Re: alchemists ballista bolt

From: "Static" <eshum@????????.org>

> >> Greek fire could burn ON water not IN water, you need thermite for
> >> something that can burn underwater.   Thermite...hmmmm theres an
> >> idea.
> >
> >Phosphorous burns in water.
>
>         You sure?  I found a reference
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphorus)
> that says it's *stored* in water.  So, if it ignites, water won't put it
> out (which I kinda remember), but it won't *ignite* in water?  Do you have
> any references for this?


One of the few things to burn UNDERWATER is *not* phosphorous, but
*THERMITE*, either that or Sodium (and the similar series of elements).
White phosporous burns on contact with air, water mostly removes it from
direct oxygen and it doesn't burn. Thermite is an incendiary material which
does not self ignite, but on burning, produces it sown oxygen source and
burns at hellish temperatures (used not just in incendiary bombs, but in
devices used to wreck heavy equipment like tanks, generators etc since it
can melt sdteel)

So this is weird, ancient Greek Fire had, allegedly, the SAME properties as
late versiosn of *NAPALM*.
To enhances napalm's characteristics, white phosporous and thermite were
added, ensuring ignition in all environments and burning even underwater.
Though most of it was still jsut an inflammable base with a coagulant
(gasoline and soap). Napalm got its name form NAPTHA and PALMITATE (flamable
substance and aluminmium based soap).

So the question is: how the **** did the ancient folks refine and work with
stuff like white phosporous? it's not impossible, but...hm...

By the way, stuff I've read suggests "Greek Fire" was actually gunpowder (or
similar) mixed with tar. The explosive properties of gunpowder weren't
realized for a long time, but it's incendiary ones are quite obvious. Mixed
with a sticky, flammable material it would be a mean weapon.

Anyway...incendiaries in Space are a *BAD BAD BAD* idea. Poisoned
atmospheres, being stuck in the middle of nowhere on a burning ship, the
Phlogiston, accidents etc, would mean in gneral terms, you'd have to be
insane, or desperate, to use incendiary weapons. Fire was rarely used in
ship battles for centuries *except for fire ships* with damn good reason.
It's simply far too dangerous, you lose any chance of capture, you can get
fried yourself etc.

Best ideas for such weapons, as folk have suggested, are things like acid,
but NOT green slime unless yer a maniac..sunlight may kill green slime but
the thought of that splattering, growing, eating away at a ship..which could
infect your ship...ugh.
Acid, poisons, gas spores, true expolsives (non-incendiary), and gasses are
most likely to be used in such things, plus some other creative stuff, like
Oil of Slipperiness. A short-lived hull eating susbtance would be good, or
an AOE knock-out gas.


Silverblades Suitcase
www.silverblades-suitcase.com

I'd rather be a Fool who believes in Dragons,
Than a King who believes in Nothing