[Ultra Tech] Non-lethal warfare at TL9

Pursuivant · 09-21-2023, 06:04 PM

Lots of electrolasers, sleep gas and tangler munitions where human vs. human combat is expected.

Far fewer large area of effect explosive weapons. No indiscriminately targeted weapons like mines - unless they're stun or capture mines.

Depending on the level of medical technology available weapons that "temporarily maim" targets might be acceptable. E.g., blinding lasers are acceptable if blindness can be repaired with surgery or cyberware.

If you want to really limit casualties, restrict war to online VR settings with AI computers acting as referees. Alternately, make war similar to low TL ritual combat where impressive threat displays, counting coup, first blood and wins in champions duels are more important than actual combat.

Since the whole premise is "war on the honor system" where everyone has to overcome basic human instincts and play by strict rules the entire culture has to have a deep and instinctive respect for life (at least human life). Maybe humans get rewired to behave more like pure predators where intimidation displays are sufficient to settle most issues. Maybe benevolent AI computers run things and have decided that controlled inter-group violence is a healthy part of East African Savanna Ape colony management, but it shouldn't be allowed to get out of hand.

09-21-2023, 06:04 PM	#3
Pursuivant Join Date: Apr 2005	Re: [Ultra Tech] Non-lethal warfare at TL9 Lots of electrolasers, sleep gas and tangler munitions where human vs. human combat is expected. Far fewer large area of effect explosive weapons. No indiscriminately targeted weapons like mines - unless they're stun or capture mines. Depending on the level of medical technology available weapons that "temporarily maim" targets might be acceptable. E.g., blinding lasers are acceptable if blindness can be repaired with surgery or cyberware. If you want to really limit casualties, restrict war to online VR settings with AI computers acting as referees. Alternately, make war similar to low TL ritual combat where impressive threat displays, counting coup, first blood and wins in champions duels are more important than actual combat. Since the whole premise is "war on the honor system" where everyone has to overcome basic human instincts and play by strict rules the entire culture has to have a deep and instinctive respect for life (at least human life). Maybe humans get rewired to behave more like pure predators where intimidation displays are sufficient to settle most issues. Maybe benevolent AI computers run things and have decided that controlled inter-group violence is a healthy part of East African Savanna Ape colony management, but it shouldn't be allowed to get out of hand.