What are your thoughts on the Technology differences between our world and Car Wars? - Page 3

swordtart · 05-19-2012, 08:25 AM

My washing machine has an electric motor, it sure as heck ain't silent. UK milkfloats (when we had them) were electric powered (to avoid waking people up when they did their 5am deliveries). Again they weren't silent, just quieter (and they only did about 30 mph).

With CW the tire squeal would be quite loud, as would the road noise. Rattling ammo bins, overdrives and high torqe motors kicking in, screeching brakes, plus of course the weapons themselves once battle kicked off.

Remember with CW a stealth system is an optional extra and was around long before gas engines came into being ergo electric cars make enough noise to give their position away.

Angrytubist · 05-22-2012, 12:04 PM

I really like the bioplastic/biofuel idea. In fact, what if the former is the crude version of the latter. Then you would have barefoot children, wandering the post-apocalyptic roadways, gathering armor shards to sell to the local fuel-rendering plant.

As far as cellphones/the internet goes, I think that in Car Wars they'd be more like computer-linked HAM/CB radio equipment, with better equipment able to access the satellite net. The local town/fortress-city/autoduellists probably maintain a tower/repeater. I think wired networks would be shunned due to their physical vulnerability to attack. So basically they'd approach smartphones in capability, but much more decentralized. Also due to the Worm/rampant hacking you'd best be careful what apps you download, and whose network you access.

Personally I don't care for jets or tanks in my world, I think the metal/fuel cost of these monstrosities would be too great for any post-apocolypse national govt. Especially given the relative inexpensiveness of armed cars/propeller planes. The same goes for huge steel battleships/aircraft carriers.

P.S. This is only tangentially related, but I'd like to see the Car Wars future history/timeline updated somewhat in its tech and political assumptions. Possibly rebooted with 50 years of future history starting in 2012/2013. However this should be strongly rooted in the original source material, grain-blight/nuclear-apocalypse-that-wasn't/the Worm should all still be there.

swordtart · 05-22-2012, 12:15 PM

I am with you on the low grade networking of computers, once you tear down all those telephone systems your radio bandwidth is going to get pretty squashed.

This would mean that whilst data could be transferred fairly quickly from town to town it would probably be through a single provider (at significant cost). TV network maybe.

Think old west telegraph office and that's my default small town set up. Obviously in the glistening archologies and corporate enclaves there is better communication, but it is restricted to important traffic and will tend to be well shielded sat comms (because you don't want Rivalcorp Inc. tapping into all your nitty gritty).

That's why couriering data cubes can still be the best way (lucky for us couriers eh!)

Angrytubist · 05-22-2012, 12:27 PM

True, all these radio/satellite transmissions in my version can be tapped. which is why people hire couriers. Also I think a lot of frequencies would open up post-apocolypse. Due to the military reserve frequencies being unenforceable, as well as all the cell/analog TV/FM Radio repeater stations going down, would allow "other things" to be broadcast on those frequencies. Again this could all be jammed by gangs/military rivals. again encouraging courier work. Especially in dangerous areas.

Edit: I noticed this post sounded harsh when I read it. I just wanted to point out that semi-reliable long distance communication doesn't = low demand for physical couriers. Whichever way you prefer it.

Buzzardo · 05-22-2012, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angrytubist

I really like the bioplastic/biofuel idea. In fact, what if the former is the crude version of the latter. Then you would have barefoot children, wandering the post-apocalyptic roadways, gathering armor shards to sell to the local fuel-rendering plant.

The plastics made from vegetable oil can be recycled back into more plastic. So the kids wouldn't sell their scraps to the fuel refinery. They'd sell them to the nearest armory or whatever business collects them for pickup by the nearest armory. But they'd still be out there collecting them.

Croy · 05-23-2012, 12:05 PM

How do they maintain the roads?

Eventually they will wear down and need to be re-paved to be useable.

In the CW universe is there some mega-armored tank road paver machine with a company of infantry around it for defense?

Or is the pavement some new blend that never wears down no matter how many landmines explode on it's surface?

Also, who cleans up all the road hazards after a battle? Like unexploded mines, spikes, oil, etc.. Otherwise the next cars to go by may get hit as well.

Pacey · 05-23-2012, 12:35 PM

One of the ADQs detailed construction vehicles and equipment. I haven't checked, but it might be available to buy as a PDF...

Angrytubist · 05-23-2012, 12:42 PM

I would say most existing roads would be in fairly bad shape, except for interstates and other major thoroughfares, which I cheat on by postulating a super-durable road base developed in the CW universe. I do like the Idea of fortress-cities fielding armed road crews though (love the armored road-paver, I'm gonna use that.) They probably wouldn't like folks using dropped weapons or high explosives that damage the road surface.

As far as dropped weapons, wrecks and other such things. I expect you would encounter them on any over-the-road journey. I also expect there would be a thriving salvage business carried out in those items, which would keep the post-apocalypse highways from becoming completely clogged.

kjamma4 · 05-23-2012, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacey

One of the ADQs detailed construction vehicles and equipment. I haven't checked, but it might be available to buy as a PDF...

All of the ADQs are available for purchase as PDFs.

shadowjack · 05-23-2012, 03:03 PM

A lot of the RASG entries implied that road maintenance was desperately underfunded most places, and only the central corridors got much regular maintenance—though, yeah, there was the occasional new, high-quality road. (I seem to recall there was at least one Autobahn-equivalent in the States, but I forget which state.) The local governments would protect their roads by patrolling as much as they could, and assigning a hefty fine if anyone dropped mines or otherwise shot up the roads. Some jurisdictions would even levy a fee simply for bringing minedroppers through, whether you used them or not! Pro truckers drive relatively slowly and carefully, ideally with an escort driver running point to check road conditions.

05-19-2012, 08:25 AM	#21
swordtart Join Date: Jun 2008	Re: What are your thoughts on the Technology differences between our world and Car Wa My washing machine has an electric motor, it sure as heck ain't silent. UK milkfloats (when we had them) were electric powered (to avoid waking people up when they did their 5am deliveries). Again they weren't silent, just quieter (and they only did about 30 mph). With CW the tire squeal would be quite loud, as would the road noise. Rattling ammo bins, overdrives and high torqe motors kicking in, screeching brakes, plus of course the weapons themselves once battle kicked off. Remember with CW a stealth system is an optional extra and was around long before gas engines came into being ergo electric cars make enough noise to give their position away.

05-22-2012, 12:04 PM	#22
Angrytubist Join Date: May 2012	Re: What are your thoughts on the Technology differences between our world and Car Wa I really like the bioplastic/biofuel idea. In fact, what if the former is the crude version of the latter. Then you would have barefoot children, wandering the post-apocalyptic roadways, gathering armor shards to sell to the local fuel-rendering plant. As far as cellphones/the internet goes, I think that in Car Wars they'd be more like computer-linked HAM/CB radio equipment, with better equipment able to access the satellite net. The local town/fortress-city/autoduellists probably maintain a tower/repeater. I think wired networks would be shunned due to their physical vulnerability to attack. So basically they'd approach smartphones in capability, but much more decentralized. Also due to the Worm/rampant hacking you'd best be careful what apps you download, and whose network you access. Personally I don't care for jets or tanks in my world, I think the metal/fuel cost of these monstrosities would be too great for any post-apocolypse national govt. Especially given the relative inexpensiveness of armed cars/propeller planes. The same goes for huge steel battleships/aircraft carriers. P.S. This is only tangentially related, but I'd like to see the Car Wars future history/timeline updated somewhat in its tech and political assumptions. Possibly rebooted with 50 years of future history starting in 2012/2013. However this should be strongly rooted in the original source material, grain-blight/nuclear-apocalypse-that-wasn't/the Worm should all still be there. Last edited by Angrytubist; 05-22-2012 at 12:12 PM. Reason: the postscript.

05-22-2012, 12:15 PM	#23
swordtart Join Date: Jun 2008	Re: What are your thoughts on the Technology differences between our world and Car Wa I am with you on the low grade networking of computers, once you tear down all those telephone systems your radio bandwidth is going to get pretty squashed. This would mean that whilst data could be transferred fairly quickly from town to town it would probably be through a single provider (at significant cost). TV network maybe. Think old west telegraph office and that's my default small town set up. Obviously in the glistening archologies and corporate enclaves there is better communication, but it is restricted to important traffic and will tend to be well shielded sat comms (because you don't want Rivalcorp Inc. tapping into all your nitty gritty). That's why couriering data cubes can still be the best way (lucky for us couriers eh!)

05-22-2012, 12:27 PM	#24
Angrytubist Join Date: May 2012	Re: What are your thoughts on the Technology differences between our world and Car Wa True, all these radio/satellite transmissions in my version can be tapped. which is why people hire couriers. Also I think a lot of frequencies would open up post-apocolypse. Due to the military reserve frequencies being unenforceable, as well as all the cell/analog TV/FM Radio repeater stations going down, would allow "other things" to be broadcast on those frequencies. Again this could all be jammed by gangs/military rivals. again encouraging courier work. Especially in dangerous areas. Edit: I noticed this post sounded harsh when I read it. I just wanted to point out that semi-reliable long distance communication doesn't = low demand for physical couriers. Whichever way you prefer it. Last edited by Angrytubist; 05-22-2012 at 12:36 PM.

05-23-2012, 12:05 PM	#26
Croy Join Date: Jan 2008	Re: What are your thoughts on the Technology differences between our world and Car Wa How do they maintain the roads? Eventually they will wear down and need to be re-paved to be useable. In the CW universe is there some mega-armored tank road paver machine with a company of infantry around it for defense? Or is the pavement some new blend that never wears down no matter how many landmines explode on it's surface? Also, who cleans up all the road hazards after a battle? Like unexploded mines, spikes, oil, etc.. Otherwise the next cars to go by may get hit as well.

05-23-2012, 12:35 PM	#27
Pacey Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Leeds, England	Re: What are your thoughts on the Technology differences between our world and Car Wa One of the ADQs detailed construction vehicles and equipment. I haven't checked, but it might be available to buy as a PDF...

05-23-2012, 12:42 PM	#28
Angrytubist Join Date: May 2012	Re: What are your thoughts on the Technology differences between our world and Car Wa I would say most existing roads would be in fairly bad shape, except for interstates and other major thoroughfares, which I cheat on by postulating a super-durable road base developed in the CW universe. I do like the Idea of fortress-cities fielding armed road crews though (love the armored road-paver, I'm gonna use that.) They probably wouldn't like folks using dropped weapons or high explosives that damage the road surface. As far as dropped weapons, wrecks and other such things. I expect you would encounter them on any over-the-road journey. I also expect there would be a thriving salvage business carried out in those items, which would keep the post-apocalypse highways from becoming completely clogged.

05-23-2012, 03:03 PM	#30
shadowjack Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Endor	Re: What are your thoughts on the Technology differences between our world and Car Wa A lot of the RASG entries implied that road maintenance was desperately underfunded most places, and only the central corridors got much regular maintenance—though, yeah, there was the occasional new, high-quality road. (I seem to recall there was at least one Autobahn-equivalent in the States, but I forget which state.) The local governments would protect their roads by patrolling as much as they could, and assigning a hefty fine if anyone dropped mines or otherwise shot up the roads. Some jurisdictions would even levy a fee simply for bringing minedroppers through, whether you used them or not! Pro truckers drive relatively slowly and carefully, ideally with an escort driver running point to check road conditions.