech smoothbore cast iron with length of 5 feet and diameter of 0.385 feet. It is capable of firing either 12 lb. cannon balls or small ball canister shot. Canister shot has an effective range of 300 meters. (Very Expensive)
AM-R-II 12 pounder Howit - A variant of the AM-R that weights slightly over a ton. Its bore has been modified to be able to effectively use case and low explosive shot. However, this comes at a cost that neither ball or canister ammunition can be used with the gun. The effective range of the cannon is 600 meters for the case shot and 450 meters for the explosive shot. (Very Expensive)
Navy
Gun boats - Fishing boats retrofitted in order to support a single 6 lb. Cannon. (Very Expensive)
Am-MulardA - A steamship 115 feet by 23 feet large that carries three fixed guns to the front of the ship, one on each side and one forwards. Its power comes not from sails, but from a steam engine specially designed for it that uses a network of pistons, gears, and a flywheel to provide force to the twin paddle wheels. The engine winds up failing from time to time due to the many cuts to bring it to the minimum required to not have it be too heavy to sink the boat. The wood frame is light and as a result can be sunk fairly easily. The paddles and required shape causes it to perform poorly with even minor waves, so it needs to stick to rivers and the inland lake. (National Effort)
Transportation Infrastructure
Horse and Carriage - The most basic form of transportation. Able to transport a single material resource for weapons production each year.
Resources
Grand Engineering Halls - Provides an ability to design a new creation and revise an existing construction each year.
The Hall of Production - Allows for promotion of production of a single weapon or other piece of technology in one year.
The Hall of Secrets - Allows for the usage of a single espionage action to be performed each year.
1 Ore - Large Infantry weapons (for muskets, greater than ~1 inch (25 mm)) are Expensive. Artillery greater than 3 lbs is Very Expensive.
Morale
50
Soldier Gear
Wool Uniforms - These basic uniforms are made of wool and are dyed blue as an homage to the first colonies who attempted to break free of the British Empire.
Technology
Muzzle Loading
Smoothbore
Flintlock
18 mm Musket Shot
6 lb. Cannon Balls
Horse Domestication
Carriages
Fishing Boats
Sabers
Bayonets
Gunpowder
.46 Caliber Shot
Gravity-Fed Magazine [Expensive]
Compressed Air Reservoir
Paddle and Ratchet [Expensive]
Coil Spring Magazine [Expensive]
Canister Shot
Weapons
Infantry
Brown Bess Musket – A smoothbore flintlock weapon that fires a .69 inch (18 mm) shot. It has accuracy variable to a range between 50-100 meters. These are designed to be able to be equipped with bayonets. (Cheap)
Victoria Air Rifle – The air rifle is about 4 feet long, and 10 pounds, similar to a normal musket. It fires a .46 caliber ball, and has a tubular, 20-ball gravity-fed magazine that runs under the barrel of the rifle. The gravity magazine jams fairly often due to more than one shot entering the barrel and will render the rifle inoperable until it gets an hour maintenance. The rifleman using the weapon can reload the gun by pointing the rifle into the air, and waiting for a ball to roll down. When the magazine is emptied, the rifleman can merely unscrew the tube, refill it with balls, and screw it back on. Instead of using gunpowder as a propellant, it uses compressed air, stored in a small reservoir in the rifle butt that can crack and render the rifle useless, if the pressure within it is too great, the weapon is treated without delicacy, and after an average of 47 shots. (Expensive)
Victoria II Air Rifle – The Victoria II Air Rifle is a variant of the Victoria Air Rifle. The gravity fed magazine is replaced with a wheel with paddles perpendicular to the firing chamber, where the gravity fed magazine deposited the rounds. An access is granted on the right side to allow the wielder to rotate a shot from the below barrel fifteen round magazine into the firing position. There is a ratchet is installed in order to prevent the wheel from going to far, which needs to be pressed down when switching to the next round, so that the wheel may move. This innovation prevents the jamming seen in the original Victoria. However, this does come with its own problems of having some of the air escape through it, reducing the effective firing range, and the pressure can sometimes cause the ratchet to become loose or the wheel to get stuck on it. This type of jam is able to be cleared in under a second and the looseness of the ratchet can be fixed with some simple maintenance after every battle. Finally, the air reservoir is replaced by a version to be screwed on an off, but have to be pressurized before use. The effective range of the Victoria II is 50-100 meters. (Expensive)
Whateley Cavalry Pistol – A large, heavy pistol that has a compressed air method of firing. It has a 9 1/5 inch barrel and an 18 round magazine of .46 Caliber Shot. Through modifications to the loading wheel and a coil spring to load rounds into the weapon at greater speed, the weapon is able to fire fully automatic. However, the speed of it winds up causing an average of forty-one percent of the rounds fired by the weapon to be thrown out of the side of the pistol. On occasion, these will strike either the user or an individual near the user and deal the same damage as having been shot by the pistol. Furthermore, when the trigger is pulled, the mechanism cannot be stopped until the pistol is out of compressed air, or the new coil spring winds up being dragged into the mechanism and breaking the gun. The latter case occurs in roughly three percent of cases of firing the gun. (Very Expensive)
Cavalry
Saber - The sword used by the Cavalry forces and Officers of the Atterton Monarchy (Cheap)
Artillery
6 Pound Cannons - Smoothbore cannons taken from, or based off of the ones found in, the island's city and mountaintop forts. Each has an effective range of around 400 meters. (Very Expensive)
Navy
Gun boats - Fishing boats retrofitted in order to support a single 6 lb. Cannon. (Very Expensive)
Ammunition
Dunwich Canister Shot - A canister shot designed to have an effective range equal to eighty percent of the effective range of standard ball ammunition.
Transportation Infrastructure
Horse and Carriage - The most basic form of transportation. Able to transport a single material resource for weapons production each year.
Resources
National Development Force Research Facility - Provides an ability to design a new creation and revise an existing construction each (turn).
National Development Force Production Facility - Allows for promotion of production of a single weapon or other piece of technology for (one turn).
Meritocratic Espionage Facility - Allows for the usage of a single espionage action to be performed each (turn).
1 Ore - Large Infantry weapons (for muskets, greater than ~1 inch (25 mm)) are Expensive. Artillery greater than 3 lbs is Very Expensive.
Morale
50
Soldier Gear
Wool Uniforms - These basic uniforms are made of wool and are dyed brown and gray.
Technology
Muzzle Loading
Smoothbore
Flintlock
18 mm Musket Shot
6 lb. Cannon Balls
Horse Domestication
Carriages
Fishing Boats
Sabers
Bayonets
Gunpowder
Weapons
Infantry
Brown Bess Musket - A smoothbore flintlock weapon that fires a .69 inch (18 mm) shot. It has accuracy variable to a range between 50-100 meters. These are designed to be able to be equipped with bayonets. (Cheap)
Cavalry
Saber - The sword used by the Cavalry forces and Officers of the Atterton Monarchy (Cheap)
Baby Bess - A carbine modified from the Brown Bess to have a 26-inches barrel length. Due to the modification the accuracy is reduced halved to 25-50m, and can no longer use a bayonet. (Cheap)
Artillery
6 Pound Cannons - Smoothbore cannons taken from, or based off of the ones found in, the island's city and mountaintop forts. Each has an effective range of around 400 meters. (Very Expensive)
Coombe mini-Cannon – A large bore revolving musket intended to be serviced by a team. The Gun rests on a stand and has a six round, removable magazine with a crank handle on the back. The user turns the crank handle clockwise to chamber the next round, manually primes the flint and pulls the trigger, then winds the crank again. To change the magazine the crank is simply wound counter-clockwise. The crank system can be temperamental however and misfires due to the round being misaligned are not uncommon. Ideally, a gun could fire a whopping 20 rounds per minute, but having to check for alignment halves this. (Expensive)
Transportation Infrastructure
Horse and Carriage - The most basic form of transportation. Able to transport a single material resource for weapons production each year.
Resources
Independent Bonus - Provides an ability to design a new creation or revise an existing construction each year.
1 Ore - Large Infantry weapons (for muskets, greater than ~1 inch (25 mm)) are Expensive. Artillery greater than 3 lbs is Very Expensive.
Soldier Gear
Wool Uniforms - These basic uniforms are made of wool and are dyed a deep green.
Technology
Muzzle Loading
Smoothbore
Flintlock
18 mm Musket Shot
6 lb. Cannon Balls
Horse Domestication
Carriages
Fishing Boats
Sabers
Bayonets
Gunpowder
Weapons
Infantry
Brown Bess Musket - A smoothbore flintlock weapon that fires a .69 inch (18 mm) shot. It has accuracy variable to a range between 50-100 meters. These are designed to be able to be equipped with bayonets. (Cheap)
Infantry Shield – A six meters by two meter mobile wall made of a thin sheet of iron backed in wood and all resting on a pair of wheels and support legs. These legs can be picked up to allow the entire system to move. In practice, the shield moves very slowly even in ideal conditions. (Expensive)
Cavalry
Saber - The sword used by the Cavalry forces and Officers of the Atterton Monarchy (Cheap)
Lord Locke - A flintlock pistol just over 16 inches long and accurate to about 20m. They are however difficult to reload, especially whilt on a moving horse. Due to the their ubiquity however, cavalrymen have taken to carrying several of them at a time. (Cheap)
Artillery
6 Pound Cannons - Smoothbore cannons taken from, or based off of the ones found in, the island's city and mountaintop forts. Each has an effective range of around 400 meters. (Very Expensive)
Transportation Infrastructure
Horse and Carriage - The most basic form of transportation. Able to transport a single material resource for weapons production each year.
Resources
Independent Bonus - Provides an ability to design a new creation or revise an existing construction each year.
1 Ore - Large Infantry weapons (for muskets, greater than ~1 inch (25 mm)) are Expensive. Artillery greater than 3 lbs is Very Expensive.
Soldier Gear
Wool Uniforms - These basic uniforms are made of wool and are customized depending upon the personal tastes of the crew member, within reason.
Technology
Muzzle Loading
Smoothbore
Flintlock
18 mm Musket Shot
6 lb. Cannon Balls
Horse Domestication
Carriages
Fishing Boats
Sabers
Bayonets
Gunpowder
Cutter Ship
Weapons
Infantry
Brown Bess Musket - A smoothbore flintlock weapon that fires a .69 inch (18 mm) shot. It has accuracy variable to a range between 50-100 meters. These are designed to be able to be equipped with bayonets. (Cheap)
Saber - The sword used by the Cavalry forces and Officers of the Atterton Monarchy (Cheap)
Artillery
6 Pound Cannons - Smoothbore cannons taken from, or based off of the ones found in, the island's city and mountaintop forts. Each has an effective range of around 400 meters. (Very Expensive)
Light 6 Pound Cannons - This variant of the six pounder is cast thinner at the muzzle, thickening closer to the end with the charge. Combining this with a wood-only naval housing, this six pound cannon carries the same range of the regular at a lower cost. (Expensive)
Navy
Gun boats - Fishing boats retrofitted in order to support a single 6 lb. Cannon. (Very Expensive)
Jaegar - An eight gun cutter, a small, single-masted vessel, that is more manoeuvrable and faster than larger vessels. It is armed with three cannons a side, with another two forward facing. There is however, very little space for crew or loot. (Very Expensive)
Resources
Independent Bonus - Provides an ability to design a new creation or revise an existing construction each year.
1 Ore - Large Infantry weapons (for muskets, greater than ~1 inch (25 mm)) are Expensive. Artillery greater than 3 lbs is Very Expensive.
The new mechanic of Morale provides a bonus to soldier effectiveness if it is over 70 and a penalty if it is below 30. Morale is primarily raised and lowered as a result of the effectiveness of military actions taken during the prior turn, but the creation of pieces of propaganda can boost the increase of morale during better years, or soften the blow during the years when the military is less effective. Going to start everyone at 50.
I have something in the works, but I might not be able to finish it today. If someone else comes up with something before then that's fine with me, I really just want to get things moving.
Just make sure to get something up soon.
Author
Topic: Arms Race: 1780 - International/'OOC' Thread - 1782 (Read 29450 times)