Revision : Firink Range (Average Difficulty)2+4 = 6: Above Average
Construction of additional (as well as greatly expanded) Firink Ranges begins in the Military Inkline Camp, utilizing modern Ink-Technology to form an adaptable field full of surprises for the Inkantry whom find themselves training within them. For starters, some of the targets shoot back, either automatically or in response to pressure sensors that detect when the target has been shot. It's not enough just to have a sharp eye and steady hand in the Firink Range, one must also have a firm grasp of cover, which firing positions are effective, and how long to linger before the enemy has zeroed in on you and it's going to rain paint balloons on your (hopefully) former position.
Some Inkantry enjoy the place so much that they even have some (unofficial) contests within the Firink Range, either of normal shooting contests or even one on one, or two on two, or three on three, or... well, you get the point, verses matches to train in their teamwork and accuracy. While a fair amount of Inkantry have fun with this, the view that the Firink Range is for fun more then training is an unfortunate byproduct of these contests, and few Inkantry really push themselves to the limits of their abilities. Still, some do treat the Firink Range as an actual training field, not just a location for fun games. The best of those become known as Markslings, famed (somewhat) for their accuracy, reaction speed, and refusal to stay on one location and become a fixed target.
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.
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.
As expected, as Fall wains and the leaves find themselves exiled from the trees, intermittent and unauthorized violence breaks out between Inkling and Octoling hotheads. Random skirmishes mostly, often just a few friends working themselves up into doing something stupid before they have time to think twice about it. Usually meaningless in the larger scale, besides in how it helps accelerate the increase in tensions. 95% of the time, it's just fools with a Bamboozler and a lack of planning.
Except, of course, for that 5% of the time when it's actual Octoling and Inkling agents testing each other, seeing how secure each side's hold on their territory is, and trying to draw out enemy secrets before they are seen on the battlefield. In order to maintain the element of surpris, only basic Bamboozlers are supposed to be deployed in these small spats. Inevitably, however, some real equipment gets dragged into the splatterzone. While the exact details are unclear due to a general lack of successful capturing of said real equipment by the other side, in those fights when modern equipment gets dragged in it is obvious that both sides have upgraded their Ink Tanks in some way, at the very least holding more ink then the basic module. As well, a few times the Inklings have shown of some sort of rapid fire mode, unleashing two shots in rapid succession, and the Octolings in return have demonstrated a firing range that extends farther then a basic Bamboozler is able to ink.
A few, more vaguer reports mention some sort of spinning gun used when an team of Inklings foolishly attempted to penetrate Octo-Valley and escape with samples of the enemy's works, as well as well as some sort of bursting device dropped on the heads of a few Octolings caught trying to sneak through Moray Towers, but the details on those are excessively unclear. Still, it is obvious the other side hasn't been slacking off, and will be unlikely to be surprised by the planned spring offensive. Still, with your superior preparations, confidence is high. Surely victory won't take more then a year or so, right?
The Design Phase of Winter, Year 0 has begun.
Author
Topic: Inkling Research Facility - Splatoon Arms Race (Spring, Year 3) (Read 35422 times)