Re: [HoE] Re: Tech Levels

["pete rogers" <peterogers@hotmail.com>]

i think we're pretty much getting to that point now. i understand that 
the development of the Desert Eagle handgun was heavily influenced by 
making it LOOK lethal (the fact that it is is neither here nor there). 
the point being that handguns are as lethal as needs be these days, so 
being able to point the weapon at someone and having them stop without 
shooting is really the next development. certain new riot guns have got 
deliberatley noisy cocking actions designed by intimidation factor alone 
to "pacify" people.
the only reason for increasing the effectiveness in weapons nowadays is 
to keep up with developments in armour - the use of ceramics, 
kevlar/nylon weaves in body armour and reactive armour on vehicles etc 
all require corresponding improvements in weapons to keep up. of course, 
this then leads to the problem of overpenetration on unarmoured targets 
- so the manufacturers come up with dual purpose munitions etc etc. 

and of course then you have the issues with landmines, they are designed 
to wound not kill - at least some of the newer particularly nasty ones 
are.

ain't life grand.

pete 'god i'm depressed now' rogers

>	Hmm... okay, I just heard someone on the list say that wounding an 
>enemy ties up more resources than killing one. That makes sense to me. 
So, >taking that arguement one step further, if wounding is more 
effective than >killing, wouldn't weapons research become geared towards 
doing just enough >damage to take Joe Average out of the fight without 
killing him? That >might explain why we don't see more deadly weaponry 
in HOE.
>	(Although, I highly doubt Shane & Co. thought it out that far.)


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