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fandomhigh2010-11-08 08:12 am
furious-maximus.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomhigh2010-11-08 08:12 am
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Introduction to Personal Weaponry [Monday, second period]
Max suspected that most of his students were going to pick up on the topic for today's class rather quickly since guns tended to be pretty obvious and recognizable, and there was a large locker full of them against one wall in addition to the ones on his desk. Everything from matchlock pistols to modern sniper rifles.
"Today we're going to be discussing one of the most revolutionary shifts in the history of weapons. I suspect most of you can guess what that is. Gunpowder, and more specifically the gun, represent a fundamental change in the equation of war. That change comes from the fact that gunpowder uses chemistry to provide the energy to kill people with, and that means that it doesn't really care how strong you are personally."
"Swords, clubs, axes, and all the other hand weapons merely enhance your innate strength. So that while everyone becomes more dangerous, someone with my size and strength becomes that much more dangerous. In a serious fight with swords, I don't think any of you could overcome my physical advantages." Though, this was Fandom, someone might surprise him. And Max wasn't about to make any bets where Zach was concerned, either.
"This is just as true with thrown knives and spears, and remains true, though to a lesser extent, with things like bows and crossbows. Your personal strength controls how powerful a bow or crossbow you can draw, and it especially controls how quickly you can reload. So while any of you could get a crossbow powerful enough to kill someone, it might be difficult to reload for some of you, so you'd only get one shot."
"Gunpowder changed all that. Since the power it can deliver doesn't depend on how strong you are, it puts everyone on an even playing field. Any of you could fire a gun big enough to kill me, for instance. I might be able to absorb more damage than some people simply due to my size, but a shot to the heart or the head is going to deliver enough force that it won't matter."
"This fundamental shift in who can kill who means that I can't tell you what to do just because I'm bigger and stronger than you because, if you want to, you can kill me. I can no longer act with impunity. And you don't even have to be in particularly good shape or have much in the way of training, either. On the other hand, killing becomes much easier for everyone, and for any reason."
Max's eyes scanned the room slowly. "I know that I make a big deal about safety in this class, but today I want you all to be clear on just how big a deal it's become." Even if the danger shop's safety protocols were in effect. "Accidents with guns are often fatal for the same reason they change things so much: they're always at full power, and that power is always enough to kill."
"So, today's activity is simple. Find a gun you've never used before." And for many of his students Max figured that might be 'any of them'. "Try it out on range at the back of the room. After you've gotten familiar with your weapon, find someone who's picked something completely different and swap impressions. Get a feel for just how broad a category of weapons this is."
"Today we're going to be discussing one of the most revolutionary shifts in the history of weapons. I suspect most of you can guess what that is. Gunpowder, and more specifically the gun, represent a fundamental change in the equation of war. That change comes from the fact that gunpowder uses chemistry to provide the energy to kill people with, and that means that it doesn't really care how strong you are personally."
"Swords, clubs, axes, and all the other hand weapons merely enhance your innate strength. So that while everyone becomes more dangerous, someone with my size and strength becomes that much more dangerous. In a serious fight with swords, I don't think any of you could overcome my physical advantages." Though, this was Fandom, someone might surprise him. And Max wasn't about to make any bets where Zach was concerned, either.
"This is just as true with thrown knives and spears, and remains true, though to a lesser extent, with things like bows and crossbows. Your personal strength controls how powerful a bow or crossbow you can draw, and it especially controls how quickly you can reload. So while any of you could get a crossbow powerful enough to kill someone, it might be difficult to reload for some of you, so you'd only get one shot."
"Gunpowder changed all that. Since the power it can deliver doesn't depend on how strong you are, it puts everyone on an even playing field. Any of you could fire a gun big enough to kill me, for instance. I might be able to absorb more damage than some people simply due to my size, but a shot to the heart or the head is going to deliver enough force that it won't matter."
"This fundamental shift in who can kill who means that I can't tell you what to do just because I'm bigger and stronger than you because, if you want to, you can kill me. I can no longer act with impunity. And you don't even have to be in particularly good shape or have much in the way of training, either. On the other hand, killing becomes much easier for everyone, and for any reason."
Max's eyes scanned the room slowly. "I know that I make a big deal about safety in this class, but today I want you all to be clear on just how big a deal it's become." Even if the danger shop's safety protocols were in effect. "Accidents with guns are often fatal for the same reason they change things so much: they're always at full power, and that power is always enough to kill."
"So, today's activity is simple. Find a gun you've never used before." And for many of his students Max figured that might be 'any of them'. "Try it out on range at the back of the room. After you've gotten familiar with your weapon, find someone who's picked something completely different and swap impressions. Get a feel for just how broad a category of weapons this is."
Re: Talk to Max
She might not though. It was a long
hobblehike from the Danger Shop to the cafeteria and back.