|
|
Post by madmorgan on Dec 31, 2018 11:37:24 GMT
One of the things that occurred to me recently is the supply of Martian metal for their various machines. From Assault to lowly lobototon, there has to be a finite supply of metal they could bring with them. One of two things answer this. The first is a cop out - they can make it from earth materials. The second is far more fun - that they have to periodically recover destroyed machines to resupply this material. This leads to all kinds of interesting scenarios as human forces race the Martians to recover downed machines of all types (even Lobos have some metal circuits).
Scouts units backing old Gatherer units would be the typical Martian force, whilst human forces would need backhoes and dump trucks (or plain old human pickup teams and trucks) to gather the metal.
Now we have another use for that destroyed drone figure in resin! A unit of 3 of those would become a major battle in some cases. Just more food for thought.
|
|
|
|
Post by scottwashburn on Dec 31, 2018 12:40:06 GMT
I dispensed with the idea of a unique 'Martian Metal' in my books. The idea that there could be some element on Mars that was unknown on Earth is contrary to what we know about how a solar system forms. Instead I assumed that the 'Martian Metal' was made of common elements, but processed in some way that the humans haven't been able to figure out.
Still, I like the idea of salvage missions. Even without an absolute need to salvage the metal, it would still appeal to the tidy and thrifty Martians to do so--and for the humans to try and stop them.
|
|
|
|
Post by boxholder on Dec 31, 2018 16:38:35 GMT
Humans would covet the wreckage for analysis and testing. It might contain traces of catalysts or artefacts of processing that might guide development efforts. From one description, it sounds like the material might be condensed from vapor phase to crystallize it. Or maybe ...
|
|
|
|
Post by hardlec on Dec 31, 2018 23:41:12 GMT
Whether or not the alloy is unique to Mars, humans and Martians will be eager to recover destroyed tripods.
Humans will want to do experiments on Martians and Martian technology.
Martians will also want to examine human technology.
|
|
|
|
Post by bilko991 on Jan 1, 2019 11:15:24 GMT
I like the idea of the Martians having a unique metal or method of processing a metal not known to humans. It gave me the idea of an improvised 2nd generation of Martian tripods being forced to use less advanced metals once the supply of Martian metals they brought with them was exhausted. I was thinking of representing this by painting the 2nd generation tripods a different colour, dark steel or something, and having them rust and corrode. I want them to looked rushed and disposable in a way the 1st generation don't. For me it would just be for the look and story opportunities but it could have fun rules too. Maybe once a Martian settlement reaches a large enough size it can start processing true Martian metal again. Until then they have to lower themselves and use lesser human metals  Martians trying to recover destroyed tripods form an old battlefield would be a fun scenario... maybe even a specialised recovery tripod? I had a second thought for 2nd generation tripods adapted for desert/hot climates. For these I want to paint them a bone colour. Its a good excuse to come up with different colour schemes! |
|
|
|
Post by hardlec on Jan 1, 2019 18:51:07 GMT
I had never considered if Martians had paint or not.
There really aren't more advanced metals, as metals are elements and universal.
Martians will have new alloys, and there are new processes unknown to humans. Humans are still trying to reverse engineer the Martian power source. Martian s will be looking to develop better ways to protect themselves from projectile weapons, and humans will be building better projectile weapons. Humans will also be looking to invent better "heat shields."
|
|
|
|
Post by boxholder on Jan 1, 2019 22:57:15 GMT
While it is true that that there are not "advanced metals," the alloys can be pretty exotic. Modern alloys are a far cry from good old cast iron, by just by mixing in other metals and elements. And performing different thermal and mechanical processing can create dramatically different and better properties, depending on what is desired. There are tremendous numbers of subtleties that make metallurgical science a lively field of study even today.
As Mr Washburn observed, all of the rocky planets evidently condensed from a more or less common dust cloud. So they would be expected to have a very similar overall composition. The differences in location, size, and composition of the ore bodies would be altered over time by the local planetary geological conditions that mix or concentrate the ore components.
|
|
|
|
Post by madmorgan on Jan 2, 2019 2:11:29 GMT
okay, scott has pretty much squashed the 'martian metal' concept - however, as pointed out, salvage missions are still on for the numerous reasons mentioned above. I'll put out a couple of scenarios soon.
|
|
Martians trying to recover destroyed tripods form an old battlefield would be a fun scenario... maybe even a specialised recovery tripod?