Timeline for answer to Why would a near future, interstellar empire still have military units/divisions using ‘antique’ weapons (Cavalry, bolt-action rifles, long bayonets)? by MacGuffin
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
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| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
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| Feb 5, 2025 at 21:09 | comment | added | Malachi | @MilConDoin I said magic jokingly; The Empire of Earth doesn’t have any sort of magical capabilities in any field… Yet. | |
| Feb 5, 2025 at 17:36 | comment | added | MacGuffin | @MilConDoin gave a good answer. I was just going to say plastics, ceramics, and carbon fibers. Another answer is that the ships are still using metal but are overbuilt to compensate for the metals becoming weakened. There's a potential that after some of the FTL travels the metal becomes stronger but then only to weaken again on the next trip, so any metal components in the ship need to be built within the margins of safety on how weak the metals could get. That adds mass to the ship but you've got FTL drive, it's a powerful engine and can manage the mass. Maybe more mass adds in power. | |
| Feb 5, 2025 at 14:26 | comment | added | MilConDoin | @Malachi Could be high tech ceramics with several layers of spray painted lead inbetween to block the cosmic radiation. Or depending on the means of FTL (assuming your given option of magic): To break nature's laws with the newly found drudic magic, you have to work with only minimally processed natural materials, like hardwood. It is kept semi-alive and thus can withstand the FTL induced property changes. And maybe even thrives on the radiation. | |
| Feb 5, 2025 at 12:05 | comment | added | Malachi | If FTL travel changes the properties of all metals, then what are the spaceships themselves made of…? | |
| Feb 5, 2025 at 4:19 | history | answered | MacGuffin | CC BY-SA 4.0 |