Couple questions

[Mjolnir]

Actually, I'd expect driver round mass to be a less important factor than driver round volume.
Sure, the mass is important (technically), but at the scale of the drives, even Terran drives, mass is probably less of a limiting factor on storage than the volume required for that storage. How much does a round mass? Maybe a hundred kilograms or so? How much does a ship mass? Maybe 75 thousand or more tons (empty) for a Terran scout? A significant amount more when the consumables (food, air, water, fuel) are all loaded. The relative mass increase for more rounds is almost certainly going to negligible when compared to the amount of force the propulsion systems are putting out, but the relative volume increase is going to be noticeable.

Cost might be a bigger issue than mass. Heavily mechanically reinforced superconducting structures capable of carrying massive currents under high field strengths while withstanding the forces of being shot out a railgun or other sort of mass driver, all without failing in any way that significantly changes their exit velocity or trajectory...and of course, without exploding inside the gun.

The trials are a form of extended basic training, and are uniformly tough, so a warrior candidate who can't handle Teidar trials won't find the Soroin version any easier (and the Soroin would chafe at being referred to as a "lower" caste). However, if a candidate in a specialty caste is having troubles with skills or abilities that are specific to the specialty, then she may be passed through the trials and subsequently transferred to a more appropriate specialty.

Given their lifespans, how common would it be for someone to change caste (or undertake the trials and duties of another caste) simply due to boredom/desire for something new/to extend their abilities further, rather than lack of ability?

Might individuals who started out as another caste be sought after for certain positions? Someone who didn't work out as a Teidar ending up as a Soroin engineer/technician working on the front lines alongside them, for example...

[Arioch]

Thanks NOMAD, that's very helpful information. 500 rounds per gun mount does sound much more reasonable.

Given their lifespans, how common would it be for someone to change caste (or undertake the trials and duties of another caste) simply due to boredom/desire for something new/to extend their abilities further, rather than lack of ability?

Not very common. Requests for transfer are not often granted, if the warrior is competent at her current post (especially if it's an in-demand specialty like the Teidar). The castes are insular and competitive. And since switching tracks usually means starting over in terms of rank, few career-minded warriors will consider it. That said, such changes do happen: Ashrain successfully switched tracks from Teidar to Soroin (it helps if your great-aunt is the Emperor).

[fredgiblet]

What about same caste different branch? For example an Army chick who's bored of waiting and asks to be transferred to the Navy?

[NOMAD]

Thanks NOMAD, that's very helpful information. 500 rounds per gun mount does sound much more reasonable.

hey I do what I can and your welcome

Given their lifespans, how common would it be for someone to change caste (or undertake the trials and duties of another caste) simply due to boredom/desire for something new/to extend their abilities further, rather than lack of ability?

Not very common. Requests for transfer are not often granted, if the warrior is competent at her current post (especially if it's an in-demand specialty like the Teidar). The castes are insular and competetive. And since switching tracks usually means starting over in terms of rank, few career-minded warriors will consider it. That said, such changes do happen: Ashrain successfully switched tracks from Teidar to Soroin (it helps if your great-aunt is the Emperor).

So if your relatives are high enough in rank, you can get a transfer. I guess something don't change, even in alien militarises, have the right connections and you can get what Excuse the negativity, had a bad experience

[Arioch]

What I try to convey in the Loroi is a military society for whom the paramount consideration is duty. To even ask for reassignment would be incredibly arrogant, considering that tens of thousands of civilian Loroi would pay in blood to have a chance at the privileged life that even the most junior warriors enjoy. "Boredom" is not considered important in a society in which people are literally asked to die for a living. Most especially in wartime where everyone is very much needed at the post in which they are most effective.

In Ashrain's case, it was not she who asked for transfer to the Soroin caste, but rather power-brokers on behalf of her family (shortly after her aunt Greywind has risen to power), knowing that she would now have a serious chance of rising to flag authority. When Ashrain did indeed quickly rise to Torrai rank, it was then she herself who asked to be transferred back to the fighting commands, and few commanders (even despite political pressure) could refuse such a request.

Profession, especially amongst the military class, is not a matter of personal choice. In peacetime there were probably very many bored older Loroi warriors, but there was also a much greater number of bored junior warriors who were eager to replace them. Our modern Western sense of guaranteed improved standard of living and changing jobs on a regular basis is almost unknown among the regular classes of the Loroi. If you have a good position, you do well to keep it for your whole life.

The Loroi warrior class is very serious about its ideals of service and duty. There will always be those individuals who may seek to abuse their power for personal gain (as in any form of government, including our own), but if the Loroi warrior classes as a whole had not been willing to put their blood on the line for the common good, I don't think they would have been able to maintain power for as long as they have.

[NOMAD]

What I try to convey in the Loroi is a military society for whom the paramount consideration is duty. To even ask for reassignment would be incredibly arrogant, considering that tens of thousands of civilian Loroi would pay in blood to have a chance at the privileged life that even the most junior warriors enjoy.

my apologies Arioch sincerely. I didn't think about the loroi warrior's that way, kinda makes the loroi more "noble" in their way.

[Ktrain]

Since we get occasional pinups of blue elf chicks, could we eventually get one of Kikitik-27 ?

[bunnyboy]

Since we get occasional pinups of blue elf chicks, could we eventually get one of Kikitik-27 ?

You asked it, you get it.

[Cdr Straker]

Ghaaaaaa!!!!!! MY EYES!!!!!!!!

[manticore7]

Dr Strangelove anyone?

[bunnyboy]

Dr Strangelove anyone?

Didn't think of him. Just wanted it to look like paintings on WW2 bombers.

[NOMAD]

ktrain . . . WHY . . . why did you provoke him ?

[Ktrain]

ktrain . . . WHY . . . why did you provoke him ?

No regrets. Best fanart ever.

[GeoModder]

[bunnyboy]

No regrets. Best fanart ever.

Hmmm. Thanks.

[NOMAD]

ktrain . . . WHY . . . why did you provoke him ?

No regrets. Best fanart ever.

well I would like to see that on a Umiak ship

[Trantor]

I'm having trouble finding reliable numbers on WWII-era destroyer magazine capacities. It looks like modern destroyers carry more like 500 rounds per mount, so perhaps the numbers I quoted may be on the low side. But it's in that order of magnitude.

Not only destroyers, but here are some numbers for the german ships of WW2:

Bismarck-class:

38 cm (15") 840 Shells
15 cm (6") 1.800 Shells
10,5 cm (4") 6.720 Shells
3,7 cm Flak 32.000 Rounds
2 cm Flak 24.000 Rounds

Scharnhorst-class:

28 cm (11") 1.350 Shells
15 cm 1.600 Shells
10,5 cm 6.000 Shells
3,7 cm Flak 32.000 Rounds
2 cm Flak 20.000 Rounds

This is the pocket-battleships (Graf Spee et al):

28 cm 720 Shells
15 cm 1.200 Shells
10,5 cm 2.400 Shells
3,7 cm Flak 8.000 Rounds
2 cm Flak 20.000 Rounds

Admiral-Hipper-class (Prinz Eugen et al):

20,3 cm (8") 1.280 Shells
10,5 cm 4.800 Shells
3,7 cm Flak 4.000 Rounds
2 cm Flak 56.000 Rounds


Per whole ship, not per cannon.

HTH.

[Grayhome]

I wonder what size the driver rounds for Outsider are... awesome data Tran!


Also, are you a real Doctor by any chance?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO0kRE5OTZI

[NOMAD]

Yeah, good finds Trantor

where did you find this ?

[Trantor]

Also, are you a real Doctor by any chance?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO0kRE5OTZI

<dr. tran>
AAAAH! I´M. NOT. A. DOCTOOOR!!!
</dr. tran>

(I´m just an engineer, the "lowest" title in germany. )

Yeah, good finds Trantor

where did you find this ?

German Wikipedia, and at least for Bismarck and Prinz Eugen these numbers are correct due to cross-check with some old books i own, so i think all numbers match with a few % +/- (also these military articles on the german wp are heavily "protected" by their "creators"...)

The numbers are for "normal" storage, they can vary a bit with varying distribution of space for shells, eg Bismarck could carry up to 960 15" shells when they leave some 4" and 6" behind.
But that wasn´t too practical because you first had to carry the surplus 120 shells more or less manually to the turret-storage where the loaders are - impossible in combat or in high seas.