Design Phase, Turn 4Enhanced Optics System
It's a pair of binoculars. Except it's not, because we sawed one of those in half, mounted it either to a helmet (Our basic national [maybe not the mage's special uniform] uniform has one, right?) or to a Trench Broomstick as a scope, and then covered it in enchantments. The simplest part is the magical lens system which replaces the normal lens, since puny mortal lenses cannot bend light precisely enough to grant high magnifications in short pieces of equipment. Using magic, however, we can achieve much higher magnification in our optic, as well as the placing of a reticle in the image. Putting the reticle in the center, though, is far too easy. Instead, the Mage points the scope directly at a target. Then they activate the interesting part of the enchantment. This part measures the range to target, the wind, and everything else that can meaningfully affect a long-range shot, and positions the reticle such that the projectile being used with the system (right now, either a TB shot or a full-speed single flechette throw) will strike the target---and keeps pointing at the correct position even if the sight is moved around. If the system is being used with the Trench Broomstick, just looking at that spot and activating the enchantment will properly aim the gun. If being used with the Gauntlets then the user has to aim manually, of course, but seeing exactly what position to throw "at" is a useful aid.
The system measures range by comparing the different angles of light from the target point as the rays enter the magical lensing system. It measures wind by detecting the position change of a small windsock mounted to the top of the scope. Yes, it looks like a helmet flag when the scope is mounted to the top of the helmet. No, we have not yet received a Cease and Desist order from Arstotzka.
Design: Enhanced Optics System (4) [Hard]
The Enhanced Optics System is certainly not designed in response to Kolubaria's frequent use of concealed snipers, and the fact that it is a scope designed for long-range sniping operations is a mere coincidence. Simply because Kolubaria thought of cannibalizing a pair of binoculars first does not mean we can't do the same, and
better.
As it turns out, getting the ballistics figured out is the easy part of the EOS. A small flag measures wind direction and average speed, and distance can be approximated by the focal point of the magical lens when focused at a certain distance. Bullet trajectory and speed is input through a few rounds of test-fire and stored as raw information in a small scroll of engraved metal affixed to the side of the scope. These measurements aren't
terribly precise, especially for wind and distance, but they are close enough to rely on for sniping operations at the distances we expect to use them.
The hard part is getting the scope to figure out what's a
target. Picking a person out of the background can be exceedingly difficult for the EOS, and the small, circular reticle will jump around as the user attempts to focus on them. For obscured or camouflaged targets that feature close foregrounds and distant backgrounds, the aim prediction system is virtually useless. Additionally, early attempts to have the scope automatically focus on a range proved to be too finicky to work reliably, so the scope features an adjustable dial to pick desired ranges. A secondary dial adjusts magnification anywhere from 2x to 16x, though anything above 8x isn't terribly useful as
the Sava '00 was never accurate enough at those distances in the first place there's simply no reason we would want to shoot people that far away, anyways. The scope can be "zeroed out" simply by hooking it to the Trench Broomstick's integrated Mana Tracer generator, which should already be in-line with the barrel. Because of all the bells and whistles that go with the EOS, the scope is rather bulky and sticks up a good distance from the gun.
In the event it works correctly, the EOS is remarkably simple to use, especially with the pre-existing aim assistance provided by the Trench Broomstick. Simply place the center of the crosshairs in the circle, pull the trigger, and the round will go more-or-less in the area you told it to. Overall, the Enhanced Optics System is a pretty handy piece of equipment - the only real issue keeping it at "good" rather than "great" is the difficulty the system has with target identification. Figuring out how to reliably define a "target" has left our Magineers scratching their heads, and could prove to be a difficult problem to solve...unless we get clever.
Because the EOS doesn't redirect bullets, communicate long-distance, move the gun, or generate fields of Mana tracers, the Mana consumption is...shockingly light. So long as the scope is maintained properly, the EOS has a [NEGLIGIBLE] Mana draw.
The standard Mage Uniform ’14 features a top of the line cloth cap specially made to keep our boys warm in the early Autumn or late Spring, and thus there is no way to affix the EOS to the headset. As one of our Mages put it, "Why not just make them into goggles?"
Progress: (0/12)(2)
Type: Enchantment
Experience: Rookie
Cost: 5
Revision Phase, Turn 42 Dice left.
Army: Poor. "Lot of good those Mages did in Kobarid - we lost a lot of good men there." -General Feo
Navy: Neutral. "We would have been in some trouble if Porec had fallen. I suppose the 208th deserves some credit." -Admiral Cesena
Political: Positive. "Do you like my coat? It's magic, of course, I had the Mages make it for me. We're good friends, you know." -King Gioffre II
Public: Neutral. "What do they do? Can they fly and shoot fire out of their hands? Oooh, can they read my fortune, too?" -Random Citizen
Sorceries
Soaring Memory of Crystal Mind, Version 4: Created by one of the junior members of SPELLS in an attempt to modify his memory and perform better in school and updated by the 208th for intelligence gathering. Maps the cone of vision through a monocle onto a sheet of pigment-laden paper. Resolution is impressive despite the small size of the photos. Requires a monocle to cast, and operates by re-arranging the pigments of the paper slotted into the monocle. Requires a second casting to clear. [Rookie] [1]
Svanire: Invisibility, sort of! Bends incoming light 150 meters away around the user in an omnidirection sphere. Focus is a cheap Tourmaline carefully cut and set within a heavy set of copper wires and an expensive set of engraved plates, which the user hangs from their chest like a backpack worn in reverse. Casting takes a great deal of focus from the user, though they can still walk and talk while casting. Mana consumption can be quite high, limiting use to 1 hour for an Experienced Mage. User can not see while casting. [Experienced] [12] [<50% Complete]
Galilei Lensing v2: 8x brass binoculars. Casts a field of Mana tracers out from the main lens in a bent cone. The cone curves proportionally to the sliding engraved rail system on the side of the binoculars, which currently allows a curve of a radius between 5 and infinite kilometers (i.e. at a 45° angle, the binoculars grant sight range of 10 kilometers). Light bends back along the tracers towards the binoculars, giving line of sight beyond the horizon. Top and bottom sections of the image can't be focused at the same time, but a double-back curve on the lower edge of the lens helps even out the difference. Significantly drains Mana. A Rookie-level mage can perform observation for an hour, with an additional hour per level. [Rookie] [4]
Gauntlets of Force: Largely leather in nature, with engraved steel rings implanted into the fingertips and palms. The rings are connected to one another with copper wires, trailing down the backs of the fingers and terminating in another steel ring that goes around the wrist. The ring around the wrist is the most heavily engraved, and handles most of the flow and direction of input Mana. Holds up to rough use. Left Gauntlet controls the movement and direction of the object being cast upon, and the right controls power. Possible to use other equipment while casting, but multi-tasking becomes difficult. Can complete tasks such as throwing a ball into a bucket or punching a dummy. Range of 15 meters. Max force is limited to manipulating around 650 Newtons (or about 150 pounds). As the distance and force increases, so does Mana consumption. Does not stop bullets. [Competent] [5]
Evocations
Snap-Lighter: A brief conjure of flame, for lighting pipes and cigarettes. Mana is channeled by snapping one’s fingers while casting, causing a match-sided blue flame to appear on the users thumb. Runs entirely off Mana, though the spell is intended to only last a short period of time. Caster is advised to wet their thumb before casting in order to prolong the time the flame can appear before burning the thumb. [Rookie]
Observation With Low-Infrared (OWL-I): Infrared Night Vision. Creates a circle a few inches from the Mage's face, which phase-shifts infrared light into blue/red visible light. Detection extends out to 40 meters, with recognition much shorter. Resolution is fuzzy, and the picture isn't very bright. Warm weather degrades performance, and the circle is visible to others if they are behind the user. [Competent] [<50% Completed]
Enchantments
Lucky Rabbits Foot: A preserved rabbits foot, using a rather convoluted weave of magic. Effects seem dubious, but through rigorous testing it is revealed to subtly move the wearers foot just enough to avoid stumbling over unseen rocks or stubbing toes on furniture. Further testing reveals it performs an on-going analysis of the users gait and compares the projected footfall with the terrain immediately ahead. Replenishes naturally while in close proximity to a mage, but will otherwise run dry within an hour. [Rookie] [4]
Fulcrum Armor V4: A canvas trench coat lined with steel wire. Comes with a hood and a collar that buttons up over the nose. Redirects force around and through the coat, exiting on the opposite side to which it was applied. Steel wire handles most of the stress, but canvas will rupture around impact and exit locations. Does poorly against multi-impact weapons such as shotguns or shrapnel. Can be turned off when not in use. Can maintain its enchantment for more than 48 hours when on standby mode, and run down a Rookie's Mana Pool in 8 hours when active. [Rookie] [6]
Thaumic Radio v2: An AM radio, capable of communicating in Morse Code. Range extends out to 4 kilometers. Small enough to be worn as a backpack, with a long, swishy antenna. Converts Mana to electrical energy to replace the battery. Vacuum tubes are replaced with magical logical components. Goes staticky with every time the wearer takes a step. Prone to breaking down, but operators are described as "bizarrely seductive". [Competent] [8]
Trench Broomstick v2: A modified Sava '00, to which King Gioffre II has turned a blind eye. Magically operated modified straight-bolt turns the gun into a semi-automatic. A subtle magic auto-kinetic enchantment on the barrel allows the user to maintain accurate sights to whatever he's looking at. Casts a pair of Mana Tracers downrange to perform accuracy improvements. User must manually adjust for range, drop, wind speed, etc. [Rookie] [6]
Enhanced Optics System: A magical scope. Comes with a little wind flag, two dials controlling focus and magnification, and a scroll holding ballistics data. Projects a circular reticle that shows the approximate location to aim to compensate for drop and wind speed. Tends to be finicky when picking out targets, however, as there currently exists no reliable target identification equipment. Negligable Mana draw. Pairs well with the Trench Broomstick. [Rookie] [5] [<50% Complete]
Misc Magical Equipment
Focus Talisman, Version “Bear”: A modern Mage’s talisman, used to help direct a Mage’s magic into Sorceries. The contraption is a little bit bigger than an open hand and features intricate inner workings that blend the magical and mechanical. Physical appearance represents a bird cage, with the bars joining together in a central point. The device allows a Mage to focus her Mana through a well-understood means and redirect it into a secondary means of spell direction, such as a wand or circle. The device is a bit like an intricate net, helping capture unfocused magical energy from a Mage. This reduces the amount of Mana needed to perform a given spell and helps a Mage split their focus between two spells, but each Focus Talisman must be hand-crafted by skilled non-combat Mages, making it quite expensive. Enchantments must be maintained daily. Delicate and prone to breaking. [10]
Wooden Wand: Carved from broom handles, fence posts, and any other scrap of wood that can be found. Used to assist in Direction during spell-casting, allowing the user to more efficiently spend their Mana and apply their Will. Generally engraved with lines and symbols by the user. Used for casting low-level Sorceries, with a penalty to effectiveness. Generally, a wand should be specialized to whatever spell is being cast, but this works in a pinch. [0]
Mundane Weapons
Sava ’00: Bolt-action rifle, firing 0.333 caliber rounds out of a 5-round internal box. Named after the King’s father, may God rest his soul. Manufactured in the homeland, and a shining example of our people’s technical skill. The Sava ’00 is standard-issue to all infantrymen, and a single round will kill just as well as a lightning zap (as magic detractors will quickly point out). The wooden body cradles a rifled barrel fitted with lugs for bayonets. It’s light and wieldable, but cycling the bolt causes loss of sight picture. Prone to jamming as the bolt wears out. [5]
Pavle Sidearm: Standard-issue sidearm, 0.35 caliber. Remarkably cheap and easy to use, but unreliable. The slide is prone to jamming in place, and the sights are more of a suggestion than anything used for accurate fire. Comes with an eight round magazine. [1]
Bottiglia Artillery Shells: 3" naval artillery shells. Percussion fuses with HE payload. [1]
Freccette: 5g darts. About 8" long, made of simple iron with a "+" shaped tail and pointed tip. [1]
Misc
Mage Uniform ’14: Standard mass-produced infantry uniform, adapted for mages. Warm and sturdy, and made mostly out of scratchy wool. Brown trousers and overcoat with a drab green undershirt. Boots are oiled leather and come up to the ankle, with cloth wraps that go up past the calf. A belt around the waist holds ammo and supplies, although there’s not a lot of room. A fashionable cloth cap keeps the head warm. A set of fancy, billowing robes that go over top marks the wearer as a Mage, though the hem drags in the mud and the sleeves snag on everything. Does not protect against bullets or shrapnel. [0]
Budget: 27
Svanire | (6/16)(3) | 3 Dice Spent | [Experienced] | [12] | Sorcery
Observation With Low-Infrared (OWL-I) | (4/10)(4) | 3 Dice Spent | [Competent] | [0 ] | Evocation
Enhanced Optics System (EOS) | (0/12)(2) | 3 Dice Spent | [Rookie] | [5] | Enchantment
Magia e Scienza unite per la VittoriaMurano 1 | Rookie
Torcello 2 | Competent
Burano 3 | Competent
Guidecca 4 | Competent
Author
Topic: Wands Race 2: The Great War - Abbraccio (Read 22569 times)