Gunmaker Chart 1, page 213

[Daddicus]

I'm trying to understand the first Gunmaker chart. It's really confusing:

It looks like most of the top half is an expansion of "Longname", specifically Stage, Burden, Type, Users, and Portability. Except in the list of pointers, Type is called Weapon.

Q1:
Is that a typo/artifact, or is there a reason for it?

The Users table in the upper right is also confusing.

Q2:
Why is it called both "Users" and "Manipulators"?

Q3:
Why is there no "User" next to the "Manipulators" called Gripper, Socket, and Universal?

Q4:
Shouldn't the whole Users/Manipulators table be flipped, with Manipulators on the left, and the Users column turned into a list of examples? Or, have the whole table be called Users, with sub-headings of Manipulators, Abbr., and Examples?

Then, there's the bottom half of the list. It almost looks like two tables, one for a list of descriptors, and sandwiched in the middle the abbreviation for a PGMP-11.

Q5:
What is the bottom half of the table supposed to be?

(I'll probably have more questions once this one is answered.)

 

[David Johansen]

Don't look back, that way lies madness.

 

[Daddicus]

But, I still want to know.

 

[robject]

I'm trying to understand the first Gunmaker chart. It's really confusing:

It looks like most of the top half is an expansion of "Longname", specifically Stage, Burden, Type, Users, and Portability. Except in the list of pointers, Type is called Weapon.

Type IS the basic weapon configuration... almost like form factor.

Stage and Burden are modifiers on it.

The Users table in the upper right is also confusing.

Q2:
Why is it called both "Users" and "Manipulators"?

They're roughly equivalent.

The user type relates to the manipulator used for a gun. Man (code M) has Hands. Aslan (code A) has Paws. Vegan (code T) has Tentacles. So the manipulator code can serve as a shorthand for the particular sophont the weapon was designed for.

What is the bottom half of the table supposed to be?

It outlines "Descriptors", which modifies the basic gun forms into basic types -- so a Machinegun type can vary based on Description. A Rifle, even more so.

 

[Daddicus]

Type IS the basic weapon type.

So, why is it labeled weapon and not type? (just above the midline of the table)

 

[Daddicus]

They're roughly equivalent.

The user type relates to the manipulator used for a gun. Man (code M) has Hands. Aslan (code A) has Paws. Vegan (code T) has Tentacles. So the manipulator code can serve as a shorthand for the particular sophont the weapon was designed for.

So, it really should have the manipulator as the primary column. There could be sophonts with tentacles that aren't Vegan. I'll treat it that way. Thanks!

 

[Daddicus]

OK, I think I understand it correctly now. If I'm right, the following changes are needed to make it more clear. Please offer corrections if I'm off base.

Get rid of the example in the middle of the page. It's just clutter. (PGMP-11 and the long version.)

Change the word Weapon in the center to Type.

Move the words Stage, Burden, Type, User, and Portability upwards, so they are justified to a horizontal line below the charts.

Squeeze the words in the center closer together, to allow some of the charts to be moved to the left and right sides, at the center.

Rotate the words "Tech Level" to horizontal, and precede them with an N dash.

Depending on fit, move Designator/Projector up into the space created when the main words were squeezed together.

Into the space created by the previous paragraph's move, slide one or two of the tables. Maybe even the three small ones, if they fit.

Do something similar to the right side (especially move Portability's chart).

Title the User table User, and add subtitles (Manipulators, Abbr., and Examples).

Re-arrange the connecting lines.

If everybody agrees, I'll add them to the errata.

 

[robject]

Weapon Types (T5.09 p207)

Weapons fall into eight distinct categories or types (with occasional overlap) based on size, function, and use.

So "Type" is like "Category".

Weapon Descriptors (p207)

Descriptor is a statement of the specific mechanism, purpose, or effect the weapon may have. When paired with a Weapon Type, it provides a basic statement of a weapon and its function.

Weapon Burden

Burden is the spectrum of effects based primarily on weight, mass, and bulk.

...

Weapon Stage
Stage is the spectrum of effects based on the techno- logical product development cycle.

Weapon Users

User indicates the typical or intended user, either by species or by manipulator type.

 

[Daddicus]

I think I understand it all now, Robject. My objections (in this thread) are to the layout and wording. Yes, Type = Weapon, but when a chart is explaining the elements of a formula, it should use the same word in both places.

Regarding "Users", it's really asking for the manipulator, regardless of race. It's just that certain races are good examples of specific manipulators (like hands being connected to humans -- and others).

 

[Daddicus]

Correcting my own clarifications: I think I see now, at least for "Type". Type is both the descriptor and the weapon, together. So, the whole bottom half is a description of the specific subtype of the main type.

Am I correct?

If so, I have to correct my clarifications.

 

[Daddicus]

Another question:

In the most of the tables, there are three columns:

• The name
• An abbreviation
• A number

What's the number for? It seems to mostly match up with a TL mod, but I didn't check them all.

 

[The Pakkrat]

It seems to me to be a TL number. If it's a Model number then it refers to the item in question's QREBS, e.g. 50000

Why are all the weapons on this world sized for female hands?

Via satellite, this is the Pakkrat.