The Pub Discussion Board

Oh, and I suppose I should point out one of the best reasons NOT to use a technique such as the aquamandy-water-tunnel-river-walk:  The use of magic is detectable.  Especially when it appears in a place where, generally speaking, it shouldn't be.  And this would require a LOT of magic.

Eric Storm

Hmm.  Interesting inference, but I don't think I actually said that.  I just said it was one of the things weres were good at.

Eric Storm

As far as I am aware, there is no communication between TSA and the airlines whatsoever.  Further, as a law enforcement officer (Rimohrs would be considered as such), he could probably bypass TSA the "normal" way, by simply showing his credentials.  (It's pointless to run an armed federal agent through TSA screening...)

And even if he DID have to stay invisible... so what?  As long as there was an empty seat or two on the plane, it wouldn't be a problem for him in the slightest...

Eric Storm

For the record, while there appears to be no clear-cut answer online about whether the TSA communicates with the airlines, several things I read suggest that there is some kind of system that they can all access.

So David would probably have gone the "I am a Rimohr, let me through" path... assuming he needed to.  The last time I went through security, it took less than 5 minutes.  And no, I do not have any of those fancy pre-check things... the last time I was on an airplane (last September) was the first time in a quarter century.  So, it's entirely possible that he would simply have waited through TSA screening, unless he was close to missing the flight.

Of course, this all ignores the "wizards would be banned" post I just made... I will continue to ignore that. 

Eric Storm

While the body scanner that we know about cannot detect a wizard... what if there is an extra, magical, component built into them to detect a wizard's life signature?  We know that they have one, as it has been used in some of David's cases.  Also, keep in mind that Rimohrs are, in fact, required to enforce local laws broken by wizards.  Thus, if it is against the law for wizards to fly commercial, the Rimohrs would be required to enforce that rule.  Such a thing would probably be dealt with through the same kind of trace as the unlicensed use of magic and other such wide-field traces. 

Of course, another option would be for every commercial aircraft to carry the same enchantments used at the criminal management facilities, that prevent the use of magic.  This would simply require the airlines (or the FAA) to employ a group of wizards to emplace the enchantment.

As I said, I'm going to basically ignore this little issue, because it's far too sticky to deal with.

Eric Storm

I like the idea of the body scanners being magical. Granted you can ask for a pat down to bypass the scanner...
I also like the ignoring the issue.

https://youtu.be/lg6xSjVX38M

You'll find out the answer to the first question in chapter 12.  The answer to the second is, they have three chances to take each test, so he would be able to take it in his eighth year, whenever that occurred.  It would, however, prevent him from getting his magistrate's decree, unless some kind of waiver or special decree by the king was issued, because you can only take one test per year, and you can only go to school for eight years.

Eric Storm

Eric Storm wrote:

...only go to school for eight years.

Eric Storm

Wait what? I thought that Woodward only allowing students 8 years was a school policy. The way you say that makes me think it is a governmental policy...

I always figured anything you didn't finish could be achieved at a different school.

Is it 8 consecutive years only? I kind of thought that if he had to stop in the coming year (year 8) he could finish his last year when he got back from the war....it may take 9 years (this is assuming that the war only lasts one year) but he was only there for 8 years. I mean after year 3 or 4 (I don't remember right off the top of my head what the exams were for these years) everything becomes directed study, couldn't someone theoretically take off a year or two and get a job somewhere, then decide to get some more education and go back to school?

StoryJunkie: No, it does not need to be consecutive.  I've already made this clear from the fact that David's roommate, Nate, was going to Earth for a couple years to decide where he wanted to live, and then it was mentioned he could come back.

Barbarian: Obviously, the law would be flexible enough to handle outlying situations.  Keep in mind that, technically, demighosts no longer have an age, as they are not living.

As to apprenticing/guilds:  Yes, you can, and that will get you a career in those fields.  But they will not get you the specific licenses tested for at school.  Those tests are specific to certain activities, such as owning your own business or working in the government.  Without those tests, you cannot do those things at all.

As to the style of warfare... only a complete idiot would attempt "rank and file" warfare with accurately guided weaponry, such as an energy ball.  Accurately guided weaponry (ie, the rifle) is why this style of warfare went out of use.  It would never have been in use in Dugerra.  Having said that, modern Earth warfare wouldn't work, either.  You're not facing a guy with an automatic rifle, you're facing a guy with the equivalent of most weapons in the arsenal, all at once.  Wizards can conjure up "bullets" (energy balls), flamethrowers, grenades and mortars (exploding energy balls)... and shit that we don't even have the equivalent of, like lightning bolts and seismic waves.  They could conjure boulders above your troops and flatten the lot of you.  They could disrupt the ground beneath you and cause you to fall into a newly created hole.  There is no equivalent Earth combat style that even begins to comprehend the nature of magical warfare.

As to using vehicles on a magical battlefield... it sounds like a good way to lose a lot of soldiers.  Okay, you've made your vehicle impenetrable... so I just put a bubble AROUND your vehicle, and voila, your vehicle is immobile, and so is everyone inside it.  If I'm really good, I take my bubble, lift your vehicle up inside of it, and dump your vehicle in the nearest body of water, killing everyone inside of it without having to fire a shot.  Magic is an insane equalizer on the battlefield.  Things that sound like great ideas... aren't.  The best defense against magic is maneuverability, which means the best thing you can do is keep your damned feet on the ground.  You're a small target, a nimble target, and you'll be able to more easily see what's coming at you.  Anything you do that slows down your ability to maneuver clear is a really bad thing.

Wizard warfare will be a mix of fighting from cover, mixed with close-quarters melee-style fighting.  Because of some of the larger and nastier attacks possible, it is actually to a wizard's benefit to be as close to the enemy as reasonable, as it means that if they try anything truly nasty, they get caught in it, too.  Wizards attempt to keep the other guy's attacks to as small a group of people as possible.  This also limits their own attacks, but that is usually preferable to the alternative.  It also needs to be pointed out that wizards have a lot more "ammo" than your typical soldier, in that they don't run out until they have no more energy left to fight.  By the same token, that energy has to be split between offense and defense.  There is a reason wizards learn to use swords and staves and other hand-held weaponry.

Kevlar armor would be a waste of material, as it has no magical defense properties whatsoever, nor will it do much about stopping a sword or spear attack.  Likewise, the trauma plate wouldn't be of much use, and would just slow you down, as it is heavy.  You would do better to simply wear thicker dragonscale armor.  Even that, however, has limited usefulness.  It prevents impact damage, but has only a limited ability to block magical effects.  The wizard's own active shielding is what will save them from most attacks.

As to dragons as part of the "Callamandian Air Force", or whatever:  Dragons are not Callamandian citizens.  They are a nation unto themselves, though that nation is worldwide.  They have no dog in this fight, so why would they bother to take sides?  No, you're not going to see dragons regularly circling over the battlefield.

As for pegs, the Peg Riders of Callamandia would prohibit their use as machines of war outright, except in a case of dire emergency (ie, a last-ditch effort at survival).  To put the pegs at risk is simply not an acceptable practice.  Though they may be self-aware, it is unlikely they have the capacity to truly comprehend the consequences of a war.

SkyRiders for medevac would be the most feasible of your ideas, but truthfully, in the thick of battle, I doubt that medevac is going to be on too many people's minds.  What wounds the company/battalion healers can't manage on the spot are probably just going to be "let go", or given a sustaining potion to let the battle run its course.  In the middle of melee combat, trying to evacuate people is just likely to get other people killed.

As to using the SkyRiders for troop transport, or "shock troops"... if you can hit somebody while you're riding the thing, then someone can hit you just as easily.  It might add to your maneuverability somewhat, although I don't think I'd want to really attempt riding one of those things through a forest at high speed.  And riding them on clear ground just makes you a target.

Eric Storm

Eric Storm wrote:

Why would the school do that, if it wasn't a governmental policy?

The purpose of the deadline is to keep the system moving.  Otherwise, a student could theoretically take up to nineteen years to complete college.  (No, it's not 24, like you might be thinking.  And it's not 22, like you might be thinking if you take into account you can't really "fail" your first year.  Remember that if a student does not pass their Citizenship Exam before turning 25, they are forced to go live in Earth.  This puts a limit to how many times you can fail your earlier exams before passing your CE.)

Now, okay, there aren't going to be many students going the full 19 years, but there would be a sufficient number to cause problems in the system.  Those "slow" students would be taking up resources that new students need.

Further, if you take the maximum time allowable to pass your CE, which is seven years, then you are probably not intelligent enough to perform the jobs that the other tests will certify you for.  Or you're not emotionally mature enough for them...

Eric Storm

I believe that there are examples of colleges that give students a limited amount of time here, but now that im looking for them i cant find them.

Im suprised that one wouldn't be able to just take the exams as often as they want. Once you are past the citizenship exam.

Eric Storm wrote:

StoryJunkie: No, it does not need to be consecutive.  I've already made this clear from the fact that David's roommate, Nate, was going to Earth for a couple years to decide where he wanted to live, and then it was mentioned he could come back.

Eric Storm

Yes, I remember that, but I still wasn't real sure about it hence the question.....thanks for that.

and as for something Barbarian wrote, about the pegs and dragons.....it has been said that SOME dragons will help out humans if asked and have a reason for that help, so I could maybe see a dragon or two involved in parts of the war...just as a maybe though, and as to the Pegs, wouldn't the guild riders still be able to use them for transportation to an area of fighting? I don't mean have the peg drop the rider off at the battle, but be able to move the rider(s) to an area that the enemy is advancing toward to get to the area quickly and then let the pegs fly back to safety?

I'm seeing it as a sort of area of the story were several riders are conscripted (or volunteer) and can move ahead of the coming enemy for an ambush, as in arrive 2 or 3 days in advance to set things up and give the pegs time to get back to safety.


Of course this is all just conjecture and possibly wishful thinking as it is your story and it will play out as you write it...but hey, if we do give you an idea that you run with....well then....yeah, we helped in a small part lol

But I can just see a whole lot of people groaning ARGggggg at the ARK personel.