Kyler, where ya at buddy? « Gaming Outpost Discussions

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Kyler, where ya at buddy?

(494 posts) (4 voices)

Started 4 years ago by JohnA1nut
Latest reply from M. J. Young

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M. J. Young
Moderator

Yes, six shillings and tuppence. Since there are five shillings to the crown, that's a crown, a shilling, and tuppence, if you trade all your pence for larger coins.

"Make our own crossbow? Well, you'd need a wooden stock and housing, I think; that's carpenter's work. I can see trying to use something like a wagon spring, made small, for the bow, although mounting it would take some doing. I'm not at all sure how you would make the string, though. I've drawn wire from time to time, but I think it would snap pulling against a wagon spring like that. What have you got in mind?"

--M. J. Young

Wed Oct 31 2007 12:25 am #
JohnA1nut
Member

"What do I have in mind? Well, you can braid the wire to make it more sturdy. I don't know much about woodworking, but I bet we could figure something out. We are a couple of smart guys. If you think we can't do it, that's fine. I'll be back tomorrow to work. If we don't build the crossbow tomorrow, you need to pay me though (laughter) Where could I go to find a carpenter that could build the wooden stock? If there's not one in the village, let's just scrap the whole thing."

Wed Oct 31 2007 6:59 pm #
M. J. Young
Moderator

There's a retired wagon and carriage maker in town who might be persuaded to do a bit of work for a bit of money. You'd have to talk to him. He's in the inn every night, white rim of hair around a bald top, full beard, spills almost as much as he drinks, name is George.

"You talk to him, and if he'll do the wooden parts to your satisfaction, we'll work on the metal parts. As to braiding the wire, you'll have to show me how."

--M. J. Young

Wed Oct 31 2007 9:54 pm #
JohnA1nut
Member

I shake Mr. Smith's hand, tell him "I'll be back, bright tailed and bushy eyed tomorrow. As far as braiding the wire, this is a time when that solder will come in handy. We can solder the wire to the crossbow mainspring. I'll show you how it's done." and head towards the inn. Ask around for George, and when I find him, ask him if he can make a stock for a crossbow, how much will it cost, etc.

Then get some dinner and sack out. Should be starting Tuesday now.

Thu Nov 1 2007 1:27 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

You find George. His hearing's not so good, so he talks rather loudly, but it's not so noticeable in the din of the evening crowd. It takes a couple tries to convey to him what it is you want, but he suggests that you probably want maple or oak for something like that, and he'll do it for a crown, take about a week to get it right.

--M. J. Young

Thu Nov 1 2007 7:10 pm #
JohnA1nut
Member

Now I'm starting to wonder if I could modify the stock from that 30-06 into a crossbow stock. I did give it to Mr. Smith though, so I imagine he might have something to say about that. I bet it could be done, but I'm not going to try. I don't know how.

I can get pretty loud when I need to, so George will hear this.

"I'll make you a deal. A half crown now, a half crown on delivery. Do we have a deal?"

Then tell him where I will be, and all of that. What does he say?

I'm not going to mark down the money until I hear back from him. Assuming he takes it, skip ahead in time a week to when the crossbow stock is delivered. Then Mr. Smith and I can start working on the metal parts. How much do I earn working with Mr. Smith in that time, minus working a day free to cover making the crossbow? Skip ahead in time until the stock is finished.

Dumb question. All indicators are that this world is completely different than our earth, so why do they have the same names for trees? Or is that just so I know what kind it is?

Thu Nov 1 2007 8:51 pm #
JohnA1nut
Member

Mr. Young, I just had a thought. Unless you have any objections, or planned action, I think I'd like to start skipping ahead. We should figure out how much my body, and blacksmithing skills increase. Also how my money adds up. I am saving up to take a trip to the main castle. I'd like to get my blacksmithing to 1@5 at least before I go. Preferably to 1@10, but we will see. I could easily see a skill in blacksmithing coming in handy.

Mon Nov 5 2007 7:23 am #
JohnA1nut
Member

Mr. Young, oh shit. I owe you a huge apology. You're letting me build up skills in other areas. Not just psionics. First world, psionics, other worlds, other skills. Man, I am so sorry I doubted you.

Mon Nov 5 2007 7:27 am #
JohnA1nut
Member

Mr. Young, what are the coins made out of? I'd like to keep the money in gold and silver coins if at all possible. Are the pence made of copper? I'd like to try to melt the pence coins, and try to teach myself copper working as well. This would be an application for the solder I introduced.

Mon Nov 5 2007 7:45 am #
WilliamTWodium
Member

The post on coinage is here:

The biggest coin is a four-ounce silver disk with the imprint of the crown on it, called, appropriately, a crown. There is also a half-crown, half that size. The smaller coins turn out not to be copper but bronze, called pennies or pence, and there is also a coin made of nickel called a shilling. There are also half pennies, or ha'pennies, and a yet smaller coin called a farthing that is half of that--four hundred makes the equivalent value of a pound of silver.

They do not use gold coins, but by weight most merchants (and probably all banks) would give you twice the weight in silver, that is, two ounces of silver for an ounce of gold. That makes your gold coins worth about half a crown each, assuming they are accepted as real gold. Also, it does not seem that the nickel or bronze is actually worth anything itself, but that the King is willing to trade his silver for the coins he has issued.

There are eight half-crowns to the pound (weight and value), twenty shillings to the pound (value, not weight).

Your silver coins have been treated as being "about a shilling", although in truth they're worth about a penny (plus a farthing) more than that; they weigh half as much as half a crown. This is based on the fact that the weight in hand feels like about half a half a crown.

Crown: 4 oz. silver, four to a pound
Half-Crown: 2 oz. silver, eight to a pound
Shilling: made of nickel; twenty shillings exchange for a pound of silver (but the metal isn't worth that much)
Pence: made of bronze; a hundred pence exchange for a pound of silver (but again, the metal isn't worth that), five for a shilling

Your silver coins: 1 oz. silver; worth "about a shilling" (really a little more)
Your gold coins: 1 oz. gold; worth about 2 oz. silver (half a crown), assuming they accept it as real gold

Mon Nov 5 2007 8:21 pm #
M. J. Young
Moderator

Dumb question. All indicators are that this world is completely different than our earth, so why do they have the same names for trees? Or is that just so I know what kind it is?
How come they speak English? It happens that in this universe everyone speaks English and they have the same kind of trees. Dan O'Malley would say that proves these aren't really real worlds at all, but the realms of human fantasy, because only in human stories would the people of other worlds speak English. Pete Adams would say that it proves that given an infinite number of worlds, the most improbable ones are also possible. The Architect would say that God made sure this time to send you to a world where you would understand what they are saying.

In any case, given that they speak the same language and have the same trees, it's not surprising that they have the same names for those trees. Of course, it's entirely possible that they would have the same names for different trees, but in this case your expectations are correct, they are describing the same trees with those names.

"I'll make you a deal. A half crown now, a half crown on delivery. Do we have a deal?"
"Sure. 'S'more'n fair. Ye trus' me wi' half the money afore the job's done, an' I trus' you te come through wi' the rest after I do the work. I'll make your crossbow stock. Ye want the bow pieces too?"

I am assuming the answer is no (because you're making them of metal), and so a week later the stock will be delivered for the second half of the money.

Of course, in order for a week to pass, there's that day off for church. You'll make six day's wages and not work the seventh day, whether or not you go to church; everyone else in town will be there.

--M. J. Young

Tue Nov 6 2007 2:53 am #
JohnA1nut
Member

How much is 6 days wages, minus the inn? 2 shillings a day wages, minus the inn, I checked, that would be 6 shillings and 2 pence. Or a crown, a shilling, and tuppence. What day are we on? Tuesday I believe. Skip ahead to Monday next week. I'll go to church, work for Mr. Smith, and turn my wages into crowns. So, in that week's time, I'll have a crown, a shilling, and tuppence earned. (tuppence is 2 pence right?) Skip ahead the week. Work, go to church. That's my week. When you're here again, it will be next week, the stock is finished, and I have my week's wages, minus the room and food at the inn. I've already marked it down, so if you don't skip ahead, it will mess up my records.

Tue Nov 6 2007 3:19 am #
JohnA1nut
Member

Also, I wanted to add that I am going to be training in boxing for the week. Set up a speed bag and heavy bag in my room at the inn, and train in boxing after work. I would be worn out, but if you cannot fight when you are tired, when can you fight? Do me a favor and skip the GE roll. I'm very ingenuity minded, and I could make at least a heavy bag. I'd hang my rolled-up sleeping bag from the ceiling if I had to. So, skip the GE roll on that, and just let me have it.

Tue Nov 6 2007 6:31 am #
JohnA1nut
Member

After we get the crossbow made up, I'd like to start skipping ahead. Skipping ahead to attribute increases. I'd like to get to 1@10 with my blacksmithing before I even think about going to see the princesses. If that means I miss my shot, and someone solves it first, so be it. I'm going to be worrying about this. Start skipping ahead to attribute increases, we can worry about what attributes later.

Tue Nov 6 2007 11:06 am #
JohnA1nut
Member

Note to self: Waterwheel.

Tue Nov 6 2007 11:10 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

Do me a favor and don't suggest what rolls I shouldn't make. Thanks.

You use your sleeping bag to make a heavy punching bag; what do you stuff inside it?

The Catholic church service is conducted mostly in Latin, which the locals appear to know only well enough to pronounce their parts on cue. However, the sermon is in English, and is an encouragment to good works and care for each other.

It is a week later and you have the wooden stock; don't forget to deduct the other half of the cost.

--M. J. Young

Wed Nov 7 2007 12:15 am #
JohnA1nut
Member

RE: suggesting what rolls you shouldn't make. Is there a reason for that, or is it just bad etiquette and annoying to you? Either way, I'll try to keep it in mind, but I was just wondering what the reason was. It was more of a joke, really.

When I said make a punching bag out of the sleeping bag, I meant roll the sleeping bag up, wrap rope around it, and hang it from the rafters. I guess there would be a roll for whether or not there are rafters to hang it from, wouldn't there? I've got rope, so that's not the issue.

Can TK pulsing the hammer in time with using it to increase its power count as practice, or do I need a new use for that? I do want to get good at TK pulsing my own body, in time with my movements. I could think of numerous applications for that, including in boxing. Throw pulse with punch. Pulse might disorient my opponent for a moment, adding to the effect.

Going to see Mr. Smith "I got the stock for the crossbow, let's see what we can do here."

1 week ahead boxing
1 week ahead blacksmithing

Wed Nov 7 2007 12:51 am #
JohnA1nut
Member

Speaking to Mr. Smith: "Ya know what Mr. Smith? When you told me that there was a lot of gold in trying to help the princesses, I was all for it. Then you told me that the penalty for failure was death. Then you told me that the castle was over 100 miles from here. Not to mention the fact that saying I wanted to chain the king's daughters to the bed like common criminals would probably get me killed in the first place. That settles it. I'm not going. I've given it a lot of thought, and I think I'm just going to scrap that idea completely. Seems like a lot of hassle just to get killed, or worse. I think I'm just going to give you back the manacles, and just stay here. Too much work, too much risk, not enough reward. What's wrong with just being a blacksmith anyway???"

Waterwheel!!!!!

Wed Nov 7 2007 6:42 am #
JohnA1nut
Member

You might be wondering why I keep typing "Waterwheel" at the end of these. Once we get the crossbow finished, I want to start skipping ahead. Months if need be. Start skipping ahead to my attribute increases. Please note that I have 90 days in my physical fitness routine from Pearl Harbor. Start skipping ahead to every attribute increase. Increase in blacksmithing, increase in strength, stamina, boxing, skill with the crossbow (I'm going to teach myself that when we finish it.) It might take a year or two in game time, but I want my blacksmithing to be 1@10. Then, I'll have a pile of $$$$$$ saved up, and Mr. Smith and I can build a waterwheel. Kyler kept talking about lots of rivers and streams around here. Where better to put a waterwheel? You can turn pumps with it, and bring in water from the rivers. How would these people feel about having running water in their homes? Or having a machine that will grind their flour for them. Or hell, if I can find some natural magnets, I could even build an electric generator out of it. I've got copper for the wire, all I need are some large magnets in the waterwheel, and we have an electric generator. Screw the princesses (Their problem I mean) I've got bigger fish to fry here.

Wed Nov 7 2007 11:04 pm #
M. J. Young
Moderator

The main reason for suggesting I not make a particular roll is it creates the suggestion that you think I should make that roll and are hoping that I won't. At that point, it puts me in the bind that not making the roll would appear to be cheating in your favor, even though I might not even have thought to make the roll otherwise--particularly if it is the kind of roll that I do make in similar situations. So if you ask me not to make it, I sort of have to make it even if I thought it unnecessary or had not considered it.

You can TK pulse the hammer (as practice) even while you are holding it, but you cannot TK pulse your own body. For the boxing, you could possibly TK pulse the target toward the punch, but not the punch toward the target.

On this crossbow, explain the "works" to me. Is it using a rachet system and a crank to draw the string? What metals are you using for the string, the gears, and the bow?

"I can't blame you for not rescuing the princesses. After all, it takes a hero to do something like that, and the king wouldn't take kindly to some ordinary guy like us thinking he was a hero. Anyway, like as not whoever rescues them will marry Margaret and become the next king, and who wants that kind of pressure? Stick to blacksmithing, son; no point in trying to reach beyond yourself."

--M. J. Young

Thu Nov 8 2007 5:25 am #
JohnA1nut
Member

I'll keep that in mind about the rolls. I had considered exactly what you just said, but not quite in that context. I'll keep it in mind.

What I was thinking for the crossbow is a metal strap on the front where you put your foot in to hold it down. To draw back the string, there's a U shaped handle with 2 hooks on the ends, one on each side of the stock. You put your foot into the strap, and pull that handle back. The two hooks pull the string back so you don't cut your fingers on the string. Then you push the hook handle forward, load the bolt, and you're ready to rock and roll. I've seen crossbows that had a similar configuration.

As far as what metals, I was hoping Mr. Smith would know that. Let's call it NetFlixium, a metal native to this planet, and this planet only. Something light, strong, and flexible, perfect for this. Mr. Smith will know what to do, feel free to fudge facts as you need. You could also make the bolts out of metal. I've seen metal crossbow bolts before. (bolt in this context means arrow, should I just call them arrows to avoid confusion?)

One last thing. Describe to Mr. Smith the waterwheel I was talking about. The house with the paddle wheel on the side that is turned by river current. Do you know what I'm talking about? I hope Mr. Smith doesn't know what I'm talking about, cuz I'm hoping to invent it here.

Thu Nov 8 2007 5:50 am #
JohnA1nut
Member

RE: the rolls again. Telling you to keep rolling until it happens does the same thing you said doesn't it? If I really do make the roll, it looks like you're cheating in my favor, like when I said I wanted the blacksmith's apprentice to run into a bully. The thing there is that I wanted to show you how I would react to something like that, because you would find it interesting to my character.

Thu Nov 8 2007 6:07 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

Right, I have seen that sort of crossbow, and it is simpler. You manage to design it (new skill).

John tells you that you're describing mithril. It's very rare, very expensive, and very hard to work with, but it is light, strong, with good flexibility, if you can get it. He was going to use simple steel for the parts, but if you think you can get mithril for it, knock yourself out.

Millers use waterwheels to grind grain, and in some communities they're used to ladle water into irrigation troughs for the fields. John has heard of them, but never seen one, since he doesn't really travel farther than a couple of local villages.

--M. J. Young

Thu Nov 8 2007 9:13 pm #
JohnA1nut
Member

Steel will work just fine for the crossbow. I was hoping perhaps Mr. Smith might have some of that exotic mithril, but I guess not. I just knew that iron wouldn't work.

You said designing the crossbow was a new skill. I'm not quite certain, does that mean a new use for blacksmithing, or is it an entirely different skill altogether? I was hoping for a new use with blacksmithing.

DAMN!!!!!!!! I was really hoping waterwheels had not been invented yet. Oh well, just my luck. Back to the old drawing board.

Well, let's build the crossbow. Is that a new use for blacksmithing, or is it practice?

On a more personal note MJ, would it be possible for you to refer to the blacksmith as Mr. Smith instead of John? Just with the two names being the same, it gets a bit confusing sometimes. Thanks.

Thu Nov 8 2007 10:14 pm #
M. J. Young
Moderator

Weaponsmithing skills traditionally are distinct from blacksmithing or goldsmithing skills; weaponsmiths tended to specialize, and crossbows were usually made by bowyers or by artillery machinists. Thus your ability to build a crossbow makes you an amateur bowyer, and when you make the arrows you will add fletching to your skills.

This is particularly the case because a crossbow is only partly metal, critical parts being made of other materials.

You manage to build the crossbow to your own specifications. It's no weapon of quality, but it's a functional weapon.

I would feel uncomfortable calling John Mr. Smith, since it's not his name. He's John, the smith, sometimes John, the blacksmith, not John Smith. Every time you call him "Mr. Smith" he gives you an odd look, as if you don't know his name.

--M. J. Young

Sat Nov 10 2007 6:32 am #
JohnA1nut
Member

With all due respect, it sounds like you're worried about offending a fictional character. Isn't that a bit like me spazzing out over 80,000 imaginary dollars?

"Well Mr. Smith, do you have any clue how to make the arrows for this thing? I had a crossbow a long time ago, so I know what the arrows are supposed to look like, but not how to make them. Those were made out of plastic. It's a very, very rare type of metal. I doubt you ever see it in your lifetime."

If Mr. Smith knows how to make them, get him to show me. If not, see if we can figure it out. How does that go?

Sat Nov 10 2007 1:48 pm #
M. J. Young
Moderator

The smith makes heads for quarrels (or bolts, the proper names for these) and for arrows. The thinks that a metal shank would be terribly heavy and difficult to make straight. He also knows nothing about fletching, and doesn't know how you would fletch (add the feathers to) a metal shank.

What thoughts have you on that?

--M. J. Young

Mon Nov 12 2007 3:49 am #
JohnA1nut
Member

"Mr. Smith, is there a woodworker who makes wooden spoons for use in kitchens anywhere that you know of? What is an arrow, if not a wooden spoon with a point on it? Cut the spoon part off, put a head and feathers on it, and we have arrows. Where would I go to get wooden spoons? I used to shoot pencils out of the one I had."

Tue Nov 13 2007 12:04 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

He looks at you with that single raised eyebrow. "You can get wooden spoons from a carpenter or woodworker, easy enough; and we can make the heads and attach them. But fletching isn't just sticking feathers on shafts, you know. There's more to it than that. If you want the arrow to fly straight for any distance, the fletching's got to be done right."

--M. J. Young

Tue Nov 13 2007 7:06 am #
JohnA1nut
Member

"Well, ya know what Mr. Smith? I'd be willing to bet that the carpenter that makes the spoons could also make decent arrows. The crossbow that I had before was a toy compared to this one, and I bet the arrows didn't need to be made as well. The proverbial ball is in your court. You seem to know more about this than I do, why don't you see if you can make the arrows? The spoon maker could make the shafts, and you see if you can do the fletching. I'm sure we could come to some kind of arrangement about that. I guess I don't know as much about this as I thought I did, but I'm more than willing to take advice from you."

What does he say?

Tue Nov 13 2007 12:37 pm #
M. J. Young
Moderator

He says you could probably get any carpenter to make the shafts, but since you'll want metal heads and the fletcher can make his own shafts, you probably want to make some arrowheads, take them to a fletcher, and ask him about fletching the quarrels. Probably he's not likely to be as free with his secrets as you'd like, since it's his business and he doesn't profit by teaching you how to do it. But then, you can ask him. The smith has no idea how to do it.

--M. J. Young

Wed Nov 14 2007 2:57 am #
JohnA1nut
Member

For the record, I don't think you're giving me a hard time. It's just on the crossbow I had before, the fletching was very simple. A blind man could have duplicated it. That was probably a 50 pound draw crossbow though, as opposed to this one being much heavier. The harder the draw, the better the fletching needs to be. Like with a gun. Bigger guns need better rifling. (What is the draw on this one anyway? How would I know? Well, I can pull the string back and guess.)

"Mr. Smith, where can I go to get the arrows made? I want at least 50 of them. Where can I go to get those? Oh and I noticed that you kind of react strangely when I call you 'Mr. Smith' and your name being John. It's just that my name is John too. I cannot count the number of times I've been walking around a mall or someplace, and heard someone yell 'Hey John' and they're talking to someone else. Where I come from, you got named after your job. You're a blacksmith, so your name is John Smith. If you were a pottery worker, your name would be John Potter. If you were a cook, your name would be John Baker. Get it? Don't be offended by it. I'm sure you prefer Mr. Smith over some of the variations I've heard on the name John. Where can I go for the arrows, and do you have any clue how much they would cost?"

Wed Nov 14 2007 3:52 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

There is a fletcher in town. He's not the fastest, and he's not the best, but the local shire reeve gets his bolts and arrows there for the convenience. Of course, you want them cut to fit this crossbow, so you'll have to take the crossbow with you and work out whether to go with one of his standard sizes that don't fit perfectly or get him to make you that many exactly right.

You have difficultly pulling back the wire without using the lever.

--M. J. Young

Fri Nov 16 2007 12:02 am #
JohnA1nut
Member

Well, I imagine that the gentleman that made the crossbow stock probably also made and/or designed them for the shire reeve. It's probably a pretty standard size. I'll take the crossbow over to him right now. I'm also working today for free, for Mr. Smith helping me build the crossbow, so don't let me forget that. Can the fletcher give me any pointers on how to use this? The crossbow I had was a pistol bow, very different from this. I have no skill with a regular crossbow (unless skill with a rifle translates over to this) I'm going right now. How much are the arrows, the not-so-perfect ones? I'll almost certainly go with those.

Ask Mr. Smith if he can put a flip-up, spring-loaded metal spike on the bottom of my crossbow. Say 6 inches long. A flip up, and locking bayonet for my crossbow. If the tech bias ever gets too low to support my guns, I'll need every weapon I can get my hands on.

Fri Nov 16 2007 12:11 am #
JohnA1nut
Member

MJ. My character has arthritis and I imagine that would come into play working as a blacksmith. Not right now, but after I get the crossbow finished, I'm going to try that psionic healing skill that Oak was trying in the first world. Either it will work or it won't right? If it works and I heal myself, all the better. If it doesn't work here, well, I'll live with the pain. If I botch and kill myself, well, at least I learned some blacksmithing, and I have a nice crossbow. After the crossbow is finished and I have some decent arrows for it.

For now, meditate on it. Meditate on how to do the healing psionics. I have a meditation skill, and I'm willing to bet you cannot botch too badly on that. Meditate on how to do the psionic healing skill. I'm doing that at night after boxing practice.

Fri Nov 16 2007 2:47 am #
JohnA1nut
Member

"Mr. Smith. Can you try to make some metal arrows? I'll work another day free if you make me 10 of them. A metal arrow would be too heavy to fly, that's true, but for point-blank range, they would be devastating. Can you make me 10 of them? It's worth another free day of work to you."

Metal arrows would turn the crossbow into a street sweeper. Devastating at point blank range, but not good for much else. Ideal for inside a building, like a castle. Or for military storm troopers that engage at that distance. Might want to tell the shire reeve. Might not. Thinking not. (Oh John, he's a cop!!!!)

Ask the blacksmith if this has ever been tried. God I hope not. I may have something really fun!!!!!!!

A metal flechette dart. That's what I want. Too heavy to fly right for more than say 20 feet, but at that range, they would be much more powerful. A metal flechette dart. That's what I want him to make.

Even if the dart didn't fly quite right, and hit the person sideways, it would still hurt. I mean having a half pound metal spike hit you sideways in the gut? That would hurt!!!! I have (GOD I HOPE!!!) Invented a close-range weapon!!!

Fri Nov 16 2007 4:13 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

Standard crossbow bolts are a pence apiece, but he usually sells them in lots of twenty-five.

I'm not understanding how the spike you want is "spring loaded". I'm not certain whether such a thing can be mounted to a crossbow without badly unbalancing it and making it difficult to aim, but the first question is what the spring does.

"Metal arrows? I told you, I'm no fletcher--I've no idea how to make them fly right. Now, if you want thin metal bars with pointed ends, I can manage that. Just tell me the diameter and the length, and we'll go with it. But you know they won't fly straight. Need fletching for that."

--M. J. Young

Sat Nov 17 2007 3:14 am #
JohnA1nut
Member

How did you arrive at the sum of a pence apiece for the arrows? I didn't see a GE roll listed in the Behind the Screens thread. Does that go back to the "Not-unfavorable" GE roll I got on finding the fletcher, or did you just pull that price out of thin air? I've got 202 pence coins, let's turn that into 200 arrows, and ask if he will give me an arrow quiver for the other 2 pence coins.

Regarding the metal spring-loaded spike. I was thinking a spike that folded down underneath the crossbow stock, and then a button could be pushed to make it snap up into position. Like a switchblade. I did not consider that it would throw the crossbow off balance though, so just forget about it.

"Mr. Smith, what I'm talking about with metal arrows is just what you said. A metal spike with a point on the end. Yes, you could do the fletching, and I'll tell you how. Hammer the other end into a cross shape. I could see that being a problem, so hammer the end flat, cut a notch in it, take another flat, notched piece of metal, and slide the notches together. Then solder the second flat onto the arrow. (I know the forge could probably do it better, but I want to show him what solder can do.) We might need to put something onto the end of them to make the string hit them straight, but aside from that, it should work. They wouldn't need to fly straight very long, since it would be only for up close and personal. Unless I miss my guess, it would increase the close range strike power of the arrow, since it would be so heavy. We'll experiment with the sizes and weights, until we get one that flies straight, then make a lot of them. At close range, they would have a lot of knockdown power."

And not to sound too petulant, but I did own a pistol crossbow at one time. Pencils fired from it (no fletching) would fly straight enough to be effective at close range. God knows I fired enough pencils into the bedroom wall.

Sat Nov 17 2007 4:14 am #
JohnA1nut
Member

Is there ever any talk amongst the villagers about an oppressive government? Is the shire reeve or whatever over taxing them, and making their lives miserable? Lots of people going to the dungeon for non-payment of taxes, that kind of thing? I'm not sure if I'm hoping for that or for peace and quiet so your call if this happens to be a GE roll. I could see both being fun for play, so if it's a GE roll, your call on how it goes.

Sat Nov 17 2007 4:30 pm #
M. J. Young
Moderator

How did you arrive at the sum of a pence apiece for the arrows?
I suppose that the best answer is, market forces.

On the one hand, arrows are an expended commodity, and the fletcher really cannot charge too much for them; if he charged too much, the shire reeve would buy his arrows from some other fletcher, or tell his men to use their swords more and their bows less. On the other hand, the fletcher buys his arrowheads from other tradesmen, who have to make a profit on what they're making. He probably gathers his own materials, or gets his apprentice to do much of that, but there's a fair amount of hand crafting to do, and he has to earn his living this way. If there's a high enough demand for arrows, he can make a respectable peasant's wage on the work.

It also happens that I've run enough medieval scenarios that I know that arrows and quarrels run close to this price in, for example, Dungeons & Dragons; however, that was recognized in retrospect, and not the basis for the decision.

He's glad to have your money, and to provide the quiver as requested (which he buys from a leatherworker). He can only produce about thirty quarrels a day, and he only has a hundred in that size on hand, so it will take him four days (and he won't work on Sunday) to finish filling the order.

The smith says he can make your metal rods, as long as you don't tell anyone they're supposed to be arrows. He'll even try putting the fins on them, as you suggest. How many did you want?

There are those who complain about the taxes and the shire reeve, and those who answer that Robert is a lot better than some of the shire reeves in other shires in the area, and some who say that the whole lot of them are scoundrels and some who say that they're doing their best at a hard job. As far as you're aware, there aren't a lot of people in dungeons, or starving, or having property taken from them.

--M. J. Young

Mon Nov 19 2007 2:17 am #
JohnA1nut
Member

"Mr. Smith, those aren't arrows, they're tent stakes (wink) Let's make 10 for right now, different sizes, lengths, and weights, until we find one that works well in the crossbow. I'm working 2 days free, one day for the crossbow, and one for the metal arrows."

To the fletcher: "I'll be back next week to get the rest of those arrows. Thanks a lot."

Skip ahead a week. I make 2 shillings a day working, minus 2 days free. So that's 8 shillings, minus room and board at the inn. (Which was what?) Translate what I have left into crowns, shillings and pence, and let me know what it is. I'll be practicing TK pulse on the hammer whilst working, practicing boxing, and practicing with the crossbow. I figure I can reuse arrows a few times for practicing. What's my skill learning level with the crossbow?

2 weeks ahead boxing
2 weeks ahead blacksmithing
1 week ahead practice with crossbow
2 weeks ahead TK pulse practice.

Mon Nov 19 2007 2:55 am #
JohnA1nut
Member

See if Mr. Smith has something that would make a suitable staff weapon, and also practice 1@2 Chow En Lai B7@1 martial arts style fast aggressive weapon-dependent. Bo staff fighting. Use it with boxing. Block with the staff, and throw a punch. Block with boxing, attack with staff, that kind of thing. See if I can persuade little William to help me. I would be teaching him boxing and staff fighting, and he would be a sparring partner of sorts for me. (That's a skill bonus right?) If Mr. Smith will allow that, do that. If not, still practice the staff fighting on opposite days of boxing. I didn't want to do that in Pearl Harbor, because I thought practicing staff fighting might freak out my captors. I was planning to escape, after all.

I wanted to add another skill to my sheet. I got third place in a school-wide first aid contest Junior year of high school. I did not compete Senior year because I was sick, but I did continue to study first aid. First aid skill, I would guess medium or medium high amateur.

Are there any semi-active volcanoes in the area? Preferably in the general direction of the main castle? How would I know? Well, I've been walking around between the two cities and talking to quite a few people. Smalltalk with a stranger can be of all kinds of things, as I'm sure you know. I used to study volcanoes, and I can identify most volcanic rock. There is one, obsidian I believe, that can be ground and made into sunglass lenses. There's another, Mica, I want to say, that can be ground into a blade that is almost as hard and sharp as steel. Brittle, but very hard. It chips kind of easily, but the main blade won't break in half. Makes good stone knives. I'd like to check out a volcano sometime in the next year or two.

Mon Nov 19 2007 4:05 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

Boxing is a weapon-adverse style; that means if you have a weapon in your hands, you can't box. Chow En Lai does allow maneuvers with the hands, such as the solid punch you learned for it, and you could incorporate the solid punch into the boxing, but you can't be in both boxing and chow en lai styles at the same time, so the boxing and the staff work can't be combined. Boxing is missing from my sheet; have you got any numbers on it somewhere?

William is interested in learning how to fight. You never know when the king will conscript an army, after all, and it's better to know something about fighting if they conscript you; being a blacksmith's apprentice, he expects to look like the sort of person who knows how to fight, so he probably should know how to fight, too.

Concerning first aid, what sorts of things do you know how to do? (Multiverser distinguishes medical skills by bias level, so a person who can do splints and bandages has the same skill as a person who can do CPR or a person who can do brain surgery--it's a bias level question that determines which things to include.)

There are no known volcanoes in the area. In fact, when you ask about it, people think you're making that up. Mountains don't do that.

--M. J. Young

Wed Nov 21 2007 12:09 am #
JohnA1nut
Member

I posted 2X the other day. I think you missed the first post, so here it is.

"Mr. Smith, those aren't arrows, they're tent stakes (wink) Let's make 10 for right now, different sizes, lengths, and weights, until we find one that works well in the crossbow. I'm working 2 days free, one day for the crossbow, and one for the metal arrows."

To the fletcher: "I'll be back next week to get the rest of those arrows. Thanks a lot."

Skip ahead a week. I make 2 shillings a day working, minus 2 days free. So that's 8 shillings, minus room and board at the inn. (Which was what?) Translate what I have left into crowns, shillings and pence, and let me know what it is. I'll be practicing TK pulse on the hammer whilst working, practicing boxing, and practicing with the crossbow. I figure I can reuse arrows a few times for practicing. What's my skill learning level with the crossbow?

2 weeks ahead boxing
2 weeks ahead blacksmithing
1 week ahead practice with crossbow
2 weeks ahead TK pulse practice.

1@6 Boxing B7@1 attack multiplier 1, slow defensive, weapon-adverse, no offensive modifier, -15 Defense modifier, -15 damage modifier, hand & arm

Skip the week, teach boxing to William (how old is he anyway?) And practice all other skills as listed.

First Aid: Splints, CPR, controlling blood loss, what to do if someone has a nosebleed, check for pulse, breathing, what to do for cuts, burns, just basic first aid. I'm not an EMT or anything. Medium to medium high amateur.

Wed Nov 21 2007 1:03 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

Let that warn you not to post twice. The software will take me automatically to the last post, and I won't always check the post before it if there's no mention of it. I am very likely to miss the first of two new posts on this board.

William is about nine or ten.

It makes sense to me for you to do the searches back through the thread when you want to know information I've already given, such as how much something costs. If you don't want to search for it, put it in a text file in your computer for reference. I've already got thirty or forty such text files that I use in play, and there's no reason for me to be adding things so you can ask me if they're already in the thread.

You continue to practice.

--M. J. Young

Thu Nov 22 2007 6:05 am #

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