well,
having just joined TML, I thought I'd add my thoughts to the growing stack
of ideas on ironmongery (or lightmongery). I might have missed something
important before coming on 28 Aug, so accept my apologies in advance.
Most people who have been trained to combat shoot pistols, including me,
have been taught to fire from the hip in close combat (<10').
At these ranges it's quicker than bringing the weapon to bear, and just as
accurate. From 10' to 20' it's user preference. From there on out you
use the sights, iron, electronic, or biological (more on this later).
So, the idea is that the character with pistol skill would react based
on training and target distance (e.g. I would shoot from the hip to about
10' and then shoot from a modified weaver stance further out). A snapshot
is just that, a hastily squeezed off round, regardless of whether you bring
the weapon to bear or not. Indeed, the hip shoot gives you stability quicker
by allowing you to tuck your elbow into your hip, and then you just turn
your body towards the target. The reason it doesn't work further out is the
tendency to aim low.
Currently, most gunplay with pistols takes place at close quarters, so
by looking who wins in these situations, we can pretty much guess who
has better accuraccy. The stats that I can recall easy are police shots,
and in these cases the badguys usually win. Why? Because they shot
instinctively, point the thing at the cop and squeeze the trigger, adjust for
effect. The cops spent too much time trying to aim. (It's not so much
accuraccy, but effectiveness). Enough already.
Lasers...Is it a typo or is the TL 13 laser a kilo-and-a-half more than the
TL 9 version. This would be understandabile considering that the ImpEncyclo
describes the TL 13+ laser weapons as being X-ray in nature. So you would
need to add an x-ray tube, right? And then add an IR targeting laser, if so
desired. I agree with Mr. Metlay, fiber optics ought to improve to the point
where they would be robust enough to allow the laser et al to be on your
belt/back/eunuch. Right now, they're good enough (e.g. flexibility, dura-
bility) to be used for tracheal/bronchial surgery. And we are at TL 7-8.
Sights...Frankly I wouldn't spend cr3000 on a laser pistol without getting
all the balls and whistles. If I wanted something cheap and effective,
I would've got the gauss pistol, which is lethal enough to people even
wearing minimal armor, at cr600. I would get the laser pistol if I needed
a semi-concealable weapon and I was going against some medium armored targets
If I didn't need a concealable weapon it'd be easier, cheaper, and deadlier
(considering the RAM GL) to have a gauss rifle. The laser pistol also has
a certain mystique about it as well...Anyway, sights. The thought occurred
to me that by TL 11 we have nerve refusion, which means we have an excellent
understanding of how neurons work and how to make them more effective. TL 13
this body of knowledge will have expanded. If you got the bucks to buy a laser
pistol, the technology probably exists to biomechanical/electronic interface
with the critter. Everything in your body would be biological (altered
tissue). The laser would be both. Essentially the system would work the
same way you type. I know am hitting an "A". The gunslinger knows he is
pointing it at the target. As with typing you'd need to learn how to use it,
but it could be done. Think about it, in the future there would be the
fighters, biologically enhanced to use expensive weapons systems, and the
rest of us.
Actually, my primary "research" interest in traveller is the progression
of biological and medical sciences. We have become progressively better
at saving people from more severe trauma and diseases. How will this
effect life/combat in the future? What gadgets will exist? Interested?
Them's my thoughts,
eric sergienko