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Old Man

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  2. The cranky thread

    in Non-Gaming Discussion

    Posted

    Re: The cranky thread

     

    "people say you're unapproachable' date='" so I've gotten into the habit of sitting down, shutting up, answering people's questions as politely and promptly as I know how, and only giving my opinion when it's asked for.[/quote']

     

    Is this... backwards somehow? Anyway, you might consider goofing off more. Seriously. People don't know you, so they fear you. Trust me, I hate being social with many of my coworkers but I do it because in corporate Bizarro world, invisibility is a disadvantage.

  7. Tac-nukes vs. Nuclear Warheads

    in Star Hero

    Posted

    Re: Tac-nukes vs. Nuclear Warheads

     

    Note that, in real life, the damage mechanism varies according to yield. For very small yields, up to around 3 kt, most damage (to people) is the immediate radiation burst (as distinct from fallout). From there up to maybe 250kt the main damage mechanism is blast. Higher yields than that cause damage mainly from heat; a 20 MT warhead will probably combust everything flammable, and inflict 3rd degree burns, within about 15 miles (assuming a nominal airburst).

     

    Of course every warhead will give off blast, heat, prompt radiation, and fallout, but what changes is which effect is most powerful at the periphery of the effect. Obviously a very large warhead gives off more prompt radiation than a suitcase nuke, it's just that the heat is killing you further out than the radiation is.

  11. Musings on Random Musings

    in Non-Gaming Discussion

    Posted

    Re: Musings on Random Musings

     

    Well' date=' the axe does make it more difficult, for real compliance, thermite.[/quote']

     

    Thermite doesn't even qualify for secure disposal. As of 1998 (which was the last time it was my responsibility) the only two options were incineration, and pulverization. To fully comply you had to send the drive via expensive registered courier to an equally expensive company that would do the disposal for you.

     

    I think the most recent recent drives actually come with a built-in secure erase function in the firmware. But I'm pretty sure the standard for now is still incineration. (Or more likely, perpetual storage of old drives; that's what happens at quite a few of the federal installations we deal with.)

  21. What Fantasy/Sci-Fi book have you just finished? Please rate it...

    in Non-Gaming Discussion

    Posted

    Re: What Fantasy/Sci-Fi book have you just finished? Please rate it...

     

    Just finished China Miéville's Perdido Street Station. I see what the hype is about. The first 1/4 of the book was a bit slow, almost Gormenghast slow, though Miéville certainly is a master of descriptive, atmospheric writing. But once certain plot elements emerge, the book really takes off. This book would have rated a 10 except for the ending, which was a pointless failure. I'd give it an 8.9.

  23. D&D vs. FantasyHERO vs. Palladium

    in Fantasy Hero

    Posted

    Re: ~ All Out War~d&d Vs Hero Vs Palladium

     

    So ugh guys.... What about in a actual battle between 3 adventuring partys' date=' which party puts the smack down on the others? WHY?[/quote']

     

    Tough call. The FH party would by far be the most flexible. There is little they could not do, especially if they get to use VPPs. On top of that they could also be the most outright powerful in-game given that the system doesn't hold them back with restrictive class definitions and level restrictions.

     

    On the other hand, the Palladium/D&D party doesn't take STUN, probably can't be killed in one hit, and the Palladium party could probably cheat as well.

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