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[GreatWyrmGold]

((Are you trying to see if Steve's giant penis ban applies here?))

((...No. I'm seeing if there's a limit to the absurdity we can make without Steve complaining. I'm planning to move from there to assorted impractical or inappropriate military thingies.
Inappropriate like broadswords and aircraft carriers, not like gargantuan genitalia.))

[Toaster]

((Great green gargantuan glowing genitalia?))

[NAV]

((Hey Unholy, there is this guy who has a mining laser that he can't lift. Corsair's character Jhoseph. The Kludgebot could certainly use a mining laser. I think a deal could be made.))

[Unholy_Pariah]

((The mining laser whilst heavy is an infantry weapon, it is incapable of being used over long range and charging heavily armed landing parties does not strike me as a good idea.))

[Sean Mirrsen]

"Darn. We have to go nuclear to have enough power, but we can't go nuclear because of contamination. And we need a powerful weapon, but plasma is inaccurate, and the HEP will take time to improve.

...

Damnit I need a second brain."

Anton queries Steve.

"Steve, how well does the VR simulate actual laws of physics? I have an absolutely crazy idea here. Also, can you patch me through to our R&D section? I have an equally crazy idea concerning the details of how the HEP operates, and its interaction with the Plasma Projector."

Spoiler: The Crazy Idea (click to show/hide)

The thought revolves around kinamp sandwiches and nuclear weaponry. Modern-day fusion bombs use a fission explosion as a means to generate enough temperature and pressure in fusionable material, and get it to undergo fusion. Here and now, however, we can try kinamp sandwiches.

The idea, thus, is a compact fusion warhead. A chunk of fusionable material - perhaps a liquid DT mix - sandwiched between two kinetic amp sandwiches facing each other, encased together in the strongest metal alloy casing we can feasibly use in a missile, and supplied with an electronic detonator for the two initiator aster-ex charges, so that they initiate simultaneously. A single kinamp sandwich produces combined directed power and backlash in the kiloton range. Two directly applying their force to fusion-capable material should provide the necessary pressure and temperature for at least part of the material to undergo fusion, releasing a substantial amount of energy - a fusion explosion, with minimal radioactive aftereffects.

Spoiler: The Equally Crazy Idea (click to show/hide)

In a way even crazier, since it's entirely conjecture. The plasma projector creates a ball of superheated plasma contained in a self-supporting forcefield. If there was a way to add energy to the containment forcefield in a specific way, it could react by deviating from its course in response to the energy differential. Or it could reinforce itself, drawing on that energy and extending its range.

Now imagine a plasma cannon flanked by an array of 4 standard HEPs, modified to track the projectile of the cannon via gimbal mounts, and deliver precise amounts of energy in those specific ways. With enough CPU power to control the HEPs, this could effectively create a guided, extended-range, faster plasma bolt, with the same high power and minimal chances of missing. Yes, essentially the fusion ball launcher.

Attempt the creation and testing of the first crazy idea. Discuss the second crazy idea with the R&D department, and if it's at least in theory feasible, create a mock-up VR version for tentative performance testing.

[Tavik Toth]

((Why not stick some disposable missile launches on it? And what about gauss cannons?))

[Unholy_Pariah]

((Resource costs, i dont wanna use a huge chunk of our collective assents.))

[Tavik Toth]

((Resource costs, i dont wanna use a huge chunk of our collective assents.))

((Reasonable. What about pile drivers or something?))

[Radio Controlled]

((Now, to make sure Pw doesn’t have to dig through any threads to find the stuff we wanna build, I’lm going to play accountant again and keep tally of what we want, how much it’ll all cost and how much budget we have left. This is how we’ll do it:

You guys ask PW how much something costs when you have an idea for something, then propose  it in the combat thread. Then I’ll keep track of how many people vote against or in favor, and either dismiss it or add it. I’ll voice my opinion, but I won’t count my own vote. However, if there’s an even divide between things then I’m just gonna pick something and that’ll be it. OOC reason to keep things moving and make sure we get to the fun parts faster, IC we can say it’s Miyamoto putting his foot down and being a horrible tyrant again.
If your project has several possible options (e.g. shuttles could be armed with several possible weapons) be sure to figure that out before you propose it, if possible.

Only projects posted in the combat thread will be counted, to keep everything in one place and ‘cause I’m a lazy bum.

Everyone agree with this?))

((Also, yes I'd like if both the shuttle weapons and scrapbot projects get reposted in the combat thread once you know what you want. Again, lazy bum.

By the way, who is gonna pilot those shuttles? Some npc, or remote-controlled by Steve? I'd prefer if we didn't have to pick player characters for something like that. Oh, and if at all possible, try to make it closer to 150 than 200 RU. Or 1/5 of the budget would go to those shuttles alone, and then we still haven't got any sods yet.

And Pariah:who is gonna pilot your thing? Going from this:

Again, it is not a personal project. It was built by Auron (and his faithful helpers) for the betterment of our combined combat capabilities, the intention was to give Aux focused characters with no combat skills the ability to effectively engage in combat.

I'm guessing you'll give it to one of our newbies who only have aux skill? Since Auron can still hold his own with his modded mining suit, whereas some of those other people are literally only armed with a laser rifle and good bad intentions.))

[piecewise]

stick a single 25 RU or less ship weapon (Preferably a PAC but a laser is acceptable) on the robots back mount, finish construction.

((We have outfitted 6 ships at a cost of 25~33 RU's each with multiple weapons, i foresee this not being a problem.))

Hows about a nice big gauss cannon with shells the size of grate? Should be good eh?

Welp, now it's time to let it run around like an idiot for a week, letting the pc get used to how to walk.


Also, keep the specifications to this in a txt file, just in case.

"Darn. We have to go nuclear to have enough power, but we can't go nuclear because of contamination. And we need a powerful weapon, but plasma is inaccurate, and the HEP will take time to improve.

...

Damnit I need a second brain."

Anton queries Steve.

"Steve, how well does the VR simulate actual laws of physics? I have an absolutely crazy idea here. Also, can you patch me through to our R&D section? I have an equally crazy idea concerning the details of how the HEP operates, and its interaction with the Plasma Projector."

Spoiler: The Crazy Idea (click to show/hide)

The thought revolves around kinamp sandwiches and nuclear weaponry. Modern-day fusion bombs use a fission explosion as a means to generate enough temperature and pressure in fusionable material, and get it to undergo fusion. Here and now, however, we can try kinamp sandwiches.

The idea, thus, is a compact fusion warhead. A chunk of fusionable material - perhaps a liquid DT mix - sandwiched between two kinetic amp sandwiches facing each other, encased together in the strongest metal alloy casing we can feasibly use in a missile, and supplied with an electronic detonator for the two initiator aster-ex charges, so that they initiate simultaneously. A single kinamp sandwich produces combined directed power and backlash in the kiloton range. Two directly applying their force to fusion-capable material should provide the necessary pressure and temperature for at least part of the material to undergo fusion, releasing a substantial amount of energy - a fusion explosion, with minimal radioactive aftereffects.

Spoiler: The Equally Crazy Idea (click to show/hide)

In a way even crazier, since it's entirely conjecture. The plasma projector creates a ball of superheated plasma contained in a self-supporting forcefield. If there was a way to add energy to the containment forcefield in a specific way, it could react by deviating from its course in response to the energy differential. Or it could reinforce itself, drawing on that energy and extending its range.

Now imagine a plasma cannon flanked by an array of 4 standard HEPs, modified to track the projectile of the cannon via gimbal mounts, and deliver precise amounts of energy in those specific ways. With enough CPU power to control the HEPs, this could effectively create a guided, extended-range, faster plasma bolt, with the same high power and minimal chances of missing. Yes, essentially the fusion ball launcher.

Attempt the creation and testing of the first crazy idea. Discuss the second crazy idea with the R&D department, and if it's at least in theory feasible, create a mock-up VR version for tentative performance testing.

The first idea, basically using the kinamp sandwiches in the same way explosive lenses are used on plutonium based bombs, is possible, though you will probably need more then two. You're probably gonna need a shell studded with many of them to get it to work. We could just make fusion bombs you know. They're more expensive but we can definitely make them.

That second idea....no, the shield isn't reactive like that, you can't funnel it around by hitting it with energy.

[GreatWyrmGold]

((Hm. How does the shield work? How do we keep it where we want it? If we changed the specifications...))

[Sean Mirrsen]

The first idea, basically using the kinamp sandwiches in the same way explosive lenses are used on plutonium based bombs, is possible, though you will probably need more then two. You're probably gonna need a shell studded with many of them to get it to work. We could just make fusion bombs you know. They're more expensive but we can definitely make them.

((But doesn't fusion have no "lower limit" to the amount of fusable material used? We can do more than just fusion bombs, we can do whole star-cannons with the Instigators, but the role is important here too. A full-size fusion bomb is likely to cause entirely too much damage considering what the current intended use is, not to mention it'd still likely be based off fission weapons. I'd like to try and make clean, compact missiles that won't destroy more than a few (dozen) city blocks if we have to use them in an occupied area.))
Let's put it this way. If it's possible to make compact fusion warheads with no more than some low (1-5) kilotons of destructive power using the kinamp-sandwich method, go with those. The mobile response team will like some good punching power, I think. If not, check how cheap, clean and small can "regular" fusion warheads be made.

That second idea....no, the shield isn't reactive like that, you can't funnel it around by hitting it with energy.

((Oh well. Hmm, can it be made reactive? Can a custom energy projectile of any type be suspended in a HEP beam like that? That's a good project for after the invasion.))
Go with an overcharged plasma cannon, see how much "ammo" will end up being possible to carry. Tally up the costs of planned modifications:

Tug: Armor plating, vernier thrusters, four gimbaled forward-facing laser cannons, PD turrets
Hauler, Modified hauler: Two cutting laser turrets apiece
Blackship-too: Full refit into flying custom plasma cannon mount, with original parts preserved for restoration
Courier: Several (four? six?) cutting laser turrets, two custom missiles with either kinamp-fusion or regular fusion warheads in the low kiloton range.

[PyroDesu]

((You know, with the advent of resource limits, it might actually be better to recycle those ships back into RU and use that to build proper combat ships instead of refitted civilian ships.

Just sayin'.))

[GreatWyrmGold]

((I'm pretty sure that despite technically being on the Sword, the both of us are still pretty firmly in the Survey thread.))

((Oh. piecewise told me to come here.))

"Hel...lo. Grate? Weren't you... dead? I mean, actually dead? Admittedly I kinda lost track of events after you blew up, but... uh, speaking of blown up, I'm kind of testing custom fusion warheads here. Might want to cover your eyes."

"I'm not sure what happened either, but Mr. Hawkeye seems to be interested in finding out. It's like he keeps following me around..."
Cover virtual eyes.

[syvarris]

((You know, with the advent of resource limits, it might actually be better to recycle those ships back into RU and use that to build proper combat ships instead of refitted civilian ships.

Just sayin'.))

((Well, aren't the RU more symbolic of manufacturing capability, rather than actual resources?  So tearing the ships apart more would actually cost RU?  At least, assuming we're already tearing off the semi-modular bits, like engines and plating, and just refitting them together. 

Of course, PW did say the effective cost of refitting those ships was ~300, IIRC.  We know a perfect replica of the sword costs about 1000, we might as well ask how many smaller, more specialized warships can we make for 300 RU?))