Two Posts
As per your advice some months ago, I am keeping the list of my Verser's Survival Pack on my desktop, and I will revise it as I see fit. I guess you're just going to have to trust me that what I said is what I really have in it. I'm not going to post it again probably until I verse out. I will (probably) be wearing it or have it very close by when I do (hence, having it in the first place) so that I will have some gear handy.
I just realized something. As on-person equipment, I have 3 handguns, a 22 rifle, a crossbow, a 12 gauge shotgun and over 1,100 rounds of ammo, if you count the crossbow bolts. Plus, 4 hand grenades. Wherever I end up next, they better pray that they don't mess with me.....
Lauren is right-handed. Derek is left-handed, so it was a good question.
"Sorry. I think I mentioned I have a lecture tonight. I'm teaching, and it's an extremely erratic schedule, because I'm billed as a visiting guest lecturer in anthropology--talking about primitive cultures I've encountered around the universe."
You and she and Derek can try the blind fighting thing tomorrow. You can show Derek how it's done.
--M. J. Young
Lauren is right-handed. Derek is left-handed, so it was a good question.
I was just trying to get a better mental picture of how the fight was going. A right-handed person will lead most of their attacks with their right hand, foot, or whatever. So, the fight went pretty much how I envisioned it.
"OK Lauren, you go get your things done. Good match. I'd feel sorry for the poor sap that was actually trying to fight you. (hold out hand to shake) Let's go again tomorrow."
Is Derek watching this fight? What does he think? When he starts laughing about how badly I did, tell him "I'd like to see you do better against her!!!!"
I think I'll wait until tomorrow to try fighting blind. Does Lauren know how to do that? I think I would rather have the new use on boxing than on fighting blind if I do that against Lauren. Only 2 more and I'm a 2@1 boxer. Then maybe I'll be able to do better. (I don't suppose you could suggest any more new uses could you?)
For the moment, since Lauren is leaving, rest for a bit, then go see if I can teach myself that spinning backhand punch. Also, practice solid punches. It would be Teach Self spinning backhand, throw solid punch, throw spinning backhand, throw solid punch, spinning backhand, throw solid punch, like that.
Does Derek know anything about throwing punches? Can he give me any pointers?
Is today my OkyDoky Smokey class? If so, go to that. If not, go take a long, hot, relaxing shower, and get some much-needed ZZZs. Tomorrow is day 10. Go pick up my holsters. It was a 9mm shoulder holster, the behind the back 357 holster, a pouch which holds two 357 speed loaders and another which holds 2 9mm magazines. The shoulder holster itself would be designed to hold 2 magazines on the right side with the gun on the left (for right-handed draw). Tomorrow, werk, skool, and then a rematch with the lovely Mrs Hastings.
I'm wondering. Are Lauren, Derek and I all from the same original planet earth? How would I know? Well, I wouldn't, but I don't suppose it matters so much that you couldn't tell me.
Two Posts
If I may be permitted to make a suggestion. I have a feeling I am not going to live much past Lauren's Disaster. I certainly won't if the security tries to arrest me.... Anyway, since it seems my verse out is impending, I'd like to suggest that my next world be something with an obvious, blatantly evil nature, with a magic bias high enough to support summoning an angel. (If such a world exists) Something perhaps like that vampire world that Lauren goes to in the novel. I think my non-involvement philosophy might be grinding to a halt. (I mean an ANGEL OF GOD came to me!!!!!! I can't be bouncing around aimlessly!!) It's just a suggestion. That and 50 cents will get you a can of Pepsi.
Derek does not laugh at you. He has seen Lauren fight before, and has even seen her killed, and is still amazed at how good she is--"like something out of a kung fu movie".
It is not my place to suggest new uses. Have you ever combined fighting blind with boxing before?
Derek is weapons-oriented. Even when he trained with Lauren, he was learning to use his knife and his laser rifle better.
I don't see the stats on the spinning backhand punch, but we'll talk about that Behind the Screens.
I'm not sure that the question of whether Derek and Lauren are from the same "original" planet earth is important enough that I know the answer. I can tell you that in conversation you don't find any glaring differences between either of their worlds or yours, other than that they versed out quite a bit ago (before the Twin Towers attack) so they have no current information.
--M. J. Young
It is not my place to suggest new uses. Have you ever combined fighting blind with boxing before?
No, I haven't. That would clearly be a new use. I'd rather have it on the boxing, if that's OK with you. I figure most fights I get into, I'll probably be able to see. Better to be good at fighting PERIOD than to improve a skill I might never use. And, yeah, I know it's not your place to suggest new uses, but come on, give a guy a break. I'll only need one more after that.
"Derek, one thing that I have learned in my life is that you will always have your hands. You won't always have a weapon. Someone will get your knife away from you long before they will get your hands restrained. I taught a 12 year old kid how to box in my last world. You want to spar?"
As far as the spinning backhand punch, it would do a lot more than annoying damage. I've seen that move used in fights before. It almost always floors the person hit. Since you can attack in any direction, it's a good move to know. Teach myself that, and practice the solid punch.
Two Posts
Just wondering. I'm pretty sure I'm over the weight limit for my equipment. However, if I verse out whilst wearing the Verser's Survival Pack, then that reduces the weight, right? So, if I'm 100 pounds overweight, but verse out wearing a 150 pound backpack, then I get to take everything, because the 150 pound backpack doesn't count, right? I just want to make sure I understand everything.
Speaking of which, if I'm carrying that thing constantly, wouldn't that count as weight lifting, and increase my strength and stamina?
Multiple Posts, more than 21 hours later
NOTES:
Did you ever fight on your knees? New Use!!!!!! Although, against William, I probably did..... Of course, that's unrecorded practice if so.....
I probably called him Billy Boy if there was no one that told me not to.... If he or Mr. Smith told me not to call him that, then I called him William.
Any more new uses with a crossbow? THINK THINK THINK BOY!!!!!! Moving target, what else? Would it be a new use on guns if you shot one of Lauren's revolvers? I ain't never shot a guy that big before.... Wanna get to 1@10 with crossbow. Guns worked in the Low-Tech Dancing Princess, but would they work flatline? Crossbow probably would. GET GOOD WITH CROSSBOW!!!! That's why you built the damn thing in the first place!!!!!!!!! Yes, I know it's not the same crossbow you moron!!!!!!
END OF NOTES:
MJ, I never disowned that other crossbow. I sold it, yes, but I never completely disowned it. I know I would have some manner of sentimental attachment to it, since I built it with Mr. Smith. The arrows I wouldn't care about. However, it's within the realm of possibility that I still see that oak and steel crossbow as mine. How is that handled?
(Doing Therapy)
Multiple Posts, more than 19 hours later.
MJ, does it matter to you what kind of folding stock that shotgun has? I'd want the metal, top folding stock. (Like on the shotguns in Jurassic Park) That shotgun was a SPAS 12, same shotgun the Terminator had. However, since this is the future, I'd bet they have it. Can we just say it has that kind of stock? "Come on!!! I didn't argue about the 8 shells in the gun!!!" (Said with a childlike, wheedling tone of voice)
(Doing Therapy)
Multiple Posts
(Hey, it's the game thread. I can post here as often as I want.)
Have I seen any guns/knives/explosives that would double as articles of clothing? I've been told that the German officers in WW2 had a belt buckle which was also a double-barrel, 25 caliber derringer, as part of the dress uniform. My friend Mike described it as a "5 feet away, get you out of a jam weapon"
Just an aside, on a double-barrel weapon, both barrels firing simultaneously would be a realistic botch. It still costs them an attack, if both barrels fire, there isn't a second attack. (Although, both barrels at once would probably blow to target to smithereens)
I used to have a belt buckle that had a 2 inch bladed folding knife stuck to it. Not much of a weapon, but it was really handy.
And of course, exploding cuff links are a staple of the spy adventures.
Have I seen anything like that? I'd even take a laser gun. Better to be 1@1 and have the gun than be a 3@10 and not have it. (That sentence makes sense to me, for some reason)
(Doing Therapy)
"Oh, sure. I once had a kid take the knife from me and kill me with it--but I took his chain from him, and killed him with it, and then I also had the chain. I'm fine, really. I'm not built for that kind of fighting."
Derek is, incidentally, a particularly unathletic looking overweight kid.
You are correct that the backpack does not count if you are wearing it when you verse out. However, since you have now made an issue out of the backpack, I have to check on it.
You have a 1@9 strength. That means you can carry up to 19 pounds "unencumbered", without it having any effect on you whatsoever. That includes all clothing, weapons, and equipment however carried.
Above 19 pounds up to 38 pounds you are "encumbered". At these levels, movement is reduced to half the rate as "unencumbered", and all more complex bod skills are impeded by a -20 sit-mod. Also, stamina checks must be made to continue after a number of minutes equal to your decimalized stamina times your stamina level--for you, you are resting every eighteen minutes while you wear that.
Your maximum "I can carry this" weight is twice that, 76 pounds, listed as "maximum". When you are above 38 but not above 76 pounds, you are prevented from performing body skills beyond the most basic, are slowed to one fourth your normal velocity in all bod movement skills, and you must make regular stamina checks to continue beyond a number of minutes equal to your decimalized stamina--again, for you, every eighteen minutes.
You can lift up to 76 pounds without a check; there is no danger that you would not lift it or that you would hurt yourself. Above that to twice that, you can lift up to 152 pounds on a successful simple (2d20) check, which can be bonused if you are on the low end, and twice again as much, 304 pounds, on a successful difficult (d30+10) check. The simple check weight allows you to move short distances--a few steps. The difficult check weight assumes a serious rush of adrenaline in an emergency situation, such as lifting one end of a car off someone you know, and very little movement in the process.
We can say that you are carrying a pack of 76 pounds as part of a strength/stamina training program. Such a training program would increase your strength and stamina by one intensity in two hundred days. That increase would raise your weight limits to 20# unencumbered, 40# encumbered, 80# maximum, 160# simple check, 320# difficult check. I would also say that the program you've described is double doubled. That means it will be quite exhausting for you now, but will continue to push you (after another 200 days) into the 2@1 range. At 2@1 you gain a "normal encumbrance" category between "unencumbered" and "encumbered", for which Movement is reduced to 3/4 normal, complex bod skills suffer a penalty of -10, and stamina checks are not required. The unencumbered weight limit for a 2@1 strength jumps to 42 pounds, 84# for normal, 168# for encumbered, 336# maximum, 672# simple check, 1344# difficult check. It really does make a difference crossing the level barrier, which is why it is so hard to do.
So trim your "on person" gear to 76# or stop walking.
I'm only strict about encumbrance when players make it an issue. If you want the benefits of carrying around more than you can carry, you pay the detriments as well.
You have not seen any concealed weapons. Of course, if you could see them, they would not be very well concealed....
--M. J. Young
From above, no wonder you missed it.
MJ, I never disowned that other crossbow. I sold it, yes, but I never completely disowned it. I know I would have some manner of sentimental attachment to it, since I built it with Mr. Smith. The arrows I wouldn't care about. However, it's within the realm of possibility that I still see that oak and steel crossbow as mine. How is that handled?
MJ, does it matter to you what kind of folding stock that shotgun has? I'd want the metal, top folding stock. (Like on the shotguns in Jurassic Park) That shotgun was a SPAS 12, same shotgun the Terminator had. However, since this is the future, I'd bet they have it. Can we just say it has that kind of stock? "Come on!!! I didn't argue about the 8 shells in the gun!!!" (Said with a childlike, wheedling tone of voice)
On the encumbrance, let me think on that for a day or two. Right now isn't exactly a good time. Of course, the contents of the Verser's Survival Pack is listed on the first page of this thread, if you want to see if you can determine the weight of it. It's also now got that shotgun, another 9mm, and a few other misc items. I want the benefits, and I don't think I'm over 76 pounds, based on some checking I did last night.
OK, so Derek looks more like the way I did when I was 12. I figured after 50 years in the verse, he would be more svelte and athletic than when he versed out. I know my character is.
You have not seen any concealed weapons. Of course, if you could see them, they would not be very well concealed....
And I also didn't see any dice rolls on the subject. Or this one of those Referee's Privileges?
Two Posts
Looks like I was wrong. My (conservative) estimates put that at about 110 pounds if you include the belt bag and everything. I must point out a few things though. First, such backpacks are designed to make carrying them easier, through use of weight distribution padding and metal support bars. (I'd think that would be some kind of bonus) Also, it is expected (at least by the military) that a person carry half of their body weight in their pack. (In my case, 110 pounds would be less than half my body weight) I don't know if there's anything for that, but I thought I would mention it.
Should I try to drop the weight of the pack, or what should I do?
EDIT (Doing Therapy for edit)
Also, just to be completely clear on the subject, are you sure that the 76 pounds isn't want I'm supposed to lift with my arms? A backpack like that would be mostly supported by your legs. I don't think carrying a 110 pound backpack for a 240 pound man would be unreasonable, but as Osevens would say "Your mileage may vary"
Just an aside, I remember once when I was a kid, my little sister wanted to try to give me a piggyback ride. (Like carrying a backpack, you know) I outweighed her by 30 pounds easily, but I remember she made it one lap around the inside of the house without much of a problem.
I apologize. I did see the comments about the shotgun and gave thought to the answer, but it slipped my mind while I was working through everything else.
You made me search, but I found what I wanted, on page 402, the last paragraph of the section on "Contested Equipment":
any character who freely and willingly gives up possession of an item in a way which the recipient would believe was both voluntary (not coerced) and permanent has given up all claim to that object.Selling your crossbow indicates that you have given up all claim to it. Had you lent it to someone, or given it to someone to use or to hold, or left it somewhere without disowning it, those would all be cases in which you at least might take it with you. Selling it is an agreed transfer of ownership.
Could you scam someone by pretending to sell them something you intend to keep? If you did that, you would have to state this intent to the referee at the time of the sale, and the referee would have to consider whether your intended deception created subliminal cues that might on a successful intuition check cause the purchaser to distrust you; in any case, you would create a contested equipment situation, in which you would have one chance on verse-out to beat the buyer in a comparative will power check and take the object. If you failed to roll a better successful difficult will power check at that moment, he would keep it and you would never get another shot.
I thought I had O.K.'d the shotgun design. Sorry.
You have not seen any concealed weapons. Of course, if you could see them, they would not be very well concealed....And I also didn't see any dice rolls on the subject. Or this one of those Referee's Privileges?
This is one of those "nature of the world" things. People in TerraNova don't carry weapons openly. It's shopping mall, office buildings, hotels--at least in my experience I don't see people wandering around such places visibly armed. You have never said that you were carefully examining strangers to see if you could determine whether they had any concealed weapons on them. You merely asked if you had seen any. I suspect that there are none; I suspect that you and Derek and Lauren are the only people you have ever noticed carrying weapons at all. That's the way this habitat works: people don't carry weapons because they don't need them here. The odds that you would notice someone carrying a hidden weapon without looking are non-existent. The odds that you would find someone carrying a hidden weapon if you searched carefully are probably one in a thousand. I don't have to roll for things so improbable that a handful of ten-sided dice coming up matched would be more likely.
Please do not forget that I have a thousand miles of canoeing and backpacking experience, and training in this area. 76 pounds is generous for a backpack that you carry constantly. Standard rule is 1/3 your body weight but never over forty pounds; I have carried sixty pound packs when I was in my prime, and they were exhausting.irst, such backpacks are designed to make carrying them easier, through use of weight distribution padding and metal support bars. (I'd think that would be some kind of bonus) Also, it is expected (at least by the military) that a person carry half of their body weight in their pack.
As to military standards, a lot of training goes into making someone able to carry that much. I would wager that by the time an infantry soldier is out of basic he has been pushed to a 2@1 strength and stamina, and has special skill in carrying gear. You do not have that. I think were you to don a 50 pound pack for an hour, that would get you clear on this.
Concerning your sister carrying you, the question is not by how much you outweighed her but what your weight was relative to her strength. A pixie with a 2@1 strength can lift as much as a giant with a 2@1 strength. Also, she is not carrying you long distances, but falls more into the category of lifting you.
Yes, carrying the weight on your back is easier, for all the reasons you assert; it is still as tiring over time.
--M. J. Young
I was going to insist on the derringer belt buckles, but I decided not to. Please disregard any further reference to them.
Please do not forget that I have a thousand miles of canoeing and backpacking experience, and training in this area.
Actually, since I never knew that in the first place, I don't see how I could have forgotten it.... (Bad Joke, I know) In that case, I will cut the pack down to 76 pounds. I've already started thinking on how to do it. Just give me a day or two.
(Doing Therapy)
Two Posts
MJ, since we're talking about it, when I verse out, whether I'm wearing it or not, the Verser's Survival Pack and all its contents are my first priority of equipment to take. That would be my "Take it all all costs" item.
(Doing Therapy)
Multiple Posts
I'd also like to see about getting a Ruger 10/22 with a folding stock. (It's a semi-auto, 22 caliber, magazine fed rifle) Ditch the AR 7, this would be much greater firepower, exactly the same use characteristics. (Same weight, comparable size, etc) (Plus, I'm familiar with them) They make 25, 50, and 100 round magazines for it. A semi auto 22 with a 100 round magazine makes an awful lot of lead throwing. (Only reason it isn't classed as an assault rifle on our world is because it's only a 22 caliber) Same or greater hunting characteristics as the AR 7. Check into it whilst I'm at the gun store. We know the Ruger brand exists, the 10/22 was one of their best selling items. If they have the P89, the 10/22 (at least I'd think) would be almost a certainty.
And now that I think about it, it pretty much matches the game's jam rate. I'd say 1 or 2 rounds out of 100 would not be an unrealistic jam rate with the 10/22. That would be about right.
Would they buy the AR 7 back? Anyone with 1@10 or better gun experience would be able to tell it hadn't been fired. (More or less a straight trade would suit me just fine) Go through the computer of course, but I imagine both weapons cost about the same amount. Of course, I'd have to purchase magazines for the 10/22 (pronounced "Ten-twenty-two"). It would probably come with a single, 10 round magazine. (BTW, these magazines are kind of weird, I'll go into more detail later) A 10/22 and four 100 round magazines would be almost the same weight, and a heckuvalot more firepower.
Would they be interested in buying my Marlin 22? (Only if they have the 10/22, that is) It's a piece of junk, I admit. (Paid $60 for it at a flea market) But it was a good gun. If I can get a 10/22, I'll probably ditch the Marlin as well. If I can get enough for that to get four 100 round magazines, I'll be a happy camper. (On our world, the magazines would go for about $15-20 each, so that wouldn't be TOO unrealistic.) Of course, I will pay any disparaging difference.
I'd say 2@1 skill with a 10/22. It was the 22 I cut my teeth on.
(Doing Therapy)
Multiple Posts, 12 hours later
And of course, don't forget to try the spinning backhand punch as well as practice solid punch. The stats on the spinning backhand punch I posted behind the screens before you made yesterday's post. You just have to do a bit of digging.
Multiple Posts, 4 hours after last.
Have I seen any single shot 12 gauge shotguns? No, these would not be covered in the roll for double barreled guns. Like the AR 7 collapsible, these are frequently made for survivalist use. Also, single shot guns differ greatly in general from double barreled guns. A survivalist gun would have a collapsible wire stock, and a rack to hold a handful of shells. (5 or 6 would be my guess) Anything like that?
Do they have any 12 gauge flares? (I now see why I need to ask, instead of you telling me) I'd think both of these would be almost a certainty. They seem to deal with survivalist items.
(After this, I think the pack will be down to (or close to) the requested weight. I'll post it when I'm ready.)
And yeah MJ, I know I make a lot of posts on the thread, but look at it like a well-organized, but very long, single post. (Besides, you sit around the house all day with nothing to do, and tell me you aren't doing the same thing)
The way I envision this gun store is pretty much like our gun stores here. Specializing in 3 main types of weaponry. Top of the line primitive weapons, a wide assortment of common guns, and survivalist items. So, instead of muzzleloaders, the primitive weapons are what I'm buying, the common guns are the lasers and whatnot, and the survivalist items are just high-tech versions of what you would find on our world. (My crossbow, the Collapsible AR 7 that I have, etc.) That's the way I envision it.
(Doing Therapy)
John, I should mention that you have seen Lauren's wagon. Since you read about it in the novel, I'll not describe it in detail. Derek carries some of his stuff in baskets on his bicycle (the really dorky baskets his uncle said he would one day appreciate when he put them on his really cool mountain bike--and yes, he does appreciate them), plus a small backpack and a large backpack, but he only carries the large one on his back when he travels, the small one being more of a bookbag/utility pack for immediate needs.
We've fallen into the inconsistency of talking about brand name weapons. When we started, we were talking about "something comparable to" particular brand name weapons, and using the brand names to keep track of them. They did not have the Ruger P-89; they had a gun just like the Ruger P-89 which we call that for simplicity.
The .22 you have is as close as you can find to the one you want.
You do not manage to teach yourself the spinning backhand; the spin is an unfamiliar sort of move, and you keep losing your sense of direction through it.
You rarely see much variety in the archaic weapons which interest you; mostly you special order these. There are very few shotguns of any kind on the racks, and the dealer is more interested in selling what he has at the moment.
What exactly is a 12 gauge flare? Is this a shotgun shell that fires a flaming round? How long does it burn--a minute, like a flare gun, or an hour, like road flares?
Comments like that will get you blacklisted--particularly when I'm supposed to be off today but I'm trying to get done the work I didn't do yesterday because I had three major errands of one to three hours each, and today I'm being interrupted every twenty minutes by someone who needs my help.(Besides, you sit around the house all day with nothing to do, and tell me you aren't doing the same thing)
You have no idea.
--M. J. Young
I keep asking if I've "seen" any... That's why they don't come up... I need to ask if I can "Get One." Sorry, failure in communication. I assumed you would take it to mean "Can I get one." Sorry, my fault.
So, I guess since I've just been looking, I'm going to ask.
Sorry MJ.... (Don't ask, it's completely random)
I have a feeling easily concealed weapons might be considered illegal. (I mean, if Boxing is....) The little tiny and/or belt buckle guns might be illegal. Probably shouldn't push that. I've already gotten one warning for looking up illegal stuff.
"Hey, could you please check and see if you can get a Ruger 10/22?" (It's not, I know that now. But, I want a semi-auto, magazine fed, 22 caliber rifle with at least a 50 round (Preferably 100 round) magazine. If calling it a Ruger 10/22 is just game talk, that's fine with me. I didn't realize that. Ruger is a pretty big brand here. I figured it WAS William Ruger's company, now continued by his great-grandchildren or something. Sorry.
"Also, can you order a single shot 12 gauge survivalist gun?" (Wire stock, 18-20 inch barrel, capable of holding 5 or 6 or more shells on the stock. If it can be spring-loaded or something, for recoil absorption, then that's all the better. (Probably not uncommon, on this type of gun design.) Also MJ, they make strange designed guns. The most common is a shotgun/22 combination. (It's two barrels, one a 22, the other a 12 gauge) However, I wouldn't be at all surprised if someone put a larger-caliber rifle barrel on top. A 223 or a 30-06 over under would be absolutely perfect. (Then I've got a shotgun, and a single-shot sniping rifle) I don't think this would be covered in the roll for double barreled guns, because that was for double barrel shotguns.
I get it MJ. I'm allowed to tell you how the guns are designed, because I understand that better, but I can't tell you the probability of their existence in this world, because I don't know that. I guess what I envision this store to be is not what it is. Some stores have 1/3rd or more of their inventory in primitive weapons (Which these would be) I guess it's more high-tech than I realized.
What exactly is a 12 gauge flare? Is this a shotgun shell that fires a flaming round? How long does it burn--a minute, like a flare gun, or an hour, like road flares?
It IS a flare gun. You're just shooting the flare out of a shotgun instead of a flare gun. It doesn't work both ways. The flare gun could possibly explode if you shot a normal 12 gauge round through it. Speaking of which, can I get a normal 12 gauge flare gun? It would (probably) survive a single use of a 12 gauge round, but I wouldn't even want to chance it after that. Besides, a flare gun might not be considered a weapon, however, it most certainly would be one.....
(Besides, you sit around the house all day with nothing to do, and tell me you aren't doing the same thing)
Comments like that will get you blacklisted--particularly when I'm supposed to be off today but I'm trying to get done the work I didn't do yesterday because I had three major errands of one to three hours each, and today I'm being interrupted every twenty minutes by someone who needs my help.
You have no idea.
No MJ, YOU have no idea. Yeah, I'm sure right now it sounds great to you to be sitting at home doing nothing. However, try it for about 6 years straight. It gets BORING!!!!! Sometimes I go a week or more only leaving my apartment to go to the mailbox. (Thank GOD the swimming pool opened!!!!!) At least you get out, see people, and do active work.
(Doing Therapy)
John, when I first saw that sentence, I misread it - it looked to me like you were saying that MJ sat around the house all day with nothing to do, which would be a ridiculous claim. It took me a few puzzled minutes to figure out that it was a "put yourself in my shoes" kind of comment, saying "no wonder I post so much, I sit around the house all day with nothing to do; wouldn't you?"
My point is that if I misread it, MJ could have, and I'm sure you can see how that might be upsetting.
(Of course, I could be completely off-base, in which case I'm putting my nose where I should not and I apologize.)
It took me a few puzzled minutes to figure out that it was a "put yourself in my shoes" kind of comment, saying "no wonder I post so much, I sit around the house all day with nothing to do; wouldn't you?"
In which case, I misread MJ's comment. That hadn't occurred to me, that mine might have been midunderstood.
Scott is correct--I thought you said, "You sit around the house all day with nothing to do," and that certainly does not describe my life--but I get a lot of people who say that I am wasting time posting here because there are so many other things I ought to be doing. It is apparent now that you meant, "If you were sitting around the house all day with nothing to do," which is an entirely different statement.
Your phrasing is perfectly fine for spoken communication where inflection gives so much meaning, but for written communication, even marking the emphases would not fix this.
Of course, the hardest part about proofreading your own stuff is that you already know what it's supposed to mean, so you don't always see what it actually says. For my books and articles, I try to give them at least a couple weeks unread so that I'm not anticipating what they say. That cannot be done with forum posts, though, so a lot of miscommunications slip through.
Your dealer has no line on anything like that Ruger you described. If they're made somewhere in the galaxy, his distributors don't carry them.
He can order a survivalist gun, but it's not quite what you envision. The hollow polymer/plastic stock folds to encase the rest, which includes a 12" barrel and holds a single 12 gauge shell. Folded and sealed, it can be submerged to three hundred meters without water reaching the gun itself and be released into vacuum without depressurizing. It's 18" folded, 3' open, loaded from the rear of the barrel and manually emptied. He can also order flare shells for these, which come in boxes of ten. The flares will fire a mile high at one grav, and burn for twenty minutes. They are not recommended for longer barreled guns, as they burn very hot on ignition. The flares contain chemical oxidizer, and so will fire under water or in space, but they are not recommended for use in flammable or explosive atmospheres. The gun can also handle standard shotgun shells of all types, although the accurate range is very short.
It is generally considered a flare gun, and is legal to carry in most jurisdictions. In some it might have to be registered as a weapon upon your arrival.
--M. J. Young
After rereading it a few times, yeah, it does sound like I am saying that MJ sits around with nothing to do. I thought you would know better than I would say something like that. See, I thought you were expressing jealousy about my lifestyle, when I was complaining about it. It didn't make any sense to me. My time sitting around doing nothing hasn't been completely unproductive though. I've spent the last 3 1/2 years of it developing my therapy, which is what the disability is for. So you can get better.
MJ, I must ask you for another roll on that 10/22. You thought I was asking if I saw one in the store. A 21 would certainly be that I didn't see one in the store. However, it says nothing about whether or not the gun can be ordered. It's another miscommunication. And yes, before you ask, if I roll a 30 and it turns out the reason they don't have it is because it's illegal, I'll deal with that. Just please, one more dice roll on it. Humor me.
"Shotgun sounds good. I'll take it. When can I pick it up? I'll take that and 20 flares. And just out of curiosity, how far would the flare fly straight?" (That's actually what I wanted it for. Hit a gas tank with one of those puppies.....)
(Doing Therapy)
Multiple Posts
Do they have/can I order any Saiga shotguns? (Pronounced like the Sega video game system.) It's a semi-auto shotgun with a 20 round magazine, and it's built on an AK-47 frame. Basically, take my MAK 90 and convert it to fire shotgun shells, and you have a Saiga shotgun. Can I get something like that?
What about a 9mm carbine rifle? Ruger makes a 9mm rifle that takes the same magazine as a P-89. Shoots the same ammo as the pistol. For that, I would also want to check on some 20 and 30 round magazines. (If I really can't get the 10/22, this might be my best option)
(Doing Therapy)
Multiple Posts, 9 hours later.
Do they have/can I get a shotgun shell belt? It's a belt with elastic loops to hold shotgun shells. Most of these hold 25 rounds and go around the waist, but I have a bandoleer belt that holds 56 shells. Anything like that?
Just to be clear on that 9mm carbine rifle. It could well be made by the same company as my other 9mm handgun, and thus, take the same magazine. I think a semi-auto rifle and that folding shotgun would be better to carry than the Persuader and the AR-7. (Besides, it would cut out about 6 or 7 pounds from the pack) I'd want either a 22 with a 50 or more round magazine or a 9mm with a 20-30 or more round magazine. And yes, it would also accept the 15 round magazines my pistol takes, and the pistol would take the 20s and 30s.
BTW, I seem to recall some time ago that we already established that the 20 and 30 round magazines existed. I opted not to buy them, because they do make a pistol too heavy to carry. It wouldn't be like that in a rifle, so I'd want the 20 and 30 round magazines.
If neither of those is available, I'd settle for a 357 magnum rifle. On our world, these are typically lever action, but that means nothing here. A semi-auto 357 rifle would be my last choice. The 22 ammo is light, the 9mm rifle takes the same magazine. Those are my first two choices.
And of course, a collapsible stock, and if I can get it, they make elastic pouches that hold (usually) 2 magazines to the side of the gun. If I can get all of that, I'd be a happy camper.
This fact of pistols and rifles taking the same magazine was part of the work I did for Dark Honor Empire. It was very common in The Old West for a person to carry a 45 Colt revolver, and a lever or bolt-action rifle also chambered in 45 Colt. Only have to carry one type of ammo.
(Doing Therapy)
MJ, check your email again before the day is over. I think we had another miscommunication.
The dealer does not have stats on how far the flare would fly straight. He says it will be about a week before the gun arrives, but he has a couple boxes of the flares in stock.
I'm sorry, I'm having trouble sorting out what you're requesting. I'd like you to make a complete list of everything you are trying to get now, so I can cover it all with a single roll. Thank you.
--M. J. Young
Do they have/can I order any Saiga shotguns? (Pronounced like the Sega video game system.)
What about a 9mm carbine rifle?
Do they have/can I get a shotgun shell belt?
20-30 round 9mm magazines.
BTW, I seem to recall some time ago that we already established that the 20 and 30 round magazines existed.
if the 9mm carbine is not available, I'd settle for a 357 magnum rifle.
And of course, a collapsible stock on the 9mm carbine.
These are in no particular order to how I want them. However, if the roll means I only get one, I'd like that one to be the 9mm carbine.
(Doing Therapy)
You can get the 9mm carbine. The stock is not collapsible. As mentioned, the 20 and 30 round magazines are available, and they match the magazines for the 9mm pistol.
There are also belts and bandoliers for shotgun shells available. Belts hold three, six, or twelve; bandoliers (which are worn sash-like over the shoulder and across the chest) hold twelve or twenty-five.
--M. J. Young
I know what a bandoleer is MJ, but apparently, you know nothing of shotgun shell belts. Twelve to twenty five is how many a belt would hold. A bandoleer would hold 50 or more.
I'll take a 25 round bandoleer, six 30 round magazines, and of course the 9mm carbine. Even without a collapsible stock, it should still fit in the pack. When will all of that be in? Or is it in now? Do they have any pouches that would hold the magazines to the gun? I have a 9mm carbine here that has a pouch on the stock for holding 2 magazines.
Ranges on the carbine would be double the ranges for the pistols. It would probably be in the same damage category, with a +10 sit-mod or something. Of course, if you want to put it in a higher damage category, that's fine too.
We're still on day 9. My holsters come in tomorrow. It's a behind the back 357 holster, a 9mm shoulder holster, a speed loader pouch for 2 speed loaders, and a magazine pouch for 2 9mm magazines. Since it seems guns like these are kind of rare, no one would be likely to recognize the ammo pouches for what they are, so wearing those openly probably wouldn't attract suspicion. As long as the guns were concealed.
When that carbine comes in, my pack should be about the right weight. The carbine and the folding shotgun both weigh less than the Persuader does alone.
Multiple Posts
Where are Derek and Miss Lauren? (I'd probably call her that, now that I think about it) Lauren is teaching the class, where's Derek? Maybe he can show me some knife fighting.
I know the basic principles of knife fighting, probably 1@1 or 1@2, since I've never tried to use it before. Would Derek want one of those silver knives I made? Since I probably won't get to take everything, probably better to disown some stuff.
(Doing Therapy)
Multiple Posts
Notes:
Can I build a collapsible stock for that 9mm carbine? That should be fairly easy for a blacksmith to do, once I actually have my hands on the gun...
(Doing Therapy)
Multiple Posts
Mistake.
(Doing Therapy)
They say your order will be in in twelve to fifteen days.
Derek loves his job, and uses his off-time to learn as much as he can. These computers are several centuries ahead of what he knows. One day he was raving about something called a biocomputer he was working on with Raeph, way beyond anything he's ever known. He's built a few new parts for his collection, including a binary/trinary interface.
As to whether you could build a collapsible stock, you'll have to talk me through what it is you're trying to do--that is, give me a design and what you expect would be the way you would go about replacing the current stock with the new one.
--M. J. Young
I'll worry about the collapsible stock when I actually have the gun. It shouldn't be too hard.
Talking to the gun store clerk.
"I'd like to make that ten 30 round magazines, now that I think about it. Also, I have this nice AR-7 collapsible 22 rifle. (Anyone with 1@10 or better gun knowledge could tell it had never been fired) Would you like to buy it back? As soon as I get that carbine, I won't need to have it anymore. I may have some other stuff I need to sell."
Find Derek.
"Hey dude, come down to the gym with me and show me some knife fighting. Also, how good are you with your chain? A chain is a belt you can wear, and also a weapon. Those are good. I recall a book, a woman named Lauren wore a Kau Sin Ke, (Whatever that is) As a belt. Do you have any idea how to use that, or what to do with it? I'd be happy learning to use a chain for right now. You wanna try?"
(Doing Therapy)
Multiple Posts
Talking to Derek
"Hey Derek, I was wondering. Could you use your computer savvy skills to see if you can locate me a double barrel 12 gauge? The guy says he can't get them, but that they likely exist on more primitive worlds. Find out, first, what primitive worlds have such guns, and secondly, how hard it would be to book passage to one of them. I want to get a double barrel shotgun. It's kind of an obsession at this point. (Watch, I'll end up in the wild wild west next and be able to get one for a single crown) Come on, check on it for me."
(Doing Therapy)
With a look of exasperated resignation on his face, Derek agrees to show you what he can with his knife and his chain. He also brings his frying pan. He points out that Lauren has three kau sin ke's, which you must have seen as she wears the metal one like a belt and the plastic and glass ones draped over her shoulders nearly all the time.
You'll have to remind him about the computer search later.
As you reach the gym, he asks, "O.K., how do you want to do this?"
--M. J. Young
With a look of exasperated resignation on his face, Derek agrees to show you what he can with his knife and his chain.
Sort of a friendly/confused tone of voice.
"What's with the attitude dude? If you've got something else to do go do it. I don't mean to be putting you out here."
Assuming he still wants to, (And if he does have something else to do, I won't begrudge him doing it.) I'd like to try the knife fighting first. Get my Kabar out. I'd put duct tape (which I have) on the blades so that we can't hurt each other.
"Show me what you got."
If, for some reason, he doesn't want to anymore, that's fine. Can he help me with the computer search for a double barrel shotgun before he goes? I'm not trying to put him out, if he doesn't want to show me this, I'll go back to my room and hang out there for a while.
Two Posts
I noticed you rolled a persuasion/willpower check for this. That seems to give the impression that I would be imposing on Derek by asking him to show me something. Does he have anything better to do besides this? (That never sounds right, no matter how you say it) I can't imagine an overweight 12 year old has much of a social life. (I certainly didn't.) Why would he NOT want to go to the gym? Seriously, just curious.