Re: (TFT) Mark Tapley hits one into orbit

[pvk@oz.net]

Where would wizards get the 20th Century knowledge of gravity, friction,
vaccuums, angular correction for planetary rotation, the idea of space
above the atmosphere, orbits, etc? Why would they care? (Rhetorical
questions...)

However, if someone did begin this sort of experiment, and if it were
possible to specify gates that changed velocity or direction of velocity
while conserving amount of energy (which, I don't think is true), then I'd
think this would become the new super seige/terror/destruction weapon of
Cidri. To heck with the vaccuum and demons - drop a big rock in there, and
set the exit gate to point at your desired target - kinetic energy from
... heck.

I really don't think it works that way, though:

* Demon-launching *is* hysterical and a classic story problem and
solution, but it doesn't really hold up, I think.
* Demons can teleport at will, so it may be pointless, er, even more
pointless.
* Demons have unlimited MA because they can teleport, not because they can
accelerate really fast, or frictionlessly.
* Gates "work" in a way that makes sense to medieval folk. One _walks_
through and _walks_ out the other side, of a _place_. To a medieval mind,
even a wizard, some huge distance up in the air is not, I think, a place,
unless there is something there (floating sky castle, magic carpet, etc.).
Without checking AW 'cause I lack time at the moment, I don't think a gate
could redirect an extremely fast object to some other vector - I think
it'd probably slow down to something fairly close to the destination's
frame, as it passed through. Or, if it can, then I'm afraid this may have
become a pretty wicked WMD...

PvK


On Thu, March 23, 2006 6:49 am, Ed Thorn wrote:
> He also has a lot of time on his hands.  :)
>
>  Honestly, Mark, all I wanted was confimation of my '17' answer.
>
>  This all sprang from a setting where medieval-flavored PCs would
> encounter the remnants of a post-magocaust society.  The 'launch tower'
> you speak of was to be one of the facilities explored.
>
>  My answer to the tower vacuum problem?  Elementals, with task "keep it
> all out of the way".  It's a handwave, I know.  But consider it more a
> somatic component.  :)  It also lets me have enraged and deranged
> elementals greet my explorers.
>
>  My answer to the tower wall impact problem?  Correction gatepairs, with
> minute angular offsets from perfectly level.
>
>  I also put the 'launch' entry gate above the stacked accelerator
> gatepairs.  It has the rule to activate when proper velocity has been
> reached.  It's mated gate points up in the example given, but could also
> be pointed at an enemy city, or whatever.
>
>  I love the self-orbital demon.  But would he not have to see the point 90
> degrees 'before' his orbit, which he wants to teleport to?  That would
> force the orbit to a minumum radius determined (I'm old school, here...)
> by a circumscribed square around the planet.  That does seem higher than
> might be desired for spying or weapons platform uses.
>
>  And the question was in english units because I still think that way.
>
>  I also had never considered the use of a 'braking tower'.  Bravo!
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