GATE - Light Novel Discussion

[Renegade334]

Phosphorus naturally reacts with oxygen (the natural glow given by a phosphorescent object is a sign of this reaction), so when you set a WP-enhanced bomb ablaze, particles of burning WP will increase the incendiary effect, consume a great amount of oxygen (possibly fanning the flames while asphyxiating human targets) and inflict third-degree burns on bystanders. Once the phosphorus seeps into your bloodstream through your wounds, organ poisoning begins.

[vincent_marata07]

What happen to Itami in the 3rd gaiden and spoiler for this story?

http://i.imgur.com/51gVYjI.jpg

[ZeKeR]

he got conscripted voluntarily became a dragon knight

[Top Sergeant]

Originally Posted by Renegade334

More specifically, Protocol III states that they cannot be used on civilians AND military installations with (many) civvies in close proximity. Isolated military bases and troops moving throughout the countryside should legally be fair game, though some people would still frown at the use of Napalm (even more so if it's Napalm that uses white phosphorus, which is also considered an inhumane weapon) because of the bad reputation the substance gathered throughout the 20th century (esp. in Vietnam).

White phosphorus is exempted from that ban, as it states its incendiary effect is secondary, its primary being immediate smoke, and it is classified as a smoke shell. That goes for WP grenades as well.

Now the Empire might have Greek Fire, and use magic as a means of delivery. That would be nasty.

[Breimoon]

would greek fire even work on modern ways to stop fire?What do they use there in japan?

[ZeKeR]

isnt Greek fire simply really thick oil that continued to burn even on the water?

since there is magic inbound, I guess the empire could employ a cadre of combat magicians and afaik the usual norm for magicians in fantasy would be elemental and high level like time stop or world altering. i mean even the wizards would have a council in magical warfare, right? if put with equal atrocities, then high level curses, anything that taps into edritch knowledge as well as dark arts will automatically get them the boot AND probably, the general populace in Japan would be like Bush's great rolling war machine.

[Renegade334]

Originally Posted by Top Sergeant

White phosphorus is exempted from that ban, as it states its incendiary effect is secondary, its primary being immediate smoke, and it is classified as a smoke shell. That goes for WP grenades as well.

Please re-read what I wrote. I'm talking about Napalm and Napalm-B (some manufacturers use WP- or thermite-based mixtures to help ignite Napalm-B), not standalone WP weapons.

Originally Posted by ZeKeR

isnt Greek fire simply really thick oil that continued to burn even on the water?

As for Greek Fire, it is widely believed to have been a petroleum derivative but the exact and complete formula (only portions of it remain, IIRC) has been lost since the fall of the Byzantine empire. It could indeed float and burn on water; some accounts even suggest that pouring water on it actually boosted the fire (possibly because the recipe included quicklime, which releases heat upon contact with water through an exothermic reaction) instead of quenching it.



The problem with imagining a hypothetical response from the Empire is that there are things that have literally disappeared from the narrative, leaving us with a lot of what-ifs. For example, the first chapter showed the Empire using orcs/goblins on the frontlines (probably for shock and awe or to serve as cannon fodder for the human legions), as well as dragon riders. But now they're nowhere to be seen even though they might've been an important facet of Imperial warfare. A possible Watsonian explanation for this discrepancy would be that the JSDF massacred them all while reconquering Ginza and protecting Alnus, and the Empire eventually had no more of these assets to fling at the gate. The extradiegetic explanation is that the author simply completely forgot about them and concentrated on other stuff. Just like how Leilei's magical replication of modern world weaponry/science fell by the wayside in favor of other plot lines.

So I'm not sure the author will explore the wizard approach even if it is plausible in-universe; right now he seems more interested in writing about the Empire citizens gawking at our technology and getting cold chills.

[Kamui04]

Originally Posted by ZeKeR

since there is magic inbound, I guess the empire could employ a cadre of combat magicians and afaik the usual norm for magicians in fantasy would be elemental and high level like time stop or world altering. i mean even the wizards would have a council in magical warfare, right? if put with equal atrocities, then high level curses, anything that taps into edritch knowledge as well as dark arts will automatically get them the boot AND probably, the general populace in Japan would be like Bush's great rolling war machine.

But as shown during Lelei's explanation of her advances with her master Kato. It's shown the other world magicians only amount to lower magic. And anything they can do is already surpassed by ancient technology like catapults and crossbows.

Originally Posted by Renegade334

Just like how Leilei's magical replication of modern world weaponry/science fell by the wayside in favor of other plot lines.

So I'm not sure the author will explore the wizard approach even if it is plausible in-universe; right now he seems more interested in writing about the Empire citizens gawking at our technology and getting cold chills.

An explanation of why Lelei hasn't "shown" more advances of magic + modern understanding or why she hasn't spread it is explained in spoilers previously given in this thread. But it seems it'll talked about some more later in the story. But to put it simply it's a matter of status quo and akin to what Sugawara said about chaos from flooding our world with the Empire's gold.

[Top Sergeant]

Originally Posted by Renegade334

Please re-read what I wrote. I'm talking about Napalm and Napalm-B (some manufacturers use WP- or thermite-based mixtures to help ignite Napalm-B), not standalone WP weapons.

Apologies!

About greek fire:

I recall an experimental science show where they were trying to recreate greek fire. They tried several formulas and none of which were wholly successful. I remember one they used included beeswax, and that had a very nasty tendency to throw itself around like boiling grease.

[Direwolf18]

Greek fire is one of those things, we know they had it, we know it worked, we just have NO IDEA how they did it.

We can create things that replicate Greek Fire but its just an imitation, a different way of doing the same thing.

[Netto Azure]

I just managed to stumble upon this gem today. I feel saddened that I can't read moonrunes, cuz otherwise I'd import the original novel format. It seems more detailed.

Anyways, from what I've read, it seems to hit the right notes to get me giddy all right.

[GenesiD]

I am interested in this. Does it have any tragic elements?

[Okashira]

Originally Posted by GenesiD

I am interested in this. Does it have any tragic elements?

This is pretty tame on that sense. Some characters have "tragedy" as their background (we even see it happen), but that never takes the center stage.

[aohige]

Rory's past is a tragic one, but it won't get to it until the gaidens.
And then we have the bunny queen.

I still haven't read the latest gaiden, gotta get to it - been busy with so many games/novels recently, it's been collecting dust since arrival.

[Renegade334]

Ch.37 pre-loaded on the AP server:

Spoiler:

- Japanese prisoner is brought back to Alnus for treatment and repatriation.
- Influx of new citizens/refugees in Alnus, probably caused by the earthquake. The town is growing by leaps and bounds.
- The entire squad, off-duty, meets at the pavilion-bar/café, where Yanagida himself is taking a break. Sparks fly between him and Itami.
- At the imperial capital, the population is still busy taking stock of the damage. Prince Diabo takes Piña aside to discuss the matter of the JSDF and considers the idea of an alliance with Japan or at least the idea of some factions (led by Piña) joining up with the JSDF.
- Elsewhere, the rabbit princess, back in her room, reminisces about the humiliations that followed her country's capitulation and fantasizes about the Empire getting snuffed out by JSDF bombs. All the while talking to a one-eyed creep hiding under her bed.

[Dark Wing]

Originally Posted by Renegade334

Ch.37 pre-loaded on the AP server:

Spoiler:

- Japanese prisoner is brought back to Alnus for treatment and repatriation.
- Influx of new citizens/refugees in Alnus, probably caused by the earthquake. The town is growing by leaps and bounds.
- The entire squad, off-duty, meets at the pavilion-bar/café, where Yanagida himself is taking a break. Sparks fly between him and Itami.
- At the imperial capital, the population is still busy taking stock of the damage. Prince Zorza takes Piña aside to discuss the matter of the JSDF and considers the idea of an alliance with Japan or at least the idea of some factions (led by Piña) joining up with the JSDF.
- Elsewhere, the rabbit princess, back in her room, reminisces about the humiliations that followed her country's capitulation and fantasizes about the Empire getting snuffed out by JSDF bombs. All the while talking to a one-eyed creep hiding under her bed.

Is it me or dose it seem like this story is about to get kind of like game of thrones with the talk of secret alliances and back stabbing.

[Renegade334]

Whoops. Made a mistake, it's not Zorza, but Diabo (the long-haired prince from ch.36) I was referring to in my previous spoiler. I knew I should've re-checked his name before posting.

Fixed.

[Top Sergeant]

Wow, I hadn't expected the JGSDF to build a genuine looking Age of Reason star fort! This, coupled with the disparate nature of armaments, should pretty well defeat anything the Empire can throw against it (treachery and magic not withstanding, of course!). The crossfire they could bring to bear against any attackers trying to breach the walls would be pure murder.

[Hata]

Originally Posted by Top Sergeant

Wow, I hadn't expected the JGSDF to build a genuine looking Age of Reason star fort! This, coupled with the disparate nature of armaments, should pretty well defeat anything the Empire can throw against it (treachery and magic not withstanding, of course!). The crossfire they could bring to bear against any attackers trying to breach the walls would be pure murder.

Star (David) fort has its draw back, magic wise, as it would be apparent in novel book 4 and 5, but that is for later…

Spoiler:

Yanagida is not taking a break, he is meeting Itami there to treat him dinner because…. he owns him, but Itami instead shows up with the entire squadron.

probably will be made clear when translation is out.

[ZeKeR]

Originally Posted by Hata

Star (David) fort has its draw back, magic wise, as it would be apparent in novel book 4 and 5, but that is for later…

Spoiler:

Yanagida is not taking a break, he is meeting Itami there to treat him dinner because…. he owns him, but Itami instead shows up with the entire squadron.

probably will be made clear when translation is out.

star fort would also be easier to defend since if anything tries to attack a point, let alone try to get close from the gauntlet of 155's, mortars, preset mines and whatever the hell is in the walls to make it climb-proof (afaik base walls tend to be anti-destroyable from crashes as well as crashes with bombs), the entire point can simply be cordoned off assuming they actually even make it through. now this makes me think why are there no castles with star shaped wall design.

Yanagida's shtick reminded me during ROTC in which a Sergeant 'persuaded' a Corporal to treat him lunch. and him assuming a lightly armed recon team with Pz3's to say "we were just passing by when we happened to kill a huge ass fire dragon" will probably take a truckload of HEAT to utterly destroy it. if a single arm was blasted away, a single warhead wont really do much squat to a living breathing thing that has scales equivalent to tungsten for skin.