On Tue, 14 Jan 2003, David Silberstein wrote: > On Tue, 14 Jan 2003, Andrew Lias wrote: > > > > > Since the Dragons are the only ones I can see developing explosives > >technology in the first place, that would also explain why none of > >the other castes have utilized them. > > > > Well, the Vallista (engineering and mining) might find them useful. > > If Dragaerans know how to refine petroleum (per _Issola_), they > probably know enough about chemistry to know about explosive > substances. Even if they don't have gunpowder, they could > theoretically make firebombs and/or napalm from petroleum products. > > I am therefore more inclined to believe that there is a generic > sorcery for "inhibit certain uncontrolled chemical reactions", which > renders gunpowder & other physical explosives moot in battlefield > conditions. See above for (possibly specious) arguments against this. > > Another thought that occurred to me, by the way, is that there may be > certain rules and limitations on what sorts of methods may be used in > warfare, and there is an agreement (similar to our world's various > arms treaties on the use of chemical, biological and radioactive > materials) or moral convention simply not to use certain types of > weapons in warfare. I like this argument. On the other hand, why are rifles worse than sorcerous thunderbolts? And for that matter, what about Morrolan using a Morganti weapon on everyone in his path, even if they're mostly Teckla? On the other hand, since `Blackwand does what he says', maybe he doesn't destroy dozens/thousands of souls per battle. But no one knows for sure but him (and Verra?). - Philip