Quote:
Originally Posted by Kaijo
It's very very smart to remove options from your police force. More options = better ability to respond to each unique situation. So yes, firearms can only kill, and as was stated in dozens of posts (not only mine), magic can kill as well, but can also stun, pass through various materials, be tuned for various effects, bind, capture, shield, put out fires, protect from various gases, fly, etc.
|
I don't think anyone is advocating a wholesale replacement of magic with guns, so most of your shot here is a red herring. But for specific points.
Stunning is usual, but it also has limitations. The evidence suggests that it is more of an incremental improvement on our "less-lethal" stuff than something that is inherently non-lethal. And like real "less lethal" rounds, magical rounds are slow - in fact, it is harder to make them non-lethal as they get faster, just like real rounds.
Pass through various materials. Well, if you have AOE capability or Windelshaft. The average mage will still have to do it the old fashion way.
Be tuned for various effects. Sometimes, but again something not really available to the rank and file.
Bind, OK. Capture is kind of like bind.
Shield, OK, but we are going from offensive applications to defensive.
Put out fires ... another rare one as far as can be seen. Most are still relying on those ridiculous puff puff extinguishers.
Protect from various gases. Yes, they have proven to have limited NBC capability, but only if they are prepared. Unlike a gas suit, if they are hit by a sudden attack, they'll die before they can adapt.
Fly, OK though that's a medium rare, and you forgot heal.
As something for the
gendarmie magic is pretty nice. As something for operations closer to the military end of the spectrum, in comparison to even our own rounds (let alone something that an interdimensional civilization can dream up), they lack speed, range and in an environment that uses magic as well, concealment.