At 04:45 PM 6/5/2007, Joseph Riggs wrote:
Basic physics tells us that a manipulator, composed of fine motor
components sheathed in a stronger alloy of some sort, will not be as
strong as a solid piece of that alloy. Or multiple levels of
layered alloys. The point is that manipulators require
not-so-strong components in order to operate properly (i.e. gears,
wires, or whatever you're using to allow the "fingers" to have
precision movements), and those components are probably going to
reduce the overall materials strength of whatever is on the end of your arm.
While true, that doesn't mean manipulators aren't desirable, even on
a combat platform. I wouldn't expect them to have any resemblance to
those on Gundam MSes, but that doesn't mean they wouldn't be present
(I'd expect something either like a Tachikoma's legs or retractable
limbs on a more durable combat platform).
As for your "Gee Whiz Aren't I So Smart to Evolve This Design Into
Beam Blade!!1!" argument - I think I'll save the expense on a piece
of equipment that will be rarely used (barring, once again, the
development of a MacGuffin like Minovsky Particles), and save it for
something useful like more mobile suits - maybe with mecha-sized
sniper rifles.
Screw that. If you can manage to create a stable magnetic bottle that
can hold and manipulate a high-energy plasma, go for broke -- make
yourself a lightsaber and make it a standard personal defense weapon
for soldiers everywhere. Give it to your combat platforms as well, of
course, but more for use as a cutting tool than a melee weapon.
I mean, seriously, what was the point of putting arms and hands on a
Guntank? I like the design. But did the arms and hands do ANYTHING
that justified the expense of putting them there?
Nope. Tachikomas are where it's at when it comes to personal mobile
armor. Everything else is sheer fantasy (and even the Tachs push it a bit).
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