11-15-2018, 05:47 PM | #21 |
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Berkeley, CA
|
Re: Are TL4 'Rocket-Pack's Possible?
The problem isn't weight. The problem is that the aerodynamic knowledge required doesn't exist at TL 4, and for that matter the math required to make use of the aerodynamic knowledge also doesn't exist.
|
11-15-2018, 05:50 PM | #22 |
Join Date: Mar 2013
|
Re: Are TL4 'Rocket-Pack's Possible?
Trial and error development.
|
11-15-2018, 06:02 PM | #23 |
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Berkeley, CA
|
Re: Are TL4 'Rocket-Pack's Possible?
Coming up with an aerofoil via trial and errors is not actually impossible, evolution managed it a few times, but the amount required is very large (even if you start at TL 4, it probably won't still be TL 4 when you finish).
|
11-15-2018, 06:14 PM | #24 |
Join Date: Dec 2005
|
Re: Are TL4 'Rocket-Pack's Possible?
The "Measurement" spell can accurately measure curves, the volume and surface area of a sphere and many other things.
Anyhow, I think you'd have a gunpowder reservoir with a valve resembling a baker's sifter. The rate at which the sifter is cranked would increase or reduce the volume of powder dropping into the firing chamber. As one would expect there would be a chamber between the fuel and firing chamber that can be sealed from both ends to prevent back blasts. You'd get a stuttering and jerky ride of course.
__________________
http://www.neutralgroundgames.com |
11-15-2018, 07:36 PM | #25 |
Join Date: Mar 2013
|
Re: Are TL4 'Rocket-Pack's Possible?
The Aborignal Boomerang is an airfoil that was developed at TL 0, and Fantasy-Tech 1 has real world development beginning at TL 3
|
11-15-2018, 07:59 PM | #26 |
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: New York City
|
Re: Are TL4 'Rocket-Pack's Possible?
To the OP: There was a whole article in Pyramid.
#3-39 p.25-29 that talks about this. It also has some aircraft based on it. I highly recommend it. An excellent article. |
11-16-2018, 02:33 AM | #27 |
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Maitland, NSW, Australia
|
Re: Are TL4 'Rocket-Pack's Possible?
Australian aborigines might not have had metal but many aspects of their society were not TL0. It is likely that a practical returning boomerang took many centuries of trial and error to develop. The final design should be assigned TL3, not TL0.
__________________
Compact Castles gives the gamer an instant portfolio of genuine, real-world castle floorplans to use in any historical, low-tech, or fantasy game setting. Last edited by DanHoward; 11-16-2018 at 02:39 AM. |
11-16-2018, 02:59 AM | #28 |
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: U.K.
|
Re: Are TL4 'Rocket-Pack's Possible?
The problem with trial and error in early aircraft development is dead test pilots. Who are, at low TLs, frequently the people whose bright idea this was.
It was bad enough at TL6. At TL4? Lots of dead monks and mandarins. Not many aircraft.
__________________
-- Phil Masters My Home Page. My Self-Publications: On Warehouse 23 and On DriveThruRPG. |
11-16-2018, 03:07 AM | #29 |
Join Date: Mar 2013
|
Re: Are TL4 'Rocket-Pack's Possible?
People are a renewable resource, and how many people participate in birdman contests these days?
|
11-16-2018, 04:17 AM | #30 | |
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Maitland, NSW, Australia
|
Re: Are TL4 'Rocket-Pack's Possible?
Quote:
The birdman competition is hardly a valid comparison. A more accurate comparison would be the urban legends about people bolting JATO rockets onto their cars.
__________________
Compact Castles gives the gamer an instant portfolio of genuine, real-world castle floorplans to use in any historical, low-tech, or fantasy game setting. Last edited by DanHoward; 11-16-2018 at 04:25 AM. |
|
|
|