Greetings,
I was up too late and had this weird idea for SF combat -- permasmoke.
What's permasmoke? It is an aerosol compound that is delivered using artillery
shells, modified smoke projectors (vehicles), or by grenade. The compound
comes in two parts. The first part is sprayed into the air to cover an area.
The second part is released and creates a reaction. The reaction generates a
solidifying foam (think of expanding foam for insulation). This creates a
permanent smoke on the battlefield. The permasmoke can be removed by using a
catalyst on it. It will also degrade over time if exposed to rain. It is also
easily damaged. It hit by heavy weapons fire
(non-infantry)
it takes damage. Give it 6 hit points. Damage is done by chit draw (all colors
valid, boom chit removes it completely, other specialty chits no effect).
---
What would be the effect of this if delivered as an artillery barrage on top
of an infantry position? Suffocation, immobilization, or would they be able to
counter it immediately, either with small arms, mortars, and engineering
equipment, or by using the catalyst? Would differing forces use different
chemical compounds requiring different catalysts to remove? Could it be color
coded to act as markers for other units, for instance, order arty to fire a
green permasmoke at the crossroads, and order your armor to attack to the left
of the green permasmoke and your power armored infantry to attack into it?
Don't get me wrong, I love this idea. just trying to bring up ideas on how to
use and balance it. :-)
In a message dated 1/22/00 10:16:08 AM Eastern Standard Time,
bkb@beol.net writes:
> Greetings,
> Greetings,
The
> compound comes in two parts. The first part is sprayed into the air to
This
> creates a permanent smoke on the battlefield. The permasmoke can be
Call it an aerogel, and we could probably do it today. I don't have any
references, but a search for aerogel on your favorite search engine should
turn up something.
The main difficulty would be delivery (as a smoke grenade/
shell) and making it disperse and solidify rapidly.
Functions exactly like a smoke cloud, for combat purposes. Any vehicle or PA
passing through it will destroy (collapse)
it. Non-PA infantry can pass through it (without destroying
it), but must draw 1 chit (red valid, ignore specials) for damage to infantry.
Destruction of aerogel obstruction: Draw 1 chit (all colors) for heavy weapon
firing through the aerogel. If it's a damage chit, give 1 damage to the
aerogel. Otherwise, as you describe above.
Compare it to smoke generator/grenade for cost/mass.
- Sam
Sounds like a suitable candidate for the Biochem rules.
Neath Southern Skies - http://users.mcmedia.com.au/~denian/
[mkw] Admiral Peter Rollins; Task Force Zulu
[pirates] Prince Rupert Raspberry; Base Commander
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