Design : Inkerial Blotter (Hard Difficulty)3+2-1 = 4: Below average
It can not be denied that with the recent design work Inkling engineers have gained new understanding of both Super Sea Snails and applied
anti-logic. According to some, it's merely a natural extension of the current cartridge system. According to others, it is silly and shouldn't work. But work it does...
The Inkerial Blotter is a large and heavy gun, difficult to carry and use even before the recoil from actually firing it is taken into account. At it's base, it works simply, easily recognizable as an evolution from the Bamboozler's base systems, utilizing an internal ink tank similar, if not as pressurized, to the Bamboozler where ink is mixed in with a Super Sea Snail originated powder (also including a certain percentage of crushed ink cartridges) causing the ink to ball up an pressurize itself, instead of needing a compression chamber. Then, by use of cutting edge anti-logic formulas, the ink is propelled out of the gun towards an enemy or otherwise chosen target. Afterwards, when the ball of ink hits something, it realizes it was never pressurized in the first place and bursts all over the surrounding area.
Sounds all well and good, doesn't it? But the fact is, while the Super Sea Snail powder does cause compression of the ink it does not actually do so as effectively as the Bamboozler's compression chamber. Nor does the launching power of the applied anti-logic propulsion reach the theoretical numbers originally calculated. Some have suggested that math is too intertwined with actual logic to properly calculate anti-logic, but the end result is that the shot's bursting range of effect is fairly minimal, and its firing range is actually below the base Bamboozler's. Theoretically, the Inkerial Blotter's rate of fire is also below the Bamboozler's, but working off the cartridge system the Inkerial Blotter actually has three firing chambers, set in a revolving wheel formation. When a shot is fired, the wheel is revolved to bring a new chamber in line with the nozzle, and the old chamber begins to generate a new ink shell to be fired when needed.
Still, the engineers claim the basic concepts are all sound and just need technology to hurry up and catch up with them.
Costs
3 Plastic and
2 Super Sea Snails, making it
Expensive.
Basic Resources
Plastics : 2
Super Sea Snails : 1
Advanced Resources
Zapfish : 2
Primary Weapon- Bamboozler : A compression powered ink gun that was recently invented before the Great Turf War. It charges somewhat slowly, is hard to charge on the move, can not store a charge, has limited maximum range, has low ink usage efficiency hampering repeated use before one must refill their ink tank, and can not be fired while uncharged. In other words, a revolutionary improvement over all that came before. Despite being shaped somewhat like a hammer, it is not advisable to use it in melee to hit someone over the head with.
Cheap - Cost : 2 Plastic, 0 Super Sea Snails.
- Bamboozler Quickcharge Cartridges: A modification of the Bamboozler that adds a socket for a pre-filled and pressurized cartridge of ink. A simple lever allows the user to switch between normal firing mode and using the cartridge to fire an instant and fully charged shot, if one at only around 85% the range and power of a normal charged shot. Takes a little bit to unscrew the old cartridge and then screw another one in, limiting their ability to be used more then once in an exchange.
- Inkerial Blotter : An ink shell launching gun powered by super sea snail homeopathy and applied anti-logic. It fires blobs of ink that burst upon contact with a target, splattering a small area around said target with ink. It is hampered by its relatively short range, but uses a triple firing chamber array to permit an acceptable rate of fire. It's ink shells are also fired in an arc, instead of having a straight trajectory like other inkarms, permitting a limited amount of indirect fire.
Expensive - Cost : 3 Plastic, 2 Super Sea Snails.
Sub Weapon- Inkdisc-A Bomb/Mine : A disk shaped plastic casing for ink filled balloons that can be used as a thrown projectile detonated upon impact with a needle of hardened ink, or with the flip of a lever the needle may remain unused to allow for the deployment of the Inkdisc as a sort of non-stealthy mine. While limited in range, despite and because of its frisbee like shape, by the muscle power and throwing ability of its user one good direct hit within its range can splat the average target. Takes a few seconds to inflate though.
Cheap - Cost : 2 Plastic, 0 Super Sea Snails.
SpecialsNo Specials start out designed.
AbilityNo Abilities start out designed.
Personnel- Inkantry : Brave Inklings, run through basic training and drilled repeatedly in weapon use and other skills needed on the modern battlefield. The Inkantry not only know how to use a gun, but also hold a basic understanding of the concepts of planning, crossfires, flanking maneuvers, and actually communicating with each other, and have superior running and swimming speed from all those athletic drills. They're still fairly basic soldiers, but they actually are soldiers now.
- Markslings: Inklings whom have powered through the frequent and blatant distractions and misuse of the Firink Field to maximize their accuracy, snapshot skills, and ability to assess cover to as high as the Firink Field could take them. While few are dedicated enough to become known as a Marksling, those whom are are rightfully known for their skills.
Uncommon Specialist.
Cultural Artifacts- The Inkspire : A vast and continual open air market and cultural festival without end that has grown around Inkopolis Tower, better known as the Inkspire in those times. While of little direct military use, it's presence as a sign of what all Inklings fought for had noticeable effects on their overall morale. And besides, I found the cutest pair of booties there last time I went! Must visit again soon. And this time, I'll avoid drinking that homemade fire-water.
Other Gear- Mark 1 Ink Tank : A basic ink tank, invented by the same inventor that invented the Bamboozler, and designed to work with the Bamboozler. A quarter of its mass is taken up with the complicated gearing that connects it to a Lings primary weapon and the generator for the subweapon, limiting how much ink it can store. Still better then having to produce ink manually whenever you need a refill though.
Cheap - Cost : 2 Plastic, 0 Super Sea Snails.
- Super Sea Snail Filters: The heavy valves that controlled ink flow in the Mark 1 Ink Tank have been replaced with a system of Super Sea Snail derived filters, which control the flow of ink without any jams or needed maintenance. The decreased size of the filters, in comparison to the original valve system, allows the non-tank part of the Ink Tank to decrease to taking up only around 15% of its mass instead of 25%. This does, however, mean that the Ink Tank now needs Super Sea Snails for construction.
+1 Super Sea Snails (Cheap)
- Military Inkline Camp : A camp that teaches a two month course on the basics of military skills, with plenty of athletic and accuracy drills, as well as a new standardized basic training program to teach students how to be proper soldiers whom actually have basic military skills. Doesn't stand out as being awesome, but grants all students whom are put through its training a solid foundation for their new roll as Inkantry.
- Firink Range: An expanded weapons testing and training field with automatic targets that do things such as move and shoot back, as well as a multitude of different firing positions to practice from. For some reason the Inkantry have taken to using the place as a tournament ground, hindering attempts to train within it. Still, for those whom persist and fail to be distracted by the team verses team playfights, a noticeable level of skill can emerge. Markslings may not be common, but they have learned the lessons of the Firink Range well and full-heartedly.
SuperweaponsSo far, no Superweapons have been developed.
HeroesSo far, no Heroes have been recruited for the greater glory of something or another.
The Revision Phase of Winter, Year 0 has begun.