"UAV for Tabletop" Topic

So, I am putting together a semi-role playing campaign for a group of players. Basically, they run an "Executive Solutions" type of mercenary outfit in the near future (2020ish) and conduct operations for corporate , government and private clients, in conjunction with, or against military assets, and other obvious problem children of the world. The jobs they take will be offered, but upto them.

Given the access to drones/UAVs on even the civilian market right now, it is a very safe assumption an organization like theirs would have drone/UAV capability, even if only for surveillance and reconnaissance, but potentially even weaponized.

I am looking for ideas to bring that to the tabletop, so that before they set eyes on the actual terrain board, they can utilize their "drone."

Right now, I am working with the idea of using my iphone as the drone, and my ipad as their monitor. I "fly" the drone as per the verbal instructions of the pilot in the other room. Using face-time, they get a "feed" of the drone camera, showing the tabletop. The players, only get to see the actual game board when they can actually put a figure in the area.

My idea obviously cannot express some of the typical drone capabilities, FLIR for instance. I am looking for ideas or suggestions that would enhance or improve on this idea, or a better idea if anyone has done anything like this in their game.

Also, I am going to try very hard to use google earth to set up terrain, so that they have that imagery too, though there are obvious limitations.

Any input on the drone idea or the google earth idea for the modern tabletop battlefield?

Why not just buy a webcam and drag it around? I have several that are low res that would work great. Remember the high Res stuff is very expensive and even then not that good if you are not trained to interpolate the imagery.

VR
James Mattes

Can one not buy little RC helicopters with cameras? Remember that Google Earth can be quite out of date and if that is their only source, the odd building etc may suddenly appear (One of the advantages of a UAV in the Recce and Surveillance role is that the topographical information they collect is up to date)

Tally Ho!

Real time over flight of satellites is expensive, so it's very unlikely they will have tasking for that as a pmc. If they have friends in high places, then old Sat data might be available, and lo res images can be obtained from other types of Sat. I have simulated this before by taking photos of the terrain and letting them plan on the photos.

If you are doing this, I would suggest you get one powerful light source to represent the sun.

For the drone, I would use a phone camera or webcam and fly it according to remote instruction as you suggest. Let us all know if it works.

i think that the real time link itsnt worth so much work. after all, if you must model the terrain in your table, the uav should be able to fly high enough to see the entire battlefield. so you save time if you just send the players a pic and they zoom it as they want

link

$60 USD there but I bet you can find it cheaper.

Oooh this one is even better; link

Live-wifi. Also the previous helicopter comes in a 3 pack for $88 USD which seems like a no-brainer.

Don't forget TI/IR and even SAR/GMTI. For the TI/IR use a black and white image with some extra blak or white hotspots to show heat returns from people, warm engines, disc brakes etc,

Tally Ho!

Have a bunch of minis painted in reds and yellows to represent IR signatures. replace them with normal minis when on the board.

Or just place a green transparency sheet over the lens

I've done something similar, around 2005. I set the game board up in the garage on Tuesday. The game was simulated a USMC BLT assigned to a MEU operation to relieve a besieged embassy. 2 players were Company (+) commanders. The third player was the BLT Cmdr who controlled the weapons company and fires assets. The third rifle company and Arty Battery was a reserve that the BLT Commander was not supposed to commit, unless required.
The players were provided old satellite photos (simply still photos of the area with none of the 'enemy forces' on the board) on Tuesday evening. I used PowerPoint to 'overlay' grid references on the photos.
The "BLT" Cmdr got to plot the UAV flight path. I set the OPFOR units on the map then used the video camera function to "fly the mission." Then the video was e-mailed to the BLT Cmdr.
The BLT player shared the video and gave his order, which dictated when/where/and how the Infantry Companies and supporting elements would land (the landing plan), directed objectives and as well as directing pre-assault fires (something like 6 Harrier Sorties, 4 Naval Gun Fire fire for effects and I think 5 tomahawks) which were plotted against the grid references provided on the still photos.
We played on Saturday morning. I played the OPFOR. Most of 'my' Arty and SAMs as well as the Opvious "battalion command post" were destroyed by the pre-assault fires.
I enjoyed the game. I had a good deal of fun 'setting up the scenario' as well.

Cool, sounds like a lot of fun.

"Or just place a green transparency sheet over the lens"

That was what I would have suggested- a day time pass by a drone may tip the opfor that something is going down, so a night pass with 'green' and 'flat' imagery may be best…don't wanna spoil all the fun too much.

I have used Google Earth for sat. imagery and my digital camera for 'grainy black & white' recon imagery…..dummy positions and 'camo-nets' provided 'friction' too…..

For night-time, various shades of gray and white (aka black and white), would probably be best, if you want to represent FLIR.

Use white for the human targets, and any running vehicles.

Green works for night-time, light intensification cameras/headseats.