From: Russell Sloan [iniquity@nts-online.net] Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2000 4:48 AM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Great White Tooth fighting knife At 10:36 PM 10/17/00 EDT, BIOHZD@aol.com wrote: >Someone asked: > >Any other ideas for items made from Poseidon flora or fauna out there? > >>>>>I had some hardcore natives in the outer reaches making powerful bows out >of stone snake ribs... > >Jeff Barber >Biohazard Games Obsidian is wonderful stuff. You work it right, and you can get an edge as sharp as a surgical scalpel. Not quite organic based, but it requires almost no technology to manufacture. I was thinking about the role of the assassin, and contemplating tools of this particular trade. With bullets made of high-density plastic at this point, a bullet that degrades or self-destructs after hitting is a wonderful thing, particularly if it dissolves into something toxic or infection promoting should the bullet not be outright fatal. With no ballistics, this is perfect for the sniper who really loves his expensive 'hunting' rifle. The next fun assassin toy is the classic crossbow. its ranges are on par with a hunting rifle, it has a similar trajectory pattern, it has no thermal or audio signature worth mentioning, and quarrels or bolts are much better suited to penetrating body armor, and it can carry along a bit of poison more readily than it's ballistic counterpart. *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Russell Sloan [iniquity@nts-online.net] Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2000 5:05 AM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Cc: Blue Planet digest Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - FM vehicles At 11:51 PM 10/17/00 -0400, Alan M. Nuss wrote: >The only thing missing from Fluid Mechanics are vehicle design rules. I >was looking forward to making >cargo subs. > >Alan Oh yes, a couple of other little things to tack on in addition to this: 1: Vehicle overloading - It's going to happen, and probably more often than the GMs would like. Is there any plan for a system to decrease the performance of a given vehicle (in generic terms) when it's overloaded. One of my PCs is determined to make an orca in a campaign that is going to hopscotch over a given hemisphere like a Queen on an open chessboard. I can see reducing all speed categories and fuel efficiency on a ratio related to the (weight overload)/(vehicle mass) but I'm not entirely certain how the Power and Handling characteristics would fit into the equation yet. 2: Power, Handling, Rigging Val, and Legality - FM vehicles all have these attributes (save the Jefferson Overland Hovertrain which has no Power or Handling ratings). Are the values of these hidden somewhere on the Biohazard site, or have I in my late-night readings overlooked them somewhere in FM? I could probably cobble these values myself, but as I am still learning the system, I am a little hesitant on top of the other insanities I am undertaking as a GM (Grinning Masochist). 3: VTOL Strike Fighter weapon - On pg 158 of the Player's Guide, the armament listing says "Rotary cannon". Am I correct to assume I should basically use the stats for the Autocannon listed on page 149? These are the questions that I've come up with so far as I've been designing new ways for the PCs to overburden hydrogen production facilities. Russell Sloan iniquity@nts-online.net ICQ: 29176029 AIM: EricDaGrey *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Sean Michael Whipkey [highway@cstone.net] Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2000 7:46 AM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Great White Tooth fighting knife Russell Sloan wrote: > this particular trade. With bullets made of high-density plastic at this > point, a bullet that degrades or self-destructs after hitting is a > wonderful thing, particularly if it dissolves into something toxic or > infection promoting should the bullet not be outright fatal. With no Not to mention the fact that it's much harder to do a ballistics test on a bullet that has since disintegrated than an intact (or mostly intact) one like current handguns leave. I would bet that "biodegradable" bullets would be hated by cops. SeanMike -- SeanMike Whipkey - "I figured that most of you were really nice people, or total geeks, hiding behind some sort of Web persona, but with the exception of SeanMike (who *actually* seems to tone down his web presence)" -Patrick Phalen *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Heivilin, Jim [banzai@missouri.edu] Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2000 8:33 AM To: 'blue_planet@lists.ient.com' Subject: RE: [BLUE PLANET] - Advanced weapons technology > -----Original Message----- > From: Malcolm Craig [mailto:malcolmcraig@hotmail.com] > Subject: [BLUE PLANET] - Advanced weapons technology > > The basic point of this query is to find out if there is any > given reason for this (perceived) lack of development (or > otherwise) in this area. Don't get me wrong, I'm not some > sort of weapon obsessive nut as regards games, > just a bit of idle curiosity. > You've given some very good reasons on your own but my take is that it will take some revolutionary development in science to make old-fashion chemical generation of energy for military weapons unpractical. Meaning it's still going to be way cheaper, cleaner, and more practical to use slug throwers for a long time. Gauss weapons are definitely possible (perhaps even now) but would still require more advanced technology to manufacture, maintain and use. Jim *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Heivilin, Jim [banzai@missouri.edu] Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2000 8:24 AM To: 'blue_planet@lists.ient.com' Subject: RE: [BLUE PLANET] - Various and sundry... > -----Original Message----- > From: BIOHZD@aol.com [mailto:BIOHZD@aol.com] > Subject: [BLUE PLANET] - Various and sundry... (longish) > > As a relevant aside, in the campaign I am currently running, > the PCs have established a relationship with one of the > better known "watch dog" CommCore channels, and managed to > broadcast live, multi-camera footage of a Hanover > assault team attacking the native village in which they had > taken refuge. It was that kind of unexpected, player-induced > plot twist that makes gaming so cool. It was awesome to play > through, and totally changed the dynamic of the adventure - > And as one of the players in this game/campaign I want to say I thought it rocked. I was playing a weapons instructor and had been looking at the situation from the stand point of "How do we face off with Hanover pseudo-shock troopers and not get out butts handed to us?". When they came up with the idea it was way cool and things turned from how to survive to "How do we manipulate them into making themselves look as bad as possible, oh, and surviving too?". Expanded my horizons definitely. Jim *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Heivilin, Jim [banzai@missouri.edu] Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2000 8:38 AM To: 'blue_planet@lists.ient.com' Subject: RE: [BLUE PLANET] - Great White Tooth fighting knife > -----Original Message----- > From: Russell Sloan [mailto:iniquity@nts-online.net] > Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Great White Tooth fighting knife > > Obsidian is wonderful stuff. You work it right, and you > can get an edge as sharp as a surgical scalpel. Not quite > organic based, but it requires almost no technology to > manufacture. > How brittle would it be after being worked to the desired edge? > I was thinking about the role of the assassin, and > wonderful thing, particularly if it dissolves into something toxic or > infection promoting should the bullet not be outright fatal. With no > While I was in the service there were rampant rumors that the new Soviet assault rifles (AKM or AK74 IIRC) used bullets coated with some sort of cyanide derivative. Jim *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Russell Sloan [iniquity@nts-online.net] Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2000 3:20 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: RE: [BLUE PLANET] - Great White Tooth fighting knife At 08:38 AM 10/18/00 -0500, you wrote: >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Russell Sloan [mailto:iniquity@nts-online.net] >> Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Great White Tooth fighting knife >> > >> Obsidian is wonderful stuff. You work it right, and you >> can get an edge as sharp as a surgical scalpel. Not quite >> organic based, but it requires almost no technology to >> manufacture. >> >How brittle would it be after being worked to the desired edge? > This is one of the problems that led to the development of copper and bronze tools. The stone is brittle, it is normally shaped and sharpened by chipping. The edge on obsidian will hold up well against soft tissues like plant or animal flesh, but once you get up to something like wood, it starts to wear quickly and may shatter. Definately not something I would recommend for use against heavy battle armor in a knife fight. Russell Sloan iniquity@nts-online.net ICQ: 29176029 AIM: EricDaGrey *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Troy Gustavel [troy_nevermore@yahoo.com] Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2000 5:41 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Advanced weapons technology --- Malcolm Craig wrote: > Lasers are right out as atmospheric weapons due to the ‘blooming’ > effects and energy loss of firing through a gaseous medium, but > surely there would at least be some attention given to gauss weapons > or, at the more experimental side of things, particle beams (perhaps > more in a space or vehicle based application). It has been a while, but I read something a few years ago about how the US military was testing prototype, fighterplane mounted laser weapons systems. Haven't seen a thing about it since Also, what do you mean by a particle beam? I've been having some discussions recently about high tech weapons and am not clear on that term. thanks ===== Troy Gustavel 5825 Bolender Rd. Akron, OH 44319 (330)882 5468 Troy_Nevermore@Yahoo.com "Once upon a midnight dreary..." __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Messenger - Talk while you surf! It's FREE. http://im.yahoo.com/ *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Troy Gustavel [troy_nevermore@yahoo.com] Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2000 5:51 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: RE: [BLUE PLANET] - Great White Tooth fighting knife --- "Heivilin, Jim" wrote: > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Russell Sloan [mailto:iniquity@nts-online.net] > > Obsidian is wonderful stuff. You work it right, and you > > can get an edge as sharp as a surgical scalpel. Not quite > > organic based, but it requires almost no technology to > > manufacture. > > > How brittle would it be after being worked to the desired edge? I took a course on flint knapping once and we used mostly obsidian. A freshly knapped (chipped) obsidian blade can have an edge 1 molecule thick, making it near monowire for sharpness. The catch is of course that it will quickly dull with use. I think it's something like 20 "uses" befor esuch a blade would become duller than a modern steal knife. They don't break very often if used correctly, but they do chip and wear down very rapidly, needing to be "sharpened" by reflaking the blade periodically. No, obsidian blades would not be particularly useful against modern armor, but for natives hunting and skinning animals it would be excellent. there have been studies by archaeologists that have shown flint and obsidian axes can be used to fell trees 8-9 inches thick, but it takes a different method of chopping and takes longer. Some doctors have also used obsidian scalpals in real surgeries because they are sharper and leave a smaller scar, recently a group of archaeologist have formed a business selling obsidian blades to medical groups for this purpose. I have no idea how they are doing, but... also noteworthy about obsidian on posieden, obsidian is formed by volcanic action, with poseiden's tectonic activity, it is quite likely that it has some significant obsidian deposits that could be exploited by natives. ===== Troy Gustavel 5825 Bolender Rd. Akron, OH 44319 (330)882 5468 Troy_Nevermore@Yahoo.com "Once upon a midnight dreary..." __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Messenger - Talk while you surf! It's FREE. http://im.yahoo.com/ *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Atti2dboy@aol.com Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2000 10:41 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Great White Tooth fighting knife In a message dated 10/17/00 6:44:18 PM, BIOHZD@aol.com writes: >I had some hardcore natives in the outer reaches making powerful bows out >of stone snake ribs... Oh, very good. Would the hides of any of Poseidon's native species be suitable for tanning into armor? Possibly bony plates sewn onto a tunic? Also, I was not hinking only of arms and armament applications. Herbal medicines and tools would be very cool. Like an animal bladder used as a botta bottle, or powdered Hexa Boar teeth as a cure for constipation. Of course we all know the medicinal applications of Water Hemp. ;-) Rich "Preserve a sene of wonder. yours or someone elses." *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message.