Verusa Design Phase, Early Summer 1915:Sky Eye Observation Balloon
The Sky Eye is a three person 'hot air' (probably actually using hydrogen or helium, whatever is cheaper and easier) balloon (two observers, one phone operator/engineer-person to make sure the hot air balloon stays airborn), and is meant to be anchored to the ground, behind friendly lines where it can look down upon the enemy lines and make reports on what it sees with it's onboard telephone, which has a phone cable that runs down and is attached to the balloons anchor cable. It also has a covered drawing table (just covered with light cloth, nothing heavy) where the observers can sketch what they see without having the wind blow away their drawings in the middle of their efforts. At night, or upon the advent of bad weather, the Sky Eye can be reeled back down to the ground by it's anchor cable so it may be safely stored away until it is time to deploy it again. Ideally, the observers will have binoculars, or at least a small handheld telescope.
Time: 4 | Progress: 6 | Expense: 4
Verusan engineers are less than enthused to learn that the inaugural project of their great organisation will be a floating observation post. However, the principles of hot air balloons prove almost insultingly simple for them to grasp, and blueprints for the Sky Eye Observation Balloon are drawn up quickly.
Sky Eye Observation Balloon | 6/8 progress | 1 PP per die | Rushed 0 times | 1 PP invested
Effectiveness: 2 | Cost: 5 | Bugs: 2
The initial flights of the Sky Eye reveal it to be somewhat underwhelming. The balloon attains altitudes of up to three thousand feet carrying appropriate loads without issue, and the telephone works as advertised, but that’s about it. Its large profile and low-hanging basket cause it to sway alarmingly in high winds, disrupting the work of the sketch observers. After a series of disagreements over the appropriate size of a drawing table, with army maps of every size being passive-aggressively laid over others’ desks, a compromise solution of modular, folding wooden boards is used instead, proving rather cumbersome in the cramped basket.
More alarmingly, the burner unit has a disagreeable tendency to drip burning fuel onto the phone operator whenever he adjusts it for descent. At least the Sky Eyes are extremely cheap to produce, being little more than wood and fabric in a simple design.
With the furore over drawing table size, the requirement for binoculars or telescopes is just about forgotten. One of the guards offers a crate of gold-rimmed monocles from the old general’s office as a replacement.
Sky Eye Observation Balloon: A three-man hot air balloon for aerial observation. Two observers sketch out enemy dispositions, while a phone operator relays information to the ground and controls the balloons’ altitude. The burner unit occasionally drips burning fuel when adjusted for descent. Comes with spiffy gold-rimmed monocles to help the observers see ‘further’. Cost 1/1
Since the project is past the 50% mark, you may deploy one squadron of prototype Sky Eyes in the upcoming turn for 1 PP.It is now the Revision Phase, Early Summer 1915. You have 2 dice remaining to spend on Revisions or bank for the next turn.Sky Eye Observation Balloon | 6/8 progress | 1 PP per die | Rushed 0 times | 1 PP invested
Planes:
-‘Rhino’ Biplane: A unarmed, single-seater reconnaissance plane. Very misleadingly named, as its fragile wood-and-canvas frame can’t withstand the slightest collision. On the other hand, it’s about as easy to turn as a charging rhino. At least it gets up to a good speed, powered by a five-cylinder rotary engine. Cost: 3/1
Balloons:
-Sky Eye Observation Balloon: A three-man hot air balloon for aerial observation. Two observers sketch out enemy dispositions, while a phone operator relays information to the ground and controls the balloons’ altitude. The burner unit occasionally drips burning fuel when adjusted for descent. Comes with spiffy gold-rimmed monocles to help the observers see ‘further’. Cost 1/1 (In Development)
Pilots:
-Daring: For King and Country! Verusan pilots are more aggressive and willing to take risks in combat.
-Uniforms: Blue with purple accents. Pilots are commissioned with a ceremonial sabre, which they bring along for every mission, stored in a sheath in the cockpit.
Technology:
-Basic biplane design
-Basic monoplane design
-Basic balloon design
-Wooden frame construction
-Basic control surfaces: wing warping, elevator and rudder
Resources:
-1 Air Academy: Trains new pilots how to take off. Landing is left as an exercise for the student.
-1 Experimental Aerodrome: Designs new planes and other air-related equipment. Produces five dice worth of progress every turn.
-10 Production Points
Squadron 1 | Rhino Biplane | No Equipment | Aerial Reconnaissance | Neophyte | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to observe enemy frontline along the Derboise-Jawanin Road
Squadron 2 | Rhino Biplane | No Equipment | Aerial Reconnaissance | Neophyte | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to observe enemy frontline along the Demisonne-Dreidansk Road
Prestige: Extremely Little “Flying men? Don’t be ridiculous!”
Status: Auxiliary Service
Army Relations: Neutral “Those planes might be useful.”
Navy Relations: Neutral “Flying? You mean, like an albatross?”
Production Points: 9
Total Maintenance: 2
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Topic: Knights of the Skies: Verusa Thread - Early Summer 1916, Production Phase (Read 61208 times)