Initial notes

[joshbruce]

Battle

tl;dr: #FourthEarth Lore seems more plausible every day.

When it comes to Fourth Earth technology there are a few major constraints:

1. A lack of population necessary for mass production.
2. A lack of population for diversification of ideas.
3. Lack of population means loss of domain knowledge for teaching.
4. A what if question: what if access to firearms was restricted?

Sometimes a technology comes along that causes future innovation in a previous technology slows down or even stops (Steam Punk explores what might have happened if electric power didn’t overtake steam power, for example). In many countries firearms (guns firing bullets) are illegal. Hypotheses: Defense will always be pursued and defensive equalizers will tend to win.

In combat of any sort there are two major constraints: power and technique.

In unarmed combat the physically stronger will typically win regardless of technique (Bane versus the kid from Diary of a Wimpy Kid); however, a trained “wimpy kid” could overtake the physically stronger opponent (Fezzik vs. Westley).

To overcome this difference, add a knife. Then a sword. Both require less physical strength to be effective and require minimal training in technique (“More brawlers than warriors”). Add armor to defend - doesn’t require learning technique which takes time; shifting balance.

Add ranged weapons; hit them as much as you can before they get to you. Bows require the physical strength to overcome the pull of the bow and requires learning technique for aiming and firing; however, they have an advantage over throwing sticks as you can carry more arrows than you can throwing sticks. They become a battle of skill, part of which is the ability to reload and fire again before the target moves.

Enter firearms. The power input required for the system is the same for everyone due to mechanical advantage; if you can pull the trigger, you can fire the gun. The speed of the projectile also means you don’t have to adjust as much when aiming due to drop...less technique. The power output is also the same for everyone using the same type of bullet. If Tyson comes at me with what he’s good at and I have a forearm, it doesn’t matter, I can still win (Indiana Jones vs. The Saber guy). The great equalizer so to speak...minimal power input, minimal technique, standard output.

What if that is taken away and forces people to seek alternative methods of equalization??

My main bets when it comes to the world of Fourth Earth technology are:

1. Repurposing standard equipment and intentionally developing multipurpose tools; the battery and motor from this thing is the same as the battery and motors for that thing: I can use a spear as a walking stick.
2. Guerrilla tactics and mobility become inherent in tool development; silence, small, lightweight.
3. Minimal tooling required and an emphasis on reusability; bullets suck at this: I can make a suitable arrow out of a stick, pull it out and reuse it and my spear can continue to be used until broken (also made from a stick).

https://youtu.be/RNPpjuRtqeA

[joshbruce]

West Marches rpg

Hunger extension

Consent extension

Pricing

$4 200 = 800 $8 400 = 3200 $12 800 = 9600 $16 n 1400+ = $13600+

Round times Jab = 1s : 1 @ scale Uppercut = 3s : 2 @ scale Kick = 3s : 2 @ scale Dual weapon = 2s : 2 @ scale Single weapon = 3s : 3 @ scale Magic (prepare) = 1s (hold 3s) : 0 Magic (weaponized) = 4s : 4 @ scale

Scale 1 to 10 (human) to 100

Tools used for non-combat reduce challenge level by 1 and can gain up to 2 ranks. Tools used for combat don’t reduce challenge level.

class Challenge { // add primary battery __construct($base, int $adjust = 0) {} }

class Character { attempt(Challenge $challenge, int $limit) { // check if limit < level // if yes: do something related to limiting how much target battery can be drained // drain target battery // drain overflow batteries // recover prime } }

/x,y,z content.area { “merge”:”x,y,z”, “tree”: { “look-area”: “look”: { “cl”:0, “target”:”...”, “success”: }, “approach”: { “cl”:0, “success”: }, “leave”: “climb”: { “up”: { “cl”:1, “success”: “failure”: } } } }

{id}.creature {character}.npc {character}.pc

[joshbruce]

Tools

Kylie (throw stick): Flat on one side, domed on the other the Kylie is primarily used as a ranged weapon (roughly 200 feet). It is typically thrown horizontally, flat side down, at a target to incapacitate them in some manner; making it easier for the hunter to then walk up to the wounded animal and finish the hunt. Made of dense material it can also be used as a cudgel or slashing instrument. The “L” or “7” shape allows for easier carrying, usually by way of a large metal ring affixed at the base of the spine; the effect is you look as though you have a roughly two foot tail.

Citizen Cane: The Citizen Cane is a metal walking stick and spear roughly five feet in length. The widest end is roughly two inches in diameter, which decreases to one inch three inches below the tip. The final five inches taper to almost zero diameter, creating the piercing tip of the spear. The tip is comprised of three cutting edges that spiral from base to tip. It can be split in half and used dual-handed. When stowed, each half folds in half (15 inches) for an easy carry that won’t hinder movement. An asset for fishing, finishing a hunt, or close quarter defense.

10” Kukri machete: A heavy, broad knife with curved blade. Very useful in clearing brush, chopping wood, skinning and dressing animals, and self-defense.

The Cradle

The Cradle is the last known major concentration of the eight higher-order species of Fourth Earth. A ring of eight enclosed habitats circling a central mega habitat. Each city follows the same pod-based design.

A large central pod, surrounded by a ring of eight smaller pods, connected by a covered pathway. Each pod is divided horizontally by a gravitational plane. A gravitational plane pulls physical objects in the pod toward the plane, which allows the use of the top and bottom half of the pod creating two domed enclosures.

The central pod for the outer habitats is two miles in diameter, each outer lying pod is one mile in diameter. The mega habitat has a four mile central pod and two mile outer pods. The purpose of the central pod is to enhance the self-contained biome of each city: water recirculation, oxygen generation, and minimal foodstuffs.

Each outer habitat is connected to the mega habitat by an uncovered road. If necessary, the entrances can be closed using multiple think, concrete doors.

These habits are designed to survive various forms of natural disaster and invasion.

The Cradle is located in a valley with high mountains to the east, smaller mountains to the north and west, and a river to the southeast that empties into the ocean.

The cities are not creatively named, instead we opted, as we normally do, for utility and accuracy: North, Northeast, East, Southeast, South, Southwest, West, Northwest, and Hub.