Real-Life Weirdness

[vicky_molokh]

What does a post-apoc road warrior need to be faster than the wind?

Apparently, nothing more than the power of the wind itself!

How counterintuitive and implausible: wind-powered vehicle moving faster than wind that powers it.

[Daigoro]

Ritual trepanation in Chalcolithic Russia to unlock Magery 2.


Why Our Ancestors Drilled Holes In Each Other's Skulls
She believes that trepanations in specific, dangerous areas of the cranium may have been performed to achieve "transformations" of some kind. She suggests that, by trepanning in these places, people thought they could acquire unique skills that ordinary members of society did not have.

[Apollonian]

So this popped out of the pages of GURPS Cabal and ended up in my neighborhood, about four minutes from my house:

The Sekhet-Maat Lodge, OTO.

Not to knock alternative religion, but if I was looking for an example front organization for a Cabal lodge, I don't think I could make up a better one. It's even go the mandatory Egyptian-themed name.

[RyanW]

Originally Posted by Johnny1A.2

Hmm...double-crossing the FSB at that level of money might transform an Oceans 11 scenario into a 'run for your life and find a deep place to hide' scenario...which could be a good gaming hook for some not-too-bright (or very technically clever but otherwise clueless) crooks.

I can't think of the exact way to pull it off, but I'm imaging a ruse that leaves both sides thinking they have to conceal the disappearance from the other.

[EltonRobb]

Would the Electric Universe be of some help for Space campaigns?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN7PceycgJg

[ak_aramis]

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh

What does a post-apoc road warrior need to be faster than the wind?

Apparently, nothing more than the power of the wind itself!

How counterintuitive and implausible: wind-powered vehicle moving faster than wind that powers it.

If one's familiar with sailing, no, it's not at all implausible. sails provide best force conversion with wind from abeam, not from abaft.

Now, that they doing it from due abaft, interesting.

[vicky_molokh]

Originally Posted by ak_aramis

If one's familiar with sailing, no, it's not at all implausible. sails provide best force conversion with wind from abeam, not from abaft.

Now, that they doing it from due abaft, interesting.

The counterintuitive part is that the craft moves faster than the wind while powered only by it. Imagine blowing at a light item and having the item move away from you faster than the air moving out of your mouth.

[ravenfish]

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh

The counterintuitive part is that the craft moves faster than the wind while powered only by it.

I think Aramis's point is that sailing ships have been traveling faster than the wind that propels them (when that wind is not from dead aft) for thousands of years, so, while it may be fairly mind-blowing, people familiar with nautical issues sort of have their mind pre-blown on this matter.

[Dalillama]

But in this case, the wind is dead aft, which is the mind-blowing part. Also that the same rig can sail directly into the wind faster than the wind

[ak_aramis]

Originally Posted by Dalillama

But in this case, the wind is dead aft, which is the mind-blowing part. Also that the same rig can sail directly into the wind faster than the wind

Which is the only truly intriguing part of it.