Re: How humanity can affect the war, by turning the moon into a deathstar.
Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2020 9:34 am
Basically, a scientist from another world will understand the science used in a toaster just fine. If handed one, they could figure out what it does in scientific terms. However, without context, they might know know what the toaster is used for, or why it was designed that way. Without context and without any similar needed within the scientists culture, they won't understand that the toaster is for, and thus have no need to design such a device at any stage of their development.
Their culture, however, may develop the components and technology used in a toaster, but apply them in a different use. They will not have any toasters on their planet if they have no purpose for one, as design follows function. And if they do not require a function, they will not design it.
However, in terms of weapons, we are talking about a collections of races that have developed space weaponry for at least a millennium. Their weapons are far in advance of Human weaponry in 2160. Laser weapons are old fashion in modern warfare. Likely for a good reason. It is possible that large applications of laser weaponry was too vulnerable to enemy weapons fire, too costly, generated too much waste heat, or simply did not provide the user with the amount of damage needed to justify its use in view of particle beam weaponry development. Given the amount of time and number of races, it is likely that various races did develop larger laser systems and laser arrays at some point. They aren't in use anymore. Probably because the particle beam weapons can do as much damage using smaller weapons batteries, thus allowing for more weapons per ship, verse a large laser array, or massive mirror or lens. Seriously, a 50 meter diameter emitter is just a target for a particle beam or plasma focus. We humans haven't even built a lens or mirror that large as of yet. And yes the Humans have laser weapons on their ships. They seems like they would be of use in combat, but only at very close ranges, and while the heavy lasers are limitedly on par with heavy blasters at point blank range, the medium lasers are a slow firing and significantly lacking in range versions of the Loroi Laser Autocannons.
Humans, while we might be advancing faster than average without known alien interference, we would probably be able to put Loroi or Umiak weapons designs into a crash course design bureau and come up with something at least worth fielding against the local powers. Improvements in both laser and particle beam weaponry are likely to be over our older 20th century ideas and 21st century technology extrapolated to the 22nd century. Or the dead ends will be found, and the reasons for going heavy into particle and plasma weaponry is found.
Their culture, however, may develop the components and technology used in a toaster, but apply them in a different use. They will not have any toasters on their planet if they have no purpose for one, as design follows function. And if they do not require a function, they will not design it.
However, in terms of weapons, we are talking about a collections of races that have developed space weaponry for at least a millennium. Their weapons are far in advance of Human weaponry in 2160. Laser weapons are old fashion in modern warfare. Likely for a good reason. It is possible that large applications of laser weaponry was too vulnerable to enemy weapons fire, too costly, generated too much waste heat, or simply did not provide the user with the amount of damage needed to justify its use in view of particle beam weaponry development. Given the amount of time and number of races, it is likely that various races did develop larger laser systems and laser arrays at some point. They aren't in use anymore. Probably because the particle beam weapons can do as much damage using smaller weapons batteries, thus allowing for more weapons per ship, verse a large laser array, or massive mirror or lens. Seriously, a 50 meter diameter emitter is just a target for a particle beam or plasma focus. We humans haven't even built a lens or mirror that large as of yet. And yes the Humans have laser weapons on their ships. They seems like they would be of use in combat, but only at very close ranges, and while the heavy lasers are limitedly on par with heavy blasters at point blank range, the medium lasers are a slow firing and significantly lacking in range versions of the Loroi Laser Autocannons.
Humans, while we might be advancing faster than average without known alien interference, we would probably be able to put Loroi or Umiak weapons designs into a crash course design bureau and come up with something at least worth fielding against the local powers. Improvements in both laser and particle beam weaponry are likely to be over our older 20th century ideas and 21st century technology extrapolated to the 22nd century. Or the dead ends will be found, and the reasons for going heavy into particle and plasma weaponry is found.