Magic Ink by Moose42

[moose42]

Enjoy. Remember your feedback helps make these stories better!

Chapter 11

[Jered]

So I'm reading this.

[moose42]

Chapter 12 is up.

I can't imagine what it would be like to live in a city under threat from air raids. Well I guess I can since I wrote about it. But dang that's got to be THE SUCK.

Enjoy!

FEEDBACK!

So I'm reading this.

Did you mean, "I'm so reading this."

[moose42]

I guess I shouldn't post on weekends.

Anyway I need some suggestions. What are some "technologies" that a flintlock era civilization with air transportation will have developed.

I figured much more rapid spread of news, that's why I mentioned Velderland Air News. Compared to civilizations with only surface transportation.

I'd imagine they probably have an expensive air mail and courier system.

One interesting side effect that I won't explore in this book. I'd imagine the development of mechanical flight (The Wright Brothers) wouldn't happen as soon. Why build a flying machine when you can hop on a big @** bird? Though I wonder, because I have flying balloons.

[Aaron]

Development of heavier than air flight probably would be somewhat postponed, but lighter than air development would probably be somewhat accelerated. Especially if a reasonable efficient means of propulsion is in use. If nothing else, it would allow and much more rapid and flexible logistics chain for airborne forces. Something along the lines of blimps loaded with food, feed, powder, shot, boots, etc, operating somewhat behind the line of the main force. Heck, if nothing else, some of the raptors or wyverns could tow the things on tethers, although that would be pretty limiting.

Remember, well developed logistics is the key to any military force, be they mundane or fantastic.

Other than that, anything to enable more rapid shooting, especially in flight. Being able to fire only once before reloading necessarily dictates that air combat take place at freakishly short range. I imagine there would be a great push to increase rate of fire.

[moose42]

Thanks for the info, ideas.

Other than that, anything to enable more rapid shooting, especially in flight. Being able to fire only once before reloading necessarily dictates that air combat take place at freakishly short range. I imagine there would be a great push to increase rate of fire.

Single shot breach loaded cartridge weapons similar to the 1873 Trapdoor Springfield *might* be arriving soon.

I mentioned earlier the Skaji were using balloons to increase their supply chain's range, at least for short deployments.

[Aaron]

I forgot that you specified a supply usage of the balloons. Considering the very limited nature of lifting gas and gasbags in a pre-industrial society, you could specify increased efficacy by using gas bags imbued with a very thin layer of ink ($$ might kill that) and/or actual lifting gas distilled through arcane means.

As for more rapid fire, the lack of cased ammunition combined with the difficulty of mounted archery had me banging my head for ideas.

[Aglifter]

Perhaps some kind of rotating weapon? You'd need to shield the pans from one another, but there need be no connection between the part w. the hammer, flint, and trigger, and the flashpan. (It'd be heavy, and weight seems to be a consistent problem...)

[Aglifter]

Hot air balloons towed by Flying creatures?

[Aaron]

Hot air balloons towed by Flying creatures?

Yeah, hardly efficient as there would need to be enough tethered critters to fight the rather impressive drag created by a lifting bag while retaining enough airspeed not to fall out of the sky.

Anyway, rotating a matchlock seems like it would result in spinning showers of black powder. A pre-loaded bank weapons might work though. Be a bit heavy, but if they were loaded with heavy shot, assuming effecting wadding is available, they'd sure let you put up a weight of fire. For a very short period anyway.