Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => VSF Adventures => Topic started by: Froggy the Great on July 18, 2012, 04:44:00 PM
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(Edit: Here's a link to the finished model) (http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=43973.msg513070#msg513070)
Ok, so my VSF Roman army is going to get this as soon as it's painted:
(http://www.reapermini.com/~froggy/Images/WIP/WIP-ROBDragonfly03.jpg)
Before I prime it though, I want to figure out its battlefield role. In doing so, I will then know whether I have to add any weapons or antennae or whatnot, so as to at least make a nod in the general direction of Reasonable Suspension of Disbelief.
Anyone have any ideas? So far, I think my Romans will be characterized by flexible command, carbine-equivalent pilia, and defensive bonuses when in formation.
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Make more than one.
Paint one up as a recon/observation/artillery spotter, and then do some armed ones.
For armament I'd consider some trailing lassoes - British chariots apparently used lassoes to disrupt enemy formations - or maybe a bomber version carrying a large rock?
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Dart dropper, can't go wrong dropping a bunch of spikes and darts on an enemy formation. A technology that would make sense with the Romans
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The Mage Knight flying cavalry actually used mechanical dragonflies. I don't know if you're using any of those, but this could play bomber (or mothership, or troop transport) to their fighter.
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They must be mine...
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What about as an aerial ballista or scorpio?
With the right armaments added of course...
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After some trial and error, I now have a nose-mounted aperture that could be an internal scorpion or ballista (clockwork of course), and two nozzles on the chin (trying to recover from a mistake) for the expeditious administration of naptha under battlefield conditions.
...and will probably have an amusingly altered malfunction table, or "tends to catch on fire" ambiguously dropped on its statblock.
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Think of it as a helicopter and adapt it to those type of roles:
- Gunship,
- Medevac,
- Troop insertion...
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I have the perfect role in mind, if you were on this side of the country to play against...
Target.
;)
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Wow, I've oft played with disposable cutlery, but I've never seen knife blades look so good!
Really first rate, Froggy, ol' bean!
@Sinewgrab I was thinking Sir Randall must have a birding gun at the ready. However, given we're no coast, not likely to see either of you. lol
Doug
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(Any of you make it to Charleston SC or therabouts, shoot me a PM and I'd be happy to arrange a game.)
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Dart dropper, can't go wrong dropping a bunch of spikes and darts on an enemy formation. A technology that would make sense with the Romans
Or caltrops perhaps?
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The Mage Knight flying cavalry actually used mechanical dragonflies. I don't know if you're using any of those, but this could play bomber (or mothership, or troop transport) to their fighter.
Here are my Dutch Dragoonflys. Your model will make a great support vehicle.
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R9uc7suqcMM/T3cdqi0JvGI/AAAAAAAABrw/woQ_pgbDSRI/s1600/Hotlead+2012+114.JPG)
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Current progress, by the way:
(http://www.reapermini.com/~froggy/Images/WIP/WIP-ROBDragonfly04.jpg)
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Here are my Dutch Dragoonflys. Your model will make a great support vehicle.
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R9uc7suqcMM/T3cdqi0JvGI/AAAAAAAABrw/woQ_pgbDSRI/s1600/Hotlead+2012+114.JPG)
Interesting update on Ruyters you have there :D
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Have you thought about how you would mount the crew? A way of linking the model to historic Romans would be to fit a howdah on the back, in a similar manner to those used on the back of the Sassanid elephants the Romans fought. You could make the howdah a bit more ornate like the fortified towers mounted on Roman war galleys. Sit the pilot on or behind the head of the dragonfly and put a 2 or 3 of fighting crew in the tower.
Come to think of it, how about a flying galley using stolen flight technology.
For vehicle weapons don't forget greek fire projectors :o
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There is only one proper use of a VSF Mechanical Dragonfly, and that is to take your sweetheart out to see how the Earth-light reflects off the billowing steam off the mountains of Venus. The Dragonfly shape will of course confuse the Parrotmen! Whether or not the Etherdatyls mistake you for food is another matter entirely...
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:-*
Two thumbs up to both Froggy and Chairface on the dragonflies.
Very cool idea. ;D
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Right, here it is completed!
(http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2012/202/7/d/steampunk_roman_dragonfly_by_spielorjh-d582eoz.jpg)
Parts list:
-Handle from a kids' squeaky hammer toy.
-zip-ties
-drywall anchor
plastic knives
-contact lens holder
-VCR rewind motor
-contacts from a parallel cable
-headphone jack
-pewter spider legs
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Very impressive! :-*
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Great stuff chaps!
FFF
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Right, here it is completed!
Looking spiffy there Froggy. I was always thinking and wondering what you were going to do with it. The finished product is great.
Any chance of seeing a pic of the bottom though?
Grimm
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Magnificent ingenuity. You are a true Womble.
"... Making good use of the things that we find;
Things that the everyday folk leave behind ..."
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:o
Yet more great Froggy genius!
Love it!
:-*
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VERY nice work indeed.
Seeing the completed flyer next to a soldier, I know understand your concept better. I do like the head/cockpit design. The Roman crest is a nice touch. :)
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Fan-damn-tastic.
:-*
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Wow!
Amazing scratching yet again Frog.
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So kewl, and still says 'Roman'. :D
I still can't get over how well the 'wings' work, as are. Stealing the idea, I'll still want to greeble up...
Not likely to get to either coast in the foreseeable future. However, if you're ever in Lincoln, Nebraska, and don't laugh, it could happen*, just remember Gauntlet Games. Sir Randall runs most of his games in his basement, but usually the easiest way to track us down is to ask at our store.
*Amazing the number of folk that have 'relatives' in Nebraska. Not even two million of us, and we seem to have connections everywhere. Freaks me out meeting Aussie or Dutch folk visiting family. Years ago, had a drop-in distant cousin from Oz, myself...
Doug
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An amazing work of craft and creativity o_o :o
Btw, for those of us not confident enough in their conversions skills, Tobsen77 is to issue an 'individual' late VSF one:
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7UeBnO87ezg/UA5pqnyQSII/AAAAAAAAD84/gwi2PYB499A/s1600/libelle2.jpg)
http://wargameterrain.blogspot.fr/2012/07/tobsen-miniatures-libelle-aerial-unit.html (http://wargameterrain.blogspot.fr/2012/07/tobsen-miniatures-libelle-aerial-unit.html)
It would require some minor conversions to become a 18th C. / 'Clockworkpunk' contraption -because mechanical dragonflies also appear in 'Lacepunk' (http://www.drunkendragoonproductions.com/18thcentimagi-nation/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=81&p=241#p241 (http://www.drunkendragoonproductions.com/18thcentimagi-nation/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=81&p=241#p241)) settings, for instance in the 'Ben Franklins War' http://bogdanwaz.blogspot.fr/2012/07/ben-franklins-war.html (http://bogdanwaz.blogspot.fr/2012/07/ben-franklins-war.html) http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=27216.msg330644#msg330644 (http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=27216.msg330644#msg330644):
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee247/sterlingmoose/Cold%20Wars%202011/DSC02643.jpg)
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Just awesome :o :o :o