Re: gnomish weapons!!!

> This gnomish ray weapon seems a bit overpowered, especially considering its
> limited drawbacks.  "Overheating" seems a tame problem, especially considering
> that all they need to do is mount multiple weapons to permit the things to
> cool down.  A more gnomish drawback is a percent chance every time the thing
> is fired that it explodes without firing.

Gnomish weapons are a lot like Rube Goldberg contraptions. They're very
complex, and there's usually a better and simpler way of doing things. I
would simply reduce the effectiveness from 2d6 hull points to 1d4 or 1d3
(especially considering the limited amount of radiation a Continual Light
puts out; scarcely more than a torch), and keep the "overheating" penalty.

If you're *trying* to create a weapon which is noticeably more effective
than conventional weapons--the bombard paradigm rather than the gnomish
sweeper, though even the utility of the bombard can be questioned--you
might keep the power level the same, throw in a chance of backfire or
explosion, and alter the way the mechanism works.

> Finally, I question the use of continual light to make the weapon work.  I
> imagine gnomes finding some other source of light--fire beetle sacks,
> concentrated Neon Glowing Giant Space Hamster droppings, a fire body's
> light--rather than rely on magic.

[nods] Captured Blazazoids (sp?) might do. And then you wouldn't *need* a
chance of backfire or explosion to provide the drawback....

Hemlock