Re: Low-Tech Forces in DSII

Thomas spake thusly upon matters weighty: 

> i don't think that bows and crossbows are really even on a comparable
> scale to modern weapons. just how hi-tech is hi-tech? i remind you of
> much of british history in africa during the rhodes era - ten men and
an
> mg versus vast low-tech armies.

As someone pointed out, hi-tech casualties are more of a problem as 
it is a greater percentage of the force. 

 of course, the august british legions
> didn't always win. instinct tells me that arrows are just going to
bounce
> off a kevlar vest, but i could well be wrong - they go through
knight's
> plate well enough at close range.

They'll punch through Kevlar like butter. So will stilletos, sharp 
spears, ice picks, teflon bullets, and a few other things. Kevlar 
weave is exceptionally permeable to sharp objects which force 
themselves between the fibers. Teflon is even better still because it 
is slippery too. A bullet proof vest means you won't even feel a hit 
with a club or mace, but a stilleto will puncture you like a stuck 
pig (unless you have steel or plastic/ceramic inserts). Now, OTOH, 
this is the reverse of plate armour - pointed weapons are moderately 
effective against it if driven by crossbow power, but bows are only 
intermittently effective and swords much less so. Hence the rise of 
maces, flails, hammers. lucern hammers. picks, and the like. Stuff to 
either let someone punch through a very small area or to let one deal 
impact. Such tactics were deadly against early chain mail because no 
one used much underpadding until later. This underpadding sucks up 
damage from blunt weapons but is permeable to sharp ones. Think of 
kevlar that way. 

Tom.  

 
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Thomas Barclay		     
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 "C makes it easy to shoot yourself in the foot.  C++ makes
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