How to Blow Things Up: Period 2; Week 5

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

The class met back in the Danger Shop today per the handwavy note Aly sent out to her class.

She was waiting impatiently as they filed in.  When everyone was present, she punched up a sequence so that two tall buildings stood at the far end of the Danger Shop.  Another quickly keyed in sequence and a countdown could be heard through a speaker.  6-5-4-3-2-1...  And the buildings imploded, one after another in a perfectly timed maneuver. 

Once the dust had settled, Aly turned back to the class.  "So that was a building implosion.  It's a very cool use of tnt especially in highly populated areas where you want to bring a structure down in its original footprint to keep other buildings - or people - from getting hurt."  She grinned.  "And my knowledge of how to do it ends right about there.  I'm much more on the quick and dirty end of explosives.  However, I have a bunch of papers up here about it.  If anyone wants to give it a try and design an implosion to try next class, I'll give extra credit."

She picked up a plasticy white block off the desk and held it up for the students to see.  "This?  Is C-4.  It's a high explosive designed for military use.  It's a very powerful plastic explosive, but it's also remarkably stable." 

She set the block of C-4 on the floor and, striking a match, set it on fire.  The block simply started burning slowly.

"It needs a detonator or blasting cap to actually explode.  Fire's not enough.  Even if you shot a brick of C-4 with a shotgun, it wouldn't be enough of a shock to set it off.  You can also mold it into whatever shape you need to direct the explosion or press the explosive into cracks in a wall or voids in a bridge or machinery."

Aly grinned and gestured to the rows of detonator caps and bricks of C4.  "Luckily we have both C-4 and detonators and a moddable environment that you can experiment with directing charges and the amount needed to blow up trucks, bridges, walls, etc. Let me say that less is not considered more when you try to blow something up.  A halfway collapsed bridge does no one any good."

"Second we have some dynamite to try out.  Dynamite is a lot less stable than C-4 and in recent years, it's been phased out especially on the battlefield as more accurate and less dangerous explosives have been created.  One note, dynamite is not the same as TNT nor is it made up of TNT.  Two totally different explosives - dynamite's sawdust or some other absorbent material soaked in nitroglycerin while TNT is a specific chemical compound - Trinitrotoluene."

"So for today, I want you to discuss tactics for uses both these types of explosives - why C-4's become so popular over the past twenty or so years on this world and what characteristics you would look for in a high grade explosive.  Then try both out, try to bring down a bridge or a building using both explosives and see which you like best."

"Finally, next week we're going to look at explosives that aren't quite so...chemical.  Magical or explosives from other worlds so if you are familiar with other types of explosives or a magical or other talent that you've been not using per my request, let me know.  Next week's when we get to look at those and show them off.  Oh!  And Rikku, if I could see you after class."

[OOC:  Errr...apologies for the tl;dr.  Let me or Aly know if you have other explodey goodies for next week and please wait for the OCD is up!]

Comments

[Explodey 6-12] Sign In

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

As you do.

Re: [Explodey 6-12] Sign In

[morpherboy.livejournal.com]

Marco

[Explodey 6-12] Chit Chat or Notes

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

Yeah, talk while the buildings are blowing up. Are you insane?

...I mean, go right ahead.

Re: [Explodey 6-12] Chit Chat or Notes

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

Seely looked both incredibly pleased and kind of sulky as he watched the buildings go boom.

Re: [Explodey 6-12] Chit Chat or Notes

[sarcasm-guy.livejournal.com]

Although not a student in the class, Sokka had been invited, so here he was...

And he was staring in awe at the buildings falling down. "WOOOOOO!!!!"

Re: [Explodey 6-12] Chit Chat or Notes

[the_merriest]

Rikku was staring. And giggling. A lot.

Re: [Explodey 6-12] Chit Chat or Notes

[solowhistler.livejournal.com]

That look on Abigail's face? Total excitement.

[Explodey 6-12] Talk Tactics

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

Seriously. Why's C-4 so big? How can you use it? What would dynamite be good for that C-4 might not be? What about these two explosives compared to others we've looked at.

Re: [Explodey 6-12] Talk Tactics

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan considered the explosives in question, and looked for someone with whom he could discuss them.

Re: [Explodey 6-12] Talk Tactics

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

Savannah had taken notes and was looking around for a partner.

Re: [Explodey 6-12] Talk Tactics

[girlzippo.livejournal.com]

Charlie was doodling after watching the movie, trying to think why C-4 would be preferable.

[Explodey 6-12] C-4

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

Try it out, blow things up. There are many moddable structures to try out so have fun with it.

...don't forget the detonator.

Re: [Explodey 6-12] C-4

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan looked at the block of C-4, the detonator, a building in front of him, and grinned. "This is going to be fun."

Re: [Explodey 6-12] C-4

[girlzippo.livejournal.com]

Charlie's making a little skull out of her C-4. And trying to figure out where she wants to put the blasting cap.

And looking verrry thoughtfully at the supporting corners of her Danger Shop skyscraper.

Re: [Explodey 6-12] C-4

[sarcasm-guy.livejournal.com]

Sokka gravitated over to a castle with thick stone walls. After looking at Aly and trying to figure out if it really was okay, he thunked a fist-sized lump of C4 on the wall, stuck a detonator in it, and started trying to decide what a safe distance would be.

Re: [Explodey 6-12] C-4

[the_merriest]

Rikku is looking at the schematics for a nice square apartment building and trying to figure out trajectories. Mmmmm. Explosives.

[Explodey 6-12] Dynamite

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

Try it out, blow things up. There are many moddable structures to try out so have fun with it.

Re: [Explodey 6-12] Dynamite

[sarcasm-guy.livejournal.com]

With a cheerful grin, Sokka started lighting the fuses of sticks of dynamite and tossing them at a bridge.

Re: [Explodey 6-12] Dynamite

[the_merriest]

Rikku stacked a few pieces of dynamite together under the support beams for the bridge, lit the fuse, and hid.

[Explodey 6-12] Talk to Aly

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

Of course she's around, it's a blowing things up day.

Bonus points if you get her to sputter over her 'pregnancy.'

Re: [Explodey 6-12] Talk to Aly

[not_in_the_book]

"Excuse me, professor? You were asking us about any knowledge we have of non-chemical explosives, yes?"

Re: [Explodey 6-12] Talk to Aly

[lovesrenoir.livejournal.com]

Animal approached Aly, once again wearing a mumu and having replaced the balloons underneath his outfit.

Why he had a penguin costume shoved over his head is something he can't explain really. Or at least in detail.

He does have a wrapped gift (http://www.cafepress.com/buy/weird+stuff+bizarre/-/pv_design_details/pg_1/id_17351962/opt_/fpt____________CX_________K_______H/c_363/) for Aly.

She can probably guess the gift's theme based on Animal's outfit. But just to help it along he's shouting "BAY-BEE! BAY-BEE! PREG-NANT! HAH! HAH! HAH!" at the top of his voice.

Re: [Explodey 6-12] Talk to Aly

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

Molly hung back, trying not to overhear Aly's conversation with Animal. The fact that when she approached she was red-faced from holding in her laughter might be a clue that she hadn't succeeded. Pressing her lips together, she just held out a small bag (http://www.proudlyscottish.com/acatalog/roundcelticpendant.jpg) for Aly.

Re: [Explodey 6-12] Talk to Aly

[the_merriest]

Rikku bounced up to Aly after class. "I'll totally bring some of my stuff next week! Does elemental or non-elemental matter? Is that what you wanted to talk about?"

[Explodey 6-12] OOC

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

For when IC just can't cut it.

Also I need to stop watching big explosions on YouTube.

Re: [Explodey 6-12] OOC

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Why are all the screencaps of Anders using C-4 in really really really bad lighting and next to useless for icons? WHY?!?