How to go about making an Ultra Tech Bow

[Otaku]

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh

Was actually talking about modern Ukraine, particularly as of the last 1½ years.

I didn't even think an example was necessary (though it is appreciated); it shouldn't be any great stretch of the imagination that those with power would find ways for the rules to apply to everyone else. Only a hopeful stretch that some would resist the tyranny as best as they could.

[Ulzgoroth]

Originally Posted by Otaku

I didn't even think an example was necessary (though it is appreciated); it shouldn't be any great stretch of the imagination that those with power would find ways for the rules to apply to everyone else. Only a hopeful stretch that some would resist the tyranny as best as they could.

But that's not what the case is. It specifies that people with pistols are not okay even if they are in a private army. Or if you're referring back to Malloyd's prior version, the private armies were using bows because the rules did apply to them, they just didn't forbid them from being an army. There's nothing there about the rules not applying to people in power either way.


Having somebody enforcing weapon restrictions while not holding any sort of monopoly of force position is pretty weird. I wonder how that works.

[vicky_molokh]

Originally Posted by Otaku

I didn't even think an example was necessary (though it is appreciated); it shouldn't be any great stretch of the imagination that those with power would find ways for the rules to apply to everyone else. Only a hopeful stretch that some would resist the tyranny as best as they could.

I'm not sure if you understood the example. Private armies aren't inherently bad. In fact, they served quite well most of the time in order to protect against invasion. (Though it's not like they don't have dark incidents too . . . as do cops and militaries of the non-private sort too!)
My point is that they are much more 'okay' by both the government and the society than e.g. private civilians owning pistols (though there's also a restriction on rifle types for individual non-organised civilians).

[Otaku]

Originally Posted by Otaku

I didn't even think an example was necessary (though it is appreciated); it shouldn't be any great stretch of the imagination that those with power would find ways for the rules to apply to everyone else. Only a hopeful stretch that some would resist the tyranny as best as they could.

This was a failed attempt at being more concise; I originally wrote more and then edited it down. In doing so... I'm not quite sure what point I was going for. I do believe I was indeed referencing some other earlier comments.

To try again:

1) Obviously there are governments opposed to private citizens owning firearms; sometimes of any type, sometimes just specific types. Those with the correct wealth and connections can often bypass this.

2) Some governments oppose organizing anything resembling a "private army". Others are fine with it.

When the two combine, you might find that those with the correct combination of wealth and influence can field a private army while the more general citizenry cannot. Level of wealth/influence as well as the CR for the society could leave most firearms banned or more heavily regulated than something like a bow and arrow (even an ultra tech enhanced one). For a severely controlling society, it may even be a temporary loophole that the party happens to arrive in a timely fashion to exploit.

Moving from the realm of the legal to the illegal, it may be something similar, only the line is a little fuzzier; said criminals might be perfectly fine breaking the law but lack the resources to obtain firearms anyway or may be taking advantage of certain aspects of the system. If you had an even more restrictive society, for example, organized crime would likely rely heavily on construction tools and equipment that could easily function as weapons (with or without modification). There may be better examples; that one just popped into my head (and perhaps such a society would consider the capacity to build something that also needs to be similarly controlled).

So the general tone is that... no, bizarre standards that don't make much sense are not uncommon in the world. They often arise due to oversights in the law or due to people intentionally playing around with the law.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by Otaku

When the two combine, you might find that those with the correct combination of wealth and influence can field a private army while the more general citizenry cannot.

This is a fairly standard 'warlord' type of government, to be honest.

[Otaku]

Originally Posted by Anthony

This is a fairly standard 'warlord' type of government, to be honest.

Which was the point I was trying to make.

No, really; the fact that it apparently wasn't obvious demonstrates my communication fail. >_<

This seems to be an environment ripe for a GURPS adventure, whichever "side" the PCs end up joining (or fighting).

[jason taylor]

What kind of society are we talking about? Is it for instance a giant Federation that might in fact have low TL warfare going on in fringe planets while the Patrol is busy elsewhere?