Questions tagged [warfare]
For questions related to the effects of certain circumstances, conditions, or locality changes on war. Related tags: [civil-war], [nuclear-war], [cold-war]
1,816
questions
-2
votes
0
answers
37
views
What would Julius Caesar think about the development of AI? [closed]
Would the triumvirate use it to his advantage? Would've it be used in Rome for example counting the census? I've been looking for sources around this topic and I've found nothing thus far.
Thank you.
- 1
6
votes
1
answer
617
views
Moving Arrows to Supersonic Speeds
In a sci-fi world that I am making, an infantry held launcher is one of the many weapons developed to counter increasingly tough armor protection, brought on by the advent of advanced materials and ...
- 4,373
10
votes
22
answers
5k
views
Necessity of army and navy in a space warfare setting
I'm writing a realistic sci fi story involving interstellar conflict , where space warships (assume something like star destroyers from star wars) are the norm, These warships are capable of orbital ...
- 438
1
vote
0
answers
91
views
Domesticated Bears [duplicate]
I'm writing about a world similar to that around the time of the Roman Empire, only they have domesticated bears and use them for warfare. I want them to be used to be able to break through enemy ...
8
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Individual Laser-Point-Defense [closed]
Laser point defense is a known concept.
A powerful laser beam, either continuous or pulsed is used to shoot down or deflect either a projectile or object out of the sky. The concept has been ...
- 4,373
0
votes
0
answers
41
views
Wormhole Based Warfare [duplicate]
Let's say that, theoretically, a civilization is capable of utilizing wormholes for travelling to the stars, this wormholes, eventually get turned into a device that can be used as for travel, as a ...
- 51
8
votes
10
answers
5k
views
Can a war in an 1800's level society kill a billion people in 17 years?
Technology Level
The planet has a level of technology of about the early 1800's. They have some basic steam transportation, muskets and bayonets, cannons and other basic artillery, and some less ...
- 945
4
votes
5
answers
2k
views
The interplanetary cold war
A cold war, the tension between well-armed powers that doesn't directly lead to an all-out war, but to an era of tension, espionage, proxy-warfare and propaganda. In our own world, the most famous ...
- 898
6
votes
7
answers
2k
views
Extrapolating a culture from its use of armored fighting vehicles? [closed]
Ok, rewriting this one, so some of the answers and comments are from a simpler version:
Let's say, in an alternate timeline, or on another world, we discover the equivalent of mechanized warfare -- ...
- 69
0
votes
3
answers
196
views
How would a species with intangibility-powers deal with war and violence? [closed]
I've got an idea for an alien species with intangibility powers, similar to Kitty Pryde from the X-men or Mira Nova and the Tangeans from "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command". They are capable ...
- 1,287
7
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Would a Gas Giant be a feasible option for in-atmosphere fighting?
Could it be possible that a large portion (80%+) of a gas giant has thin enough atmosphere that the ships don’t suffer from re-entry effects, but thick enough that conventional dogfighting tactics ...
4
votes
6
answers
2k
views
What AI force strength would be needed to defeat modern humanity? [closed]
When (not “time”, but at what force size/distribution) would my artificial life have enough presence to believably conquer humanity?
My story takes place during a war between two species: Humans and ...
- 8,159
17
votes
12
answers
4k
views
Are there any good alternatives to firearms for 1920s aircrafts?
Short and simple are there any actually effective alternatives to firearms as the main alternative for WW1-1920s era aircraft including biplanes and airships?
Rules:
1: The weapon must be able to be ...
- 179
1
vote
2
answers
283
views
How would a modern society be ruled by a warrior class? [closed]
I want to know if it is possible for a modern Western society to revert to a form of feudalism, with a warrior caste or 'knights' that rule and protect everyone else for food and money. How would such ...
- 45
10
votes
15
answers
3k
views
What makes my artificial intelligence indestructible, but containable?
In my story, I have Artificial Intelligences that turn against their creators (think something akin to Skynet). These AIs are bent on the destruction of humanity. Humans and the AIs go to war ...
- 1,851
4
votes
8
answers
2k
views
What would be the primary weaknesses of massed archers?
Setting: In my world, there exists a nation that has a military primarily made up of archers. Each citizen is required to have a level of proficiency with a longbow, both in individual shooting and ...
- 1,260
1
vote
6
answers
791
views
Possible layouts for a sci-fi military airship [closed]
My story features airships that fly by using applying electrical to a strange mineral to generate antigravity. By altering the current the airship can increase or decrease its height. Since they don't ...
1
vote
5
answers
373
views
Sustaining linear warfare in futuristic combat [closed]
In my sci-fi setting, I’m looking for a way to have linear infantry formations, or something similar, in a world where airplanes and machine-guns also exist. It is made possible by the existence of ...
- 163
9
votes
8
answers
2k
views
What is the easiest fuel a blockaded, sanctioned nation can procure/synthesize during a war?
In my world, which is partially based on a WW2-style environment, there are two large countries, namely A and B, that are fighting each other.
A is a Nazi Germany-type country with fine revised ...
- 3,304
4
votes
15
answers
2k
views
Is it possible to fight a CONVENTIONAL war against an enemy who can win any direct confrontation?
I have an empire, let's call it X, that has access to (very few) superhumans with extremely destructive powers. For instance, one of them has near-complete control over fire and can burn down entire ...
- 2,035
11
votes
9
answers
2k
views
What weaponry would a clockwork Skynet use to take over a fantasy world? [closed]
Milennia ago, on another plane of existence, a genius clockmaker dedicated his life to the creation of a thinking machine. The clockmaker imbued the two noblest ideas he could think of into the ...
- 729
10
votes
7
answers
4k
views
How detailed would these medieval era reports be?
I have no idea how to start researching this, so I'm going to here, where there are people who are much smarter than me. So I'm writing a story set in the medieval time period. In my story, there is a ...
- 703
4
votes
6
answers
1k
views
How feasible are nukes as a spotting system in space?
In the semi-realistic space combat I design, the following rock-paper-scissors relation holds:
lasers beat rockets
rockets beat armor
armor beats lasers
The level of technology is not too futuristic:...
- 1,148
13
votes
5
answers
7k
views
WW1 soldier in WW2 : how would he get caught?
In my story, a French soldier from WW1 died in a horrible way, and became a ghost. As such, he's still wearing the same military uniform as he died, the same equipment, etc. He can react to his ...
- 143
8
votes
7
answers
4k
views
What would naval warfare look like if Dreadnoughts never came to be?
I sadly couldn't find any answers to this question, probably because it's quite niche, so i'm posting this as my first question here!
The https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Dreadnought_(1906) was ...
- 898
7
votes
7
answers
3k
views
How would a 4-armed, blind species,use firearms?
My blind, intelligent species has advanced technologically to the stage of space exploration through the usage of FTL travel. The reason for their blindness is evolving underground, after the surface ...
4
votes
3
answers
174
views
Ideal weapons and combat gear for prehensile feet
What weapons and combat gear would suit a race of creatures with prehensile hands and feet?
I'm designing a high fantasy warrior who comes from a bipedal race of creatures with prehensile hands and ...
- 161
2
votes
0
answers
73
views
How would a societies evolve where almost everyone can shapeshift into last person they have touched [closed]
In my world, every individual gains the unique ability to shapeshift into the last person they have touched upon turning 16 years old. Somethings to note is one cannot revert back to their original ...
- 846
3
votes
9
answers
4k
views
Would the use of sulfuric acid "piranha" weapons be considered chemical weapons, and thus, War Crimes?
In an alternative reality, people where capable of taking information from the future, and thus, they decided to not only to replicate future technology for the betterment of manking, but also future ...
- 189
7
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Would a lizard-mounted cavalry be effective against pikes?
Would a cavalry force mounted on giant lizards be effective against unmounted pikemen?
The lizards are roughly horse-sized, with a large reptilian head which they keep down when they run. It seems ...
- 15.6k
8
votes
3
answers
297
views
What laws of war would pertain to this futuristic situation, hundreds of years from now?
I was thinking of a story I wanted to write, but I had a legal question.
It involves a war story, and a group of around 12 soldiers. Members of a regular armed force, with the authority of the head of ...
- 197
2
votes
1
answer
128
views
Sonic weapons vs Faeries: Can we survive The Cloud of Blades & Bombs?
The faeries of my world are nightmare fuel.
They 5-7 cm insects that have two legs and four upper grasping limbs. Paired with this, they have the flight characteristics of humming birds, making them ...
- 4,373
15
votes
14
answers
4k
views
How can a pre-industrial civilization effectively defend against aerial attacks from large, fire-breathing creatures without the use of magic?
In my fictional world, there is a pre-industrial civilization that has advanced to a level of technology similar to that of the 15th-century Earth. This civilization is under constant threat from ...
- 1,302
2
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Alternate Bullet Propellants [closed]
For my world, I want there to be many types of ammunition due to the world being an apocalyptic-anarchy kinda thing. Mostly land combat, little to no spacecrafts or vehicles. Anyone know any good ones?...
- 45
5
votes
6
answers
1k
views
Is the way avians are used in warfare in my setting realistic?
In my medieval setting, bird people are about half the height of a human, have hollow bones, and have hands at the end of their wings.
In warfare, there are 3 types of avian units:
Scouts give the ...
6
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What would make winged centaurs a reasonable fighting force? [closed]
Within my world of Astarious, I have a race known as the Pegtauri, winged centaurs, who for a time were feared raiders on villages near the mountains that separated their plains from the rest of ...
1
vote
3
answers
167
views
Human Roles in Robot vs Robot Warfare
The world I’m building is like this: there are a bunch of technologically advanced countries. In these countries there is an elite class that holds all the power. The elite makes war and they have ...
- 19
9
votes
16
answers
6k
views
How do I prevent combat-oriented aircraft from being viable?
The more I compare fictional military vehicles and tactics with real-life ones, the more it seems like aircraft are near-omnipotent in the battlefield (operating word here being near). As such, it's a ...
- 123
-2
votes
1
answer
131
views
Would it be realistic for a group of ~20 bands of hunter-gatherers, with 50-100 members each, to unite and defeat a Dark Ages-level city's military? [closed]
In my newest world, I've been entertaining some ideas for the history of a continent, and it came to the point where the hunter-gatherer tribes living in a desert/savanna in the center of a continent ...
- 705
3
votes
10
answers
1k
views
How to defeat Mesoamerican military without gunpowder? [closed]
Question : What weapons, armors and tactics required to defeat mesoamerican armies without gunpowder?
Assume that your army is made of native Texans unified under one leader.
Clarification: Native ...
- 55
31
votes
8
answers
6k
views
How to stop ants from learning philosophy and taking over Belarus
Something magic happened in the 1970's somewhere in Eastern Europe, causing people to develop psychic powers. These powers allowed ants in Belarus (and a large swathe of Eurasia) to learn human ...
- 15.6k
2
votes
3
answers
190
views
Is there a NON-CHEMICAL weapon that can target the central nervous and/or muscular system?
There is research on nerve agents and gases, but are there any man-portable weapons that may be able to harm the CNS without gas? Thanks.
AMENDED: Results in symptoms like shaking, tremors that are ...
1
vote
3
answers
122
views
Is it possible to create a to create a homemade weapon using electromagnetic or microwave energy, sound or sonic beams? [closed]
Entire question: is it possible to create a homemade weapon using electromagnetic, microwave energy and/or sound or sonic beams that can permeate buildings and their structure without damaging the ...
4
votes
3
answers
541
views
What thickness of human flesh would have the same protective value as 100mm of RHA?
I'm trying to judge how much damage modern anti-tank weapons would deal to giants and I'm looking for a rough, order of magnitude estimate on how much protection layers of flesh would provide.
- 1,983
13
votes
9
answers
3k
views
Would a freeze ray be effective against modern military vehicles?
Similar to my previous thread. In my setting, wizards from a pre-industrial fantasy world come to real life. One of these wizards is a cryomancer recruited by the US military and tries out his talents ...
- 3,098
2
votes
3
answers
188
views
What would be a good reason for a clan of 'Pure bloods' to want all other supernatural creatures dead? [closed]
In my novel, I'm working on having some form of clan/club/group of 'pure-bloods' that are descended from Van Helsing that are now an entire organization (in the 21st century) still working to carry ...
11
votes
8
answers
4k
views
Would lightning bolts be effective against modern military vehicles?
In my setting, wizards from a pre-industrial fantasy world come to real life. One of these wizards is a destruction mage recruited by the US military and tries out her talents against modern forces. ...
- 3,098
3
votes
4
answers
554
views
Tanks, weapons, equipments and armor for super soldiers
I am writing a fiction draft about a main character who happens to be transported into another world as the leader of his main faction in an RTS game he used to play. The background of his RTS faction ...
- 179
19
votes
12
answers
6k
views
How would zombies affect trench warfare?
After thousands of years the mightiest of magic uses have finally cracked the code to revive the dead... Kind of. The resurrection spell, while restoring the body to a basic capacity, leaves them a ...
- 6,845
3
votes
4
answers
1k
views
How can muscle atrophy due to long gestation in artificial wombs be avoided?
Lebensborn is a Schutzstaffel-led state-supported program led by the Eternal Reich with the stated goal of increasing the number of children who meet the Nazi standards of racially pure and healthy ...
- 38.5k