Questions tagged [weapons]
For questions about existing weapons or designing new ones.
918
questions
3
votes
0answers
28 views
Is my plasma weapon design any good?
I'm currently designing the armory for my far-future hard-scifi setting. Technology is quite advanced and for the purpose of this question assume that liquid metallic hydrogen (LMH from now on) is ...
22
votes
13answers
5k views
Justifying the use of directed energy weapons
In my scifi setting I want a broad range of slugthrowers (bullets, smart ammo, grenades,...), exotic weapons (flame/chemthrowers, high tech blades, nano-bots,...), and directed energy weapons (heat ...
1
vote
4answers
110 views
A torpedo or bomb to kill everyone inside the ship or in general vicinity of the battle
I was thinking of chlorine gas bombs/rockets or cyanide torpedoes to kill everyone inside a sinking ship or on the general vicinity of the battle to insure that no one survives...
The only objective ...
21
votes
18answers
4k views
Quick destruction of a helium filled airship?
I am writing a steampunk novel and am working on a scene where an enemy quickly overwhelms and destroys a US airship. The enemy has flying gyro sleds and a large airship of their own that is armed ...
12
votes
19answers
6k views
How to prevent criminal gangs from making/buying guns?
TLDR: What can modern governments do to force criminal gangs to use melee weapons instead of guns.
So I am writing a novel where the main character is pushed out of society, and is forced to join a ...
5
votes
1answer
153 views
A practical post apocalypse bullet farm for the survivor on a budget [closed]
In a post apocalyptic society (let's say northern Arizona or southern Colorado) or just outside of a city what would be Needed to practically 'farm' (produce) modern bullets? The idea is to be able to ...
3
votes
9answers
1k views
Best gun to modify into a monsterhunter weapon?
In my post-apocalyptical-urban-fantasy setting, the main character is a mercenary mage who uses a gun with a big bayonet as his main weapon. The blade is supposed to be some kind of a glaive.
The ...
5
votes
5answers
324 views
Boomerang fighting style?
Context: I'm currently writing a story where I'm giving unconventional and otherwise impractical battle weapons more spotlight. So I am currently contemplating making my main character a boomerang(s) ...
-4
votes
2answers
121 views
Modern weapons in space [duplicate]
So in many space fighting games, if the game is 1st POV, there's aliens. And, it's common that the humans are fighting on alien ships. BUT, the weapons are often conventional (no plasma cannons) ...
42
votes
7answers
10k views
How to realistically deal with a shield user?
Fantastic universe, but not necessarily magic involved in the process. You face a guy who has a shield (tower shield of not). You do not have a shield, but you are a better swordsman. How do you win?
...
14
votes
10answers
4k views
How to design an effective polearm-bow hybrid?
Full disclaimer : I acknowledge full well that in real life hybrid weapons are completely silly and impractical but I'm currently writing a fantastic-ish story where power fantasy is a key element. ...
17
votes
10answers
3k views
Reasons for using monsters as bioweapons
Let's say the world is threatened by eldritch monsters or nations at war. Instead of investing in tanks, aircraft and such, the government decides to invest in bioweapons that are basically monsters.
...
15
votes
19answers
5k views
Best Ergonomic Design for a handheld ranged weapon
I know I’m flirting with “Primarily Opinion Based” here, but I’m hoping there’s some established knowledge out there in the community that I might be completely oblivious to.
If you look at pretty ...
6
votes
2answers
108 views
How to roughly extrapolate artillery range for planets with different atmospheric pressure?
I'm looking for some rough way of extrapolating artillery range for planets with different atmospheric pressure:
Realistically, the data available:
Hypothetical range in vacuum: $\dfrac{V^2}{g}$ (V -...
3
votes
4answers
192 views
Is it possible to build weapons that shield the RF frequencies pre-cogs use to send their memories back in time?
TL;DR: The antagonists in my story have made nearly unstoppable soldiers who, through nanites embedded in their brains, are able to experience the future and send memories back in time. Since the time ...
8
votes
2answers
308 views
How would a rail gun affect the trajectory of a spacecraft?
What sort of force would a railgun need to produce to have a measurable affect on the trajectory of a large spacecraft?
In the scifi book I am working on the primary craft of the story is a military ...
6
votes
1answer
201 views
Effectiveness of lasers of different wavelengths in space combat
I'm working on a game with combat between spaceships. It will not be hard sci-fi, but I'd like to base the mechanics on (simplifications of) real physics.
When it comes to laser-weapons, I would like ...
12
votes
26answers
5k views
Why would guns not work in the dungeon?
In my setting I need to have a dungeon where people cannot use guns or other gunpowder weapons.
The reason can be anything: it's impossible to bring guns in, guns don't work inside the dungeon, ...
32
votes
23answers
5k views
What would be the ideal melee weapon made of “Phase Metal”?
Phase Metal is a material that is functionally similar to steel but can pass through its user (a single person bound to the metal when it is forged into a new form.) as if it didn't exist. Phase metal ...
27
votes
15answers
7k views
Would dual wielding daggers be a viable choice for a covert bodyguard?
In the setting of a royal court in a stereotypical 'medieval' low-fantasy world, the royal princess must obviously be guarded. Assuming this society sees it as 'unbecoming' for a woman to be armed, ...
0
votes
2answers
103 views
Creating a taser through magic [duplicate]
So I'm trying to explain the basic steps behind magically creating lightning between your hands by combining two or more basic elements together:
The elements you can use are: Fire, air, water, earth....
1
vote
0answers
77 views
Would it be possible to shoot lightning at someone? [duplicate]
Assuming that you could generate an electrical charge between your hands, and that you're actually insulated to prevent a backfiring effect: Would it be possible to guide the electrical charge between ...
5
votes
2answers
168 views
The impact of an intelligent and (mostly) hostile flying race on weapons and armor
A race of dragon-like humanoids - for brevity's sake just think of the Dragonborn of D&D, just with wings - were the first species to achieve sapience, and have had lots of time to establish a far-...
4
votes
4answers
282 views
What weapons could an Iron Age society wield that would be effective against Medieval (High Period) knights?
In numerous fantasy worlds, including my own, I have seen knights battling what appear to be "barbarians" inspired by the Celts, Germanic groups, or possibly some Scythians. From what I've seen, the ...
13
votes
4answers
4k views
Archery in modern conflicts
Imagine someone who could do everything Lars Andersen can, but with even more accuracy and power, in addition to being very strong and athletic and being able to do it with a heavier bow and faster ...
0
votes
0answers
81 views
Best weapons for warriors who are extremely strong? [duplicate]
The ruling caste of my empire consists of the descendants of gods. Although they are comparatively small in number, they play an important role in the military. They are extremely strong compared to ...
21
votes
5answers
3k views
Designing a magic-compatible polearm
The people in my story's universe all have various magical powers, and if they want the effects of these powers to extend to their clothes or equipment, said equipment needs to be designed to a few ...
-4
votes
6answers
422 views
Can medieval weapons (swords, spears, polehammers, etc) be more viable than guns in this SciFi setting?
Context In this world, laws of physics are roughly the same as ours. No placeholder magic involved. Wars are fought by cyborgs/mutants/synthetic mutants (super soldiers) who can manipulate certain ...
4
votes
10answers
517 views
How can I make the Solar System uninhabitable?
For the Universe I am creating humanity has devolved into groups of scattered tribes. This is due to the fact that we ran afoul of a really nasty alien race, who decided to leave us homeless. A ...
10
votes
6answers
754 views
How durable are silver inlays on a blade?
Motivation (fictional of course)
Fantasy is full of references to silver swords and other weapons thought to make a poor lycanthrope‘s life miserable. Since silver appears to be too soft for blades, ...
2
votes
2answers
255 views
Anatomically Correct Ego Sword
I'm reading a comic set in a really unique fantasy game. One of the creatures that really caught my attention were a type of slime/sword called ego sword. In their normal form they're a blob but can ...
5
votes
5answers
414 views
How to weaponize gravitational waves
In the future, defensive technology has advanced so much that weapons strong enough to kill an enemy soldier tend to cause unacceptable collateral damage. Sure, we can make a weapon that generates ...
20
votes
17answers
9k views
How to hide rifle during medieval town entrance inspection?
Here is my fantasy medieval scenario:
There is pair of adventurers, a Supportive/Non-Offensive mage and a swordsman.
The swordsman is actually a disguised rifleman who carries a scoped rifle.
In ...
1
vote
5answers
360 views
Could a camera on a sniper rifle see the kill? [closed]
We are in the a slightly gritty future. There is space travel, but technology is reasonable. People still shoot bullets and not lasers. Vehicles are powered by nuclear reactors and not magic space ...
2
votes
2answers
160 views
How to shrink the human population? [closed]
So I'm writing a post apocalyptic story. Basically, a war happens and after a solar storm there's very few human survivors on Earth. This world has "magic" crystals, rocks that emanate energy.
The ...
8
votes
7answers
2k views
How much water is needed to create a Katana capable of cutting flesh, bones and wood?
I've created a character for my world that has the ability to manipulate water with her magic. She applied this ability by using it with a katana hilt. I will try to explain how she uses this ability ...
3
votes
6answers
401 views
Medieval weapons and Armor without gunpowder [Siege machines]
The firearm has thought to have been what had killed the age of knights and skilled swordsmen. While it could take years of hard work and practice for a warrior to master a blade or bow, he could pick ...
5
votes
1answer
226 views
Can a sound of 125dbs from a watch be used to cause pain for self defense?
I was planning on creating a watch capable of producing around 125 dbs of sound for self defense: it would irritate/incapacitate an attacker and possibly give the victim an opportunity to leave the ...
3
votes
3answers
323 views
Ballistics of a 19.25mm revolver
A lead off from my last question, the actual ballistics of the round. I've learned from the last question and ran some numbers and come up with a basic idea for the ballistics of the revolver.
Lead ...
6
votes
4answers
339 views
A world without fire - what will the military use as their main soldier level weapon?
Assume that modern day Earth discovers a way to create portals to another planet. Travel between the two planets is fast, safe, and easy.
The way this works is that there are fixed points on earth ...
25
votes
7answers
7k views
Could a 19.25mm revolver actually exist?
I'm working on writing a story wherein there is a revolver inspired by Guillermo del Toro's Hellboy's samaritan. My question is; can such a gun, as described below, work? Or would it be a bone breaker ...
19
votes
14answers
7k views
A steel-cutting sword?
So within my world there exists a faction of monks on a secluded mountain whose scientific and philosophical knowledge outstrips the outside medieval world. And with these monks being famous more for ...
10
votes
15answers
3k views
Natural Armour and Weapons
In my fantasy world, the magic system pretty much makes metal armour and weapons obsolete. The magic system's specifics aren't important, just note that the magic system allows the users to 'penetrate'...
29
votes
8answers
6k views
Is my plasma cannon concept viable?
I’ve developed a concept for a plasma cannon, and I need it reality-checked.
The cannon would gather ammunition by pumping air into the gun through an external fan. The air would gather inside a ...
0
votes
4answers
279 views
Need help developing a weapon for destroying a dam [closed]
I am working on a story that happens in a dystopian world where the only source of energy is Coal.
I wanted to know whether it is possible to break a dam by pressurizing Dam walls with coal GAS
...
8
votes
7answers
504 views
Can a firearm stay functional in a hidden cache in a jungle in Vietnam or in Siberia for 700 years?
I'm creating a world several hundred years after an apocalypse, but am struggling to get the decay of our current civilization right.
The world in short: Earth was hit by an apocalypse in the 2060 (...
11
votes
5answers
2k views
Is a diamond sword feasible? [duplicate]
I have been browsing the internet, and I have started to wonder whether a diamond sword is feasible or not. I would very much like to know the answer.
2
votes
3answers
542 views
Would a Glass “Rupert Drop” Weapon be Plausible?
Can a large glass Rupert Drop somehow be manufactured into a useful and effective weapon in medieval warfare, such as a club?
I've developed a society that primarily lives in the desert with sand in ...
2
votes
1answer
331 views
How effective are bows when used by a race with superior strength? (numerically)
The Situation: In this world a race of Neanderthal-like humans have grown and evolved separate from mankind in a harsh environment that forced them to be strong and warlike. Humans of this war have ...
-7
votes
1answer
129 views
Insterstellar Psycho - What damage can he do? [closed]
The Interstellar Psycho just wants to cause damage to others. He regularly shoots intense laser bursts in all directions into space from his base on Earth's Moon. He sends one every hour.
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