"D.C. Talk? Is that a radio program in Washington or something?"
"So, what was it about what happened that made you feel this way?"
--M. J. Young
"D.C. Talk? Is that a radio program in Washington or something?"
It stands for Decent Christian Talk. They're a Christian rap group, and a large part of the reason I accepted Christ."
"So, what was it about what happened that made you feel this way?"
"These demons, especially the first two, they were fast. If I hadn't had my guns, I wouldn't have stood a chance. I don't think many people in that world would have. I was perhaps the only person there who could have fought them and won. Maybe God put me there for a reason. The only person who could beat these things. I just wish I had known about them a little sooner. Perhaps God should be A LOT more clear, ya know?"
Whilst we're talking, attempt psionic healing of the injuries CW just gave me.
(Doing Therapy)
Two Posts
Continuing,
"To put that a little more eloquently, God sent someone skilled in weapons which could overcome the demons' awesome physical prowess. Not very many other people there would have been able to engage them face to face the way I was able to. They say God, Guns, and Guts are what made America great. I've got the first two..."
(Doing Therapy)
Postings, postings, oh so many postings.....
VSP is 76 pounds, on the nose, including clothes.
(Doing Therapy)
I do not see a psionic healing skill on your sheet. I'm assuming you are intending to create one at this point. This may seem a stupid question, but what exactly do you expect it to do? Put another way, in what way do you see your mind healing your body?
--M. J. Young
I just took 5 intensities of damage from CW. I expect it to heal that. What's the sticking point?
Two Posts
I've been around long enough to see this. Do they have any actual paper books, or is everything electronic? I wanted to get an actual paper book on making animal snares. An electronic book would lose battery power. I need a paper book. If paper books don't exist anywhere, then there's no sense in looking for it.
You have not seen any printed books; but then, any time you wanted to know anything you got it from the computer, so there hasn't been any reason for you to look for printed books. There are printed packing materials on things you buy.
Well, I actually did have a question in mind when I asked that, but I guess it's not that important. I was trying to figure out whether this was an attempt to hyperaccelerate natural healing or an attempt to create repaired flesh, but we're going to go with the simpler.
You manage to restore yourself to full health in about a minute.
--M. J. Young
Sorry MJ, that probably sounded a little more rude than intended. I didn't realize there was more than one kind of psionic healing. How about this? When in doubt, give me the lowest-biased skill which will do what I expect? Lowest bias, or @1 skill. If the @1 skill is higher biased, give me the @1 skill.
"So, CW, more about where you've been. This is fascinating."
After CW leaves, get on the computer and look up information on animal snares. I'm trying to find books which teach how to make improvised snares. I know a little bit about them, and I'm sure my character has made metal animal traps. (OOC Does that translate at all if I try to make a snare? I know the basic concept of it. An example, maybe?) I'd like to paper book (or plastic, or whatever) about making improvised animal snares. Yeah, a plastic book would be great. Don't have to worry about it getting wet.
(Doing Therapy)
Two Posts
I watched the Nancy Drew movie the other day. She had a climbing rig which consisted of a single carabiner, 100 feet of extremely thin, high tensile cord, and two hand squeezers, to adjust tension on the rope. The whole thing folded up and fit into her purse. She used it to lower herself down from a roof gutter. If you ever did any kind of climbing in your backpacking and canoeing days, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.
I'm going to check at the sporting goods store for something like that. I could imagine a thousand and one uses. It needs to be able to support 400 pounds. (225 pound John, 76 pound backpack, 99 pound margin of safety) Can I get a rig like that at the sporting goods store? Whole thing looked like it would have weighed a half pound at most.
(Doing Therapy)
John--I don't go for the lowest biased skill automatically because I want to match what the skill does with your expectations and understanding.
"There was one world where everyone lived underground, and everything was provided by robots, but the people had lost all the knowledge of how it was made. They didn't even know if this was earth, or whether there was a surface somewhere. I never found out, though; got killed by some berserk mining machine."
It will take the sporting goods guy three days to get something like what you describe for rappelling and spelunking.
There is a store in the habitat that sells books, printed on some sort of plastic, mostly for use in survival settings. YOu've never been there, but it shouldn't be hard to find. They're only open ten hours a day, though, so you have to get there before work tomorrow.
--M. J. Young
From some weeks ago, about torches.
The hardware store offers you a flameless laser torch which runs at one thousand degrees for two hours on a single power pack, and can reach 4000 for short periods. It's not good for major jobs like spaceship hull repairs, but it's only about half a pound and six inches in length, similar to an aerasol can in size/shape. They also have several fuel-driven torches, but these are harder to use. Direct electrical systems include a cooler solder iron type, and an arc welder about the size of a car battery plus a pair of jumper cables, but you need hand and eye protection to use it. It will cut or weld heavy metals for up to four hours on a charge. There are other options, but these are the most popular.
I'm not certain that I was completely clear in what I wanted. I want something which can heat iron up to the point that it can be blacksmithed. Smaller the better. I have (in real life) a butane torch capable of melting through a pop can. It also has multiple tips to turn it into a soldering iron. Something like that, but much, much hotter would be what I would want, but a standard propane torch would probably work. A propane torch, vice grips and a hammer. That's a portable blacksmithing shop. If it will also do electronic soldering, all the better, but not required. Other torches are mentioned, is there anything else which might fit the bill here? The butane torch that I have is the size and weight of a soldering iron.
What day are we on?
Make darn sure I get to the bookstore and get that book. Improvised animal snares, dead-falls, live-capture traps, etc. (OOC what is that? A 2@5 example when making a snare, or what?)
After I have the book in my hot little hands go meet Lauren. What's the psionics lesson for today? After that, ask CW if he still wants that rematch in my room.
It is day 22, on which you met CW and learned to create a force field mentally.
CW also tells of working as an assistant engineer on a space ship, learning much about fusion power, gravity systems, life support, and other hardware.
You would know that you have to achieve nearly three thousand degrees Fahrenheit to melt iron, but it softens enough to hammer and shape it at a lower temperatures, from fifteen hundred to twenty-five hundred depending on what you are doing with it. Steel melts at a lower temperature.
Propane burns at about three and a half thousand degrees Fahrenheit, so it might do the job; however, it is a fossil fuel and not in common use in this world.
--M. J. Young
You would know that you have to achieve nearly three thousand degrees Fahrenheit to melt iron
Actually I highly doubt that my character would know that. Thermometers probably hadn't been invented in Dancing Princess, and I doubt Mr. Smith would have cared anyway.
It's the next day. Day 23. Lauren's Disaster should be coming shortly. (OOC could you hold off on that until I get the carabiner climbing rig? Just thought I would ask, ya know....)
Get the book on snares.
Meet Lauren for psionics/metalworking lessons.
Invite CW back to the room for a boxing rematch.
Two Posts
Chronologically, this is right after "Get the book on snares."
From the post on torches:
They also have several fuel-driven torches, but these are harder to use.
At the hardware store:
"Tell me more about these, Mr. Hardware Store clerk type person."
Not a fossil fuel, but what kind? Do they have anything like my butane soldering iron, as hot as propane? Perhaps adjustable between Butane (600 or so degrees) to Acetylene (More than hot enough to melt steel, I've seen it done.) If it can also be used as an electrical soldering iron, as I described, that would be perfect. With that, I would be ready to do simple blacksmithing and basic electronic repair on the spot in just about any situation. Tell me that wouldn't be cool to have.
I looked up some pages on the melting point of steel. It said "Iron, out of the ground, melts at around 1510 degrees C (2750°F). Steel often melts at around 1370 degrees C (2500°F)."
I'm willing to bet that's really low-grade Dancing Princess type steel. I know some high-grade steel doesn't melt until about 5,400 degrees. A fuel torch which went from 600-6,000 degrees Fahrenheit, with a soldering iron attachment would be right on the nose of what I want.
I know it means very little, but the one that I have would be a staple in hardware stores. Surely they have something of comparable size which is a great deal more powerful. Mine has 4 soldering iron tips and comes with a roll of solder. You can do both soldering pipes and electrical work. This, and 4 canisters of butane fuel would weigh about a pound. I know it doesn't mean much here, but I thought it might give you some ideas.
MJ, (Doing Therapy) means I'm in a psychotic state. Just keep that in mind for the moment. To me, a torch like the one I described (600-6,000 degrees and the size of a soldering iron) seems like a natural development from the butane torch which I own. To me, it just seems like that is the direction the technology would take. If the butane torch I have is so popular here, then this high-tech version would be the popular choice in the high-tech world. It's just my two cents on it, that's all.
(Doing Therapy)
Lots-O-Posts
How long have I been in TerraNova Habitat? Has it been long enough for any kind of metal working increases? It would be instructed practice. What is that? Every 100 days at the 2@ level? Every 200 days? I should have acted that out. I would have had new uses out the ying yang. How long have I been here, anyway? The 23 day countdown we've had was after Lauren's arrival, but I've been in the world for over a year, in non-game time.
(Doing Therapy)
Postings, oh so many postings.
Mistake.
(Doing Therapy)
You forget that your blacksmithing skills increased since you arrived in this world, from working in the scrap yard. Gaining knowledge of the required temperatures for working with the metals with which you are already familiar is not a big deal.
I know which day the disaster happens; you don't know that there's going to be one. Thus I don't think either of us can change it at this point.
Day 23
You do get the book on snares.
Lauren teaches you how to take that force field skill and turn it into a small sharply edged force object which you can maneuver fairly quickly, as a targeted attack. The force is very close to invisible most of the time, although it does shimmer or glow a bit, as if it were hardened air. She fails to transfer the skill pattern to you, but gives you a pretty good idea how to take what you know and do this with it. Are you going to try it today, or let her try to imprint the pattern again tomorrow?
The store tells you that laser torches are much more in the line you want. They have the heat adjustments for the greater range, are lighter and more compact, and more easily recharged. They have hydrogen torches, which are relatively low heat used for soft metals such as solder, tin, gold, and copper, and they have carbon gas torches which are considerably higher heat for iron, steel, and other hard metals.
--M. J. Young
"Yeah Lauren, imprint the pattern tomorrow."
"Hey CW, I'm still waiting for that boxing rematch. You up for it?"
How much does that book on snares weigh? I wouldn't think more than a half pound, if that.
The book is rather comprehensive, covering a lot about survival in a wide variety of environs, not just the creation of simple snares. It includes primitive ways to test whether water is safe, whether plants or animals are edible, and much more. It is also made of plastic, which weighs slightly more than paper for the same volume. It is roughly one and a half inches thick, nine inches high and six inches wide, and weighs in at just about a pound.
CW is quite willing to give the match another try in your apartment, just as soon as he's finished his class with Derek. He'll meet you there.
--M. J. Young
This is the Army tech manual on wilderness survival. I used to have that book. I know what is in it, and what it's all about, except that this one is undoubtedly more advanced.
"Cool CW, I'll be waiting."
Go back to the apartment and wait. No one moves until I call for go.
Two Posts
MJ, next chance I get, I'm going to get that army tech manual on survival that I was talking about. It seems to be a slightly lower-tech version of what you just gave me, so it seems prudent to have, for informational purposes. Plus, it's just the kind of book a guy like me wants to have.....
Bevridge shows up about an hour later, and asks for his gloves. Donning them, he falls easily into stance.
"So, I've been thinking about your problem, and you seem to have trouble getting yourself focused on the fight. Stance is critical; we need to come up with ways to help you get there."
--M. J. Young
Gloves on, VSP off
"Let's Dance."
No one moves until I'm in form.
Two Posts
After I'm finished getting plowed by this guy, search on the computer for a 3 sectioned, collapsible baton with a belt holder. Goes from 8 inches long to 2 feet long with a flick of the wrist. (You do know what I'm talking about, right?) I don't know why I wanted to try knife fighting. I couldn't do that if my life depended on it. A baton on the other hand... Just as deadly, and I would have no problem using it.
You've confused me. You have donned the gloves and said, "Let's dance," which suggests that you want the fight to begin; but you have also stated that "No one moves until I'm in form," and frankly you have not even stated that you are attempting to get into form, let alone how CW is supposed to know that you are except by virtue of the fact that you said, "Let's dance."
So I figure you forgot the part about saying you were getting into stance, which leaves me uncertain as to when you did that relative to when you said "Let's dance", and thus uncertain as to when CW is going to move.
As to the described baton, I can envision what you describe. I imagine that it would not be so heavy as a solid weapon would be, and that it would be unbalanced, more like a mace than a staff, but I'm sure we can "find" something that is similar in this world.
--M. J. Young
Well, I assumed that "Let's Dance" would be sufficient to tell you that I'm getting into form, and that it's been established that no one moves until I'm in form. As my mom would say "When you assume, you make an ASS out of U and ME."
Get into form.
"CW, let me get into form here."
Once I'm in form
"Let's Dance."
Happy Now?
As to the described baton, I can envision what you describe. I imagine that it would not be so heavy as a solid weapon would be, and that it would be unbalanced, more like a mace than a staff, but I'm sure we can "find" something that is similar in this world.
A lot of cops carry these. It's 3 pipes basically. The last piece isn't solid. It goes from 8 inches long to 24 inches long with a snap of your wrist. Collapsible like a telescope, you hold the big end. They usually have a wrist lanyard so you don't drop it, and the end you grip is enhanced to make gripping easier. For all practical intents and purposes, it's a collapsible piece of steel pipe to beat someone with. Are you saying that I got one, or I found one and I just need to go get it? Also, how would that be used in a fight? It isn't really a skill to swing a club (or is it?)
Two Posts
I'm just curious. I've been working at that scrap yard for a while. I must have skill using the equipment there, right? What would my skill at using the equipment be?
You haven't been working there for a hundred days, so your skill ability levels at any such equipment would be from 1@1 to 1@3.
What I assumed from you telling me that your character says "Let's dance" is that your character is saying to someone else present that he is ready. That does not in any way tell me that he is getting ready. In fact, I've seen a character stand not ready, say go, and then respond to the incoming attack with a quick draw steal initiative and a parry followed by a strike, just for how impressive it looks. I did not think you wanted to do that, but you were not communicating what you were doing apart from what you were saying.
You both seem to be having trouble getting focused this time, but after a moment you are both ready.
"All right, show me what you've got." You move, and he hits you, not as fast as Lauren but faster and harder than you. You swing wild in response, and he goes for another hit but misses. He comes in again for a very light tap, and you land a good punch in response, and he returns the favor, with another painful punch.
You throw another which he barely avoids, and his next two swings are nowhere near you as consequence.
He taps you, though, on his next move, and you miss him, and he misses you.
You tap him, he taps you, and then hits you solidly again.
"Whoa," he says. "Catch your breath; that's five minutes. You're very good."
--M. J. Young
"You're not too bad either dude. I think something snapped inside me there. All of a sudden, I feel like I could hit twice as hard and twice as often as before (going from 1@10 to 2@1 hahaha) Good match. You want to get something to drink and hang out for a few?"
Did I get the baton? Now that I think about it, that would be a skill. I remember a guy telling me about it. He was a security guard and carried one of these. He said there was a whole martial art designed around these types of collapsible batons. He showed me a few of the moves. Not enough to do them, but perhaps an example. Did I get the baton?
Two Posts
You haven't been working there for a hundred days, so your skill ability levels at any such equipment would be from 1@1 to 1@3.
Unless I'm working with metal, right? Then it's 2@1? Just curious how that works.
(Doing Therapy)
(No Stabilizer)
Yes, if you're working with metal, your ability to work with metal is 2@1, and assumes that you can find tools to do the job; the availability of tools can be a modifier to your chance of success. If you're trying to use the same tools for different applications, then you're looking at a lower SAL for tool use.
I did not yet address the baton question because I did not know if the fight was formally over.
Your weapons guy thinks he can get what you describe. In stock he has a fifteen inch weighted polymer club. The extended ones aren't as heavy and thus not as effective, so he doesn't stock them. He also is aware of a kinetic force version that extends what amounts to a force field to about two feet, but it's expensive, hard to get, and since the force has no weight it's more dependent on the wielder's strength and leverage. But he can order one for you, of either type.
--M. J. Young
Ya know, I just had a thought. I'm a blacksmith with access to equipment that Mr. Smith could never imagine. Go back to work. I'm gonna build one. I'm still ordering that one, this one is more of a "Stay in practice" kind of thing. I believe you said that Mr. Smith wouldn't know how to make a pipe that even and straight (compared to a rifle barrel) so this might be a new use on blacksmithing. I'm using pipes though, not making them myself.
Ya know what? I just realized why we can't imagine God. It would be akin to Mr. Smith imagining the place where I am.
Start with about a 1 inch outside diameter pipe (OOC or whatever my character thinks will fit his hand) and go down from there. I want it snug, but not loose. Add resin or something to the outside of the pipes if need be, to get a good fit. Weld rings to the ends of the pipes, to make the telescope stops. Each piece 8 inches long. Add a half-twist turn cap at each joint. Only twists together when extended, to keep it from closing during a fight. Half twist required to open, as a safety precaution. Don't want it extending when setting in on a table, for instance. Some resistance (wrist snap) needed to open. Hence, putting resin on the pipes. Is any of this making sense?
I'd try to keep the weight down as much as possible. A pound at most. They're really not that heavy, my brother has one.
Sudden scenery change.
The extended ones aren't as heavy and thus not as effective, so he doesn't stock them.
I'm a bit confused by this. So he can get the 8-24 inch collapsible batons, but just doesn't have them in stock right now? Is that what that means? How long long would it take to get them?
"Oh yeah, and Mr. Weapons Dealer Guy. Does the one you're selling have the features I described in the above posting? (Twist to open, twists extended, etc.) I might just carry the one I'm going to build."
Are there any bonuses for making a serious attempt to do a really good job? I would be trying to build a weapon of quality here. Extra effort. Making my list and checking it twice, ya know. Any bonuses for that? I've also got a bonus blacksmithing prayer to use as well.
(Doing Therapy)
Two Posts
This is my metalworking lesson. What's on the agenda for psionics? I think it was that force cutter.
Lots-O-Posts
Note to self: Detonation Cord.
(Doing Therapy)
It can be ordered; it will take a few days.
The one in the catalog has an electromagnetic latching and release system, so it locks both closed and open automatically, unlocking with a push of the release button in the grip.
Are there any bonuses for making a serious attempt to do a really good job? I would be trying to build a weapon of quality here. Extra effort. Making my list and checking it twice, ya know. Any bonuses for that? I've also got a bonus blacksmithing prayer to use as well.
Technically to build a quality weapon you have to be professional at building that kind of weapon, and you've never built any weapon before. That puts me in a bit of a bind, because on the one hand you've got the 2@1 blacksmithing skills to make something like this, while on the other if you classed yourself a maker of such weapons you would probably be 1@10. However, let me recap requirements for making a weapon of quality:
- Craftsman must be at least 2@ in the appropriate skills.
- Roll must be at least 51 to make a quality weapon.
- Bonused if the weapon maker is skilled in the use of the type of weapon being made.
- Bonused if the weapon maker has 3@ manufacturing skills.
- Bonused if the weapon maker has studied the combat style similar to the one in which the weapon will be used.
- Bonused if the weapon maker has studied the techniques of the person for whom it is being made.
What you are describing appears to me to have the following characteristics:
- Three lengths of pipe are required, each of which is narrower in outside diameter than the former is in inside diameter.
Four metal rings are required, plus two metal stoppers of some sort.
- The first ring has an inside diameter equal to the outside diameter of the second pipe, so that the second pipe will pass through it. It is secured to the end of the first (outer) pipe, centered such that the second pipe will be perfectly centered inside the outer pipe when it passes through that ring.
The second ring has an outside diameter equal to the inside diameter of the first pipe; it is secured to the back end of the second pipe, such that it, too, holds the second pipe perfectly centered inside the first. It is the function of these two rings that when the second pipe slides down inside the first, the second ring stops when its outside hits the inside of the first ring, and thus stops the pipe from falling out.
The third ring is to the second pipe what the first ring is to the first pipe. It also prevents the second pipe from passing the first ring and so falling inside the first pipe.
The fourth ring is to the third pipe what the second ring is to the second pipe.
The stopper on the bottom of the third pipe acts much as the third ring, preventing the third pipe from falling into the second.
The stopper on the top closes the back of the object, but has no mechanical function.
There must also be an interlocking function. Probably the first ring and third ring have meshing tabs such that a counter-clockwise twist from the perspective of the handle pushes these tabs together, and the same arrangement is present between the third ring and the bottom stopper. In this way, a sharp clockwise twist (the direction that would be natural cross-drawing it with the right hand) would probably release the two. However, there is not an obvious way to get them to lock in the open position.
You could go with the toy lightsaber design, in which each of the pipes is slightly tapered. The end would need some sort of pressure release cap. In this case, a good kinetic jolt would send the interior pipes toward the far end, but since they are tapered they would stick when the space narrowed sufficiently for them to become caught on the walls of the outer pipes. It would take a sharp tap on the front end to jar them back. This design, though, would rattle, as the inside pipes are loose when retracted.
Thoughts?
--M. J. Young
Can I get 2@1 blacksmithing specializing in weapons? If that would drop all other blacksmithing to 1@10, forget it. You said something about a 1@10 build weapons skill, could I specialize in weapons as my main blacksmithing? I imagine weapons are going to be something I'll be making a lot. I did make those two silver knives, so weapons are something I've done. At the 3@ level, it would be specializing in blunt instrument weapons. (I couldn't use bladed weapons, it just scares me) Can something like that be done? This will be the 3rd weapon I've made since getting here, and the first silver knife represented my 4th new use, IIRC. Blacksmithing specializing in weapons. Could I make a weapon of quality then?
So are you saying that in order to make a weapon of quality, all of my rolls would need to be at least 51 but not a failure? How many rolls would it be, in an educated guess?
Actually, they all rattle, not just the lightsaber design. It's not that loud, and I was planning to use some manner of coating on the pipes, to take care of some of that. A little slick, but not too slick.
The thing with having it twist to lock open. If you make any kind of stabbing attack, they tend to close. Doesn't do you much good.
The electromagnetic lock on the Weapons Store Guy's baton. Does it need batteries? How is it powered? If it needs batteries of any kind, I'm sticking to the one I'm building. Besides, the lower tech, the better, if it does the exact same thing.
Are the pipes threaded on the ends? Can I get threaded pipes? I just thought perhaps cutting off most of the thread, and using the threads as well as welding to hold the rings onto the ends might reinforce it a little. If no threaded pipes, no big deal. It is possible that if the largest pipe is threaded, I would use a standard pipe end cap as opposed to welding one on.
Rather than bonus careful work, we penalize rushed work. This is not always the case, but is the general rule.
And now I'm forced to ask, can you make an exception? You said "This is not always the case". I don't think you understand MJ. This is something he's going to be trusting his life to. This is his on-person, extremely low tech melee weapon. He's going to get it right. He's going to make sure it's done perfectly. I think a bonus would be a possible exception, but you're the referee.
(Doing Therapy)
Two Posts
"Mr. Weapons Dealer Guy, do you sell nylon or similar* belt holders which would hold one of these batons to hold the one I'm going to build?"
*Show him the pouch my Leatherman is in, black nylon mesh
Building it seems like a better choice, for some reason. Cancel the order for the other. No high tech collapsible baton, John is making it himself.
And even if it did collapse whilst you were using it, it would open back up the next time you swung.
(Doing Therapy)
Lots-O-Posts
http://www.crimehalter.com/collapsiblebatons.html
They sell collapsible batons, if you're interested in seeing pictures and reading a little about them.
(Doing Therapy)
So many postings
Do you know what a lock washer is? It's cut and twisted so that the pressure of the bolt pushes it down. That's a likely candidate for the rings, cuz then he would have the ability to twist it to close.
(Morning After Therapy)