[OOC] The Relics (No Plot/Fantasy/Character Driven/Worthy of Skepticism)

[Guilty Spark]

Ellri said
What sort of developments is it acceptable for his egypt-based society to have?

Ah, well my knowledge of Egypt's architectural marvels (and other technologies) is limited, so I don't know what to recommend.

[Maki Casanova]

Is an armed attached crossbow all right? It's one of those where he can load up arrows into it, and then shoot, like a gun with bullets. I don't plan on him starting with it immediately though.

[Maki Casanova]

DP

[Guilty Spark]

Maki Casanova said
Is an armed attached crossbow all right? It's one of those where he can load up arrows into it, and then shoot, like a gun with bullets. I don't plan on him starting with it immediately though.

Apparently I've decided against crossbows already, so it's pre-crossbow technology.

[Maki Casanova]

Aw snap. All right then. Also, can anyone give me an idea of where to start? There's so much going on right now, not sure where I could jump in.

[WilsonTurner]

Maki Casanova said
Aw snap. All right then. Also, can anyone give me an idea of where to start? There's so much going on right now, not sure where I could jump in.

Farm or small village; "Aw snap! Fire!"

[Guilty Spark]

WilsonTurner said
Farm or small village; "Aw snap! Fire!"

That's a good idea.

[Sundered Echo]

I would personally like to see more people in Amaryth - if you're in the outer city you'll've been rounded up and kept out of the fighting by Kalesian troops.

Of course I shall understand if you choose not to go there, its a little chaotic right now.

[Guilty Spark]

Echo has a point as well, no reason you can't blend in with the civilian population.

[Ellri]

Crossbows make all those lovely shiny knights too easily dead, Maki. Yes, plate armor and crossbows co-existed for a while, but thats only because the church set up a ban forbidding the stronger crossbows for a good while. Till they banned such, nobles were dying at an alarming rate of the pincushion syndrome.

We'd recommend in city, too few people there. As invasions go, this one is among the safest to be a civilian in the middle of.

[Sep]

Guilty Spark said
Ah, well my knowledge of Egypt's architectural marvels (and other technologies) is limited, so I don't know what to recommend.

I was going to base the culture mainly upon egypt. They were pretty advanced for their time with various slave operated pulleys :P Even with access to the knowledge the same era as the crossbow I'd think they'd be doing some fairly fancy stuff.

[Maki Casanova]

If you don't mind me asking, what's the difference between a crossbow and a long bow in terms of power?

[Sundered Echo]

That can vary quite a bit. Crossbows generally had a smaller range of power (while all being on average stronger than bows), whereas a bow can vary considerably. The most powerful Longbows can easily pierce a thick wooden shield or even lighter plate, but such bows require both good craftsmanship and a very strong, tall archer to wield them, and are often as tall as ther wielder even when strung.

Shorter, lower quality bows range quite a bit, though the general rule is shorter bow = less power. There are exceptions based on bow design though - it can be quite a complex field.

[Ellri]

Crossbows were generally more powerful at a short range, but due to some science we don't have in front of us right now (wind resistance stuff, lots of mechanics), they're not as effective at a long range. Longbows fire faster and further than crossbows, but they have less stopping power. I.e. they can't penetrate armor quite as well.

Also, an expert longbowman takes a decade or more to train, while a crossbowman only takes a few months to train.

In essence for crossbow vs. longbow:
Crossbow: punches harder - shorter range - slow to reload
Longbow: smaller punch - longer range - quick to reload

[Sundered Echo]

I should note that the most powerful of longbows are still fearsome weapons. As Ellri says though, an archer takes a very long time to train, whereas a crossbowman can be brought to a battle effective level of skill in a fraction of the time.

The reason crossbows are considered too much here I think is that its the difference between one or two men per battlefield being able to take out a plate armoured warrior from afar, and every single ranged weapon wielder being able to take the plate armoured guy out.

If that all makes sense.

[Guilty Spark]

You've pretty much hit the nail on the head.

[Sep]

As I gotta ask, can I PM you at some point Sparks?

[Guilty Spark]

Yes you can.

[Ink-berry]

Alright, I just got back from school, so I'm going to start working on my CS soon. I just have to ask, though, would you guys be alright with me using this as my character's relic?

[Sep]

and in the ancient kingdoms they used brass ducks in the bath.

One day one of them looked at his duck and gave it the control of the elements!

Nah seriously from what I understand anything can be relics. Just don't let it get too far away from your body or it'll go badly for you.