Re: Tech & SJ

> Incidentally, while conventional cannon would certainly mess up a
> ship's atmosphere, there really isn't anything wrong with guns based
> on compressed air.  A few men at the capstan, and one to actually
> place the ball in the muzzle, would be enough to operate a compressed
> air cannon, given materials and equipment capable of handling gas
> under pressure, etc.

Historically, compressed air ship guns were developed in the late 1800's.
The Space 1899 fan site has a write up:

http://www.heliograph.com/trmgs/trmgs1/dynamite.shtml

Although they claim the guns were never used in warfare, which I believe is
incorrect; see this site on the Spanish-American War:

http://www.spanamwar.com/vesuvius.htm

On a Spelljamming ship, the guns' compressor would be replaced by magic, of
course, such as an air elemental. 

Peter