Questions tagged [weapons]
For questions about existing weapons or designing new ones.
775 questions
1
vote
0answers
101 views
How big could a cannon be made [on hold]
what is the absolute upper bound on the size of gunpowder cannons, (not rail guns or similar) in terms of shell weight and bore diameter before some mechanical or material problem prevents it from ...
3
votes
5answers
445 views
Usability of frictionless bullets
An inventor, inspired by hydrophobic sprays, has created a spray that temporarily removes the friction of whatever it's coated on. Curiously, he decided to coat a 10mm Auto cartridge with it. With ...
2
votes
4answers
177 views
Metal “Claws” Vs. Regular Claws
My species of aliens happen to have hook shaped claws on their main climbing limbs, these they will sometimes use for combat. However, I was wondering, would a metal "cover" over them, that's ...
7
votes
13answers
4k views
Could machine guns be produced in the 14th century? [duplicate]
Could light machine guns such as the Madsen be made during the 14th century? And since materials may be scarce only a few would be produced for use by a single soldier in a unit. Lets say their ...
-1
votes
5answers
193 views
Is a face liquefier a possible weapon?
So, say I’m a evil dictator who wants to create fear in the hearts of rebels. Usually, I just cover them in pitch, light them ablaze and throw them down the nearest canyon, but I want to try something ...
22
votes
11answers
6k views
How long would it take to nuke an alien spaceship in orbit?
Some gigantic, and presumably evil, alien spaceship has taken up residence in LEO. This spacecraft is ominously blocking all satellite communications, and launching smaller flying saucers towards the ...
3
votes
5answers
190 views
Would it be possible to use chlorine trifluoride as the payload of an artillery shell?
Let's assume that a country with technology at about the same level as Germany in the early 1930s wants to weaponize ClF3.
Would they be able to use them it as the payload of artillery shells? What ...
4
votes
6answers
368 views
Sentient trees. Can they develop technology?
Flying insects are the only moving animals in this world - they take care of pollination.
Adult trees (over 10 years old) are rooted to the spot with very wide-spreading root systems. Trying to ...
-1
votes
1answer
136 views
Disposable harmonica gun cartridge?
Would it be possible to make a harmonica gun in which the "magazine" is lightweight, easily made, and disposable? Preferably with the technology of the 1800s or earlier.
2
votes
6answers
239 views
How to fight against Lion People?
In the story I would like to write, humans temporarily fight a race of lion people.
In the story, there are two sides. Standing Alliance and the Animal Alliance (it sounds dumb, but I haven't come up ...
9
votes
11answers
456 views
How to correct aim in aerial airship combat?
Report! Correct aim 2-20 fore, figure in enemy speed at negative 15 knots relative decelerating. Ready? Fire in Sequence on my mark... MARK!
LCDR Arnold Dering, Commander of the "X"-Turret, GKS-B-...
3
votes
8answers
2k views
What melee weapon should winged humans use? [duplicate]
So currently in my fantasy universe 2 races are at war, the Anglar and the Darus.
Info:
Anglar: winged humans (basically Angels without holy powers).
Darus: lizard people, they used to have wings ...
7
votes
4answers
553 views
Could a hand grenade be effective against a band of medieval knights?
So, a group of people have just been transported back to early 14th century England, and have angered a band of noble knights. Their armor looks like this.
One of my characters, Tim, received a hand ...
33
votes
11answers
9k views
How advantageous is an invisible sword?
An adventurer has come into possession of an invisible sword. How advantageous in a duel or skirmish would this be? Good for a one-time trick, a significant advantage throughout a fight, or even a ...
6
votes
2answers
170 views
How would lower gravity influence Bronze Age projectile weaponry?
How would lower gravity, let’s say around ½ of Earth’s, change the efficacy of different Bronze Age projectile weapons? How would the effective range, accuracy, and penetrating power of bows, javelins,...
1
vote
4answers
225 views
How would a medieval army conquer a treetop city?
In my book series, an evil space conqueror named Tate is attacking the planet of Aztlan. However, in order to do so, he must subjugate the Avian tribe and their capital city of Palo Alto. However, ...
32
votes
10answers
7k views
What would the proper shooting stance be for a recoil-free arm cannon?
Quick summary: it’s the modern day, and everyone can use magic. Some of that magic is of the variety that lets you launch energy blasts from your fists, similar to a Mega Man style arm cannon. You ...
-4
votes
4answers
422 views
Could your hand stop an arrow from hitting you? [closed]
Question: Would an unarmoured hand stop an arrow shot from a bow
Story Details:
I was doing my usual scouting route along the Great Divide, when I chanced upon a Sun Empire's camp on the other side....
3
votes
3answers
285 views
Other metal alloys as armor/weapons
We know of the metal iron, and alloys bronze and steel, used as armor and weaponry in the Medieval ages.
Is there another metal alloy that could be used for armor or weapons in the Medieval era?
6
votes
7answers
550 views
Bolas + Explosives + Magnets: Fun or Failure?
I have a character who bills himself as an explosives experimenter. He wants to try something new with explosives.
He knows how to make a bolas and has the materials to make one. However, he has this ...
1
vote
3answers
250 views
Plasma Blades vs. Bullets
As far as fiction is concerned, plasma weapons look better than modern-day metal weapons. However, I'm curious about their functionality in reality as depicted in fiction.
What mechanism will allow a ...
7
votes
8answers
343 views
High tech underwater weapon
Assume soldiers of the future need to fight person to person underwater, at depths from 30 to unachievable today, like 1-2 kilometer.
Today, underwater warfare between scuba divers, involves ...
3
votes
3answers
253 views
100% mechanical plasma rifle
Unlike most modern electronic weapons, the functionality of fully-mechanical rifles are complemented by their durability. They can be used without authorization, electricity, or calamity-proofing.
...
33
votes
20answers
8k views
What projectile weapon can replace a bow under the following circumstances?
I have a race of elf-like humanoids that live in a forest. One of their best methods of travel is what you may call "forest running". They are attuned to the harmonic movement of the forest from a ...
5
votes
4answers
193 views
Short-term Miniature black hole weapon and its effects
So in this world I'm building there's a bunch of reasons to, at some point, stop being nice and make sure someone is really, really dead. For this purpose they decided to weaponize black holes. ...
2
votes
2answers
125 views
Process to aim the main gun on a modern battle tank [closed]
What is the exact, or a typical process, to aim the main gun on a modern battle tank? What are the individual steps and who does the work (a gunner? loader? computer? commander?)? How does the actual ...
5
votes
3answers
301 views
How do I power Goldeneye?
I've been spending some time thinking about putting a satellite weapon into space.
It would look something like this. Don't worry about those letters, they stand for something else.
This weapon can ...
2
votes
8answers
303 views
How to make a rocket-boosted sledgehammer that won't break the users' arm?
Even though GURPS, so far, is my best shot at coming up with sci-fi melee weapons, this one's tricky.
The rocket-boosted sledgehammer differs from the standard tool by having a thruster on the back ...
3
votes
2answers
152 views
How many shots would it take to sever a limb? [closed]
Modern (or near future, 10-20 years) setting. Mostly regular humans. Regular firearms.
The scene goes like this: the Big Bad Villain of the story fought the Big Good Hero in hand-to-hand combat and ...
1
vote
2answers
69 views
How to build and run a Skunk Works to weaponize magic flying ships [closed]
My kingdom has developed a new flying ship powered by a new air-magic engine. As near as my scholars and engineers are able to tell, it's the first of its kind. Three working prototypes ply the skies ...
8
votes
3answers
504 views
Compact Arm Gun Prosthetic?
In the DC universe, there exists a hero known as Sister Superior with prosthetic arms that are capable of turning into any weapon she desires. Interestingly, her arms look no different from a regular ...
4
votes
5answers
259 views
What is a way I can use to store weapons?
I need to carry large weapons but I also need to be able to hide them when I'm not using them, then make them reappear when needed. The setting is pretty realistic.
The weapons are quite huge: a ...
1
vote
5answers
312 views
How can a scythe be used for mass assassinations? [closed]
I want a scythe to be used for a mass murder, far-range combat, & close-range combat, and I need it to be large to create fear in opponents.
Although the massive scythes shown in anime can be ...
0
votes
4answers
273 views
The opposite of lightning or force used as a weapon, what could it be? [closed]
WHAT IS THE OPPOSITE OF LIGHTNING?
If there was a sword that controls lighting, what would its elemental opposite be?
The idea is that one is positive and one is negative. One pulls electricity from ...
0
votes
1answer
166 views
How big can my tank be? [duplicate]
In an alternate 1950s cold war, the Soviet Union and the United States (and their NATO and Warsaw pact allies) are locked in an arms race not unlike our own. What's the difference you ask? Instead of ...
12
votes
12answers
7k views
Would a glass sword be plausible and useful?
Though glass knife existed and are still used in modern electron microscopy, glass is known for its brittleness and a sword need to be able to parry an attack. But the idea of a transparent glass ...
23
votes
8answers
5k views
How to design an advanced deadman's switch for the “vitality impaired”?
I don't usually use vampires as main characters. They're normally supporting characters for more, and yet less, human immortals, but I've decided to flesh them out a bit. I was thinking about advanced,...
-5
votes
2answers
244 views
The Best Arsenal : The Best Assault Rifle [closed]
I am trying to learn from my past mistakes on asking for too much at a time, while asking for the wrong things, and often forgetting about crucial details.
So here I am, in my quest of finding the ...
4
votes
2answers
105 views
Gravity being weaponized for its time altering properties
Physics isn't my strong suite, but I'm trying to understand if something could be theoretically possible in some highly advanced future:
Would it be possible for an advanced civilization to invent a ...
10
votes
4answers
3k views
Is a network of spoon-launching trebuchets realistic?
On a comment to My carrier pigeons have been replaced by spoons: how can I send messages? I joke about creating a network of trebuchets to launch spoons.
Is it realistic?
My concerns:
How far ...
0
votes
3answers
207 views
Help my Assassin Kill His Target [closed]
This normal looking man here is called Sam, and he’s about to kill a VERY important person whose death will bring about a great war. This would-be assassin is posing as an Alliance guard, face lift ...
24
votes
6answers
5k views
How to build a Blood Gun?
I recently played the game Mary Skelter - Nightmares, in which the protagonist after some time acquires a weapon that is called a Mary Gun - a device that shoots his own blood.
I'll change the ...
0
votes
1answer
71 views
Formulating likelyhood for civilization to face weapons-based self-destruction [closed]
Premise
I would like to create a formula that tackles the question of how likely a civilization is to commit self-annihilation. At first glance it doesn't sound possible or practical for that matter. ...
-1
votes
1answer
110 views
Accuracy of Machine Aimbots
The evil professor Mr. GLOOPbar has built a base IN SPACE 2 years ago in 2016 with the best contemporary technology.
His base is ran by a Artificial super intelligence of unfathomable intelligence ...
4
votes
2answers
187 views
Are folding Xiphoi practical?
I have a character that fights with a pair of xiphoi (double-edged, one-handed shortswords used by the ancient Greeks). These swords are stored in thick nylon sheaths around the character's forearms, ...
4
votes
2answers
225 views
How powerful a bow would be needed to kill this lion
In this land, similar to late medieval Europe/North Africa, there are a species of very large lions, a little larger than the prehistoric American Lion, with an average weight of 500 to 600 kg, that ...
1
vote
0answers
72 views
Weapons for a tabletop game [closed]
I'm making a race for a table top game with high tech weapons. What's a weapon that would shoot through people that isn't just a high powered cannon? Didn't have to be functional today because this is ...
0
votes
1answer
205 views
How much force would this weapon apply?
In the Marvel Universe Mjolnir is said to be forged in the heart of a dying star. Neil deGrasse Tyson mistakenly assumes it was forged out of the heart of a dying star in this video.
But what if ...
33
votes
21answers
15k views
Are “Midas” swords useless for warfare?
Are swords, spears, and arrows that turn slain enemies into pure gold useful, in medieval combat, or are they useless aside from free money?
Notes about the weapons:
flesh wounds don't turn people ...
11
votes
5answers
843 views
Man-portable anti-satellite weapon
Man-portable air-defense systems have been around for decades, and so have been anti-satellite weapons. But while the former is a small, short range rocket, the latter is as big as a cruise missile. ...
