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From: kay@warwick.UUCP (Kay Dekker)
Newsgroups: net.games.frp
Subject: Re: Using a light spell as a laser
Message-ID: <2387@flame.warwick.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 25-Nov-85 12:42:06 EST
Article-I.D.: flame.2387
Posted: Mon Nov 25 12:42:06 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 27-Nov-85 05:43:38 EST
References: <6700005@uiucdcsp> <938@udenva.UUCP> <> <880@nmtvax.UUCP>
Reply-To: kay@flame.UUCP (Kay Dekker)
Organization: VLSI Group, Warwick University, UK
Lines: 29
Xpath: warwick flame flame ubu

In article <880@nmtvax.UUCP> wildstar@nmtvax.UUCP (Andrew Fine) writes:
>Could anyone give me some suggestions for play restrictions on the use of
>this device?

Yep.  Restrict it (for a start) to a society with a tech. level sufficient
to allow 1) Optical-quality polishing 2) half-silvering and 3) production
of optically-pure corundum and the ability to form it into rods.

Given that 3) requires rather a lot of know-how and energy (oxy-hydrogen
flame for fusing the stuff - this is how they produce synthetic corundum
rods - can't remember the name of the process)  I suggest you need around
an equvalent Earth year technology figure of about 1950.  1) and 2) are
rather easier, but still not simple.

This assumes you are doing it by the good ole sweat-of-yer-brow techniques,
rather than magic.  If you have a magical society, then there's very little
I can suggest apart from considering the effect that such a device would
have on your society: you can't have that sort of thing lying around all
over and expect to keep a quasi-mediaeval society for long.

Basically, I'd forget it: the thing's just too damn powerful (but there again
if it's a D&D (TM) campaign, that shouldn't stop anyone).

							Kay.
-- 
"Be careful: the system is complex and chaotic, though it
 has many attractive features..."
				_The Pot-holes of the Yorkshire Moors_
				... mcvax!ukc!warwick!flame!kay