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shared_worlds:thick_as_thieves_technology

Thick as Thieves RP - Setting : Technology in Aporue

Sorted in alphabetical order.

Work in progress.


Aviation

Flying vehicles are a recent innovation in Aporue, as well as the world at large.

The two main families of aircraft used in this world are:

Ornithopters - Usually petrol-powered or electric-powered, they are small, fast and nimble and some of the more advanced ones even come with primitive (and not that reliable) VTOL capability. Despite these good characteristics, they are by-and-large useless for transporting larger numbers of passengers, goods and other cargo, due to their physical and technological size limitations. So far, they are this world's rough stand-in for bushplanes, aerotaxis, post planes, liaison planes, etc. Common nicknames for ornithopters in this setting include the likes of “orni” (plural “ornies”), “thopther(s)”, “flappers” and, most poetically of all, “windriders”. Ornithopters have not been used for military purposes yet, though some of the richest and most advanced countries are toying with the idea of using them as recon/spotter aircraft in the next big war (rumours persist that one or two countries have even bought a few ornies for their militaries, “for testing and evaluation purposes”).

Airships - Most of them are simple unimpressive blimps and there are even a few zeppelins (“zeps”). However, the true (if rare) kings of the air lines are the so-called “aeronavs” (a.k.a. “aeronefs”, colloquially “navs”/“nefs”). These aren't the same as the aforementioned two classic types of airships. They are actually closer to what we'd nowadays call hybrid airships. Due to this, they actually combine characteristics of typical airships with characteristics of true heavier-than-air vehicles, including aeroplanes. They also have much greater VTOL capabilities than usual airships and most ornithopter types. If you're expecting them to look ship-like (due to their name), you'll be in for a surprise, as the more advanced ones are actually somewhat aircraft-like, though still relying on gasbags for producing most of their lift. Appearance-wise, a rather good example of a typical aeronav would be something like this. While several other nations were researching and pioneering the first practical airships concurrently with Karantia, it was Karantia (along with later assistance from Upper Lokytia) that invented the first aeronavs. Since then, other countries have replicated the success to varying degrees. On a more troubling note, there have been some cases of airships and aeronavs being taken over by mutineers, deserters, unscrupulous adventurers and businessmen, who then often formed the earliest forms of future air pirates and air corsairs… (Whether respectable air crews on commercial lines or kooky and impudent air pirates, the lives of aeronav crew members are not unlike those of the crew in Jules Verne's novel Robur the Conqueror.)

Rotorcraft or fixed-wing aircraft have not been invented or refined in this world yet.

Fighter aircraft haven't really been refined yet, though it's possible someone might try it with suitable ornithopter variants once the need and interest arises (machine guns still need to develop, but once they appear in a few decades…). Airships and even some aeronavs have been used for reconnaissance and the occassional bombing in some of the smaller wars of recent history. However, since there has been no large-scale industrial era war yet, most aircraft are thought of as civilian vehicles exclusively (whether as passenger liners or “aeroshipping”/air-delivery cargo carriers).


Electricity

TBA.


Firearms

TBA.


Locks and locksmithing

TBA.


Mining

Along with mettalurgy, mining has existed as a technological method and economic activity in Aporue for a very long time, easily predating even the earliest written records created on the continent. As the fairly new science of archaeology develops, some light has been slowly shed on the nature of ancient mining, practiced by cultures long since vanished to the mists of time.

Of the species and cultures of Aporue, Permons are by far the one most associated with mining, and mining-related industrial and economic activities. Some people (primarily boastful Permons) consider certain tools and technologies for mining to be of Permon invention.

Being a tiny state, Melza has exactly one mining town within its territory, the old township of Árast Atrav. The local mines are specialised in ore extraction, particularly on iron ore these days, as the deposits of gold and silver have started to run dry.


Medicine and medical technology

TBA.


Metallurgy

TBA.


Ships in this world are still mostly antique-looking and though steamers have become increasingly common, wooden sailships abound.

The most advanced ships of this world, both civilian and military, are broadly similar to the ships from our second half of the 19th century. Even the largest and most advanced of these ships show clear signs of only slowly moving from the pre-industrial period to the industrial one.

If you're expecting anything resembling WWI-style dreadnoughts and oceanliners, tough luck. However, the ships are still interesting and quite a sight to behold. The following lists offer some examples of historical real world ships, to give you an idea of what the ships of this world look like.

Civilian ships

Archaic trade ship types that are still around:

carracks
Dutch fluyts

Most modern private or commercial sailships are later and more advanced types, such as:

schooners
sloops
brigs
brigantines

As for the most advanced civilian ships, both sailships and steamers, here's the general idea:

various clippers
Great Britain
Great Eastern

Military ships

Most advanced military ships are somewhere between masted sailships and early ironclads. Even many non-armoured sailing warships of this world are already screw-driven, with a steam engine for added propulsion. Some examples of real world historical ships roughly at this level of advancement:

HMS Warrior
Napoléon
HMS Captain (if she had been better built)
Huáscar

Monitors have been developed as an idea, but saw only limited use in combat until now. Submarines exist and some of the first succesful models have been finally built, but they are still rather unreliable and more of a “scientist's toy”. The development of new petrol or electric engines has aided their development though. As these engines are often too weak or small to power an actual large ship, they have made greater headways into submarines first. Thus, the medium, big and largest ships are still your typical coal-fired giant steamers.

Unique beastfolk ships

The above listed types are just the human ships, of both the bigfolk and smallfolk. The more nautical-minded of the beastfolk tend to have their own unique traditional designs, often unlike anything you'd expect from them. For example, the ottermen commonly sail in rather alien-looking catamarans and other weird boats. Beastfolk also haven't warmed up to steamships that much yet, outside of some of the more urbane or more industrial-minded of their members. These are mostly members of the hedgefolk and the martenfolk.


Projectile weapons

TBA.


Rail transport

TBA.


Road transport

TBA.


Source

Travel on land (preliminary, will be replaced)

Travel by seas and rivers

Travel by air

(Last modified .)


See Also

shared_worlds/thick_as_thieves_technology.txt · Last modified: 2020/02/10 19:37 by eofpi

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