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[Failbird105]

As a note, just because the designs done so far are listed as their design intends them to be, that does not mean they will necessarily come out that way once we actually make them. Now then, some options for this phase.

Ballistae
Ballistae, theoretically we already have experience making these. They are after all the main weapons used by Bolter. In practice however, making versions that can be utilized by our armies soldiers is trickier then just changing the size and adding on a set of wheels. The primary reason is that Bolters ballistae are parts of its body, controlled by the gears and machinery that comprise it. This means that the primary challenge will be removing some of the mechanical components, and adding methods of manual aiming and firing. Once we have a manually usable ballista, then we can attach it to a basic adamant cart to make it mobile. Finally, they have a pair of large adamant plates like tower shields on either side of the place where the bolt fires from, these make it a bit harder to aim, but help to defend the crew from ranged attacks.
In the end, these ballistae will likely be less effective than an automated ballista of a similar size due to requiring a crew to load them, aim them, fire them, and move them. Each ballistas effectiveness will depend on the capability of its crew. The other side of this is that they will have less moving parts to break down, and will almost certainly cost less than a ballista that can do all those things by itself.

Alternatively, the boring but probably sensible option.
Adamant Shields
Not really all that much special. Just simple round shields made from adamant to give our soldiers some basic defenses they can use in combat. These shields have a short but sharp shadecrystal spike protruding outwards from the center, both to serve as an improvised weapon in a pinch, and to make enemy charges more dangerous. The shields will obviously provide quite a bit less defense than a suit of armor, and needs to be used well to be effective, but a shield can fit all but the most physically divergent of units without needing to be remade repeatedly.

Research

Design
Ballistae (1): Failbird105
Adamant Shield ():
Revision

[Failbird105]

Decided to make this after much coercion from Doomblade, I'm probably going to keep submitting refined versions of it every turn until it gets made, but not necessarily gonna vote for it.

Grue
Grue, an old word, to shiver or shudder from fear or cold. It fits the darkness, and indeed fits this idea we have conceived, these monsters, for they cannot truly be called anything else. The Grue are creatures formed from the etching darkness, the purest form of our masters cold, consuming grip, stabilized and solidified into a form that is, in shape, not too dissimilar from an ape, with a head taken up almost entirely by a mouth of ferocious fangs, and long forelegs that function as arms with feet that function as hands. The Grues most dangerous trait is its own flesh and blood, the darkness that makes it up may be stabilized, but it is not harmless, its skin burns to the touch, its teeth leak the etching darkness like a venom, and the bile in its makeshift stomach is also etching darkness, pure and unaltered. The Grue do not breath and thus make little noise, the Grue step softly so as to not be heard, the Grue move with purpose so as to never be noticed, by the time you notice a Grue, it is already upon you.
The Grue is not without its flaws however, to a degree they are by design. They cannot wield our equipment for any weapon, tool, or armor will slowly crumble away to their touch. Additionally, light is the Grues bane, too much indirect light, artificial or otherwise, repulses them, direct light burns their skin like pressing upon a wound, concentrated light tears their bodies apart. This makes them vulnerable, but means that the Grue are unwaveringly opposed to our enemy above all else, for the light is antithetical to their very being.

Research

Design
Ballistae (1): Failbird105
Adamant Shield ():
Grue ():
Revision

[RAM]

Oh, wow, grue... I dislike that it is so specific and plausible. I picture grue as being more cthuloid/memetic... but that would be much harder to control, and we probably favour using darkness more than the enemy, so inventing a reason that nobody can be in complete darkness ever again is probably a problem...

As it stands, those sound effective at hunting down scouts. The scouts either take lamps and get spotted or don't and get grued. I think that I would like an air-force and artillery first, but anti-scouts like those do sound useful.

[Taricus]

A couple more sensible designs that we'll definitely need, plus the forgebound & Research topics again:

Research: Biology: By studying the intricate components to living, organic mortal life would undoubtedly make us more skilled at improving and developing all the organs necessary to the performance of biological creatures.

Revision: Forgebound: Increasing the natural capacities of the imps, we could have a particularly skilled labourers that are magically talented and heat resistant. While losing the wings, and exchanging the claws for humanoid hands, the bodies of the forgebound are broadened and laden in muscle and some fat with extra fire/heat resistance built in them.

Most interestingly is the mental changes to the forgebound; more industrious, diligent & sociable than their imp forebears, the forgebound are able to work and fight alongside one another easily and without complaint.

Research: Vampirism: Vampires have been creatures associated with darkness from the moment they have been in the mortal consciousness. The midnight aristocracy would make for an excellent addition to the armies of darkness, providing us with peerless elites and formidable officers. But the weaknesses typically associated with them need to first be sorted out and eliminated.

Design: Light Chainmail Armour: Designed to be protective, easy to move around in and relatively plentiful supply for our forces. Consisting of a chainmail shirt & padded undershirt, metal helmet, leather gloves and boots. The arms and legs are covered by mere padded armour, enough to soften blows and keeping minor wounds from becoming too serious.

Design/Revision?: Improved Adamant (Adamantine): While so far the Adamant we have is pretty good, some composition changes in the material itself could allow it to become qualitatively better significantly.

[Failbird105]

So RAM do you want the ballista then? The alternative for artillery would be a ballista golem, which would likely be easier, but I want to save it for when we have better equipment and magic to attach to them and make a proper fearsome elite unit out of them.

[crazyabe]

Design: irongears: as A machine descended from Bolter's designs, the Irongears are sentient smoke belching devices meant to produce nonmagical Equipment from materials Fed to them, they stand one meter tall, by one meter wide upon short legs, on their sides strong arms meant for carrying heavy loads extend, their mouths are large gaping hoppers affixed to the front, their eyes are singular black gems above their maws.

[Failbird105]

You know what, yeah, I'd be willing to make forge golems if we promise to make armor/shields next turn.

[RAM]

So RAM do you want the ballista then?

Meh...

Research

Design
Ballistae (2): Failbird105, RAM
Adamant Shield ():
Grue ():
Revision

[crazyabe]

I Promise that I will vote for whatever sounds like the most reasonable armoring option next round.

Research

Design
Ballistae (2): Failbird105, RAM
Adamant Shield ():
Grue ():
Irongears (1): Crazyabe
Revision

[Failbird105]

Just gathering all the options for this round together.

Research
Biology ():
Vampirism ():

Improved Adamant ():
Design
Ballistae (2): Failbird105, RAM
Adamant Shield ():
Grue ():
Irongears (1): Crazyabe
Light chainmail armor ():

Revision
Forgebound ():

[zomara0292]

I think better armor to go with our weapons will do us much better in the short run, as we will probably start to spread next turn.

Research
Biology ():
Vampirism ():

Improved Adamant ():
Design
Ballistae (2): Failbird105, RAM
Adamant Shield ():
Grue ():
Irongears (1): Crazyabe
Light chainmail armor (1): zomara0292

Revision
Forgebound ():

[Failbird105]

Yes but we also get another three designs before that spreading actually starts.

[zomara0292]

What kind of theme are we aiming for, for our army, anyway? Basic, I mean.

[Taricus]

Research
Biology ():
Vampirism ():

Improved Adamant ():
Design
Ballistae (2): Failbird105, RAM
Adamant Shield ():
Grue ():
Irongears (1): Crazyabe
Light chainmail armor (2): zomara0292, Taricus

Revision
Forgebound ():

[RAM]

What kind of theme are we aiming for, for our army, anyway? Basic, I mean.

You seem to be under the impression that there is some sort of plan here... At present we have a golem and some imps and some, umm, people with claws? Three species is probably enough, I would love something amorphous, maybe to combine with a golem to have a gooey shell around a hard centre, but imps are basically spellcasters, claw people are going to claw, and the golem shoots things. Wecould diversify into flying imps, cheaper golems, and bigger claws or something and get a decent range of combatants.