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Sniper Scopes

This fascinating series is a combination of historical seafaring, swashbuckling adventure, and high technological science-fiction. Join us in a discussion!
Re: Sniper Scopes
Post by fallsfromtrees   » Sat Nov 15, 2014 3:06 pm

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EdThomas wrote:snip
2) I tend to agree that some weapons in Charis may not be developed right away. The church may do things differently though. Consider the first hand crank Gatling gun. For Charis, it does not make much sense as they are largely a mobile assault force. At some point, though, the church (or at least Go4) have to start thinking of building defensive points that are more hardened. A hand crank Gatling gun in a pillbox would be difficult point over run. The same goes for shotguns.

I disagree that Charis could not use a Gatling Gun. Most of the Gatling Guns I have seen were wheeled, so can be considered a type of field gun, many of which are currently in use by the ICA. In particular, when they are setting up across a CoG supply line, then they are on the strategic offense, but tactical defense, and the Gatling Gun will be very useful - particularly against mass assaults from the Harchong army. Am example is in LAMA where EHM and DE plug the supply line for the AoS, and effectively destroy a 200K army.
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Re: Sniper Scopes
Post by TN4994   » Sat Nov 15, 2014 3:24 pm

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Back to Montrose Toast's telling us of Bunny Tubes. If the pneumatic message tube was developed by the EoC. What would the nickname be?
Does Safehold have a small rodent type creature, such as a rabbit, squirrel, hamster, or beaver?
And does it have a cute designation like bunny?
Or are we going to be stuck with Spidey-Rat?
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Re: Sniper Scopes
Post by Hildum   » Sat Nov 15, 2014 3:30 pm

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TN4994 wrote:Also the machinist ruler. Hundreths of an inch.


These do exist, and were explicitly mentioned in one of the books, under the discussion of standardization and the tooling needed to support it.
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Re: Sniper Scopes
Post by Hildum   » Sat Nov 15, 2014 3:59 pm

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TN4994 wrote:Wondering about the introduction of steel cable suspension bridges. If steam locomotives come into play, a line can be run from north section of Margaret's land across the Throat (narrow point) connecting to the main section. Not having access to the ICN charts, I don't know if it is feasable to mount a project to connect Silverlode to Old Charis or from the northern peninsula of Silverlode to Emerald. Perhaps a railbarge type of ferry will be initiated first? Also with the introduction of gas lamps, will lighthouses come into play in 10 or 20 years?


Looking at the map, it might be possible to build a bridge between Lochair and Matador, but it is not clear if that really would provide much of an advantage. I wonder if it might be better to build a heavy railroad from Tellesburg to the Barony of White Church to allow the bay there to be developed as a naval/commercial base. Roundhead Bay and South Bay would also be potentially interesting, as would the southern end of Margaret Bay.

In fact, a dual track rail line connecting southern Margaret Bay, Westrock Reach, and the Barony of White Church with a spurs into Larek and Tellesburg would be useful in the short term assuming that shipyards can be built reasonably quickly. Rail lines could eventually extend to the southern coast of the Throat and Black Shoal Bay to cut shipment times and increase cargo capacity.

In the longer term, the fastest transit between Charis and Chishom might be as follows:
Rail from Tellesburg to Crown Point.
Ferry from Crown Point to Triton Head
Rail from Triton Head to North Bay or Fallow Bay on Emerald (probably transiting Eraystor)
Ferry to Rock Coast Keep
Rail to Cherayth

Note that passenger steam locomotives can be as fast as 125 mph, much much faster than any passenger vessel. (In fact, I suspect it would be possible to go faster with a turbine locomotive - steam powered Shinkansen anyone?)
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Re: Sniper Scopes
Post by akira.taylor   » Sat Nov 15, 2014 4:27 pm

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TN4994 wrote:Wondering about the introduction of steel cable suspension bridges. If steam locomotives come into play, a line can be run from north section of Margaret's land across the Throat (narrow point) connecting to the main section. Not having access to the ICN charts, I don't know if it is feasable to mount a project to connect Silverlode to Old Charis or from the northern peninsula of Silverlode to Emerald. Perhaps a railbarge type of ferry will be initiated first? Also with the introduction of gas lamps, will lighthouses come into play in 10 or 20 years?


So, bridges have come up more than once, now. I would point out that the shortest bridge (by my measurement) (The Throat) would be about 24 miles long, over water. I doubt Charis could build it. How deep the water is, how deep bedrock (or another bearing surface) is, and how fast the current goes (tides) would all be factors. [Going to Silverload from Charis can island-hop, but the main span is much longer - and Charis is mountains on its side.]
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Re: Sniper Scopes
Post by n7axw   » Sat Nov 15, 2014 5:38 pm

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ETathome wrote:Hello, also a new person to post.

I also have a few thoughts about technology currently in use on Safehold.

1) We tend to think of what's available based on our own development. What about technology branches that we decided not to pursue? The steam powered car is mentioned in one of the books as a possibility, and they have been built (Jay Leno's Garage has one). But it was not pursued because of the internal combustion engine. Given that electricity is being avoided for the moment, might they choose a different path of technological development? Things we know are possible, but have developed other methods because of one reason or another?

2) I tend to agree that some weapons in Charis may not be developed right away. The church may do things differently though. Consider the first hand crank Gatlin gun. For Charis, it does not make much sense as they are largely a mobile assault force. At some point, though, the church (or at least Go4) have to start thinking of building defensive points that are more hardened. A hand crank Gatling gun in a pillbox would be difficult point over run. The same goes for shotguns. Yes, Charis may not need them because they are attacking. As a defensive weapon in the trenches, it would have a lot more appeal. I also remember mines being brought up. I agree, again, that it is unlikely that Charis would use such a weapon. Clyntahn would not care about civilian casualties, and would probably love the idea as a way to bleed off the invading enemy without using any troops he may consider "unreliable".

3) Final thought: Clyntahn already has examples of tech that Charis uses. Sometimes he has them long before admitting to it. Might he start creating to levels of armies? Let the allied kingdoms have one level of tech, allowed by the church. Then create a second group of the church forces that is allowed to use tech similar to Charis, because they are "God's Champions" and Clyntahn is more likely to trust them. Plus it gives him a nice club for any of his "allies".


Hi Etathome,

Welcome to the forums. I hope you enjoy the give and take.

Just one comment on your idea. I think that Clynthan and his crowd are shortly going to be so desperate to fend off the Alliance that they will be throwing as much of everything they have into the fray without worrying about different levels of armies.

Don
When any group seeks political power in God's name, both religion and politics are instantly corrupted.
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Re: Sniper Scopes
Post by Randomiser   » Sat Nov 15, 2014 6:05 pm

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ETathome

Welcome to the forums.

The mines Charis won't be introducing are naval mines, since they are the dominant sea power. They do already, as of LAMA, use a variety of landmines, named Kau-Yungs by the temple forces. They have pressure mines, trip wire mines, ones which throw a canister of balls into the air which then explodes, and shaped charge directional ones (Claymores in RL, 'sweepers' on Safehold) at least.
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Re: Sniper Scopes
Post by TN4994   » Sat Nov 15, 2014 7:11 pm

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On bridging the Throat with a railroad:
Originally I thought of putting a span at where Rock Shoal Bay met the Sea of Charis. Maybe later on. But now the crossing needs protection from enemy ships. Yes it's unlikely. But knowing what's available at the end of LAMA, a crossing could be done using trestles, causways, or pontoon (or a combination of those), Lock Island, and two pairs of turnstile bridges (butted together) built on man-made islands.
The question arises: What is the value or importance to justify the construction?
Last edited by TN4994 on Sat Nov 15, 2014 8:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Sniper Scopes
Post by EdThomas   » Sat Nov 15, 2014 7:29 pm

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Hildum wrote:SNIP
In the longer term, the fastest transit between Charis and Chishom might be as follows:
Rail from Tellesburg to Crown Point.
Ferry from Crown Point to Triton Head
Rail from Triton Head to North Bay or Fallow Bay on Emerald (probably transiting Eraystor)
Ferry to Rock Coast Keep
Rail to Cherayth
SNIP

My first reaction was containers containers containers. RORO rail terminals might be a cheaper way to go. Purpose-built metal ferries, of course
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Re: Sniper Scopes
Post by TN4994   » Sat Nov 15, 2014 8:25 pm

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Maybe Old Charis will forgo the railroads in favor of Steam Power Road Trains emulating the Australian system. Something mentioned pneumatic tires.
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