[Ultra-Tech] Bioplas Guns?

[Varyon]

Originally Posted by Rupert

The only thing that's listed that's made of memory metal is the Morph Axe, I think. None of the things they turn into have complex parts, so I suspect a 'morph gun' would have some large parts that change shape, and a handful of little bits (spring, firing pin, etc.) that have to be carried separately.

I think when I searched for it there was also a rope that was a combination of memory metal and smart bioplastic, as well as a "spider trap" that used memory metal to change shape and imprison the target. I don't recall finding the Morph Axe with that search; maybe it uses a term other than "memory metal". While Bioplas and Living Metal both have write-ups of how they function, Memory Metal does not, it just pops up in the Memory Materials (I think) box and then there are a few items that are made from it, but there's no information on how rapidly (and under what conditions) it heals, what it is (is it a bunch of nanomachines, like a primitive form of Living Metal, or something else?), etc. I could potentially extrapolate - IIRC Bioplas recovers at a rate of 1 HP per 6 hours while Living Metal is 1 per hour, half that rate and it needs access to appropriate materials if it's missing pieces. So, treating Living Metal as TL 12 Memory Metal, maybe the TL 10 version heals at 1 HP per 4 hours but cannot grow replacement parts (but if the user provides them it can incorporate them readily), while the TL 11 version heals at 1 HP per 3 hours and can grow replacement parts at 1/2 or maybe 1/3 that rate (1 HP per 6 or 9 hours).

Originally Posted by ericthered

I've got a program that will let you shoot a couple more shots beyond the built-in-down. Its a life-saver!

Seriously, I do expect you want an override for that, at least in combat situations.

As I noted upthread, I think bioplas barrels are going to only be used by those who don't have the option or inclination to actually go buy a weapon from an FFL, so safeties like this are probably unlikely. The exception could be something like a flare gun, which could probably get away with a bioplas barrel to save on weight. Indeed, modern ones often are made of plastic from what I'm reading, and bioplas is greatly superior to that.

Something like a holdout .22LR could probably get away with a bioplas barrel as well, and I suspect even a catastrophic failure with such would just disable the weapon with minimal injury to the user's hand, so such safeties may not be in play there either. Additionally, putting a lot of rounds through such a weapon in a short period of time would be well outside of its intended use.