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[Urist Mc Dwarf]

Spoiler: Sentence 16 (click to show/hide)

 The desert sands rose up into a great draconic beast and shattered their cities as the southern half of the island began to sink.

[FallacyofUrist]

Spoiler: Sentence 17 (click to show/hide)

It was fairly obvious at that point that everything had gotten out of hand.

[Andres]

Spoiler: Sentence 18 (click to show/hide)

With such silliness running rampant, it was finally decided to end this game of the exquisite corpse.

Glory to Arstotzka.

[Chiefwaffles]

I've compiled the sentences with some very minor edits:

Spoiler: Final Product (click to show/hide)

Deep in the frozen wastes of the Arstotzkan interior, there sits a secret lab, made of gleaming crystal and deep black iron. In the lab, Mylar son of Myark had finally perfected his life's work. He had successfully found a way to remove Moskurgs "God" once and for all.

The workshops were working on the "Heretic Shells" as he spoke...
"Dacron, Tergal, prepare the train. It must bring the Heretic shells to the frontlines as soon as they are ready."
"Aye sir!" Dergal saluted and ran off, while Tergal followed much slower.

It was time to kill Moskurg filth.

...

It was quite in the trenches, too quiet, with nothing but the wind whipping snow back into his face and the soft clink of crystal armor on frozen stone. Suddenly, large shapes emerge from the storm clouds at the horizon and alarm cries fill the trenches! The large Arstotzkan artillery was brought to bear on the newcomers. They never stood a chance, falling swiftly under the glorious might of the Arstotzkan artillery batteries.
No one had expected that we would awaken something far worse.

And without warning, the Aether ripped itself apart to reveal the most sinister thing we ever saw. From the deep abyss of aether beyond what our mages and Aethergems what reach, an impossible Monster started to emerge, a mass of shifting tentacles and eyes. The abomination from beyond reality was swiftly destroyed by the resolve and firepower of the glorious armed forces of Arstotzka, ending its threat once and for all, but Moskurg was not so lucky... The desert sands rose up into a great draconic beast and shattered their cities as the southern half of the island began to sink.

It was fairly obvious at that point that everything had gotten out of hand. With such silliness running rampant, it was finally decided to end this game of the exquisite corpse.

Surprisingly okay.
Arstotzka seems mildly OP though.

[helmacon]

Yay! teambuilding! look at us all, building a coherent story and all.

[Chiefwaffles]

Alright! Time for designs/revisions while evicted is surely trying to think of more ways to describe Moskurg getting utterly annihilated by Arstotzka.

This one's Andres' idea on Discord. Not something I particularly care about, but interesting enough to me to write up a design for it. It's a revision because it's tweaking (revising) Crystal to adopt properties of existing technology. Pretty straightforward. Should get bonuses if anything.
Future Revision: Blastcrystal (I know it uses the same name as a prior crystal revision, but it fits this one better.)

We already know how to make crystal that explodes - solid-state Aethergems. We know the mechanics of the explosion. We even know how to make the explosions bigger via supercharging the Aethergems. We're also good at tweaking crystal.
So let's revise a Crystal variant that explodes. Violently.
Blastcrystal is pretty straightforward. It's crystal revised to, once detonated, explode in magical energy. How it's detonated isn't a huge concern - optimally via a safe & tiny "activation" circuit, or by just inputting magical energy, or even by impact if all else fails.

If all goes well, CAFs should begin manufacturing Blastcrystal projectiles. In the future, perhaps we can issue stable Blastcrystal packages to soldier for field detonations, sabotage, and other fun activities.

TL;DR: Explosive crystal to serve as a substantial, versatile, and simpler upgrade to the prior "Magegem + Blastball circuitry + trigger mechanism/whatever" system in Blastshells.

My own idea that I quite like.
Future Design: ASA-FV49 "Artificer"
A simple land vehicle equipped with a smaller-scale IDE (speed isn't a huge issue, but even at smaller scales the IDE should work quite well without notable transmission/suspension issues), a Mk.2 Reactor, and most importantly, a modified Crystal Fabrication suite.

Spoiler: Fluff (click to show/hide)

Most of the vehicle is straightforward. Make a light unarmored crystal body with a simple crystal-glass (cooled) small enclosed driver's cabin at the front, put a slightly smaller-scale IDE on it, put a somewhat-armored Mk. 2 Reactor on it.

But then comes the fun part.
The Crystal Fabrication Suite. Or CFS for short. The CFS basically is a Crystal Fabrication unit upscaled to take full advantage of the Mk.2 reactor and to be more versatile for general use. In the simplest terms.

The CFS can do two broad things: Create existing 100% crystal designs exactly as the Crystalworks would (not anywhere near the same scale, of course!) meaning we can create any design in the field if it's made out of just crystal. Second, it can create crystal structures. We don't have any crystal designs in the Archives for fortifications (other than the Protector), but at a large-enough scale we believe our knowledge of Mathemagics (and even better knowledge of precision in crystal fabrication) to be enough to allow for creation of very simple large scale designs in real time. As large structures don't need to be anywhere near perfect.
The CFS has a reasonably-sized "outlet" to print any non-large scale designs in, and can print large-scale structures in relative proximity to the vehicle.

Pre-existing designs are input into the CFS via "cartridges". In other words, the Crystal Design Circuitry already used to "store" pre-set designs in the Crystalworks in a thin crystal shell for easy transportation. Artificers should be carrying cartridges relevant to where/when/how they're being deployed.
Real-time design creation is done via a tweak on the idea of transferring energy into circuitry from Mages. But instead of transferring energy, mages transfer ideas (technically still energy). This sounds complicated, but it's like the Mage is casting a spell. Like how a mage determines the color of a Flare, its speed, range, and more, they determine the shape and nature of the crystal structure. It's not perfect at all, but imperfections are acceptable at this scale.

A low priority aspect of the Artificer design is incorporating Crystal Circuitry into our crystal designs instead of nickel circuitry, allowing for fabrication of circuitry-based designs all at once instead of attaching nickel circuitry later. If it's possible to easily switch over nickel circuitry to the (literally already existent) crystal circuitry, then that should be done.

The Artificer can be used for many things. Producing infantry armor and weapons at the front. Making new vehicles (relatively) quickly and easily as needed! Providing logistics support! Building Restless tracks! Building any kind of infrastructure, such as homes, support buildings like kitchens and command outposts and barracks and more. Numerous very-quickly-built expansive bunkers wherever our forces go. Reinforced trenches. And much, much more.

Vehicle Frame - Small enclosed driver's cabin at front. Lightly-armored Mk.2 reactor, slightly-smaller IDE (or just regular sized), unarmored and open frame.
Crystal Fabrication Suite - Bunch of circuitry hooked to Reactor to allow for quick and versatile crystal fabrication, even compared to a Crystalworks Fabrication Unit. Greatly upscaled to take maximum reactor power and to maximize speed+versatility.

Premade Designs (Cartridges) - Accepts Cartridges (just the existing Crystal Design Circuitry but covered in small crystal shell for convenience+portability) for pre-made 100% crystal designs. Like Combat Armor, Crystal Axes, and other stuff.
Realtime Designs - Mages can directly dictate fabrication in real-time to make large structures as needed. Just like casting a spell except combined with transferring energy to circuitry. Great for any crystal structure - buildings, fortifications, infrastructure, etc.. Imperfect, but imperfections are very acceptable at large-scale.

TL;DR: A vehicle that can build structures out of crystal and can manufacture any existing 100% crystal designs in the field. Like those builder units in RTS games.

Future Design: ASAF-FC49 "Thunder" (Placeholder nickname)

The Flying Carrier 949 is a very self-explanatory name.
Lightnings are a formidable weapon. But they're unorganized. We're stuck to makeshift landing pads haphazardly spread across the front lines in order to deploy our Lightnings. While effective, it could be so much more effective. The FC49 is a way to remedy this.

Spoiler: Fluff (click to show/hide)

The FC49 is massive. It's built to hold around 6 Lightnings (or some quantity of Valkyries/a mix) in a single hangar-bay in the middle. Pneumatics-powered armored doors are present on both sides of the Hangar (and ship) allowing exit and entry. Numerous Reactors are in place just to keep the FC49 able to move, though speed is not a priority.
A small Cargo Bay and Living Quarters allow for long-term deployment - especially with routine Valkyrie supply runs, and a Crystal-Glass bridge is present for command and organization. The FC49 is an entirely closed craft - all operations and crew go on the inside, and there's no "outer deck" other than a few hatches/walkways for maintenance and whatnot.

The FC49 is equipped with 2x Lightning Ball Turrets placed for maximum coverage for self-defense. It's reasonably armored, but it shouldn't be designed to be doing the fighting itself. It has the fighters for htat.

While the cheaper the better, expense is not a priority and should be sacrificed for effectiveness if needed.

Hull Layout - Small living quarters, small cargo bay, crystal glass bridge, armored reactor room, hangar, and other miscellaneous stuff. No top deck bar for sparse maintenance hatches/walkways. Moderately armored, but not really designed to actually be in a close-quarters fight.
Hangar - Largest part of ship, basically a rectangular hole cut out through center designed to fit 6 Lightnings (with the ability to also fit in Valkyries) and with armored pneumatic hangar doors on both sides.
Indefinite Deployment - The very modest living quarters+cargo bay should allow for relatively long term deployment without supply lines, and with use of easy Valkyrie supply runs, should allow for indefinite deployment.
2x Lightning Ball Turrets - Placed for maximum coverage; self-defense. Should still stay out of combat.

Expense - Low-priority. If there's an incompatibility between "Enough reactors to allow for flight" (though optimally there shouldn't have to be a choice) and "not super expensive", choose the latter. Though cheaper is of course better still.
TL;DR: An air carrier.

Edit: I have decided to make MORE DESIGNS.

Future Design: AS-UFD49 "Architect"
UFD - Universal Fabrication Device

The Architect is a straightforward device. It's a simplified Crystal Fabrication Unit. The extreme majority of a Fabricator's circuitry is in the precision and complexity. Crystal designs must be interpreted perfectly. Each bit of crystal must be laid in the perfect place, with zero room for error. The Architect takes a more haphazard approach.
The Architect is a tool for our infantry. A small lightly-armored Mk.2 Reactor is mounted like a backpack onto the back of Combat Armor. The Mk.2 Reactor is connected by wiring to the actual Architect device - a handheld "gun"-like tool housing the small amount of crystal fabrication circuitry required.

Once the trigger is pressed, the Architect, in layman's terms, "sprays" Crystal forward. Crystal is fabricated in front of the Architect. Due to the large amount of power generated (even in the smaller reactor) and the much greater simplicity of the Architect, the fabrication process is extremely quick. After all, this is just directing a very large amount of power towards "make crystal here" and nothing else. Whereas actual crystal designs can have thousands of individual instructions. Small dials on either the reactor mount or the handheld tool itself allow for adjusting the size of the fabricated crystal, meaning large structures can be built and small adjustments can be made both very quickly.


The Architect represents the future of construction. Construction materials won't have to be shipped to the site. A single man can "spray" down a Bunker in an hour. Trenchs can be easily reinforced. Cover can be made nearly instantly on demand. Infrastructure like armories, kitchens, barracks, and much more can be made quickly as needed. Restless tracks can be easily laid down wherever our army goes. Even in our cities, the Architect can be used to create large glorious structures quickly for the government, military, and perhaps citizenry.
TL;DR: A Crystal gun. It makes Crystal where you point it. Because of high power input and a very simple design, it should be able to work extremely fast. Obsoletes all other construction. Etc. etc.

[evictedSaint]

Combat for 948

Moskurg spends their design phase furthering their control over lightning.  This attempt wasn't quite as successful as it could be, but they do manage to extend their Wands of Thunderbolts effective range out to Medium.  They follow this up by tweaking their lightning to have a more explosive result when it strikes, and though it doesn't throw shrapnel it should be quite effective against harder targets.  Their second revision is an overhaul of their Phoenix airship.  The Alannar is removed out of the tank, the turrets and defenses are stripped out, and a hatch/ramp is added to the tank.  The most immediate effect is that Moskurg can now effectively supply their artillery cannons, so baring unfortunate circumstance they shouldn't run short of ammo.  It can also transport troops and other equipment, but the craft is rather unweildy and vulnerable so it won't see much combat action beyond getting troops into position before and after battles.  They choose not to spend their espionage credit this year.

Arstotzka likewise creates air-borne troopers with the invention of the Valkyrie - an overhauled Lightning with a cargo bay.  Like Moskurgs transport Phoenix, it should help with troop movements and ammo supplies.  It carries fewer troops than the Phoenix, but its smaller size and more robust armor - on the Aether Reactors, at least - make it more suited to dropping troops in combat zones, to some degree.  It doesn't function optimally in turbulent weather and is prone to capsizing if the pilot is negligent.  For their revision, Arstotzka attempts to develop fully automatic weapons and fails, primarily due to the ambition of the design for a revision.  For their second revision they improve the aerodynamics of their artillery shells, furthering the range by one and helping to make up the difference between the two sides.  Moskurgs Thunderguns still out range them, but only just.  They spend their Expense Credit on their Aether Reactors, dropping the cost by one.  This makes their Lightning and Valkyrie Normal Cost.


Arstotzka makes an attempt to further their foothold in the desert.

The flatter, more open terrain makes targets easy to spot, and with no cover to be had troops on the ground are at the mercy of whatever happens to be above.  Whether it be bombs, artillery shells, falling skyships, or lightning blasts, the men on the ground trudge through it all.  Melees are bloody and brief, but the majority of the combat is determined by the airforce and artillery.  Arstotzkas new Valkyrie and cheaper Lightning still struggle in Moskurgs control of the air, and with lightning blasts now hitting with more devastating results it's hard for the crafts to stay airborne.  They take significant troop losses whenever Moskurg manages to catch Valkyries flying out and about, and soon the transport crafts are regulated to hauling where the Restless trains cannot.  It's pretty handy for getting troops further inland, and less so for pulling troops out of compromised positions.  Moskurgs Phoenix is too much of a target and Expensive, so it is regulated solely to bringing up troops and dropping off supplies from the capitol.  This effect is less pronounced than Arstotzka's limited air-dropped troops, but the fact that their Thunderguns outrange anything Arstotzka has and their nowhere to hide in open desert makes their non-stop firing deadly.

Arstotzka has some success air-raiding, but their progress is continually hampered by their inability to easily air-strike the artillery positions.  The Lightning can't drop bombs or angle their turret towards the ground, and the obsolete Avenger must be brought in to drop artillery shells where it can.  The Valkyrie is more useful, as it's able to drop squads right on artillery positions - when it can get through.  Most are shot down by lightning blasts cracking through their limited armor, and the ones that get through generally don't make it back when the Skyskiffs come in to mop up.  They take heavy losses, but they're ultimately able to hit Moskurgs artillery positions, even if their own artillery can't.  Moskurg is still even with Arstotzka in the air, but the longer range on their Wands of Thunderbolts and the inclimate weather helps make up their lost advantage.  Tornadoes, lightning strikes, and non-stop rain and snow are mixed in with artillery barrages, chipping away at the invading forces.  Moskurg is still garbage when Arstotzka manages to meet their troops man-for-man, and oasis town after oasis town is lost as they march further south. Their control of the coast lets them drop troops behind enemy lines, but Arstotzka is able to quickly respond with their Valkyries...sometimes, if the weather isn't too bad, and they are aware of the attack.  Arstotzka is still operating on a flare-based communication system, which has flaws of its own.  Moskurgs short-range teletalk wands aren't much better, and in some cases worse - at least once, Arstotzkan Anti-Mages manage to land behind their lines in a brave Valkyrie mission and disrupt a supply center, hampering the war effort.  With the wands being so short ranged, Moskurg doesn't get the alarm out and the center is razed.  The Phoenix, despite its successful overhaul, can't quite compete with the same versitility, but at least the troops it carries don't call it the "Flying Coffin".  The name Valkyrie is quite fitting for Arstotzka's troop transporter, it seems.  More often than not, the men inside are carried off to Valhalla rather than war. 

The Protector, as always, is garbage.

It's close - very close.  Arstotzka makes up quite a bit of the gap between themselves and Moskurg, but Moskurg still has the longer stick when it comes to artillery, barely.  Moskurg may not have the better troops, but they can land behind Arstotzka - a feat no longer unique to naval forces, as Arstotzka can do the same with very limited success.  The weather makes up for where Moskurg is lacking in air power, preventing Arstotzka from making coordinated air sorties and knocking a few of them out of the skies.  The fact that troops on the ground have limited use in the wide-open coverless terrain means that Moskurg ultimately wins, barely.  It's too close for comfort, but they manage to beat the northern invaders back to the mountains.

Moskurg regains the Desert.


Arstotzka barely manages to hold the plains to the east.

Their new aerodynamic shells means Arstotzka can match Moskurg's artillery out to their accurate range, even if they can't match their inaccurate range.  In the plains, troops can at least dig in for cover.  Moskurg shells fall day-and-night, but their accuracy at BLOS+1 means successful strikes are uncommon.  Arstotzka must push forward a range to get into firing range with their own artillery, and in this case it becomes a heavy-weight slug-fest between artillery batteries.  A near-strike is enough to knock out an opponent, regardless of which side fired.  Arstotzka has slightly more artillery, so they can out-perform Moskurg through sheer volume of fire, but Moskurgs Skyhawks still rule up above in the artillery game.  Essentially flying battleships, they are still the single-most long-range cannon on the battlefield, and though they're Very Expensive they help even the score.  Ultimately the artillery is tied between the two, but Moskurg still sets the distance between trenchlines.

Much as in the desert, the two airforces are more-or-less even, with Moskurg edging out slightly ahead with their Wands hitting out an extra degree of range.  Arstotzka is still faster, Moskurg still has better maneuverability and acceleration, and Arstotzka still has the longer-range offensive armament.  The two airforces have come to a begrudging respect for one another, although both will point out their own advantages when the topic of who would win in a dogfight comes up.

The Protector is still pretty awful.

Moskurg has the landing advantage with their control of the coast.  Arstotzka's Valkyries give them a similar advantage, but it is noticeably less pronounced due to the unreliability of the craft.  Arstotzka makes up for it with their blatantly superior infantry, and their snipers help knock out key personnel and harass Moskurg troops whenever they poke their heads out of the trenches.

With the loss of their overwhelming artillery advantage, the loss of their air advantage, and the loss of their unique landing advantage, Moskurg must cede a portion of the ground to Arstotzka and pull back.  It's not an overwhelming loss, as their landing advantage is still superior, their control of the weather and the air still exists, but with Arstotzka managing to match more of their artillery and get troops across the ground with less harm than normal, they ultimately lose ground this year.

Arstotzka gains a section of the Plains.


The Taiga fills with smoke as the fighting creeps ever closer northward.

Moskurg makes good use of their Phoenix as a transporter to get troops and ammo up in the inhospitable north.  The tanks of food, ammo, and alnnar is well-recieved by hungry and cold infantry men.  The standard Phoenix is still infrequently used to burn out patches of trees; or at least the ones Moskurgs tornadoes don't tear up.  As always, the amount of debris available makes the pillars of wind extra lethal against infantry regardless of how armored they are.  Lighting bolts from above and bombing runs are less effective with the dense pine-tree air cover, but they still play a role.  This lack of effectiveness hurts Moskurg more than it does Arstotzka - not that it's necessarily a good thing for Arstotzka either, but this is their home and they know it quite well.  Anti-Mages continue their brutal sniping campaign from the trees, but there's only so many of them and Moskurg infantry has always outnumbered Arstotzka's.  Artillery barrages bracket known areas of Arstotzkan snipers with mixed success, but what's most devastating is Arstotzkan troops erupting from the tree lines to ambush their desert counterparts.  Screaming, clad in blue crystal armor and swinging crystal axes, the vikings are brutal when they meet in melee.

The Protector does nothing useful here.

The Valkyrie's usefulness is further limited as the dense tree cover makes it impossible to find a good landing zone, but all this does is level the playing field between the two sides.  Moskurg doesn't control the sea, and their Phoenix isn't a combat transporter.  Nevertheless, the air battle rages on to see who can provide their own brand of limited aerial usefulness. Moskurg edges out most of the time, but fewer Skyskiffs come home each day - the device is starting to show its age.  Still, for random bombing runs and artillery strikes, Moskurg has the advantage.

With Arstotzka winning out in the melee's and Moskurg winning out when it comes to support units, the battle is actually pretty even.  One side must ultimately win, however, and the fact that al-Mutriqa is still standing (at times with the use of a cane) makes the difference. Moskurg manages just barely to grind out another section of controlled Taiga.  None of the Moskurg soldiers are particularly thrilled with their progress.  The battles were bloody and indecisive, they are quite a ways away from home, and the blasted cold makes everything miserable. The fact that they can see Arstotzka's wooden walls from the frontlines is the only thing that gives them hope; next year will be fought in Arstotzka's capitol, and if they win it will be the end of this age-old war that has dragged on for decades.  The Arstotzkan defenders will not likely just hand the capitol over, however; the designs this year could determine whether the war ends with a victorious Moskurg, or whether Arstotzka will manage to drive the southern invaders back out of the north.

Moskurg gains another section of Taiga.  NEXT YEAR WILL BE FOUGHT IN THE ARSTOTZKAN CAPITOL.


As it has been for the past few years, the ocean battles are being mostly determined by air power.

Arstotzka had the advantage last year with their new powered turrets, but this year Moskurgs explosive lightning and longer Wand range they can scrape out a very small advantage.  Moskurg manages to to sink a few more ships and shoot down a few more airships, which technically makes them the winner in this theatre this year.

Moskurg regains a section of shoreline in the Northern Seas

[evictedSaint]

Espionage Credit!!!

After the brutal in-fighting that disrupted the Arstotzkan design team a few years ago, the team has taken pains to generate an atmosphere of love, well-being, and acceptance for their members.  Their traitor, after going a few years without Moskurg taking up their offer for espionage, disappears from the capitol in the south.  Apparently their issue has been resolved; as such, Moskurg loses their Espionage Credit.


Research Credit!!!

The battle reports have been compiled.

Spoiler: Moskurg: NUKE9.13 (click to show/hide)

The blizzard was gaining in strength as the final captive breathed his last, the limp corpse dangling beneath the snow-covered boughs. Grim and resolute was Myark's expression as he surveyed the scene, his hands resting upon the staff of True Light. Around him bustled a squad of elite mage hunters, their rifles slung across their fur-clad backs. Myark himself wore only his robes and armour, his mastery of fire magic precluding the cold from affecting his body.
Thunder rumbled overhead, and several hunters looked around nervously- though it could be natural, no Arstotzkan soldier could hear the sound without needing to suppress an urge to dive for cover. Gunners ran over to man the two cannons set up to guard the camp, eyes peering through the snow for the tell-tale glow of Moskurg's aircraft. The archmage took a deep breath and rolled his shoulders, eyes still on the executed prisoners.

Without warning, a dozen trees exploded in flashes of blinding light, splinters of wood flying through the air. A particularly large piece was on course to pierce Myark's skull, but it burst into flame in midair, burning up completely in the space of a second. A smattering of ash settled on the plain grey cloak. He grunted, brushed the ashes away, and turned to face the skies. Around him, the momentary chaos subsided as the hunters' professionalism became apparent; the lightly injured stoically ignoring their pain, and tending to those who suffered more serious wounds, whilst others unslung rifles and swept their gazes methodically across the sky. For a strike to be so accurate, the caster must be nearby- near enough to shoot, at least.
With a single shouted word, one of the watchers alerted others to the sight of a rapidly approaching glowing shape. Immediately cannons turned to face the threat, though their operators held their fire for the moment, knowing that a careless shot would be wasted against the glowing metal hull. For his part, Myark started to summon forth a dozen flaming spheres, in anticipation of a firefight.
Rapidly the glow approached, until its form coalesced into that of a Skyhawk, bearing down upon the gathering at breakneck speed. Cannons barked in anger, aimed at the engines, yet they could not track the rapid craft, and their shots deflected harmlessly off of the hull, leaving naught but small dents. Barely had the watchers time to make out the flowing script painted across the side of the vessel- which, were they capable of reading the holy script, they would observe to say "Aleizat Lilah", or "Glory to God"- before its hull buzzed the treetops, branches scraping across the polished surface. No sooner than it had arrived the Aleizat departed, flying off into the snows- though not before dropping off a number of gifts.

Hunters dove for cover as dozens of flaming shells rained from the sky, covering the ground in unquenchable fire, filling the air with noxious smoke. Myark alone strode uncaring through the flames, which of course could never touch him. And so it was Myark alone who noticed the Aleizat's second gift descending upon them, in the form of a dozen black figures riding glowing tubes- and a single figure bedecked in gold and purple, dropping down without any equipment to slow his fall, his magic alone enough to arrest his descent.
A trio of fireballs took out a trio of paratroopers, but the other nine- and their master- reached the ground all but unopposed, those hunters who noticed them before they landed too slow to bring their rifles to bear. Leaping off of their rides and drawing swords in one smooth motion, the Black Phantasms laid into the scattered hunters with a vengeance, whose tendency to forgo armour was now their undoing. al-Mutriqa fell like his namesake upon the hunter captain, whose crystal armour shattered beneath the warrior-poet's golden mace.

A flash of annoyance crossed Myark's face as he watched the hunters fall before the phantasms like an untrained mob. Raising his staff, and intoning a word of power, he unleashed its potential upon the assailants. Faced with a close-range assault by the mind-breaking artifact, several wavered, giving the hunters time to regroup, discarding rifles for crystal axes. But their reprieve was brief, as al-Mutriqa raised his wand- the wand of Heroism- bringing its ancient magic forth in direct opposition to the Arstotzkan creation. For all that they derided the magic of the ancients as crude, unscientific nonsense, undeniably Moskurg's artifact held power, on a level to match their own. The magic fighting for the minds of the midnight warriors filled the air with the taste of strange spices, made the trees shimmer, and caused the two artifacts to glow ever brighter.
The rivals (nearly ancient themselves) wasted no time being distracted by the magical phenomena, but hastened to bring their magic to bear against the other. Myark fired fireball after fireball at the shining sorcerer, who deflected each with a blast of wind. For his part, the arctic archmage summoned crystal rods to catch the lightning that al-Mutriqa called down upon him, producing crystal at an astonishing rate.
As their respective bodyguards fought around them, the two circled each other, as fire and lightning turned the woods around them into a charred, smouldering wreck. Eventually their circling brought them into arms reach of the other, with Myark drawing his sword as al-Mutriqa brandished his mace. Soon the cacophony of spells was joined by the ringing of adamantium on crystal, the two seasoned warriors deft hands at spellcasting whilst in the midst of combat.

As the duel continued, with no end in sight, the Black Phantasms were having more luck, slaying the hunters more used to ranged combat than swordfighting- an all but archaic art these days, as the clash of infantry had little impact on the outcome of a battle. One hunter, however, managed to detach himself from the melee long enough to pick up a rifle, slot in the HonestStrike module, and take aim at the two duelling wizards. They danced too fast for him to get a bead on al-Mutriqa- but with HonestStrike, he didn't need to. As two of his comrades all but impaled themselves on the Phatasm's swords to keep them away from him, he took a deep breath, uttered a brief prayer to Moskurg's god, and pulled the trigger.

Perhaps he mispoke his prayer. Perhaps Moskurg's god truly existed, and favoured al-Mutriqa- whose piety was beyond reproach- so much that He would not bless a projectile aimed at the golden hero. Perhaps the shot was impossible, with Myark standing fully between the rifle and his nemesis.
Whatever the case may be, Myark let out a cry of pain as the shot penetrated his armour, blood spurting out from his right shoulder. To his credit, he maintained his grip on his sword, even managing to block al-Mutriqa's strike, but the battle was clearly lost, and the next blow to his side could not be blocked. Stumbling backwards, dropping his sword, he fell to the ground, at the mercy of his rival.
"Go on then", he spat, "end it."
Instead, al-Mutrqia raised his hand, whereupon the Black Phantasms stepped back and lowered their blades, leaving the surviving hunters- who were on the brink of annihilation- bewildered.
"Almawt yati lana, ya sadiqi, walakun lays alyawm.", al-Mutriqa intoned in the holy tongue. "Take your leader and go", he told the hunters in a language they could understand.
They did not need telling twice, and the handful of survivors hoisted Myark up, and slinked away into the trees, soon disappearing into the blizzard.

al-Mutriqa raised his hand, and the clouds parted. He led the Phantasms in prayer for the souls of the fallen, Moskurger and Arstotzkan alike, before directing them to cut down the executed prisoners, as that they might be taken home for a proper burial.

Spoiler: Arstotzka: chiefWaffles (click to show/hide)

All Quiet in the Taiga Front
The flames licked the faces of the rivals. Behind them lay the wreckage of a Moskurger invading fleet. Al-Mutriqa was standing upright, slowly approaching Myark with his weapon drawn. He had sacrificed everything to get to this moment. His army, his dignity, and more. Myark, his hand clutching a serious wound, was smiling. Because even though Myark was to lose against Al-Mutriqa, he knew he had won. He saved the lives of his fellow Arstotzkans.


It started as the sun set on an Arstotzkan front in the taiga. The men there were still recovering from preventing another Moskurg offensive. The local Mage Hunters watched over the fields ahead with their sniper rifles; ever vigilant. The sound of a Restless passing by and occasionally stopping was familiar to the men. The ground continuously rumbling under the firings of the AS-HA1 emplacements. Streaks in the clouds overhead could be traced to the patrolling Lightnings.


Myark was there. His Wand of True Light inspiring the men; protecting them. Myark never slept. He, without a hint of fatigue in his wise eyes, constantly patrolled the edges of the trenches. He personally visited every soldier. The Mage Hunters were ever more vigilant under his unending watch. Across the whole Taiga, the soldiers of Arstotzka knew they were safe, for Myark’s watchful gaze pierced every inch of land.


It was Myark’s untiring eye that saw it. In the distance, a solitary red Blind-Flare, washing the trees below in a sea of red light. Perhaps the Moskurgers thought the men were tired. But they were wrong. For every Arstotzkan soldier is rejuvenated by duty. Within minutes, every soul nearby was awake. Every man watching the horizon for hints of movement. Squadrons of the indestructible Lightnings scouring the sky for Moskurger trespassers. Thousands of flares made the sky brighter than day.


It was Myark again who saw the coming threat. But soon, every man and woman of Arstotzka would see it. The innocent sky began to disappear under Moskurg’s airborne blight. Phoenixes escorted by thousands of their fighters. Myark looked around him. At the soldiers surrounding him. Every person, as a proper Arstotzkan soldier, lay ready to sacrifice their life to protect their brothers and sisters that day. To ensure the future glory of Arstotzka.
Myark would not let that happen today. He ordered his comrades to stay vigilant and to watch for invaders by land. Myark would deal with the airborne menace, but he could not do it without the aid of his brothers-in-arms.

Myark’s apprentice was immediately fetched, and the two embarked on Myark’s personal Lightning, clad with War paint. The signature rumblings of the Lightning came to all those within earshot. Within seconds, Myark and his gunner were to the sky. Alone. For as the Lightning took off, Myark let loose a single Blind-Flare to order all Lightnings to the ground. Myark would handle this himself. No Arstotzkans would have to die today, no matter how desperate Moskurg becomes.


Looking at the menace horde, Myark simply knew that all the ammunition in the world could not deal with these numbers. He would have to come up with a more cunning solution. The Phoenixes.
Moskurg had foolishly put all their eggs in one basket. One very flammable basket. The Phoenixes were at the center of the swarming fighters, perhaps serving as some kind of twisted symbol to guide the aimless Moskurgers. With the right attack, Myark could end this offensive and prevent any more loss of Arstotzkan lives.

Myark expertly weaved through each lightning flash blindly aimed from the Moskurger fighters. Lightning blazed past the tips of the Lightning, missing it to instead strike and destroy the poorly-built Moskurger fighters. Deft movement of Myark's hands led to a quick and nimble flight. The craft soared gracefully in the sky, serving as a stark contrast against the fumbling Moskurger menace. Single and quick movements of fingers would lead to hundreds of lightning bolts missing the target. Moskurger craft crashed into each other as they attempted in vain to strike at the shining Arstotzkan craft.

The flight was interrupted by a resounding bang to the side of the craft. Myark sharply turned his head to the distance, where he spotted a single aircraft on the horizon.
Al-Mutriqa.

Perhaps a lesser man would be tempted, for Myark faced his oldest foe. The only Moskurger who was even remotely near capable of challenging him. But Myark's determination, like a true Arstotzkan, didn't waver. He could exploit this; take advantage of Al-Mutriqa's short-sightedness. Draw him away from the other Arstotzkans in order to preserve their lives.
Myark came to fly side-by-side with Al-Mutriqa, and could even see the rage in the old man's face. A shot ringed out and pierced the crystal glass cockpit. A coilgun projectile's path went straight through the chest of Myark, splattering blood against the cockpit and staggering the mage. Myark coughed and weezed, but he would not let this stop him. His eyes briefly glinted with a berserker's rage.

With a single gesture, the Lightning brutally rammed into Al-Mutriqa's craft. The kludge-filled Moskurger spellwork upon the craft sputtered and began to fail, sending Al-Mutriqa careening towards the surface. Rage-filled lightning stroked the edge of Myark's gunship, but to no avail.
Myark knew this would not be the last of Al-Mutriqa. He cut his way through the unending Moskurger horde to finally get to the Phoenixes.


Approaching the Phoenix, Myark had a single plan in mind. The Lightning violently rams into the Phoenix, shaking the crew of both! With quick thinking and quick action, Myark angles the thrust and set it to max whilst simultaneously disabling the Reactor safeties. He would only have one shot to save the front. The Lightning had embedded itself into the Phoenix, and was already tipping the gigantic airship to the side. Screams filled the air as Moskurger crewmen eventually began to fall off the ship.

Disembarking from the still-thrusting Lightning and grabbing his gunner in one hand, Myark jumped onto the deck of the Phoenix. Fireballs and bullets would litter the sky as Myark dispatched all those who aimed to hurt him or his comrade. The time of opportunity was coming, as Myark could see the Phoenix he was on quickly approaching the last two. At the exact moment, Myark jumps off the Phoenix, into the air!


A brilliant explosion lit up the sky, as the Phoenixes collided. The first two would suffer a devastating collision, capsizing the second and throwing it onto the third. Right then the Lightning’s reactor detonated, causing the volatile fuel on board the Phoenixes to explode as well. An amazing chain reaction would follow, as the horde of fighters drew too close to the exploding Phoenixes, sealing their fate to become the same as the airships.


Myark made quick use of the Arstotzkan mastery of magic. Within seconds he recreated a KPD4 manually, without circuitry, entirely by himself. He and the gunner carried over his shoulder gracefully touched down on the ground. Myark sent his gunner to run to the nearest scout squadron to be escorted back.
He shot out another Blind-Flare, designed to attract the attention of Moskurg’s ground forces.


Through the coming hours, Myark would slash his way across many untrained Moskurger soldiers. But he was not invulnerable. The furs adorning him became matted with blood - both Moskurger and his. Eventually, he came to the wreckage of the Phoenixes. The last Moskurger soldier fell to his bloodied Crystal Axe. Yet the light emanating from the flaming Phoenix brought his attention to another Moskurger.

Al-Mutriqa. And behind him, the Black Phantasms. Their glowing Adamantium armor masked with snow and tar. Myark looked down at his wound. The blood was all-too-familiar at this point. But Myark still had to buy time. He leaped into battle, yelling with all his might. His trusty AS-R1 being the accomplice to the death of many a Black Phantasm, their Adamantium armor being no match for the bullet. His Crystal Axe effortlessly cut through many more.
Fireballs were thrown across the field, deflected by Al-Mutriqa's mastery of wind. Blastballs used to prevent blasts of wind from knocking Myark over.

Eventually, Myark collapsed.
He was in no condition to battle. He knelt on the ground, gazing at the new wounds littering his body. Both hands gripping bleeding cuts. Al-Mutriqa slowly walked to stand over him, staring at him.

And Myark smiled.
He had won.


The Moskurger offensive lay in shreds. The Arstotzkan soldiers alive and well. The flares coming up over the horizon proof of that. Myark may have been personally defeated, but it was his actions that let Arstotzka win the day. It was his actions that saved the front. That saved his fellow soldiers. So Myark smiled. He even let out a faint laugh. Myark even knew he wouldn’t die today. For his comrades wouldn’t allow that.


And he was right.

As Al-Mutriqa raises his lonesome sword, an Equalizer shell abruptly impacts the ground next to him, sending him flying along with showers of dirt. Sniper shots pierce the silence as the rest of the fierce Black Phantasms quickly drop one by one without their magical crutches.
Under the harsh sound of a horn, the small Moskurger force begins retreating. Without the help of magic, sheer innovation and Arstotzkan determination would finally win the day. Soldiers clad in gleaming Combat Armor, covered from head to toe in snow, charge with AS-R1 in one hand and Crystal Axe in the other. Within minutes, an all-clear flare is let out and Myark is attended to. Not as a hero, but as a fellow Arstotzkan.


Moskurg will stop at nothing. No person, Moskurger or Arstotzkan, is seen as anything but an acceptable cost for the Moskurger horde. That is what differentiates Moskurg from Arstotzka. It was not Myark, but every Arstotzkan that saved lives that day. Al-Mutriqa stopped at nothing for petty personal glory, and Myark sacrificed himself for the glory of all.

Look to Myark. Be Myark. Protect Arstotzka. Protect your brothers and sisters; your comrades. This is in every Arstotzkan, and you are no exception. For at the end of the day, the war will not be won by magic, but rather by comradery. Arstotzka does not stand alone. Every man and woman under its banner exemplifies Arstotzka.

Glory to Arstotzka.

After comparing the two extraordinary reports, the Moskurg report is ultimately superior.  Anyone familiar with the rivalry between al-Mutriqa and Myark would know that al-Mutriqa would never strike down his fallen rival; never once in all his years of fighting has the crazed fanatic struck down the crazed berserk, no matter how many chances he'd been given.  That detail in the Arstotzkan reports instantly brings skepticism to even the most casual listener, defeating the purpose of building moral.  Moskurg gains the Research Credit.


It is 949, the Design Phase.

Spoiler: State of Forenia, 949 (click to show/hide)

Northern Taiga: 1/4 Arstotzka, 1/4 Moskurg
Central Mountains: 4/4 Arstotzka, 0/4 Moskurg
Western Jungle: [color=red0/4 Arstotzka[/color], 4/4 Moskurg
Eastern Plains: 2/4 Arstotzka, 2/4 Moskurg
Southern Desert: 0/4 Arstotzka, 4/4 Moskurg

Northern Sea: 2/4 Arstotzka, 2/4 Moskurg
Western Sea: 0/4 Arstotzka, 4/4 Moskurg
Eastern Sea: 0/4 Arstotzka, 4/4 Moskurg
Southern Sea: 0/4 Arstotzka, 4/4 Moskurg

Spoiler: Arstotzkan Mundane Equipment (click to show/hide)

Broadsword: An iron age classic.  A double-edged blade designed for speed, flexibility and force.  Requires training to wield, can be used one or two handed.  Removable pommel for throwing.Cheap.
War Axe: Can be used as a tool in a pinch, this is a single-handed weapon that does well against heavily armoured foes.  Can be used with minimal training. Cheap.
Wooden Shield: General infantry equipment.  Couples well with an axe, cheap, easy to replace.  Works best in heavy melee.  Can be used with minimal training.  Cheap.
Hide Armour: General infantry armour.  Cheap, thanks to the plentiful sheep in the taiga.  Turns aside weak blows.  Cheap. Obsolete.
    Gambeson: A leather armoring doublet designed to go with plate armor.  Helps protect against arrows.
Chain Mail: Officer armour.  Expensive, due to the steel required.  Very effective against most weapons.  Expensive. Obsolete.
Plate Mail: General infantry and officer armour.  So well designed it costs surprisingly little to make.  Normal cost. Obsolete.
    Combat Armor: Crystal battle armor.  Features a clear visor with no easy way for arrows to penetrate.  Lightning rod allows user to survive a single blast of lightning.  Cheap.
Longbow: General infantry weapon.  Difficult to find wood and requires a lot of training, but long ranged and powerful.  Cheap. 
Shire Horse: A heavy riding horse.  Survives and rides well in cold weather.  Powerful charge.  Normal Cost.
Longship: Oar-rowed wooden ship.  Slow, but sturdy, and can carry large numbers of landing troops.  Very Expensive. Obsolete.
Steam Engine: A highly expensive and enormously heavy steam engine.  Uses a steam turbine to generate power.  Uses PSF's and a steam recycler with enchanted nickel etchings to manage heat.  Cheap.
Internal Detonation Engine: An experimental new engine that uses two cylinders and timed PSF-C guided by a complicated circuit and cooling system.  A little bit smaller than the Steam Engine, but with a higher output. Expensive.
SPB "Fog-O-War":  Boat using two steam engines for power.  Slightly faster than Moskurg ships.  Tends to sink after the first hit. Expensive. Obsolete.
    AS-SPB2-Crystalclad:  Boat using a crystal hull, two steam engines, and three HC1-E's.  More resilient, higher firepower, and just as fast as the Fog-O-War. Deck tends to be slippery.  Equipped with a single HAC-1 for point-defense.  Can be out-fitted with HA1's. Cheap.
Protector: The worlds first APC/tank.  Rolls around on wooden wagon wheels, powered by an IDE, made mostly out of crystal.  Equipped with an HAC-1 and HC1-E.  Can carry a few soldiers.  Expensive

Spoiler: Arstotzkan Magical Equipment (click to show/hide)

ASAF-F43 Interceptor: 1,200 AAAethergems strapped to a blastball producing pad.  Features an enclosed cockpit and ball gunner made of crystal glass.  Incredibly unstable, heavy, slow, and explosive.  Expensive. Obsolete.
ASAF-F44 "Avenger":  Improved version of the Interceptor.  Uses an expensive, dangerous Aether Reactor and a KPD Mk.2 engine for lift.  Features an enclosed cockpit and ball gunner made of crystal glass.  Unstable, heavy, and slow acceleration.  Very Expensive.
ASAF-F45 Lightning:  Improved version of the Avenger.  Uses a stable Aether Reactor and a KPD Mk.3 engine for lift.  Features an enclosed cockpit and a ball gunner made of glass.  Reasonable acceleration, high top speed, reasonably stable.  Cannot drop bombs.  Expensive.
Wand of True Light:  Seeds doubt in enemy minds.  Theatre-wide effect. Moral penalty.  National Effort.
AS-STV-1 "Restless":  Steam train.  Crystal structure.  Can carry troops and supplies to the front line.  Little power, but can pick up to the speed of a horse in gallop.  Very Expensive.
ASAF-QAT48 "Valkyrie":  A troop transporter.  Uses two Aether Reactors for power, can carry up to ten men.  Limited armor, acceleration, and ceiling, but it can move quite fast.  Difficult to fly in inclimate weather.  Normal Cost.
Magegems:  Magical batteries.  Comes in A, AA, and AAA forms.  The AAA battery should be able to power a couple flares.  An AA battery should be able to power a SPSF-C all by itself, and an A battery should be able to power a regular PSF-C.  Three A batteries can power a single PSF in all its glory.  Made of a special crystal-glass with nickel banding.  Does not lose charge.  New D-level gem equal to two A-level gems can be recharged in 5 minutes. Cheap-Very Expensive.
    Aethergems:  Essentially a circuitry, anti-magegem, and wire setup that attaches to a magegem.  Replenishes a magegem automatically at 3 minutes for A gems, 2 minutes for AA gems, and 30 seconds for AAA gems. Can "double up" on gems for +1 expense and reduced lifespan. Cheap.
HA1:  Arstotzkan heavy artillery.  Fires at beyond line-of-sight range.  Requires three apprentices to operate, plus loading crew.  Uses nickel circuitry to cool the cannon.  Breech-loaded. Made mostly of crystal.  Cheap.
    Blastshells+R:  A hollow shell, in which a circuit-gem core can be inserted into before firing.  Provides extended (albeit less accurate) range, out to BLOS+1.  Cheap.
    Blastshells+E:  A hollow shell, in which a circuit-gem core can be inserted into before firing.  Provides explosive capabilities to the shell upon landing thanks to a fragile limiting AAA gem in the tip.  Cheap.
    Blastshells+R/E:  A hollow shell, in which a circuit-gem core can be inserted into before firing.  Provides both extended range and explosive capabilities, albeit less accurately.  Cheap.
    HA1-b "Mundane":  A variant of the HA1 for mundane use.  Features 3 A-level Aethergems that can be slotted in and out and specialized firechamber to produce PSF-C's on command.  1 round per 3 minutes. Expensive.
HC1: AKA the "Extreme-Range Hybrid Cannon".  Arstotzka's first cannon.  Uses a fireball to propel a fist-sized iron ball Long-Range.  Inaccurate, but can be loaded quickly.  Has a tendency to crack. Cheap. Obsolete.
    HC1-E: The Elite version of the HC1.  Fires at Extreme-Range.  Uses rifling, ballistics, and an overall better and more consistent design.  Utilizes enchanted nickel etching for barrel cooling.  Made mostly of crystal.  Breech-loaded.Cheap.
    Equalizer: Anti-magic shell.  Dispells all magic around it.  Difficult to produce and fire, dangerous to use.  Expensive.
    HC2: A failed attempt to upgrade the HC1 with auto-cooling barrel and ambitious steam recycler.  Explodes or breaks after every shot.  Very Expensive. Obsolete.
AS-HAC-1: An all-crystal small-caliber cannon.  Swivel-mounted. Breech-loaded.  Aimed through horse-hair crosshairs.  Relatively short reload time.  Uses a "bolt action" for loading.  Circuit-cooled.  Cheap.
AS-R1 Hybrid Rifle: A cannon you can hold! Made out of crystal, circuit-cooled, breech-loaded, bolt-action.  A single AA-level Aethergem allow non-magic users to use it, provided they replace it with each shot.  Uses just the fireblast for propulsion rather than steam.  Reaches Extreme Range, but inaccurate past Medium Range. Cheap.
Arzotskan Academy for Adequate Apprenticeship:  Basic magic training for apprentices.  Allows them to be more useful on the offensive.  Very prestigious.  Actively recruits new apprentices.Expensive.
Crystalworks Mk2: A workshop that produces crystal items cheaply, permanently, and with a mild brittle factor.  Crystals can repair microfractures, eliminating the need for maintenance.  Larger facility allows Expensive.
Wand of Fireballs:  Hurls fireballs at a distance, able to destroy whole squads at a time.  A National Effort. Obsolete.
Minor Towers of Forever Frost:  Small, complicated towers that have to be assembled in place and requires the skill of several wizards to operate.  Creates a very powerful cold evocation and then channels it directly into the air, consistently lowering temperatures within a radius of about fifty miles.  Can induce snow in the jungle during the winter, freezing rain in the summer.  Now made with pre-inscribed marble blocks.Expensive.
Anti-Magic Charm: A magically enchanted quartz crystal.  Hums loudly in the presence of magic, and prevents magic from being conjured inside the very limited range.  Expensive.
    Anti-Magic Bomb Arrows: Arrows that explode on contact with magic into red-hot, razor-sharp crystal shards.
Magic Lance:  Conjures a set of lances for a cavalry squad.  Thick enough not to break on use.  Cheap.
Magic Axe: Conjures a set of long axes for officers.  Cheap.
Dogwood Wand: Wand that allows the user to accelerate the growth of a patch of plants to an area and height equal to their own height. Wands are cheap to make, but don't last very long. Cheap.
HonestStrike: A scroll-type module that can be appended to most anything.  Improves the accuracy of the weapon, to an extent.  Requires the user to loudly praise Allah to work.  Very Expensive.

Spoiler: Arstotzkan Elite Units (click to show/hide)

Anti-Mages:  Mage hunters equipped with R1's, anti-magic charms, anti-magic arrows, falcons, and the best armor we can give them.  Excel at sniping enemy mages.

Spoiler: Arstotzkan Spells (click to show/hide)

Obscuring Mist:  Cloaks a squad in a fog cloud, hiding their numbers and equipment, and making them harder to hit at range.
  Variant (Channeled Fog): A denser form of Obscuring mist, continuously generated. 
Summon Swarm:  Conjures a swarm of stinging wasps to harass foes.  Expensive.
  Variant (Fire Wasps):  Conjures stinging wasps that can start small fires.  Expensive.
Webs:  Conjures a sticky web, immobilizing an entire squad and preventing them from moving.  Very Expensive.
Fireball:  Hurls fireballs at a distance, able to destroy whole squads at a time.  Damaging side effects harm morale.  Very Expensive. Obsolete.
  Minor Fireball: Smaller version of fireball.  Doesn't cause collateral damage, but doesn't explode on impact. Expensive. Obsolete.
  Powerful Streamlined Fireball:  Hurls small balls of fire that explode on impact.  Devastating against massed troops.  Cheap.
    Small Powerful Streamlined Fireball:  Smaller fireballs, for firing cannons and guns without water. Cheap.
  Flare:  A small, harmless fireball.  Comes in many different colors.  Cheap.
    Blind-Flare:  Very bright variant used to blind enemies.  Cheap.
  Blastball: Referred to with a "-C" appending, allows a regular fireball to exert mainly expansive force.  Good for explosions, but not terribly lethal on its own.  Cheap.
Firewall:  Creates static walls of fire.  Long casting time, concentration sustain.  Very Expensive.
Crystal Caltrops:  Jagged crystals designed to lay in the grass and catch enemy troops unaware.  Good for defense. Cheap.

Behavior Rules.  Please Read.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

As inspired by the "Behavior Rule" attached to Sensei's new Arms Race thread, I've decided to adapt them to Wand Race.  Most of these are blatantly copied from his thread, and I expect them to be followed.  After running this game for a few weeks now and following the last Arms Race, I'm aware that they're prone to attracting bad attitudes.  Keeping the game smooth, on schedule, and argument free is probably a greater concern of mine than whatever you are arguing about: I expect you to be mature and adopt the same attitude.

1. Don't be salty! If at any time you find yourself having an urge to mouth off at another player, step away from the keyboard, go outside, and take a breath. Seriously. Players who repeatedly get angry or passive aggressive will be asked to leave. If you have an issue with the way the game is being run, DO NOT expect a tantrum to get you what you want.

2. Keep in mind that I am not a historian, so there will sometimes be mistakes and inaccuracies. Even in the best of circumstances, minor inconsistencies are a common occurrence. If some piece of equipment is imbalanced/unrealistic, I might consider changing it if you bring it up once -AND ONLY ONCE- and politely state your argument. However, I will err on the side of consistency with my own game, I do not like to go back and change things. Sometimes it is more important to simply keep the game running smoothly than other concerns.

3. Do not accuse me of being biased. Do not accuse me of being biased. I put a lot of effort into being objective and fair and being accused otherwise is pretty fucking irritating.  On multiple occasions this has nearly derailed the game and made me want to abandon it all together. I have absolutely no more patience for this, and if you do it YOU WILL BE BANNED.

4. Do not spy on the other team's private thread. Trust me, playing fair is more fun for everyone!  If you suffer from a lack of self-control and cannot stop yourself from spying, keep it to yourself.  Do not use it to metagame.  And do not post what you saw in the central thread.  This has happened multiple times now, and if you do it you will be banned with no warning.

[RAM]

Bullets Of Weightite

We summon a new material called weightite. Modelled on the crystalworks summoners, we instead seek out somthing simpler than crystal, a mathermagical simplicity that can hasten the summoning process with its simple simplicity. Likely a metal or stone. The hope is for something one hundred times the weight of water per given volume... By working it into our existing bullet summoning, newly revised to solve the kinks, we hope to produce ordnance that are much heavier and faster to summon. It is hoped that these can be implemented with our cannons, starting with the HC1-E

[FallacyofUrist]

Oh no. Well, we really need to do some good work here, or it's game over.

I'd recommend for our design the Firestorm bomber, possibly simplified to make it more likely to succeed. Our lack of air support is really hurting us.

For our first revision, I'd fix the Firestorm if it needed fixing, and if not... maybe try to make the CAF work? Or more reliably, go with Nickel Honest Strike to decrease the expense level of Honest Strike. They would be much more useful at Expensive level as opposed to Very Expensive.

For our second revision, I'd either implement Honest Strike in either our Lightning or our Firestorm, or manufacture a new type of crystal armor that's lightning resistant.

Basically, deal with all the things that are hurting us the most. I expect lengthy discussion before bandwagoning this time around. Arstotzka depends on it.

[Chiefwaffles]

We need to undo their stupid air debuffs on our stuff for our revision. Make our artillery useful again and improve the effectiveness of our Cheap air stuff.
Then maybe we can improve the effectiveness of Crystal as armor.

For our design, I dunno. I'm not sure about a bomber, since for some reason we don't have air dominance right now and considering the hints Evicted put in this update, there's a very large chance Moskurg will make a new interceptor.
Maybe a new interceptor-bomber? Just make a new better version of the Lightning then give it a couple bombs.

[helmacon]

Design: CAF Regulator
The regulator is a CAF design for automatic fire. It summons a series of hollow crystal shells from drawn power and uses a mechanical system to feed them into the firing mechanism and discharge the weapon. It summons shells up to a dozen at a time, keeping the others in reserve. An explosively wired mage gem can be placed inside the chamber, and the crystal will be summoned around it. While operating the regulator in this manner reduces the speed at which it operates, it allows for the retention of special ammunition. The explosive is placed in a feed slot which simply uses gravity and a latch to feed one at a time into the summoning chamber. This allows special ammunition to be fired at a faster rate than manual loading.

The device itself takes the shape of a large box, and can (with minor modifications to the circuits) be attached to any weapon. With slow firing weapons, this should push the rate of fire to the maximum the weapon is capable of. With weapons capable of firing faster, the multiple reserve summons allow for extremely rapid burst fire, with a significantly faster rate of fire afterwards.

The regulator is primarily designed with our R1's and lightning turrets in mind, but with groundwork to significantly improve larger munitions at a later date.   

The device contains a medium aether gem for power, but can be attached to an external power source as well.


automatic fire will greatly increase the effectiveness of our aircraft, and our ground troops.
Revision 1 as weightight.
Revision 2 as a heavy armor using weightite and insulated armor.

[Chiefwaffles]

The CAF regulator feels like a bunch of sacrifices we don't need. We don't need to manually insert Blastshells components as everything in one can be made by a crystal fabricator. And it seems a bit like a waste to develop an auto loading mechanism - the entire point of the CAF was to avoid an automatic mechanism in favor of using known magic.

It also doesn't seem to focus on fixing power usage and complexity, which were the main issues with the CAF1.


Maybe we should go all out - make a new CAF2 HA2. Most of the work goes into the CAF2 but some extra stuff is added to modernize the HA.

[helmacon]

I just wrote it to get the idea of a new CAF out there in case rolls happen before i can properly post. It's by no means the best design. Feel free to re write it.

[Chiefwaffles]

Right. I made a CAF2 post earlier that I'll rewrite once off mobile.

We should consider making a design specializing in defense. Especially in city combat.
Or we should just invest in artillery. I don't think we can reliably remove their air advantage in one turn, so let's just make our artillery useful again. I'm thinking:

-Pneumatics for easy tracking of airborne targets.
-Included scaled-down Mk. 2 Reactor (considering we definitively know the power requirement of the HA1. And it's pretty relatively small. )
-KPD4 propellant.
-Integrated watered-down lucky strike?
-CAF2. Biggest part.