On Thu, 5 May 2016 13:05:49 +1000, Tim <xxxxxx@little-possums.net> wrote:

>On Thu, May 05, 2016 at 01:23:09AM +0000, Phil Pugliese (via tml list) wrote:

[quoting me]

>> But that leads to another thought: What if the standard shipboard
>> "sidearm" is a pistol crossbow?

>> --------------------------------------------------------------

>> How about a  pistol 'gaussbow' that fires (launches?)  the same thing?

>> or maybe uses compressed gas?

>I figure that the "fragile ships" thing is a red herring -- or even an
>AF plot device in its own right.

>Starship crew members aren't going to blow a hole in the hull with any
>reasonable personal sidearm, because Traveller ship hulls are required
>to be extremely tough -- even the civilian ones.  You may damage some
>internal ship systems, but the most critical ones will have backups,
>some armouring, and be well out of the usual way anyway.

It was never about blowing holes in the hull with starships; to the
extent it was discussed at all, it was really always about blowing
through non-bulkhead internal partitions or damaging internal systems.
There's also the "looks evil" factor for a modicum of intimidation, to
some extent; crossbows, whether "handbow" or "longbow" size, just _look_
nastier than a Sig 9mm or a Winchester 30-30. Especially if you're
loaded with broadhead bolts.

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