Traveller Javelin

[Supplement Four]

Remember the old Javelin of Lightning from D&D? I always had a picture in my head of it being held, hand cocked for a throw, and as it was thrown, the thing would crackle with energy, take off faster than the eye can follow, riding an arc of electricity straight to its target.

How could we duplicate a similar device in Traveller or near Traveller terms?

Nano-technology? Gravitic technology?

The thing is raised. The thumb hits a selections stud. And, it is thrown, normally, but as soon as it is aloft, the gravitic technology kicks in, humming this thing so fast at its target that it can pierce through the engine block of a ground vehicle.

It's a hand thrown rail gun.

Space opera.




How would you build it/justify it?

 

[SpaceBadger]

Hey, if it is some advanced Ancient relic, one-of-a-kind, it could even be part of the Emperor's regalia, a sign of his office.

 

[Lycanorukke]

Remember the old Javelin of Lightning from D&D? I always had a picture in my head of it being held, hand cocked for a throw, and as it was thrown, the thing would crackle with energy, take off faster than the eye can follow, riding an arc of electricity straight to its target.

I generally took it to be like one of Zeus's lighting bolts. ie: You pick it up and throw it throw it and it turns into a lightning bolt.

How would you build it/justify it?

Well it's stretching, as anything that is thrown by hand is inherently inferior to 'powered' weapons. But for purposes of discussion....

The weapon is not hand thrown, but is launched. The 'javelin' is actually slotted into a launcher/handgrip tube which the user holds. The launch tube is about 20cm long with moldings for a grip. When squeezed it acts as a coil gun, accellerating the javelin. A bit more range can be gained it a throwing motion is used.

The actual javelin itself is essentially a large supercapacitor. The idea being that when it hits a target it releasea a jot of energy equivilant to a lighting bolt. This is used to make a mess of battledress and other powered mobility units, as while the ceramic and metallic composites can laugh off lasers, projectiles and plasma, it also acts as a great conductor.

The 'Lightning Javelin' sends a blast of electricty throuch the armour - frying circuits, melting joints, and exploding power cells. Oh and charcoaling the interior occupants as well. EMP shielding is not effective as this is raw electricty, not a EM pulse.

When flying to the target, minor ionization sheaths the javelin (aka St Elmos fire), and after discharge the javelin is vapourised by the release of energy hence a comparison to a 'lighting bolt'.

Warning: Do not operate lightning javelin underwater. No user serviceable parts inside. Do not stick tongue on javelin point. Not for use by children.

 

[tjoneslo]

Remember the old Javelin of Lightning from D&D? I always had a picture in my head of it being held, hand cocked for a throw, and as it was thrown, the thing would crackle with energy, take off faster than the eye can follow, riding an arc of electricity straight to its target.

How could we duplicate a similar device in Traveller or near Traveller terms?

How would you build it/justify it?

Depends upon a few things. Rocket power seems like a way to launch a javelin, except the exhaust would toast the thrower.

The various different Traveller rule sets have set different minimum size on the grav tech to install in a device. Here is a GURPS version of the device.

Javelin

Subassemblies: Vehicle -2, Body -2. 

P&P: 0.006-MJ power cell, 12 lbs. thrust standard thruster (no access space). 

Armor F    RL  B   T   U
Body  4/30 3/5 3/5 3/5 3/5

Statistics
Size: [LxWxH] 1.83 m x0.079 m x0.079 m 	Payload: 0 kg	Lwt.: 1.62 kg
Volume: 0.001 dtons	Maint.: 338 hours (0.284 mh/day)	Price: $3,509 

HT: 12	HP: 3 [Body]. 

Aerial Performance: Stall Speed 27.4 kph, Drag 0.1, Top Speed 1,529 kph, aAccel 105 kph/s, aMR 0, aSR 3, aDecel 0 kph/s.

Space Performance: sAccel (unloaded) 3.36 G, ( 3.36 G), sDecel 3.36 G, sMR 3.36, sAccel 105 kph/s.

Design Notes: 
TL12 light frame expensive materials [Body].

T TL12 DR 5 expensive metal, U TL12 DR 5 expensive metal, L TL12 DR 5 expensive metal, R TL12 DR 5 expensive metal, F TL12 DR 30 expensive metal, B TL12 DR 5 expensive metal [Body].
Vehicle Features: computerized controls, radical streamlining.
Volume: 0.012 m^3 [Body].
Area: 0.372 m^2 [Body].
Aerial Performance: external item drag 0, payload 0, sweep none,; 
Space Performance: Payload 0;

The battery lasts about 10 second, giving the top speed of 1000 kph upon impact.

 

[Carlobrand]

Remember the old Javelin of Lightning from D&D? I always had a picture in my head of it being held, hand cocked for a throw, and as it was thrown, the thing would crackle with energy, take off faster than the eye can follow, riding an arc of electricity straight to its target.

How could we duplicate a similar device in Traveller or near Traveller terms?

Nano-technology? Gravitic technology?

The thing is raised. The thumb hits a selections stud. And, it is thrown, normally, but as soon as it is aloft, the gravitic technology kicks in, humming this thing so fast at its target that it can pierce through the engine block of a ground vehicle.

It's a hand thrown rail gun.

Space opera.




How would you build it/justify it?

Me, I'm lazy. Why throw it when I can launch it out of an RPG-like affair?

However, I'm reminded of one of the Berserker stories: folk on a world with some temporal issues, sending remotely operated machines back in time to fight berserker monsters that had likewise been sent back in time to alter their history and render them vulnerable to attack in the future. In one case, the human-operated machine took back a bow and HEAP-tipped arrows and got valuable assistance from a local primitive.

If you're trying to arm a primitive with weapons he can handle with his existing skill set, than a javelin with a HEAP tip or jam-packed with uber-powerful electrical capacitors makes one impressive "magic" weapon. Heck of an impressive way to knock a mounted knight off a horse. If you're gonna have it accelerate after throw, then you also need to give it a little guidance system, 'cause the acceleration will otherwise confuse the thrower's aim unless he practices a lot with it to get used to that.

A thought is to use pressurized gas instead of a rocket for propulsion, set to trigger a second or so after the throwing motion. It'd be a magic-tech thing; I'm not sure you can really get enough thrust for what you want that way.

 

[Enoki]

If you think of it as a "super Taser" then all it is is a power source like batteries, a capacitor-like cell and voltage multiplier like a florescent light ballast coupled to a discharge point. You charge it up, throw it, and when it strikes a target it discharges a gazillion volts into whatever is hit.

 

[aramis]

If you think of it as a "super Taser" then all it is is a power source like batteries, a capacitor-like cell and voltage multiplier like a florescent light ballast coupled to a discharge point. You charge it up, throw it, and when it strikes a target it discharges a gazillion volts into whatever is hit.

At which point, you may be better off with a laser-taser. (Instead of wires, it shoots two lasers to create a plasma guide which you arc the current through.)

 

[Supplement Four]

I'm thinking a space opera type lance. You throw it like a normal javelin, but as soon as it leaves your hand, the internal (micro) drive takes over and slams it home. Like a two stage rocket, you throw it, and for a moment, it's at that speed, before it kicks into hypergear and soars off, breaking the sound barrier.

It could be a dedicated weapon of a warrior race, or something along those sorts.

 

[robject]

Okay, I've gotten two ideas from this thread. Thanks!

I'm thinking a space opera type lance. You throw it like a normal javelin, but as soon as it leaves your hand, the internal (micro) drive takes over and slams it home. Like a two stage rocket, you throw it, and for a moment, it's at that speed, before it kicks into hypergear and soars off, breaking the sound barrier.

It could be a dedicated weapon of a warrior race, or something along those sorts.

First of all, I think this is interesting enough to see stats for. Here, you're thinking of a kind of manual-assist RPG or LAW rocket-type thing, but higher TL, so more energy, and not a typical rocket motor. Can we fit it into the OTU? Sonic speeds at short range could be devastating for a kinetic payload. But energy payloads can get you secondary effects -- EMP or radiation damage, for example, good against Zhodani warbots?

If you're trying to arm a primitive with weapons he can handle with his existing skill set, than a javelin with a HEAP tip or jam-packed with uber-powerful electrical capacitors makes one impressive "magic" weapon. Heck of an impressive way to knock a mounted knight off a horse. If you're gonna have it accelerate after throw, then you also need to give it a little guidance system, 'cause the acceleration will otherwise confuse the thrower's aim unless he practices a lot with it to get used to that.

Secondly, I think putting HEAP charges on a plain 'old bow and arrow is inspired for arming low tech local militia.

 

[Enoki]

At which point, you may be better off with a laser-taser. (Instead of wires, it shoots two lasers to create a plasma guide which you arc the current through.)

That would be one variant. The Javelin acts as a lightning rod for discharge of a huge voltage from a worn pack etc. The second is that it is self contained.
Either way, you are correct, it would be pretty silly to use something thrown by hand to do this versus the commonly known Taser or something like it unless your intent was to render the target incapacitated. Even then the Taser is more compact.

 

[aramis]

Got to thinking about S4's "Grav Jav"... and realizing that it should have another mode: hang-on mode. For use in Zero-G - it's the infamous "Commander's Hook" of Ender's Game... a gravitic maneuvering unit for towing oneself about. The dirtside use as a grav-assisted projectile is a bonus...

 

[Supplement Four]

Got to thinking about S4's "Grav Jav"... and realizing that it should have another mode: hang-on mode. For use in Zero-G - it's the infamous "Commander's Hook" of Ender's Game... a gravitic maneuvering unit for towing oneself about. The dirtside use as a grav-assisted projectile is a bonus...

Neat idea, Wil. And, I like the term "grav-jav".

I've also thought more about it. The weapon could also vibrate so fast that it will drill into things--not unlike the various "vibro-weapons" we see in some scifi rpgs, like Star Wars.

In this mode, the weapon is used as a melee weapon--like the spear was used in the gladiator pits of Rome. Except that the weapon itself is made of some ultra-dense, high tech, carbo-whatever. Turn on the vibro function, and the weapon is held with two hands, with the end vibrating so fast that it cannot be seen to do so with the naked eye. You just hear this hum.

Hold it up to cinder blocks, and it will punch through, throwing dust everywhere, with minimal effort.

As a melee weapon, it is devastating.

Truly the specialized weapon of the Zerk Warriors from Trantus.

 

[Blue Ghost]

Heh, I always think of the shoulder mounted anti-tank guided rocket when I hear Javelin.

Don't mind me. Just thought I'd share.

 

[Enoki]

Now, if you just want vicious a bit less techy but doable is a hand thrown (or bow and arrow version) guided missile. The "javelin" is powered and has one or another sort of homing technology included. It could use kinetic energy or a chemical (explosive) warhead, even one like HEAT.
You get a lock with the seeker on the target and this thing will follow around corners, etc., (maybe with some limits on maneuverability) until it hits.

 

[robject]

Neat idea, Wil. And, I like the term "grav-jav".

I've also thought more about it. The weapon could also vibrate so fast that it will drill into things--not unlike the various "vibro-weapons" we see in some scifi rpgs, like Star Wars.

In this mode, the weapon is used as a melee weapon--like the spear was used in the gladiator pits of Rome. Except that the weapon itself is made of some ultra-dense, high tech, carbo-whatever. Turn on the vibro function, and the weapon is held with two hands, with the end vibrating so fast that it cannot be seen to do so with the naked eye. You just hear this hum.

Hold it up to cinder blocks, and it will punch through, throwing dust everywhere, with minimal effort.

As a melee weapon, it is devastating.

Truly the specialized weapon of the Zerk Warriors from Trantus.

This thing is turning into a Swiss Army Chainsaw!


How about two different weapons, then? One is the grav hook, which is a gravitic weapon but also can be spread to provide thrust.

The other is the vibro-pike of which you speak.

 

[Ulsyus]

Coming in late...

S4, great idea, though you've sparked some thought that's coalesced around an idea I had for a Plasma Grenade. I only had the name before, nothing solid.

So, the user indicates a target with the thing, the internal processor marks the target and locks on. The user throws the grenade, the onboard grav unit zips it into close proximity (T5 R2 to R1) and the thing goes off.

BUT, it's a one-shot plasma blast that the unit aims at the target, the equivalent of a PG or FG from that TL.

As good as a PGMP or FGMP? No, but it will fire around corners, and can be used by troops not in battle dress.