Got a clever ammo tracking system?

On Feb 18, 1:45 pm, "lordknightsh...@gmail.com"
<lordknightsh....TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Feb 18, 1:21 pm, Gary Thompson <quux....TakeThisOut@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > I'm about to start GMing a pulp game (let's pretend it's D20 past or
> > something, to make sure we keep on-topic (it's really Hollow Earth
> > Expedition)).  Since everybody's going to be lost and out of
> > civilization, I want conserving supplies, especially ammo to be a
> > priority.  It'd be one thing if we were just using abstract "bullets",
> > but we're going to have a bunch of different guns of different
> > calibers and I'd like an elegant way to keep track that doesn't make
> > for tedious bookkeeping.
>
> > Does anyone have a clever way to do this?  I was thinking of trying to
> > find a bunch of those simple people counters for cheap and labeling
> > them with types of ammo, but would love any other ideas.
>
> Glass beads.  Go to Wal-mart, Hobby Lobby, etc. and get several
> different colors (one color for each type of ammo, you can also use
> the small plastic aquarium rocks if the beads are scarce) and then
> simply hand over to your players in a plastic baggy or other
> container.  Every shot they make they hand one bead back to you to
> represent the spent bullet.  If they want to trade ammo then only
> those that use the same color bead (type of ammo) will work.  It's
> quick, it's visual, it's fast for assessment, and it's fun.
>

Perfect. This was exactly what I was hoping for. Off to get beads
and some tupperware containers...
 >> Stay informed about: Got a clever ammo tracking system? 

On Feb 18, 11:21 am, Gary Thompson <quux... DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote:
> I'm about to start GMing a pulp game (let's pretend it's D20 past or
> something, to make sure we keep on-topic (it's really Hollow Earth
> Expedition)). Since everybody's going to be lost and out of
> civilization, I want conserving supplies, especially ammo to be a
> priority. It'd be one thing if we were just using abstract "bullets",
> but we're going to have a bunch of different guns of different
> calibers and I'd like an elegant way to keep track that doesn't make
> for tedious bookkeeping.
>
> Does anyone have a clever way to do this? I was thinking of trying to
> find a bunch of those simple people counters for cheap and labeling
> them with types of ammo, but would love any other ideas.

I like boxes.

Such as some character sheets use for spells. Print out a sheet
with a bunch of boxes on them and mark as needed. You could easily
have each in sub boxes that are the size of typical actual ammo boxes
and marked with the ammo type. Mark off as used, or if the box wasn't
full.

- Justisaur
 >> Stay informed about: Got a clever ammo tracking system? 

What about bullets? Seriously, they aren't that expensive, and you can
reuse them if you are only using them for game purposes. Plus then
everyone gets exactly the amount that comes in a box. Just buy a box
of each appropriate caliber or gauge. Otherwise it works the same way
as the glass bead system, only it's cooler because you actually have
bullets. You don't even need a gun licence to buy bullets.
 >> Stay informed about: Got a clever ammo tracking system? 

"Brent" wrote:
> What about bullets? Seriously, they aren't that expensive, and you can
> reuse them if you are only using them for game purposes. Plus then
> everyone gets exactly the amount that comes in a box. Just buy a box
> of each appropriate caliber or gauge. Otherwise it works the same way
> as the glass bead system, only it's cooler because you actually have
> bullets. You don't even need a gun licence to buy bullets.

*ding* You just won the darwin award.

real. good. plan.

Mixing gamers with live ammo. Some gamers would actually do ok with that,
however there's bound to be a few, who well... you know.

Back in school I had a group of gaming group buds who purloined some .22
ammo. When they got bored, they put the rounds into soda straws, went out
behind the local 7-11 to the parking lot, and threw the straws high into the
air to see if they could get the rounds to go off.

*ding* success.

Only problem, they couldn't predict where the rounds would go exactly, and
one of the lads in the straw tossing group took a .22 hit in the thigh. It
was a clean wound, bullet went thru and thru, did some damage to his thigh
muscle, missed his bones and most of his nerves so he wasn't in pain, the
wounds were interesting to look, at least until the local sherriffs showed
up.

Large gauge rounds would exponentially increase the damage, of course.

For the record, we weren't participating in their shennigans, but had been
briefed prior to their escapades, by the hooligans, and were nearby
(actually, close enough to have been shot by accident upon reflection) .

Seeing the goings on at any convention, my money is on the gaming kids
figuring out some way to get into real trouble with the live ammo, somehow,
someway, it would happen.

*ding*

Darwin award goes to Brent!
 >> Stay informed about: Got a clever ammo tracking system? 

On Feb 20, 6:38 am, Tetsubo <tets....TakeThisOut@comcast.net> wrote:
> Dirk Collins wrote:
> > "Brent"  wrote:
>
> >>What about bullets? Seriously, they aren't that expensive, and you can
> >>reuse them if you are only using them for game purposes. Plus then
> >>everyone gets exactly the amount that comes in a box. Just buy a box
> >>of each appropriate caliber or gauge. Otherwise it works the same way
> >>as the glass bead system, only it's cooler because you actually have
> >>bullets. You don't even need a gun licence to buy bullets.
>
> > *ding* You just won the darwin award.
>
> > real. good. plan.
>
> > Mixing gamers with live ammo. Some gamers would actually do ok with that,
> > however there's bound to be a few, who well... you know.
>
> > Back in school I had a group of gaming group buds who purloined some .22
> > ammo. When they got bored, they put the rounds into soda straws, went out
> > behind the local 7-11 to the parking lot, and threw the straws high into the
> > air to see if they could get the rounds to go off.
>
> > *ding* success.
>
> > Only problem, they couldn't predict where the rounds would go exactly, and
> > one of the lads in the straw tossing group took a .22 hit in the thigh. It
> > was a clean wound, bullet went thru and thru, did some damage to his thigh
> > muscle, missed his bones and most of his nerves so he wasn't in pain, the
> > wounds were interesting to look, at least until the local sherriffs showed
> > up.
>
> > Large gauge rounds would exponentially increase the damage, of course.
>
> > For the record, we weren't participating in their shennigans, but had been
> > briefed prior to their escapades, by the hooligans, and were nearby
> > (actually, close enough to have been shot by accident upon reflection) .
>
> > Seeing the goings on at any convention, my money is on the gaming kids
> > figuring out some way to get into real trouble with the live ammo, somehow,
> > someway, it would happen.
>
> > *ding*
>
> > Darwin award goes to Brent!
>
>         Well how about empty shells? Same effect but much less dangerous.
>

Yeah, but where would I get hundreds and hundreds of spent shells?
Gun range, I guess, but that would be a pain to have to sort them
all. Plus, wouldn't they make the gaming room smell like brimstone
(not necessarily a bad thing)?

Not being a gun owner myself, is it really that easy to tell the
difference between shells of similar calibers, say, like a 9mm and a .
38? And for shotgun shells, I'd have to have some way of
distinguishing shot from slugs. The beauty of the glass beads is that
the different colors are easily recognizable at a glance.

It _would_ be very cool, just a lot of time and effort for a system
that's more awkward than the beads, I'd think.
 >> Stay informed about: Got a clever ammo tracking system? 

Dirk Collins wrote:

> "Brent" wrote:
>
>>What about bullets? Seriously, they aren't that expensive, and you can
>>reuse them if you are only using them for game purposes. Plus then
>>everyone gets exactly the amount that comes in a box. Just buy a box
>>of each appropriate caliber or gauge. Otherwise it works the same way
>>as the glass bead system, only it's cooler because you actually have
>>bullets. You don't even need a gun licence to buy bullets.
>
>
> *ding* You just won the darwin award.
>
> real. good. plan.
>
> Mixing gamers with live ammo. Some gamers would actually do ok with that,
> however there's bound to be a few, who well... you know.
>
> Back in school I had a group of gaming group buds who purloined some .22
> ammo. When they got bored, they put the rounds into soda straws, went out
> behind the local 7-11 to the parking lot, and threw the straws high into the
> air to see if they could get the rounds to go off.
>
> *ding* success.
>
> Only problem, they couldn't predict where the rounds would go exactly, and
> one of the lads in the straw tossing group took a .22 hit in the thigh. It
> was a clean wound, bullet went thru and thru, did some damage to his thigh
> muscle, missed his bones and most of his nerves so he wasn't in pain, the
> wounds were interesting to look, at least until the local sherriffs showed
> up.
>
> Large gauge rounds would exponentially increase the damage, of course.
>
> For the record, we weren't participating in their shennigans, but had been
> briefed prior to their escapades, by the hooligans, and were nearby
> (actually, close enough to have been shot by accident upon reflection) .
>
> Seeing the goings on at any convention, my money is on the gaming kids
> figuring out some way to get into real trouble with the live ammo, somehow,
> someway, it would happen.
>
> *ding*
>
> Darwin award goes to Brent!
>
>
>

Well how about empty shells? Same effect but much less dangerous.

--
Tetsubo
--------------------------------------
"The apparent lesson of the Inquisition is that insistence on
uniformity of belief is fatal to intellectual, moral and spiritual health."
-The Uses Of The Past-, Herbert J. Muller

BLUP
 >> Stay informed about: Got a clever ammo tracking system? 

On Mon, 18 Feb 2008 11:21:14 -0800 (PST), Gary Thompson
<quuxa23 DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote:

>Does anyone have a clever way to do this? I was thinking of trying to
>find a bunch of those simple people counters for cheap and labeling
>them with types of ammo, but would love any other ideas.

What I've always found to work well is an abacus. I use the ones
meant for blind people that have a felt layer pressing on the beads
somewhat--it offers some resistance so that they won't be moved by
being gently bumped.
 >> Stay informed about: Got a clever ammo tracking system? 

Gary Thompson <quuxa23 RemoveThis @yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>> Well how about empty shells? Same effect but much less dangerous.
>>
>
> Yeah, but where would I get hundreds and hundreds of spent shells?
> Gun range, I guess, but that would be a pain to have to sort them
> all. Plus, wouldn't they make the gaming room smell like brimstone
> (not necessarily a bad thing)?

Yeah? I'd once collected a box full of .22 shells, I don't remember any
brimstone smell. OTOH, they'd be out in the sun and rain for a while by
then, so maybe there wouldn't have been.

> Not being a gun owner myself, is it really that easy to tell the
> difference between shells of similar calibers, say, like a 9mm and a .
> 38? And for shotgun shells, I'd have to have some way of
> distinguishing shot from slugs. The beauty of the glass beads is that
> the different colors are easily recognizable at a glance.

OTOH, can you tell by *looking* whether a particular shotgun round is a
slug or shot, without other indicators such as color? Getting them
confused during play 'could correctly model' grabbing the wrong rounds
in a firefight.


Keith
--
Keith Davies below you, right now: radioactive magma
keith.davies RemoveThis @kjdavies.org above you, right now: hard vacuum
keith.davies RemoveThis @gmail.com probably somewhere near you: a product with
http://www.kjdavies.org/ label warning you it is unsafe if misused
 >> Stay informed about: Got a clever ammo tracking system? 

On Feb 20, 10:21 am, Gary Thompson <quux....TakeThisOut@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Yeah, but where would I get hundreds and hundreds of spent shells?
> Gun range, I guess, but that would be a pain to have to sort them
> all.  Plus, wouldn't they make the gaming room smell like brimstone

A lot of people reload so they collect the casings, depends on your
local range, I guess.

> Not being a gun owner myself, is it really that easy to tell the
> difference between shells of similar calibers, say, like a 9mm and a .38?

You mean aside from the markings at the bottom of the case that say
something like "9 mm" or "38"?

In this case, yes, sort of (depends on how much time/pressure you are
under). The .38, used in a wheelgun, will have an "lip" around the
bottom that prevents the round from falling through the revolving
chamber. The diameter of the lip is more than the diameter of the
casing. The 9mm has a recess around the base, and the diameter of the
lip is the same as the diameter of the casing.

You an fire a .38 through a .357 revolver with no problems (many
people do this to save on ammo costs, .357 >.3, and the .357 round
is longer than the .38 to prevent people from injuring themselves by
firing a .357 through a .38 revolver. You can also buy special
"retainers" that will hold a 9mm round in a .38/.357 revolver and
allow the 9 mm to be fired in those revolvers because 9mm is/was a lot
cheaper.
 >> Stay informed about: Got a clever ammo tracking system? 

On Thu, 21 Feb 2008 03:17:19 GMT, Allen Wessels
<awessels.DeleteThis@EXPUNGEpacbell.net> wrote:

>I'd rather take the cut finger than risk some goof setting down his
>heavy mug and "squirting" the bullet into the fireplace etc etc.

Mybusthers busted this one--it's very unlikely to do serious damage
when a bullet cooks off. The bullet does *NOT* go flying very far.
They got shell casings that hit their targets hard enough that they
would have left bruises had they been humans but that's it. You would
have to catch one in the eye or something for it to be serious.

I do agree that using live ammo would be stupid, though. Why take a
chance??
 >> Stay informed about: Got a clever ammo tracking system? 

Dirk Collins wrote:
> "Brent" wrote:
> > What about bullets? Seriously, they aren't that expensive, and you can
> > reuse them if you are only using them for game purposes. Plus then
> > everyone gets exactly the amount that comes in a box. Just buy a box
> > of each appropriate caliber or gauge. Otherwise it works the same way
> > as the glass bead system, only it's cooler because you actually have
> > bullets. You don't even need a gun licence to buy bullets.
>
> *ding* You just won the darwin award.
>
> real. good. plan.
>
> Mixing gamers with live ammo. Some gamers would actually do ok with that,
> however there's bound to be a few, who well... you know.
>
> Back in school I had a group of gaming group buds who purloined some .22
> ammo. When they got bored, they put the rounds into soda straws, went out
> behind the local 7-11 to the parking lot, and threw the straws high into the
> air to see if they could get the rounds to go off.

See, I have a simple solution to this problem: I don't play with the
mentally retarded.

--
Justin Alexander
http://www.thealexandrian.net
 >> Stay informed about: Got a clever ammo tracking system? 

In article <020970cb$0$5090$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com>,
Loren Pechtel <lorenpechtel.RemoveThis@hotmail.invalid.com> wrote:

> On Thu, 21 Feb 2008 03:17:19 GMT, Allen Wessels
> <awessels.RemoveThis@EXPUNGEpacbell.net> wrote:
>
> >I'd rather take the cut finger than risk some goof setting down his
> >heavy mug and "squirting" the bullet into the fireplace etc etc.
>
> Mybusthers busted this one--it's very unlikely to do serious damage
> when a bullet cooks off. The bullet does *NOT* go flying very far.
> They got shell casings that hit their targets hard enough that they
> would have left bruises had they been humans but that's it. You would
> have to catch one in the eye or something for it to be serious.

Any single example of a mishap would have been contrived.

> I do agree that using live ammo would be stupid, though. Why take a
> chance??

Yep. It's the attitude, not the action. Espeically if you have kids
around seeing you treat the stuff casually.

- Allen
 >> Stay informed about: Got a clever ammo tracking system? 

Dirk Collins wrote:
> "Brent" wrote:

>> What about bullets?

> *ding* You just won the darwin award.

Lookout everyone, it's a bullet! You know darwin awards are for
things that are actually dangerous, right?

> real. good. plan.
>
> Mixing gamers with live ammo. Some gamers would actually do ok with
> that, however there's bound to be a few, who well... you know.

Then there's driving to the game, or eating pizza while there. One
must keep the "dangers" of life in order, you know.

> Back in school

Yep, back in school, six of the kids in this very little town died
while out drunk driving one night. Last year, in this country, about 400
people died from cars, about 20 from guns, and I seriously doubt anyone
has ever died here from a bullet that wasn't in a gun.

You know what else out-ranks bullets? Food. Quite a lot of people
choke to death on it.

--
tussock

Zzzzzzzzzz... uh, wha? What the hell? I was sleeping, bugger off.
 >> Stay informed about: Got a clever ammo tracking system?