Solar furnace

This is my first post to the list, although I have been lurking for quite
long. I hope you like it. Criticism and comments are welcome.


                               Solar furnace

    I was thinking about dwarven metalworking in wildspace and came to
conclusion that conventional techniques could not be used in most
circumstances. Coal and wood would have to be imported for smelting, and
air consumption would be a very big problem.
    Having read that in ancient times some ports were equipped with large
metal mirrors for communication and defense (focused light was used to set
sails on fire) i thought that dvarwes could use solar furnaces for smelting
and partially defense.
    So here is the dwarven solar furnace.

   In some spheres with large or bright primaries or other bodies which
emit large quantity of light dwarves started using new technique for
smelting metal.
    Usually first step in construction of solar furnace is building a
tower. After that comes construction of large quantity of mirrors. Mirrors
are usually made of iron coated with thin layer of silver which is then
highly polished. At last mirrors are placed around the tower so that the
light is concentrated at the top of the tower.
    The room at the top of the tower has silver mirrors which are used to
further focus light. The mirrors around tower are added until temperature
in the focus point climbs to at least 2500°C. Temperature in the focus
point can be then regulated by turning or covering the mirrors around the
tower.
    Focused light is then reflected to the forge through the tunnel with
mirror walls (forge is naturally below ground).
    Furnace can be also used as a defensive weapon. Light beam is intensive
enough to melt metal and stone if close enough.

    Solar furnace reflector
Cost:                   5000 gp
Range (Hex):            1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8
Damage (Hull Points):   8d4 7d4 6d4 5d4 4d4 3d4 2d4 1d4
Crew:                   2
ROF:                    1/1
THAC0:                  17
Critical hit on:        18,19,20
    Focused light is redirected from the forge and is used as a weapon.
Setting the reflector takes 1d4 rounds.
    Every hit on a wooden ship causes fire in the amount of damage taken
from the initial attack. Often the rigging of the ship is set on fire so
loss of maneuverability is to be expected. Because of the dissipation of
the beam damage is reduced with distance.
    Every dwarven citadel which has solar furnace has couple of dwarves
trained in it's use. Usually they maintain reflector and stand guard in
shifts of 3 (2 master gunners and an apprentice).
    Reflector is rather sophisticated device made of crystal mirrors and
lenses. Because of that it is easily disabled by heavy and medium weapon
hit. Usually it is protected by couple of conventional weapons (catapult
and balista) which also defend entrance to the forge.

-- 
No matter how subtle the wizard, a knife in the shoulder blades will
seriously cramp his style.

Krunoslav Asler
kruno@???.??.???.hr   kruno@???????.??.???.hr   ka34567@?????.??.???.hr