Low Tech cannons mortars and shells

johndallman · 09-08-2023, 05:33 PM

Let's try for the 2.5" RML, starting with the Shrapnel round. That throws 88 fragments doing 2d+1 pi+ each, with Max 3,300. You treat it like a shotgun blast, so you get +6 for the high RoF.

The thing that seems to be missing is the cone angle. That's specified for the Claymore, but not other forms of many-projectile attacks. If Hans put it into High-Tech, I can't find it.

I resorted to historical research*, and found that the base of a shrapnel code should be about one-third of its length, a 30° cone, and that the burst should be within 100 yards of the target.

To make an attack, you pick a point where you want the shell to burst, fire at that, and determine how much you've missed by. If you're close enough, each relevant target in the cone gets attacked at 9, +6 for RoF, less range penalties from the burst, like the Claymore.

Canister will work the same way, but starts dispersing at the gun muzzle.

Beehive would be similar, but would its cone be narrower?

* Treatise on Ammunition, War Office, United Kingdom, 1874.

09-08-2023, 05:33 PM	#26
johndallman Night Watchman Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Cambridge, UK	Re: Low Tech cannons mortars and shells Let's try for the 2.5" RML, starting with the Shrapnel round. That throws 88 fragments doing 2d+1 pi+ each, with Max 3,300. You treat it like a shotgun blast, so you get +6 for the high RoF. The thing that seems to be missing is the cone angle. That's specified for the Claymore, but not other forms of many-projectile attacks. If Hans put it into *High-Tech, I can't find it. I resorted to historical research, and found that the base of a shrapnel code should be about one-third of its length, a 30° cone, and that the burst should be within 100 yards of the target. To make an attack, you pick a point where you want the shell to burst, fire at that, and determine how much you've missed by. If you're close enough, each relevant target in the cone gets attacked at 9, +6 for RoF, less range penalties from the burst, like the Claymore. Canister will work the same way, but starts dispersing at the gun muzzle. Beehive would be similar, but would its cone be narrower? * Treatise on Ammunition, War Office, United Kingdom, 1874. __________________ The Path of Cunning. Indexes: DFRPG Characters, Advantage of the Week, Disadvantage of the Week, Skill of the Week, Techniques.