Quote from: Skyrock;232580Suddenly, I have flashbacks of DragonStrike... Especially with the different breeds and differing strengths and weaknesses.
Then again, I'm a retrogamer, so vintage video games are anyway one of my first associations with everything.

Was that an Amiga title? Sounds familiar!

Edit: Yes it was! I searched around on the link, but the Amiga release was the SSI game, not the one linked to.

QuoteIs that similar to the Edges introduced in Wild Blue?

Exactly. In IHW: Dragons!, people don't have Edges, but dragons are born with them.

QuoteI'll come back at the playtest document - I'm currently to busy to promise feedback (I have to check a few items for the German translation of the revised Solar System, and I'm on the deathline for a review), but you'll hear from me as soon as the road ahead looks less congested.

I'll send a copy along then! I value your feedback - especially before it's published!

-clash

Quote from: flyingmice;232599Was that an Amiga title? Sounds familiar!

I just checked, and there was indeed an Amiga version.
Interestingly, other than the top-down view NES/Famicom version (which I've played), all other versions were in first person/3D, like a proper flight simulator...
I need to check later if it's rightfully abandonded or yet ESA-protected.

Quote from: flyingmice;232599I'll send a copy along then! I value your feedback - especially before it's published!

Got it. I'll look into it as soon as my earlier promises to others are fulfilled.

Quote from: Skyrock;232605I just checked, and there was indeed an Amiga version.
Interestingly, other than the top-down view NES/Famicom version (which I've played), all other versions were in first person/3D, like a proper flight simulator...
I need to check later if it's rightfully abandonded or yet ESA-protected.

The NES/Famicon just wasn't up to doing 3D graphics. I probably have the Amiga version - I bought a DVD with like 1000 Amiga games on it for my Amiga Emulator.

QuoteGot it. I'll look into it as soon as my earlier promises to others are fulfilled.

Cool! Thanks for giving it a look!

-clash

Actually, the NES _was_ capable of first-person 3D graphics... Chase HQ (with back then mindbogglingly cool uphill and downhill effects), Pool of Radiance and Lone Ranger come to my mind, and certainly there were more.
However, it couldn't handle much detail and sprites in this mode, and I remember constant flickering and studdering (although there wasn't much going on apart from the 3D shtick). So while it was practically doable, it wasn't a good idea to shoehorn it into this console, and I guess even the most spartanic flight sim would have run horrible.

Quote from: Skyrock;232727Actually, the NES _was_ capable of first-person 3D graphics... Chase HQ (with back then mindbogglingly cool uphill and downhill effects), Pool of Radiance and Lone Ranger come to my mind, and certainly there were more.
However, it couldn't handle much detail and sprites in this mode, and I remember constant flickering and studdering (although there wasn't much going on apart from the 3D shtick). So while it was practically doable, it wasn't a good idea to shoehorn it into this console, and I guess even the most spartanic flight sim would have run horrible.

No dispute - when I said it wasn't up to 3D graphics, I meant it as "it wasn't real practical to go for them," not "you can't do them." The NES had a lot of good points, but 3D graphics wasn't a place where it shone.

-clash

An IHW: Dragons! character - courtesy of Michael Scott:

Here is a first attempt at creating a character for In Harm's Way: Dragons!:
 
Theresa "Terri" McKay was born February 4th, 1780 in Hampton Roads, Virginia. She was the byblow of Captain Lawrence McKay of the Continental Army Dragoneers and a seamstress by the name of Danielle LaPorte who had fallen quite hard for the dashing young dragon rider. Captain McKay did not abandon Danielle, but neither did he marry her. Instead, he visited as often as permitted and provided support for his daughter, his own life being totally involved with caring for Cloudspirit, his Turquoise Thunderbird companion.
 
As the years passed, little Theresa was introduced to the dragon who was quite fond of her master's 'egg'. Theresa visited the Dragoneer's Den as often as she could and was totally rapt with the dragons and the activities there, despite her mother's attempts to turn her to less dangerous pursuits. Thus it was on her 12th birthday, Theresa became a Wingman cadet and was one of Mountain Smoke's crew.
 
The very young American Dragoneer Corps had few dragons, especially when compared to the European powers. Nevertheless, the three squadrons were very active in assisting the US Revenue Service and the Continental Army in putting down privateers and insurgents. Wingman Theresa was exposed to the hatred the Indians had for the European's mastering of their beloved Thunderbirds during patrols in the western marches of Kentucky and Tennessee and had long conversations with Cloudspirit and Mountain Smokes over the controversy. The dragons assured her that they were very happy in the Dragoneer Corps and were glad for the companionship they now shared with humans.
 
Things began to change with the creation of the United States Navy in 1794. The American Dragoneer Corps was tasked to provide aerial support to coastal operations (much as they had with the Revenue Service's anti-smuggling patrols) and Mountain Smoke's crew found themselves daily rigging up to shadow the new United States frigates up and down the Eastern Seaboard. It was a shame, Captain McKay pronounced, that they couldn't accompany the ships as far as Europe and Africa to provide cover for the actions versus the Barbary Pirates.
 
Wingman Theresa McKay was shocked when the news arrived from the Caribbean in February, 1799. The USS Constellation had engaged the French frigate L'Insurgente and handily defeated her. The personal cost was terrible for the young girl, however. Her father had been shot by a French sniper from L'Insurgente' s rigging. Cloudspirit had gone into a rage and dismasted the frigate despite the hail of musket fire from her crew. Theresa received her share of the prize money from a grateful US Navy, but her father was gone.
 
Cloudspirit refused the new Commander the Dragoneer Corps chose for him. Lieutenant Barclay was an experienced man of 28 years and had ably served as second officer for Cloudspirit, but the dragon would have none of it. He insisted that he would go feral before anyone other than Theresa McKay became his Commander. Reluctantly, the Corps agreed and Theresa was promoted to Lieutenant and Captain of Cloudspirit' s crew. All of them, that is, but for Barclay who became her implacable opponent in all things, despite an earlier attraction the man had for the young girl.
 
Lieutenant Theresa McKay stands a lanky 5'7" tall, weighing in at 120 lbs. She has dark brown hair with reddish highlights, hazel eyes, and a spray of freckles across her cheeks. She is a stubborn, hot-tempered woman who brooks no nonsense for her crew, but pampers Cloudspirit in any way she can manage. Now that the quasi-war with France is at and end, Captain Terri McKay and her crew patrol the Eastern Seaboard for signs of privateers and smugglers. She and Cloudspirit heartily wish they could travel to Europe, but for now there's plenty of action here in North America!

Lieutenant Theresa "Terri" McKay
United States Dragoneer Corps
Commanding Cloudspirit
 
Middle Class (using Ridemaster Template)
Naturalist Avocation
 
Str- 9
Coor- 12
Agy- 9
End- 7
Char- 9
IQ- 127
Luck- 1
Practicality- 10, Honor- 10
Consitution- 370, 278, 185, 93
 
Skills:
Blade +3- 60%
Gymnastics +1 50%
Riding +5 70%
Alert +1 45%
Firearms +2 60%
Sneaking +1 50%
Dash +1 50%
Bombing +1 45%
Discipline +2 50%
Herbalism +1 52%
Biology +1 52%
 
Traits:
Hot-Tempered 2, Stubborn 2, Loyal 3
 
2xFlintlock Pistols +30 Short
Saber +20 Point Blank
Dagger +0 Short

-clash

Theresa's dragon, Cloudspirit
 
Breed- Turquiose Thunderbird
Size- Elephant (6)
Special Ability/Edges- Herd Mentality/Teamwork 4
Breath/Times per Day/Damage- 0/0/0
IQ- 137
Armor/Outer Covering- 2.0/Thick Feathers
Acceleration/ Max Speed- 9/14
Ceiling- 12
Attack Type & Skill/Damage- Teeth +5, Claws +3/+50, +45
Break- 4
Maneuvering/ Stability- 12/8
Constitution- 18
Diet/Habitat- Herd Animals/Meadow
Aggression- Stubborn
Senses- Smellx3, Hearingx2, Sightx1, Touchx1
Coloring, Pattern & Texture- Irridescent Turquiose and Ash Grey Stripes
Ornaments- Barbed
Vigor- 25
Skills:
Linguisitics- English
Alert- 55
Observation- 65
Teeth- 50
Claws-48
Flying- 80
Painting- 55

Another American dragon - Mountain Smokes

Breed- Verdant Viper
Size- Hippo (6)
Special Ability/Edges-
Breath Type/Times per Day/Damage- Acid/8/250
IQ- 85
Armor/Outer Covering- 2/Thick Feathers
Acceleration/ Max Speed- 9/11
Ceiling- 14
Attack Type & Skill/Damage- Horns +3/35
Break- 4
Maneuver/Stability- 10/10
Constitution- 20
Diet/Habitat- Small Animals/Savannah
Aggression- Ready to Strike
Senses- Smellx2, Tastex1, Sightx2
Coloring, Pattern & Texture- Irridescent Green, Striped Gradation
Ornaments- Large-Eyed
Vigor- 20
Alert-+2, 50
Observe- +2, 50
Linguisitics- Draconic, English
Horn Gore- +3 55
Flying- +3, 55
Breath- +2, 50

A third American Dragon - Colombiad

The Quetzalcoatal is immense (Large Whale sized) with a tremendous wingspan and long feathered crest. Like many American breeds, its multicolored feathers are irridescent in shades of predominantly green with red or yellow tips. There are only three such dragons currently in American service- Soaring Star, Columbiad, and Waters Roaring.

Breed- Quetzalcoatl
Size- Large Whale (
Special Ability/Edges- Herd Mentality/Teamwork 4
Breath/Times per Day/Damage- 0/0/0
IQ- 125
Armor/Outer Covering- 2/Thick Feathers
Acceleration/ Max Speed- 10/15
Ceiling- 8
Attack Type & Skill/Damage- Claws +4/+65
Break- 5
Maneuver/Stability- 8/12
Diet/Habitat- Herd Animals/Meadow
Aggression- Defensive
Senses- Sightx3, Hearingx2, Touchx1
Coloring, Pattern & Texture- Glossy Green with Yellow or Red Points
Ornaments- Crested
Vigor 14
Skills-
Alert- +3, 55
Observe- +3, 55
Linguistics- Draconic, English
Claws- +4, 60
Flying- +4, 60

Sweet stuff!

-clash

In IHW: Dragons!, native American dragons are feathered, native Eurasian dragons are scaled, and native African dragons have plates. In the Mediterranean, Eurasian and African dragons casually interbreed, producing both scaled and plated wild dragons, and American dragon blood was introduced since colonial times, so that some dragon breeds are feathered, some scaled, and some plated.

Breeds are artificially developed strains of dragons, combining inbreeding and exbreeding to enhance and fix particular traits in dragons. Domestication and the breeding for traits has been going on since about 1650 in Europe, but only since about 1720 in the Americas. Wild dragons are all of moderate size, no matter where they originate. Very large and small dragons are bred up and down, respectively.  Each nation has its own characteristic breeds.

-clash

Quote from: flyingmice;233155Each nation has its own characteristic breeds.

Prussian dragons - recognizable by their unique single horn

Quote from: Skyrock;233221Prussian dragons - recognizable by their unique single horn

A Pickelhaube!

-clash

I've finished a new illo for IHW: Dragons!



-clash

Wow! I would not want to be in those soldiers' place.

Thanks for putting up Terri and her friends, clash. I'm having a lot of fun with my personal playtest and I'm looking forward to tweaking things even more.

Dragons of the Yellow Sea looks very interesting. I am eagerly anticipating any comments from that direction.

As for the aerial combat 'scrums' in IHW: Dragons!, they are a welcome relief from worrying about BVR missiles and AWACS!

I'm very curious about the Yellow Sea dragons myself!

-clash

Quote from: JohnnyWannabe;232379Bah! Squirrels are nuts. It's all about the monkeys, man. It's all about the monkeys.:eek:

...But they're bananas!

Mice for teh cheese!

Quote from: flyingmice;232612The NES/Famicon just wasn't up to doing 3D graphics. I probably have the Amiga version - I bought a DVD with like 1000 Amiga games on it for my Amiga Emulator.

* Tries not to drool.

...Er, link?

On dragons - I have a few dragon statues. Personally, I want to know about dragon culture - Maybe even more than human culture. After all, I'm fairly familar with human culture.

Quote from: Narf the Mouse;234263...But they're bananas!

Mice for teh cheese!

* Tries not to drool.

...Er, link?

Extreme Amiga Classix It's a 3-DVD set. There's actually over 5000 Amiga games on it.

QuoteOn dragons - I have a few dragon statues. Personally, I want to know about dragon culture - Maybe even more than human culture. After all, I'm fairly familar with human culture.

IN the game, there is no dragon culture in Western Europe. Dragons were hunted up until he early 1700s as livestock predators. They were first domesticated c. 1650. In the Americas, dragons were worshiped and/or propitiated by the Indians, who resent the use of dragons as mounts by the Americans, who domesticated the native wild dragons as their forefathers did in Europe. Not much is known about African dragons beyond North Africa and the Cape area. In North Africa, they have interbred with southern European dragons, and are also hunted by the Arabs and Berbers. The Cape Colony has few native dragons, and settlement has not pushed far into the interior, so little is known of dragon culture in Africa. Asia is not touched on in the game at all.

-clash