LordGhee

Re: Arquebus, Musket, Cannon

here is a post I did on the 2nd of the black powder threads off the old boards

I saw on amazon that there is an osprey book on the galleys of venice ( or is the lapaneto campain) nice galley on the cover. lots of books on subject will this month get gunpowder.

hope this helps

Dear Sirs,

This thread has caused me to start on a gunpowder timeline, which I plan to post here for your edification. But the first one hundred and fifty years took ten pages I decide to post a shorter line that deals with the black powder weapons. I deleted the important people listing, and most battle descriptions this is still long.

1250AD – Roger Bacon and others discover gunpowder around this time. Many keep it secret but it effeteness is limited by the impure ingredients.

1300 AD Somewhere in Northern Italy a person notices that if you take a tube and tie it to a board as a platform, cram in gunpowder (made with the new pure saltpeter) and put in an object, light it with fire and boom; the object is propelled with great force.

The status of warfare at the time in France, England, central Germany and Italy is that heavy cavalry rules the battlefield. The knight the main user of the heavy cavalry style is armored in double chain with knee and elbow plates. Infantry generally carries the large shield and long spear. Most of the time infantry is not around as it is easier (and their job) to let the nobles fight. Light troops are generally armed with bow (75lbs draw) crossbow (200lbs draw) or javelin (Spanish style). Their ranges are 200m for the bow, 250 for the cross bow and 50m for the javelin. Edward I of England adds longbows (100lb draw) to his army. The longbow range of 300m and rate of fire give the English one hundred years of battlefield successes.

The Mongols for the past 60 years have been showing the world why the gent that grab a bow and jumped on the horse was so bright. Over most of the world the main troop type is the horse bowman except in Europe and the new world where horses are not due to be imported for 250 years.

Siege warfare is carried out with the aid of the trebuchet and catapults. Which results in the height of castle building. The Mongols learning from the Chinese that trebuchet can be built big, build them to hurl up to 2000lb stones. These stones crush the walls at Baghdad and the assassin’s castles breaking the group. The Trebuchet range is 400m.

Note there are many websites and a great PBS show on building and using Trebuchet.

1338AD – The first listing of thunder jars in France followed in England and Germany by 1342AD.

The state of gun technology as of the middle of the 1300’s show change. The guns start off as wood tubes that are hollowed out tied to a log and filled with powder and things to shoot (balls of stone and spears). The big problem in guns is the gun bursting (blowing up). This is due to many factors like: overcharging with too much powder, fatigue due to use, poor workmanship. The wood guns quickly get wrapped in leather and rope probably to fix burst guns, then to strengthen them to keep them from bursting. Later wire is used to wrap the gun. Then around the mid 13th century somebody figures if wire is good then a metal tube is better.

Early guns are small to us to day and used in sieges for they must be put together at the site and then the powder mixed. The first use of guns in war is in Sicily in the mid 1300. They are all individually made and different sizes, which makes it a skilled profession (as shown by their pay). The Gunners are quickly accepted into the artillery guilds.

Guns in general fire a softball size stone about 600m+. The 600m + range of these weapons is the reason they are accepted quickly as they out range any catapult, ballista and Trebuchet (400m+). The guns have a very slow rate of fire due to having to let the piece cool so cook offs do not happen and general bursting habits limits a guns life. They are mention at many sieges and towards the end of the 1300s start to show up in numbers. Armies need a least a few to clear out the enemy’s guns so the rest of the artillery can deploy or be stopped from deploying.

1346 AD. – The Battle of Crecy in France with the French losing to the British with their longbows.

There is a report on two small cannons at the battle, and they are used to no reported effect. During the day of the battle the Genoese crossbow men (4000) suffer through a rain. Their crossbow get wet and since the bows are wood and animal parts have less range and effect than normal. The English have bow cases and weathered the rain with no bad effects. The Italians remembered being out range and shot down and start looking to improve their weapon.

By 1400 AD guns have developed into two types. Handgunns and what will be called cannons. Handgunns have been used for a few decades mainly in sieges. These weapons are big crew by couple of gunners and they fire a shot the sizes of a mans fist. The recoil is severe and pictures show a hook at the end of a gun that holds the wall to brace it. Guns are still manly used in sieges, as a source of fire is needed. Black powder is made at factories and can carry now for limited time. Old powder is still a problem, as it gets unstable and or useable. The main reason that these weapons are used is range. Repeat range 600m+. Early cannon and handgunns out range bows and catapults of all types. Rate of fire is in the minutes to reload with only a few rounds used.

The guns still heat up quickly and cook offs still happen. Rate of fire is limited to a few rounds a day still but guns are not bursting as much. The touchhole is the firing mechanism. This will misfire half to one quarter of the time. (Most of the time the firer can retouch and fire the piece.). Cannon have developed into two types, the cannon used for range and the bombard, which is a larger in diameter gun with a short barrel used to hurl very large stones to smash walls. This type shows up in the 1430’s and a bombard race starts in Germany with every country joining at some point; the end result is Ivan the Great of Russia ordering the casting of a bombard that can hurl a 5,000 lb stone. It is so big it is not moved from the foundry in Russia until the modern era.

The Italians have developed the steel crossbow (500lb draws and 300m range.) Early in the century it is cocked with a pulley and rope. Later a wind less is added by mid century on heavier models with a 700lb + draws and up to 400m range. The steel crossbow is not affected by weather as examples have been immersing in water for hours, pulled out and used with out any effect to range or power. The Italian’s remember the rain at Cercy.

The French, leaders in amour protection have started to adopt the coat of plates (easily the most mistranslated piece of lore). This armour is made usually of two leather (other fabrics where used) layers with metal plates the sizes of playing cards sandwich between them. The palates where rivet or sown in. This gave very good protection unless a point found the gap between the plates.

1411 AD. First drawing of a matchlock mechanism will not be in general military use unit the late 1400.

1415 AD Battle of Agincourt. The English fight the French. The English win again.

Here are some notes. The cannon with the French never make it out of the armies rear.

There is a company of heavy crossbows (all crossbow at this battle are steel) of about 300 that had kept their shields (the pavis) and moved into the woods on the British left flank. Using teamwork, advancing by fire and cover beat the archers in there during the battle. Realizing that the French have loss the battle these men retire.

The new armour coat of plates remains popular due to the protection it gives but stories of arrows penetrating it abound.

The Hit Rate of missile fire in battle has been in general to be figured that only (see Hughes book Firepower) one in a hundred shots (gun, rifle or arrow) hits in a battle. If that is the case then the 5000 British archers each started with 40 arrows and were supplied with 40 more arrows during the battle, fire over 400,000 arrows that day. With a hit rate of one in a hundred you get 4000 hits, say 2000 more knights where then killed in the hand-to-hand fighting then you get 6,000 casualties. In the record the French army was organized in 3 groups called battles. Each battle was about 7,000. Only the first two battles fought. This gives a casualty rate of 50 percent for the first two battles of the French army. This is consider by most analyst and the U.S.Army to render a unit ineffective. From the records this is about right. The English lose about 1,600 men.

1425AD Jan Ziska in bohemia leads the peasants in a revolt that last 20 plus years. He uses wagons as movable forts with lots of missile troops in and behind them. Every one in Europe hears of his successes and how the Handgunns are very effective. Their use during battles is remarkable the problem of fire is solved by the use of the wagons forts

In the year of 1435AD the metal workers of Mainz get together to build the first suit of plate armour. This project has over 1500 armourers working on it and is to show the leadership of this Germany city in metalworking. It is priced at over 100,000marks. This is equivalent to a billion dollars of today’s money. It is so expensive that the group gives it to King Charles of Spain who is at the time is the riches king in Europe with an income of over 500,000 marks. They get an immediate order for four suits of plate from him at a much reduce cost. At the first siege that he wears it many Nobles are suitable impressed and orders come in (4 suits then 8, then 12 ect).

This suit of plate becomes the standard that every soldier wants. In order to prove the quality of the merchandise armour start to proof their product by shooting the breastplate (after purchase) with a crossbow at 30 ft then with a pistol shot after the crossbow is no longer used. This is the start of the proof mark. This armour is capable of stopping most blows with swords, arrows and crossbow blots (heavy included). Many examples in history abound. Unfortunately handgunns and cannon (of course) are the threat for the energy is still transferred to the wearer. Japanese armour makers (circa 1600AD) are driven to distraction for they can make plate that stops arrows but the bullet crushes or the armour stops bullets and the arrow pierces. By 1540 the Spanish and Venice armies fighting the Turks are all in Plate vs. the Turks in chain.

1450 Battle of Formigny the French using cannon to start the battle win against the English longbow.

1452AD Battle of Castillion, The French have driven the British out of France except at Calais, but do not rule wisely. The people of Aquitaine revolted and the British send an army under the Earl of Shrewsbury to help them. The French send an army under the marshal of France and the Bureau brothers commanding the siege element to the area where the army sieges Castillion. The French set up a camp with an irregular wall. The French have 600 guns (about 300+ handgunns). The Earl marches to the relief of the town. As he approach the town the British defeat a force of lancers who move to the camp. The Earl learns (wrongly) that the French are leaving and try to catch the army on the march and attacks the camp. The guns cut down the English like the longbows did the French with the wall channeling the troops into kill zones. The Earl is killed and the army destroyed. The revolt ends.

1453 AD The Siege and taking of Constantinople happens. The Turks on the fourth attempt in 70 years, siege the city. After 50 days of bombardment with the biggest gun in Europe at the time take the city in the 5th assault. The gun fires a 600lb stone ball that is thrown 1000m or more that crush whole towers and wall segments. The guns fires up to 10 rounds a day with 5 seaming to be the average rate. The gun on the last shot ordered after a long day firing burst killing the builder. Urban the builder went to the sultan after every other king in Europe turned him down. At this Siege Trebuchet, catapults and guns are used together and after this guns take over siege work totally by the end of the century.

This event ends the middle Ages.

Notes. Guns up until 1700 seem to have two limits, after 200 rounds the gunner starts thinking about melting the gun down because of fatigue, bursting becomes a threat. 10rds rapid (in one text of the 1620s 3 to 4 hours time and the gun gets to hot.) seems to heat the gun up to much. Gunners will cool them any way they can (water preferred but wine and other fluids in a pinch will do) but the insides retain heat very well. Heated guns can cook off rounds and in the heated state are weakened and have a greater risk to burst. Notice that the great gun had fire 250rds or more over 50 days and fired many shots (10 plus) that day there by earning the double chance of a burst from heat fatigue the barrel and fatigue.

Handgunns are now the size that one man uses. The guns are a tube on a stick that is held under the arm. One man can aim and fire it but siege use is still the main use do to a need for a fire. The guns by 1460’s are down to firing a baseball size stone. Handgunners are ½ of the missile troops with garrison and siege work their mainstay. Crossbowmen are team with pike; the pike shelter the crossbows from enemy cavalry on the battlefield. The Pavis has gone out of use probably due to a handgun shot able to smash it turning it to fragments. The cavalry all are mostly in Plate and records of handgun shot hitting and knocking men off horseback with the plate smashed but the man alive (unconscious).

This is the first 150years of guns in war

In Champions guns are smashing weapons early on. Normal dice attacks.

In the first 50 years you need to make the powder on site. It dose not carry well and loses effect. It will fail to fire half the time. But the gunner can retouch (fire) the gun. Skill levels help when loading because a better seal will fire further.

Remember early guns are wood tube strengthen.

Later metal guns are made by a smith who hammers bands of metal around a wood core. The bands are melted together and the core burnt out.

Guns retain heat and guns that are to hot can if wood: start on fire, burst on firing like a bomb or just split. This is around ten rounds fired in a day.

Loading guns take a long time. You have to spoon in the powder and pack it after waiting for it to cool or at least the sparks die.

Ammo is stone, and this has to be carved. One advantage of stone is that it shatters on a hard surface and fragments can kill. One disadvantage of stone is that it shatters on a hard surface and dose not carry all of it energy to the wall it is trying to knock down.

Guns are all different sizes so the stone ammo will be only made for and fire in one gun.

Suggested damage done.

Wood guns -500meters-8 to 10 dice.

Early metal guns 8 to 11 dice.

1400 wall handgunn 10 dice.

1450 handgunn 9 dice but greater range do to better fit of shot (truer cores) and powder.

1453 great gun of Urban, 14dice one hex area effect with explosive effect on striking hard surface.

Now some of your are thinking what about a hex row effect, well it was not discovered until the 1630’s that cannon shot bounces. This grazing effect was not used until the 1700. You shoot the gun at less than a mans height and it bounces along until it runs out of energy being a danger the whole way. Before this you lob shot onto people and it only bounces a few meters.

Re: Super-Skills Megathread

As usual Super Skill ?? huh, what? duh. .

please explain

Lord ghee

Re: What do you think is the best way to balance armor use?

I have always thought that an activation roll for scale or segmenta or any armor where there are gaps that can be penatrated.

Lord Ghee

Re: What do you think is the best way to balance armor use?

Armies march in thier armor all day.

The romans marched 20 miles + in chain and segmenta, as proven on a nova show when they ask for soldiers to try the roman training. ( us airmen and brit army) good show.

If you are in the wild you wear your prtection.

Lord Ghee

hey everyone this site is neat, dark feel some usful stuff. take a look.

http://www.solis-media.co.uk/relocated/rpg_archive/index.html

hope you all enjoy.

Lord Ghee

Re: Begginner Question

here is my orc captain that made an apperance in my FH game weeks back

Orc (Captian)

Player: NPC

Val Char Cost

18 STR 8

17 DEX 21

18 CON 16

15 BODY 10

13 INT 3

11 EGO 2

13 PRE 3

8 COM -1

7 PD 3

7 ED 3

3 SPD 3

8 REC 0

36 END 0

33 STUN 0

7" RUN 2

2" SWIM 0

3 1/2" LEAP 0

Characteristics Cost: 73

Cost Power

5 Nightvision

Powers Cost: 5

Cost Skill

4 PS: Orc Captian 13-

10 +1 Overall

3 WF: Common Melee Weapons, Javelins and Thrown Spears

15 +3 with HTH Combat

6 +2 with any three maneuvers or a tight group of attacks

3 Shield work: Custom Skill

2 KS: Area 11-

4 PS:: Orc Warrior 13-

4 PS: MOS 13-

2 PS: Secondary MOS 11-

7 Tactics 14-

3 Personal Skill: Custom Skill 11-

1 Language: Black Speach: basic conversation

Skills Cost: 64

Cost Perk

3 Orc: Reputation (A large group; 14-) +1/+1d6

3 Captian: Custom Perk

Perks Cost: 6

Cost Talent

2 Environmental Movement: Woods

Talents Cost: 2

Total Character Cost: 150

Pts. Disadvantage

15 Distinctive Features: Orc, (Concealable, Always Noticed and Causes Major Reaction, Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses

10 Hunted: Free Peoples, (As Pow, 8-, Harshly Punish

20 Reputation: Orc, 14-, (Extreme

5 Rivalry, Professional, Rival is As Powerful, Seek to Outdo, Embarrass, or Humiliate Rival, Rival Aware of Rivalry, Rivalry Desc.

10 Rivalry, Professional, Rival is More Powerful, Seek to Outdo, Embarrass, or Humiliate Rival, Rival Aware of Rivalry, Rivalry Desc.

15 Physical Limitation: Strong Light, (Frequently, Greatly Impairing

10 Enraged: Varies - Racial Foes, and other means, (Uncommon), go 8-, recover 11-

15 Psychological Limitation: Fear of Leaders, (Common, Strong

Disadvantage Points: 100

Base Points: 50

Experience Required: 0

Total Experience Available: 0

Experience Unspent: 0

Re: Thoughts on Shields

Historical note:

During the battle of Marathon a greek figure out that with his 40lb bronze shield that if he struck hard with the edge to the center of the Persian wicker tower shield he could bread the arm of the Persian holding it.

Greek shields are large round made of bronze and held with a center strap to arm and a grip for the hand at edge.

Lord Ghee

Re: Pushing in Fantasy Hero

This is how I have used it in my campains since FH came out in 84? It seems to be blanced and after twenty years I am keeping it. I love long term END.

Lord Ghee

A Player in my fantasy game wants a Japanese hosse killing sword, excuse the spelling a zan bato. I know what it looks like as it seems every anime charater has one (kidding). what would it look like in Fantasy Hero at 23 strengh and 28 strengh. how much would it weight.

Thanks for the help

Lord Ghee

Re: Star Trek-type shields?

a FF with damage reduction. Ablative when damage pen ff.

lord Ghee

Re: Those Black Powder gun rules in FH.

Black powder weapons are really normal damage. Modern bullets like the Minnie ball ect are killing. then you get into Ap. you should read the dicussions on the old boards about this. Basicly plate was proofed by being shot by at first (1450+) by crossbow shots at 30 paces or so. after the pistol was developed it was used to proof the armour. check out the old dicussions.

Lord Ghee

Re: Actung! Panzer!

One thing this post has me thinking is about the "universal tech system" sort of a chart (or something ) that will tell you the differance in weapons. Here is some info form The strageypage.com that makes a point of the changes from WWII to present. If your do a WWII game I feel it should work if you bring it forward or back.

Check out the stite great for mil history and gamers.

ATTRITION: Why American Tactics Really Frighten the World

July 15, 2004: Combat continues to become more of a distant, but deadlier, experience. The recent campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq have reminded military commanders world wide that these trends of the last three centuries are continuing, and accelerating. Three hundred years ago, in the early 18th century, gunpowder (in muskets and mobile cannon) had extended the range of weapons beyond what any army had ever seen before. That was just the beginning, as over the last three centuries, weapons have achieved longer range, and greater accuracy. This has forced armies to spread out. By a century ago, it was often necessary for armies to spread out over many kilometers of frontage. For thousands of years before that, a few hundred meters of front was the most two armies would encounter. But with rifles and artillery able to hit with increasing accuracy, at every longer ranges, troops had to spread out, and keep their heads down. No more standing tall and marching into battle.

In World War II, the average tank engagement was about 700 meters, but it took an average of 18 shots to knock out another tank. During the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, the average range was about a kilometer, and it only took two shots to destroy the target. But by the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the average range was over two kilometers, and it took a little more than one shot per kill. The wars in Kuwait, Israel and Iraq were unique, however, in that they were fought in a generally flat, desert like terrain (meaning there was little vegetation.) A large part of World War II was fought in urban or wooded areas, where the longest shot you could get, under any circumstances, was about half a kilometer. However, the increased accuracy of modern tanks makes their gun more lethal no matter what the range. But longer range means that enemy crews with less training, and less capable fire control equipment, are less likely to get off an accurate shot. And increasingly, the first shot is the one that will kill you.

Bombing accuracy has also made enormous gains. During World War II, you had to drop about nine thousand bombs, from an altitude of 10,000 feet, to guarantee a hit on 60x100 foot target. You had to stay that high to avoid most of the anti-aircraft fire. Back then, accuracy (Circular Error of Probability, or CEP) was one kilometer (meaning that half the bombs dropped would fall into the one kilometer circle.) By the Korean war (1950-53), CEP had improved to 330 meters, meaning it only took 1,100 bombs to hit the target. A decade later, during the Vietnam war, CEPs of about 120 meters were achieved. This meant only 176 bombs, were needed. By the 1991 Gulf War, the average CEP was 60 meters, and 30 bombs, were needed. In 2003, the CEP was less than ten meters, and one bomb, and one aircraft, was all it took. During World War II, it required over 500 aircraft to get the hit, which is why back then, most of the bombing was either with hundreds of bombers, or a much smaller number of bombers coming in very low (and very likely to get shot down if the target was heavily defended).

In the last two decades, the U.S. Army has emphasized marksmanship. This means that infantry, machine-gunners and tank crews are much more accurate than they have been in the past. This is a major reason why anyone fighting American troops takes such high casualties. While most opponents fire wildly, American troops fire back with deadly accuracy. All of these changes, and the American dedication to marksmanship, has greatly upset the leaders of many foreign armed forces. The highly accurate tanks and bombs require money. Not just for the equipment, but for the cost of wear and tear on equipment, and ammo used, for lots of training. Most nations keep defense costs down by not using their weapons a lot, and not firing off a lot of ammo. But this has increasingly led to catastrophic defeats at the hands of more accurate and better trained troops like the Americans (or British, or troops of any army that train a lot.)

For decades, the Soviet Union built weapons that were not sturdy enough to be used a lot for training. These tanks, guns and other weapons were meant to be taken care of until there was a war, then they were used a lot, in the hope that a quick victory could be achieved. Now that the Soviet model has been, well, disgraced, many generals, and admirals, are being forced to rethink over half a century of accepted wisdom.

Now for the charts work coming.

Re: Hero points?

The First time I was exposed to this concept was in the spy game Top Secret by TSR in 1979 (ouch I am old). you got fortune points and could use them to reroll ect. I think boot hill had them also.

Lord Ghee

Re: A spell that shatters swords

I think on a quick look that I would buy a rka that works only on metal ( shatter type spell) with the bonus that if you max the item it shatters for a explosin. a hex effect with a combat roll.

Lord Ghee

Re: My Dee-en-Dee conversion!!!1

Killer Shrike rules. (mainly casuse he writes so many). Tremendous work great stuff.

Re: Actung! Panzer!

Actually heat forms a plasma jet which burns through the target. ap round strike the target and seem to transfer the engery of the round to the target which melts it as it is pushed aside. the projectile is call a self forging warhead, it literlaly makes itself.

useless fact the 50 cal was the first at (gun) weapon adopited in 1929 by the U.S. Army. later in the late 30's the 50cal was notice to be obsolete so the German 37mm atg was Adopted. so our early atg was a german design shooting german armour.

Lord ghee

Re: Actung! Panzer!

Here I found my slope chart :

slope of 10% equals 101% of the thickness.

slope of 20% equals 106% of the thickness.

slope of 30% equals 115% of the thickness.

slope of 40% equals 130% of the thickness.

slope of 45% equals 140% of the thickness.

slope of 50% equals 155% of the thickness.

slope of 55% equals 174% of the thickness.

slope of 60% equals 200% of the thickness.

slope of 70% equals 290% of the thickness.

Taken from weapons and tactics of the soviet army :by David Isby Glossary

Re: Actung! Panzer!

Toadmaster sorry I should have mention APHE.

modern armour 1980+ have layer of super hard steel or DU and many layers of steel, cermic ect.

More to come we will define and list.

Lord Ghee

Re: Waterspout Spell: -21 to Water Magic Roll?

Caveat: a spell such as this should be hard to cast, I would not allow 1 or 2 pt levels for a plus on only one spell. I allow complementary rolls and suchs but I think a 50 or so chance to kill a fleet is perrty good

Lord Ghee

Re: Waterspout Spell: -21 to Water Magic Roll?

Hey using the bloody ritual spell is a little ( wait ) cheesy (this is growing on me ) Probaly would not (hum casting a spell so you can cast a spell very genra ahhhh spelling [setting]) alow this

Brillinant great ideal but would have to look at it and need 3 pt or 5 pt levels ?

Casting a spell to cast a spell excuse must write this down

Lord Ghee

Re: New talents for Fantasy Hero

I created a charater with the talent always picks the fastest horse ( he was a thief) by limiting luck, but using a detect would have been better.

Lord Ghee

Re: Waterspout Spell: -21 to Water Magic Roll?

Most spell are not designed to cost where they should be for play. in most game that i have run and run in a magic spell with less than 9 or so limations cost to much. on great spells even more limation are needed.

Extra time plus the aids as mention by Lord Liaden are appropriate, it is a Skill roll not an activation roll. Also as a Skill roll the complementary skill roll rule is very appropriate.

in my game a player need to cast a major ward and summoning. the first cast cost 200 pts the wizard could do this with complementary skills Arcane Knowledge, Ritual Knowledge and knowledge of monsters.

oh and where did the wizard get the power points after casting the spell with limitations was 8 pts real points cost paid with body (ouch!)

Lord Ghee

Re: Actung! Panzer!

HEP is the forrunner of Hesh, I kept the discussion to WWII in general. but APDS was followed by APFSDS (1950'S) AND HVAPFSDS (1960'S) AND HVAPFSDSDU.

intresting thing at 2000m solid ap rounds superheated and turned to dust. More on this later

Lord Ghee

Re: Actung! Panzer!

Thanks for this thread. I loved Golden age Champions and the WWII stuff.

Here are some notes and thoughts

In my view I believe that cannon balls are normal attacks and “modern†shot are killing attacks

Brown (Napoleonic war) Bess 9d6, Milline ball (civil war era) 2d 6 killing,

Every cannon had High explosive rounds, which was developed just before WWI as a top-secret project. Smoke also came in during WWI

Now when do we get real Armour piercing ammo?

AP - Solid shot bullet shape

APT Armour piercing with tracer.

These where the main ammo type at the start of the war for anti Armour role.

As the war progressed improved Armour was incorporated into the tanks, here the allies had an easier time for the rare metals needed to mix into the iron came from out of the combat area.

I think that the Germans where the first to use face-harden steels. This resisted the initial strike making the Armour tougher.

Again from my memory it was a British gent who notice that using a Cap on the shot of a tougher metal gave a better penetration about 30%

APC Armour piercing capped

APCT Armour piercing capped tracer

Now it is early 1941 and a conversation in America went like this.

“We have to fight German Armour†Infantry officer to other Infantry officer.

“I Knowâ€

“We have to fight German Armour†Infantry officer to other Infantry officer

“I Knowâ€

Repeat

The scientist who hope to keep their state side jobs over heard many of these conversation and deciding that a better AT weapon would keep them state side started to experiment.

A German scientist before the war developed a new explosive. Called a Shaped charge. This charge was formed over a hollow cone lined with copper. This (simply) causes the copper to turn to plasma and form a jet that is a powerful blowtorch, which cuts through Armour. The Germans used this new and secret weapon to knock out the Belgian concrete bunkers in 1940. The British figure out how this worked and shared this with their new allies. Well the Mit men tried to put it on cannon rounds and found out two things. When it was fired at cannon velocities the jet malformed some of the time and if it is spun the spin reduces it’s effect by half. Some wag stated “well we should put it on a bottle rocket. After some quick work shape charge warhead and rocket motor in a tube and we get a Bazooka.

Heat High Exposes Anti Tank a shape charge

The British in the later war took a French ideal and used it on the AP round and took a smaller round and wrapped in a Sabot which as it fires from the gun is discarded and the sub round is given increased velocity.

APDS Armour Piercing Discarding Sabot.

The British also developed the High Explosive plastic round. Basically a round filled with plastic explosive and a delayed fuse. Not much penetration power but it hits and smashes flat and detonates. This transmits the shock into the item great for bunkers.

HEP High Explosive Plastic

Notes

APDS and HEAT suffer from veining (gets inaccurate at long range), which is increased by wind and weather.

The 25mm chain gun firing HVFDSAPDU (MOREON THIS LATER) of the Bradley at 500m is more effective than the 75mm Sherman round (APC). The Sherman had gyro stabilization on the up and down motion, which allowed firing on the move (10mph)

It is late and I will post more on this later

Lord Ghee

Re: Spell: Faerie Fire?

If it only effect one target the hit-e? the hitted the person hitted. . . sorry the target,

ok If the effect hits only one target then it would not be a change environment (by definition). Now in a D and D game 25 years ago I had a sword that when it was drawn a Faerie Fire spell went off.

Much like now In my game the sword when drawm give off a great light with some of it effects being -4 per rolls to night seeing races, +levels to those around it, increase eog for moral ect.

I been trying to redo two famous sword from an earlier game, trip and shatter. when drawn thease spells would go off effecting everyone around them . the players who found thease swords just would not lose a magic sword.

Lord Ghee