Gear Rifles - design assistance requested

FenrisLoki · 02-16-2022, 11:54 AM

So my take on this from a physicist's perspective, while not being completely realistic is it sounds very fun and cool. My answers would be:

1. I'd say you should store multiple shots per crank session (maybe 4-6) then have a lengthy winding session. Additionally, you could see a slight reduction in power per additional shot as the gears wind down.

2. I think your cranking set sounds like a good balance between realism and game balance.

3. I think you've got them a bit too light. All this mechanism is going to be far heavier than real guns. I'd say a minimum should be double a comparative TL4 gun.

4. Barrel length I feel is your trickiest and potentially least realistic point. A longer barrel is going to have far more friction with this system than a bullet so I don't think things scaling like a real gun is appropriate. At best you might break even with losses and gains. The most realistic method might be what you suggest with the length being related to the strength of the gun, but I would say if anything the stronger the gun, the shorter the range should be due to friction losses. And it might be interesting effects on usability.

5. Rifling again would be very tricky. Your ideas though are a pretty cool way of giving some rational explanation. I think the wax jacket is most realistic. The trade off of range for accuracy seems most feasible.

6. Caliber seems good the way you've described. Flechette darts might be good too as an option.

02-16-2022, 11:54 AM	#3
FenrisLoki Join Date: Nov 2015	Re: Gear Rifles - design assistance requested So my take on this from a physicist's perspective, while not being completely realistic is it sounds very fun and cool. My answers would be: 1. I'd say you should store multiple shots per crank session (maybe 4-6) then have a lengthy winding session. Additionally, you could see a slight reduction in power per additional shot as the gears wind down. 2. I think your cranking set sounds like a good balance between realism and game balance. 3. I think you've got them a bit too light. All this mechanism is going to be far heavier than real guns. I'd say a minimum should be double a comparative TL4 gun. 4. Barrel length I feel is your trickiest and potentially least realistic point. A longer barrel is going to have far more friction with this system than a bullet so I don't think things scaling like a real gun is appropriate. At best you might break even with losses and gains. The most realistic method might be what you suggest with the length being related to the strength of the gun, but I would say if anything the stronger the gun, the shorter the range should be due to friction losses. And it might be interesting effects on usability. 5. Rifling again would be very tricky. Your ideas though are a pretty cool way of giving some rational explanation. I think the wax jacket is most realistic. The trade off of range for accuracy seems most feasible. 6. Caliber seems good the way you've described. Flechette darts might be good too as an option.