That's an interesting looking....firearm?

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BBlalock
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That's an interesting looking....firearm?

Post by BBlalock »

So any guesses?

Is that some kind of lux rifle, or is it an actual firearm?
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Arctyc
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Post by Arctyc »

Ah! I hadn't noticed. That's a Boomslang! Firearm indeed.

It would figure, the guy wielding it is probably the only one on the boat large enough to do so without injury to himself.

He's also apparently not from the swamps; lack of accent.
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W.M.Y.L.G. Joe
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Post by W.M.Y.L.G. Joe »

My newbie-ness in this area of fantasy should show when I say, "Where do you guys learn about all this stuff?"

I mean, where did you guys learn all these rules, terms, concepts of lux, and so on? Was there an established universe before RH made this comic? Hope this question isn't too much a nuisance, I haven't seen anyone ask it yet.
"If you take a slam, get up and land that sucker. Don't let it beat you." - Anon.

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BBlalock
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Post by BBlalock »

As far as Lux goes I'm learning as I go. I think that Ralph has pretty much made up his own magic system, which is quite reasonable for both copyright reasons, and to deflect pedants like myself.

I've spent about ten minutes fighting with Google and I can't find any boomslangs, aside from a venomous snake of some sort.

So, what's a boomslang anyway?

How about pointing me at some good info on the internet somewhere.

Thanks!
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Arctyc
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Post by Arctyc »

Oh yeah... *sheepish* You won't find much on the internet, actually.

El artisto may want to handle this one for explanation -- but as for my source, it's lying on my shelf right here in the form of the BB SuperCD. Ennias Longscript took down some interesting notes as he toured the Seven Villages.

Terminology -- the gun's called a boomslang; their wielders, boomslangers. In the last frame of the comic, you can see the breech of the firearm, and the lock and hammer on the side.
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BBlalock
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Post by BBlalock »

Arctyc wrote:Ah! I hadn't noticed. That's a Boomslang! Firearm indeed.
Gun? Breech? Lock? Hammer?

So is it a firearm?
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RHJunior
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Ben Bruin Super CD

Post by RHJunior »

Well, for those not in the know, I have a CD for sale which includes the archives of all my strips up to May 2002 (and a little beyond), along with specially made art, author's notes and a little feature called "The Seven Villages: Being the writings of one Ennias Longscript".

The "Seven Villages" contains a lot of basic information about the Questorverse (at least the portion of it round the Seven Villages), and has served as a sort of impromptu "story bible." Among other things it covers the Rac Conan's invention and use of gunpowder style firearms-- or Boomslangs, as they call them. It seemed only sensible that a highly inquisitive and inventive race should devise gunpowder and find uses for it...


However, you've got some basic problems with firearms. First off, a weapon small enough to be easily wielded by a Rac Conan (who are about the size of an average human toddler) would be too small to be much use against dangerous creatures. But, between weight and recoil, an effective firearm is too much for them to handle.... add in the expense of metal in the seven villages, and you're a bit limited in what you can build, too. But there are some things a bullet will splat that magic-- or a crossbow bolt-- won't phase....

The gun wielder in the strip is a Boomslanger-- a member of the Guardsman's guild specially trained to use a Boomslang, and one of the few big and burly enough to actually wield the damned things. What he's carrying is the equivalent of an undersized shotgun (it can fire either shot or slugs), and packs enough of a wallop (and raises enough of an unholy roar when fired) to justify the effort of bringing it along. And even unloaded, it makes a pretty ferocious close-quarters weapon-- like a quarterstaff of solid iron.

If you'll take a closer look, you'll note that he's also one of the village elders who first confronted Quentyn....
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W.M.Y.L.G. Joe
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Post by W.M.Y.L.G. Joe »

Ah, danke, kind sir.
"If you take a slam, get up and land that sucker. Don't let it beat you." - Anon.

"God has the power to heal smooshed brains." - Gloria Higginbottom

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Re: Ben Bruin Super CD

Post by Ransom »

RHJunior wrote: If you'll take a closer look, you'll note that he's also one of the village elders who first confronted Quentyn....
Ah, Gilder? I thought so, but I didn't want to go out on a limb and say so.
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Post by RHJunior »

No, not Gilder.
If you'll check back, there was a guardsman at the council--- and at the chessgame afterwards. :wink:
"What was that popping noise ?"
"A paradigm shifting without a clutch."
--Dilbert

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Bzzt! wrong!

Post by Ransom »

:oops: I guess Gilder is a little heftier than that. Man I'm horrible at this stuff! :wink:
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BBlalock
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Post by BBlalock »

All of a sudden I'm reminded of a description of hunting boars in ancient times. (probably from something Arthurian I read)

The tool of choice was a long spear with a crossbar nearer the head end of the spear. The technique was to see the boar first (of course) and to incite it to charge you. (I don't recall what incitement was used, sorry.) Once the boar was charging you put the butt of the spear down on the ground and stand on it. Using your free hand(s) you make sure that the pointy end of the spear goes deep into the boar. (Cause if it doesn't you're dead.) The crossbar prevents the boar (Which significantly outweighs you) from getting close enough to gut you despite the skewering. You are now hanging on for dear life, because if you lose the butt end of the spear before the boar is weakened enough you will die. At this point you either wait for the boar to die from blood loss (if you're alone) or your hunting buddies (or your dogs) try to kill the boar while you limit its freedom of motion.

The relivant part is the use of the butt of the spear on the ground and your own weight to stop a mass of kinetic energy that no sane person would expect you to be able to handle.

Using an oversized firearm in this manner would probably be sacrificing accuracy for more stopping power than a Rac Conan firearm usually has.

Of course such a firearm would be heavier than a regular one, require more metal, and be less useful in most situations than normal ranged weapons.

There's also the fact that if something that big is coming for you the smart thing to do is to ditch the hand cannon and run away.
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Post by Dragon Of God »

What is the delay between trigger pull and shot leaving the barrel on a Boomslang?
If I recall part of the standard equipment with a matchlock was a long stick with a fork at the top and a pointed tip on the bottom. The stick was driven into the ground and the gun rested in the fork. Sort of a portable pintol mount if I am getting my terms right. The gun was really heavy, and the delay would probably have made things worse.

BTW this is DracoDei. My old account got messed up so I just made a new one... Gee I am so going to miss my rank. :cry: ... not really. :wink:

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