Tribes Universe Weapon and Armor Descriptions

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\pard\keepn\s5\qc\i\f1\fs96 TRIBES Universe\par
\pard\qc\b0\i0\f0\fs28 Weapon & Armor Descriptions\par
\b Blake Hutchins\par
Dave Meddish\par
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With special thanks to\par
Eric Lowe, N. David Griffin, and Tyler Frans\par
\lang1024\b0\fs36 February 7, 2000\lang1033\par
\fs20 Sierra, Dynamix \f2\'d3\f0  1999\par
Proprietary and Confidential\par
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The purpose of this document is to describe in greater detail the weapons and common technology of the tribal part of the TRIBES Universe.\par
\page\ul TABLE OF CONTENTS\par
\pard\sb240\sa120\tqr\tx8630\lang1024\ulnone\b\fs20 Introduction 3\par
Nanotechnology (Entek) 5\par
\pard\li480\tqr\tx8630\b0 The Five Limits 6\par
Entek Roles 7\par
\pard\sb240\sa120\tqr\tx8630\b ENERGY GENERATION 9\par
\pard\li480\tqr\tx8630\b0 Fusion 9\par
Solar 9\par
\pard\sb240\sa120\tqr\tx8630\b SENSORS 9\par
COMMUNICATIONS 10\par
\pard\li480\tqr\tx8630\b0 Hyperweb Coherent Antipodal Relay (HCAR or \ldblquote hypercast\rdblquote ) 10\par
Quantum-Reed Transcomm (\ldblquote Q-Reed,\rdblquote  \ldblquote Q-R,\rdblquote  or \ldblquote squirt\rdblquote ) 10\par
Mail packets 11\par
\pard\sb240\sa120\tqr\tx8630\b WEAPONRY 11\par
\pard\li480\tqr\tx8630\b0 FIREARMS 12\par
MELEE WEAPONS 19\par
\pard\sb240\sa120\tqr\tx8630\b ARMOR 22\par
\pard\li480\tqr\tx8630\b0 Engineering Basics 23\par
Control Systems 24\par
Optiks 24\par
Command Circuit 24\par
Strength Augmentation 25\par
Shields 25\par
Life Support 27\par
Energy 27\par
Jets and Gravitics 28\par
The Warharness 29\par
Donning and Removing Armor 29\par
Maintenance 30\par
The Skinsuit 32\par
Design Philosophy 32\par
\pard\sb240\sa120\tqr\tx8630\b ANTI-GRAVITY (T-GRAV) 33\par
MATERIALS & CONSTRUCTION 33\par
\pard\li480\tqr\tx8630\b0 Anti-Kinetic Steel (AKS) 33\par
Bioplas 33\par
Cerapolymer 34\par
Crys 34\par
Parasteel 35\par
Stahlplast 35\par
Metaplas 35\par
Peren-diamond 35\par
\pard\sb240\sa120\tqr\tx8630\b BIOTECH 36\par
\pard\li480\tqr\tx8630\b0 Implants 36\par
Breeding and Eugenics 36\par
MEDICAL APPLICATIONS 36\par
\pard\sb240\sa120\tqr\tx8630\b CYBERNETICS 37\par
\pard\li480\tqr\tx8630\b0 Implants and Limb Replacement 37\par
Immortal Brains 38\par
\pard\sb240\sa120\tqr\tx8630\b COMPUTERS 38\par
\pard\li480\tqr\tx8630\b0 Typical Computers 38\par
Datashards 39\par
Slicing 39\par
Synthralls 39\par
\pard\sb240\sa120\tqr\tx8630\b "WEAPONSMITH" TRIBES 40\par
\pard\li480\tqr\tx8630\b0 The Sabot-Styx 40\par
The Forge of Hephaestus 41\par
The Daughters of Iron 42\par
\pard\sb240\sa120\tqr\tx8630\b HERCS 42\par
\pard\li480\tqr\tx8630\b0 Tactical Role 42\par
Mobility 43\par
Anti-Herc Weaponry 43\par
\pard\sb240\sa120\tqr\tx8630\b Conclusion 43\par
\pard\lang1033\b0\fs24\par
\pard\shading2000\keepn\s1\sb240\sa60\kerning28\b\fs28 Introduction\par
\pard\li1440\ri1440\qj\kerning0\fs24 To the Honored Dottore-Illuminatus,\par
Danladi Haroun-Nicanor:\par
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Danli, here at last is the report you requested summarizing the current state of tribal technology. My apologies for not compiling it earlier, but extreme circumstances prevented me from attending to it in a timelier manner. As it happens, however, the delays allowed me time to discover answers to several additional items not contemplated in the original report.\par
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Before I begin, let me note the assistance of a pair of very helpful tribal warrior-scholars I befriended during my journey with Sous-Legate Panderson several months ago: Inquisitor Nabterayl and Priestess IshM\rquote lak (yes, the titles are somewhat quaint, I know) of the tribe calling itself the Sons of Thunder. Without their insights, much of the information on the tribal armors would have been woefully incomplete.\par
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Now, please allow me to offer a few introductory comments before you move on to the meat of this report. Danli, I must stress that tribal technology is a mix of the old and the new. It incorporates sparkling innovations with recycled concepts. Compared to the Empire, of course, the so-called \ldblquote Tribes of Man\rdblquote  use antiquated, even primitive technologies, and our officers openly disdain the \ldblquote barbarians.\rdblquote  However, such prejudices sorely underestimate the flexibility and effectiveness of tribal engineering. The weapons and armors used by tribal warriors proved deadly enough when directed at our garrisons in the Kepler system, and the veterans of that campaign no longer scoff at the prospect of facing tribal warriors on the battlefield.\par
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Though most tribes no longer follow any semblance of a nomadic lifestyle, they remain highly mobile within their territories, and this mobility provides the key to their military strategy. Thus, tribal technology remains relatively portable and easy to maintain. The freedom and self-reliance valued in the wilderzone\rquote s frontier atmosphere make durability and practicality primary design goals in any tribal device.\par
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Aesthetic concerns also occupy an important place in tribal design. Many weapons and most armors will feature decoration pertinent to a particular tribe\rquote s customs and history. Most notable in this regard are the Children of Phoenix, who take great pride in their brightly polished and engraved armors, but the Starwolf are also famous for the elaborate patterns carved in the hardwood stocks of their blasters. The Diamond Sword favor a Spartan but elegant look, and the Blood Eagle opt for drama with a more pragmatic - some would say secular - appearan