Shrouds and mass

[knnn]

We've been told that a Shroud is able to disperse the energy blasts fired by ethereal canons, but I wonder how well they would put up against traditional (i.e. metal cannonball) weapons.  After all, we know that ether-silk passes through the shroud without problem, and the fact the you can feel wind when diving means that air can pass through as well.

P.S.  In our world, bronze cannons were still in use into the 19th century (it was more "springy" than cast iron), so iron rot isn't really an argument.

[Quantus]

We've been told that a Shroud is able to disperse the energy blasts fired by ethereal canons, but I wonder how well they would put up against traditional (i.e. metal cannonball) weapons.  After all, we know that ether-silk passes through the shroud without problem, and the fact the you can feel wind when diving means that air can pass through as well.

P.S.  In our world, bronze cannons were still in use into the 19th century (it was more "springy" than cast iron), so iron rot isn't really an argument.

Wood cannons werent unheard of either, they just broke down more often (and in a catastrophic way).  I imagine that the Shroud would be unable to stop a physical cannon any more than the silk vests can stop traditional bullets.  But I think the feasibility of cannons drops off sharply when the vessels are no longer locked onto the same plane of elevation, so between the three dimensional nature of airship combat, combined with their superior maneuverability would make them useless in all but very specific ambush circumstances.  Perhaps hiding in the noon-day sun and attempting to fire/drop physical masses onto a ship below?

[Second Aristh]

The shroud doesn't seem to hamper the aeronauts moving on the ship, so I would guess that it doesn't do much if anything to physical projectiles.  I don't think a shroud is just a shell of energy, more like a powerful field of etheric energy being emitted from the core crystal.

[knnn]

Wood cannons werent unheard of either, they just broke down more often (and in a catastrophic way).  I imagine that the Shroud would be unable to stop a physical cannon any more than the silk vests can stop traditional bullets.  But I think the feasibility of cannons drops off sharply when the vessels are no longer locked onto the same plane of elevation, so between the three dimensional nature of airship combat, combined with their superior maneuverability would make them useless in all but very specific ambush circumstances.  Perhaps hiding in the noon-day sun and attempting to fire/drop physical masses onto a ship below?

1) Didn't the first encounter between the Predator and the merchant ship/Itasca occur at equal elevations?  IIRC they actually pulled out of their dive (i.e. slowed down) in order to shoot their cannons.  In any case, you'd think such things would at least be the spire itself (e.g. on the roof and at Habble Landing).

2) This also doesn't preclude things like rifles/bows raking the enemy decks.

3) Heck, what about ramming tactics?  It seems to me that the protection offered by a shroud could allow a ship to get very close.  A Predator "dropping like a rock" with a bronze ram could really do damage.  Heck, you needn't ram the ship itself.  Merely hitting the top/bottom masts could do wonders toward wounding a ship.

[Brightbane]

Is there any evidence that they have gunpowder? I can't bring any to mind. They would have to have access to volcanic hotsprings to get the sulfur or certain caves for the saltpeter. The charcoal is easily to obtain, if horrifically expensive.

[Second Aristh]

Is there any evidence that they have gunpowder? I can't bring any to mind. They would have to have access to volcanic hotsprings to get the sulfur or certain caves for the saltpeter. The charcoal is easily to obtain, if horrifically expensive.

Yeah, they have gunpowder.  Grimm comments more than once about practicing with a firearm when he's planning on taking down Cavendish.  It's not common based on the life of the gun barrel, but idk about the gunpowder itself.

[knnn]

So here's a random question:

Why doesn't he the shroud dissipate the energy of your own guns?

[Quantus]

So here's a random question:

Why doesn't he the shroud dissipate the energy of your own guns?

Preddy doesnt want it to?

Actually, thats a really good question.  Perhaps it's a matter of "tuning" like the old star trek shields, and by having both the guns and shroud sourced in the same Core, they operate on the same frequency and can pass through?  Just spittballing...

[kazimmoinuddin]

Due to ships able to rise and fall so much, canon would difficult to aim. If they develop gun turrets able to be adjusted, those could be set up.

[Quantus]

Due to ships able to rise and fall so much, canon would difficult to aim. If they develop gun turrets able to be adjusted, those could be set up.

Shouldnt be too hard.  Those sorts of cannons usually had a screw tilt that was used for range adjustment, all it takes is a crank mechanism to make it a swift adjustment.  And that sort of thing would be just as useful (and perhaps as common) for the etheric cannons as for a physical one, Id wager. 

[kazimmoinuddin]

Can they make homing canon shots? So they just need it going in the right direction.

[Quantus]

Can they make homing canon shots? So they just need it going in the right direction.

Hmmm, I dont /think/ so.  That would imply a crystal with lateral thrust capabilities, which seems to not exist.

[Second Aristh]

Hmmm, I dont /think/ so.  That would imply a crystal with lateral thrust capabilities, which seems to not exist.

Not for airships anyway.  Etherealists seem to be able to make crystals float around in any direction they want.

[Quantus]

Not for airships anyway.  Etherealists seem to be able to make crystals float around in any direction they want.

Excellent point.

[kazimmoinuddin]

They can alter their fields of attraction and repulsion.