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More from baroncoon
More brainstorming for the Roan RPG. One of the original reasons I was approached by 
mh47e for artwork for the game was to do weapon design. Well now I am getting around to it. This is me starting to try out ideas.
When designing equipment for folks with no thumbs or individual digits one has start thinking differently. Ponies do have sticky, gecko hoofs that allow them manipulate and handle objects that normal ponies wouldn't able but one still has to account for the lack of fingers.
Also ponies move on all four so any weapon system they would have would need to quickly and easily stowed on a moments notice so they could start walking, running, climbing, immediately. That means slings and holsters will be integral parts of the overall weapon system. Yes unicorns can levitate and some systems could be mounted on the front legs but those create their own problems.
This is an initial idea I have for a semi-automatic rifle. It is not what the final design will be, but is instead a rough proof of concept. I still need to work on a three or two point sling system. Since the weapon will usually be slung across the chest when moving I wanted to keep its overall length as short as possible so I decided to use a bullpup arrangement.
The other question was how work the trigger mechanism. I quickly settled on squeeze bar mounted on the vertical bar/pistol grip, however I wanted the pony to be able to pull the weapon back with one hoof to help seat it against their chest/shoulder. If I put the trigger on the front of the vertical grip where most triggers would located the pony might accidentally discharge the rifle.
So I thought about putting the trigger bar on the back of the vertical grip. However then my concern was that the trigger was exposed and anything bumping up against might accidentally discharge the weapon. Then I hit upon an idea, what if I put grip safety in the front part of the grip that had to be depressed to allow the trigger to work? Yes it means a pony has to use both hoofs to fire the weapon but you should be using both arms/legs when firing a rifle in the first place!
This is still a work in progress and the final design will evolve quite bit more. It is at the moment just a jumble shapes and features, but it is a step in the right direction.
I hope you like what you see. Please help make more art like this possible by supporting me at Patreon
mh47e for artwork for the game was to do weapon design. Well now I am getting around to it. This is me starting to try out ideas.When designing equipment for folks with no thumbs or individual digits one has start thinking differently. Ponies do have sticky, gecko hoofs that allow them manipulate and handle objects that normal ponies wouldn't able but one still has to account for the lack of fingers.
Also ponies move on all four so any weapon system they would have would need to quickly and easily stowed on a moments notice so they could start walking, running, climbing, immediately. That means slings and holsters will be integral parts of the overall weapon system. Yes unicorns can levitate and some systems could be mounted on the front legs but those create their own problems.
This is an initial idea I have for a semi-automatic rifle. It is not what the final design will be, but is instead a rough proof of concept. I still need to work on a three or two point sling system. Since the weapon will usually be slung across the chest when moving I wanted to keep its overall length as short as possible so I decided to use a bullpup arrangement.
The other question was how work the trigger mechanism. I quickly settled on squeeze bar mounted on the vertical bar/pistol grip, however I wanted the pony to be able to pull the weapon back with one hoof to help seat it against their chest/shoulder. If I put the trigger on the front of the vertical grip where most triggers would located the pony might accidentally discharge the rifle.
So I thought about putting the trigger bar on the back of the vertical grip. However then my concern was that the trigger was exposed and anything bumping up against might accidentally discharge the weapon. Then I hit upon an idea, what if I put grip safety in the front part of the grip that had to be depressed to allow the trigger to work? Yes it means a pony has to use both hoofs to fire the weapon but you should be using both arms/legs when firing a rifle in the first place!
This is still a work in progress and the final design will evolve quite bit more. It is at the moment just a jumble shapes and features, but it is a step in the right direction.
I hope you like what you see. Please help make more art like this possible by supporting me at Patreon
Category Artwork (Traditional) / All
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 950 x 1217px
File Size 86.3 kB
of course, this works for the bipedal ponies, and those ponies who are strictly quadrupedal can be of special use. Personal heavy weapons, automatic rifles going up and over .50 cal may be the norm. underslung weapons may take odd targeting devices, but the thought of having such firepower on the battlefield and mobile at the same time would be too good to pass up. Remember Simon Barber's deertaur soldiers.
I keep trying to imagine our infantry pony here trying to fire this in a prone, unsupported position, and it's coming out as essentially balancing it on his forehooves and the shoulder stock to fire. Is that right? Speaking from experience, they'd probably field-strip it using both hooves and their lips to hold things. Horses have some pretty dexterous lips!
I'll never forget the taste of my old Lucky 13's firing pin retaining pin. Bleah! *collie yucky face*
I'll never forget the taste of my old Lucky 13's firing pin retaining pin. Bleah! *collie yucky face*
That is pretty cool, although not sure if ponies would have such advanced firearms. As their society seems to be early 20th century but with magic, and in a much more peaceful world (again with magic), I imagine their gun tech would be significantly behind even human early 20th century arms.
I reckon that is the stance a pony must take not merely to brace for firing a weapon, but also to balance in a bipedal manner because it's not normally natural for them. In my opinion, this has made the weapon handling look more realistic, quite aside from the main problem of making a weapon suitable for handling with hooves.
Oh, and as for guns when you lack fingers - ask Jay Armes! http://www.thrillingdetective.com/i.....2/jjarmes1.jpg
Very interesting idea with the dual safety/trigger - it would be comparably easy to make a design in which the decision which is trigger and which is safety comes down to personal perference. However, getting the gun ready for transport and back ready for firing makes precious seconds and can get very complicated on uneven ground - even more so it does not allow to fire on the move.
I would give them a side-mounted gun -or pair thereof- and a trigger bit. Pegasi may have actual use for frontleg-wielded guns though.
I would give them a side-mounted gun -or pair thereof- and a trigger bit. Pegasi may have actual use for frontleg-wielded guns though.
This is a pretty fascinating design. I honestly hadn't considered the squeeze-bar design (and I've put a little thought into this sort of thing, because I'm a nerd). Two firing systems I've considered are a lever trigger (similar to what crossbows and some early firearms used, where the trigger is attached to a long bar that depresses close to the gun body and shielded by a trigger guard) and what I like to call the 'flashbulb' system (based off of the old style camera shutters that were connected by a cable; the pony holds it in their mouth and bites down to fire, with enough slack to prevent recoil from yanking it out or doing damage).
As far as your current design is going, the main issue that I'm noticing (aside from how to carry it, as you've mentioned) is how to reload. The mechanism looks like it'd be awkward for pony hooves, even with the "sticky hoof" trick.
As far as your current design is going, the main issue that I'm noticing (aside from how to carry it, as you've mentioned) is how to reload. The mechanism looks like it'd be awkward for pony hooves, even with the "sticky hoof" trick.
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