11-18-2013, 01:52 AM | #1 |
Join Date: Aug 2013
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Modern tech swords
Swords are commonly used in low tech settings (TL1-4) and some ultra tech settings (TL9-12) have laser swords or plasma blades (Star wars, phantasy star online, Metal gear rising), put what are swords like in both a realistic and fictional sense in modern tech (TL7-8) escpecally in TL8, how would they be made? With modern material and engineer, how effective would they be? How superior would they be compare to low tech swords, and what different types would they be? If there is any resources of modern swords I would like a link.
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11-18-2013, 02:02 AM | #2 |
Join Date: Feb 2011
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Re: Modern tech swords
High-tech has rules for modern replicas of weapons from earlier TLs. To paraphrase: x1/2 the cost, 2x the DR/HP, and x1/2 the weight. Pick two, plus get "stainless" for free.
HOWEVER. This doesn't cover weapons built in a hypothetical TL4+4 setting where gunpowder wasn't invented (or something). It's possible that there'd be some special and interesting alternative weapons... |
11-18-2013, 02:11 AM | #3 | |
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Ukhta, Russia
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Re: Modern tech swords
Quote:
And TL4+4 would have gunpoweder by default (unless specifically stated that propellant technology is not even up to TL4 standards) Last edited by Nyarli; 11-18-2013 at 02:15 AM. |
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11-18-2013, 02:23 AM | #4 | |
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Berkeley, CA
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Re: Modern tech swords
Quote:
In terms of effectiveness, the short answer is 'not effective enough for anyone to bother making them, at least as weapons'. No conceivable TL 8 sword, wielded with human strength, will penetrate armor that can stop rifle bullets (in fact, this probably should apply upwards -- any tech you can use on a sword can also be used on armor and bullets, so armor that stops TLn military weapons will stop any conceivable TLn sword). |
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11-18-2013, 02:29 AM | #5 |
Wielder of Smart Pants
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ventura CA
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Re: Modern tech swords
Stainless steel is a terrible material for actual swords (as opposed to pretty wall hanging sword like objects) and should probably be treated as Cheap for purposes of breakage (but not cost). They are easier to maintain as decorations, which is why they are made ("beater" high carbon swords need to be cleaned and oiled on a regular basis).
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11-18-2013, 02:33 AM | #6 |
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Berkeley, CA
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Re: Modern tech swords
Stainless steel is not a single material; a sword made of a modern high carbon stainless steel would probably be perfectly fine.
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11-18-2013, 02:39 AM | #7 |
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Maitland, NSW, Australia
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Re: Modern tech swords
I can't think of a sword maker who would recommend any kind of stainless steel for a sword that was intended for anything other than display.
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11-18-2013, 02:40 AM | #8 |
Wielder of Smart Pants
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ventura CA
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Re: Modern tech swords
I don't know a lot about materials science or metallurgy but I do know a bit about swords. I'm fairly certain that the weapons you are describing here do not exist for any price. Why is that?
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11-18-2013, 04:04 AM | #9 |
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Fryers Forest Australia
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Re: Modern tech swords
Not even one if the modern brews like s30v?
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11-18-2013, 04:06 AM | #10 |
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Maitland, NSW, Australia
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Re: Modern tech swords
From the specs it seems like it might make a decent sword but I can't think of a single sword maker who would want to work with it.
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Tags |
high tech, weapons |
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