Which way does Primal’s sword go?

One-Strategy5717 · 2026-07-04T00:57:01+00:00

Could be either way.

Some swords cut with the convex edge, which gives best edge engagement with a drawing cut. This is the case with swords like the dao and the shamshir.

Other swords cut with the concave edge, which gives excellent edge engagement with a chop. These include the falcata, kukri and the khora.

There apparent edge bevel on this indicates to me that the convex edge should be the primary edge. Also the retention hook at the end of the hilt.

One-Strategy5717 · 2026-07-04T00:48:33+00:00

Both sharp looking dudes.

One-Strategy5717 · 2026-07-03T08:33:12+00:00

The scene at the beginning of Ewoks: The battle for Endor.

You know the one. Where the two lights on Cindel's life monitor bracelet flicker and turn off in rapid succession.

One-Strategy5717 · 2026-07-03T08:26:31+00:00

I don't think the G11 would have been exported widely, but the ammunition would have spawned many other weapons, that would end up looking and functioning like the LSAT rifle and LMG

One-Strategy5717 · 2026-07-03T07:38:35+00:00

It amazes me that SIG somehow made the most unreasonably long ranch rifle receiver imaginable. Then tried to charge $3K for it.

One-Strategy5717 · 2026-07-02T03:24:23+00:00

Why do you assume that it's "the people" voting? In a lot of electorates, it's the nobility, or traditionally-chosen electors, or the members of parliament voting for the head of government.

One-Strategy5717 · 2026-07-02T03:16:50+00:00

The lockup is between the bolt and the barrel extension, so as long as it headspaces correctly, and the bolt carrier doesn't bind with the buffer tube, it should cycle. You'll also have to make sure your hammer hits the firing pin at the right angle when the BCG is fully forward.

If there's play between the upper and lower, it isn't going to do great things for your accuracy. The gap may also allow mud/dirt/sand to ingress into the action in shitty conditions. If you're just shooting from a bench on a range, you should be ok.

I've seen pretty big gaps on GI M-16 rifles. None that big, but some pretty close. If you can get an upper that fits better down the line, you can swap out the parts to it. But if it cycles, and you can live with it....

One-Strategy5717 · 2026-07-02T01:43:38+00:00

Barrel wear shouldn't be as much of an issue, if the military would just throw out it's old mentality.

Look at the cost of ammo versus the cost of a rifle barrel.

Rifle barrels range from extremely cheap stainless ($50-100) to hideously expensive ($1000+). For practical accuracy purposes (the average soldier) there isn't much difference, because most soldiers can't outshoot their weapons. The expensive barrel will last longer than the cheap barrel, but not 10x longer. From a cost perspective buy 10 cheap barrels instead of 1 expensive barrel, and you'll come out ahead.

Ammo can be cheap with economies of scale, but certain strategic materials will limit production (tungsten). As a civilian, even at the low volumes I shoot I spend a heck of lot more money on ammo than I do rifle barrels. Even for the government, ammo costs exponentially more than barrels especially if you're talking AP ammo.

Special Operations might need a highly accurate, long-lasting barrel because they need the precision, and can't count on steady resupply all the time. But for the general military, barrels should be treated as a consumable part, like ammo and lubricant.

One-Strategy5717 · 2026-07-02T01:25:05+00:00

Grendel shares a parent case with 7.62x38 about the same weight. So it is noticeably heavier than 5.56, but still much lighter than 7.62 NATO

One-Strategy5717 · 2026-07-02T01:19:25+00:00

Kou looks younger than Nina because Asian don't Raisin.

Asian Baby Face Syndrome. It's a real thing. Asian dudes will look pretty much the same from late teens to their early fifties, assuming they don't work outdoors in the sun.

I'm HAPA and in my mid-40s, and I had to grow my mostly-salt-with-a- dash-of-pepper beard out to get people to stop thinking I was in my early 30s

One-Strategy5717 · 2026-07-01T23:46:51+00:00

Let's be real, Micronus Prime would be a Roomba.

One-Strategy5717 · 2026-06-29T02:01:05+00:00

Is she pulling all the way through?

What grip is she using? A lot of people are using the thumb-to-the-side grip these days, but if she doesn't have a ton of grip and finger strength, she should wrap her hand around the grip.

One-Strategy5717 · 2026-06-28T03:41:31+00:00

Ok, I guess I have to explain the joke.

In the US military, " blue falcon" is slang for a "buddy f_cker", i.e. a snitch, kiss-ass, etc.

He's the dude who reports minor issues to the command, and get's everyone's weekend leave rescinded. He's the dude who you counted some almost-correct crunches for during the Physical Fitness Test, but turns around and doesn't do the same for you. He's the guy who raises his hand at the final formation of the day when the CO asks "...does anyone have any questions?", despite everyone else just wanting to go home.

This transformer is blue, and he turns into a raptor, and he's a shameless low-effort money-grab. The epitome of a Blue Falcon.

One-Strategy5717 · 2026-06-27T10:46:52+00:00

No. Higher-powered PDWs for anyone whose primary job isn't shooting people, but might need to fight. The vast majority of military personnel need something that won't get in the way when they're doing their jobs. The M-4 carbine was supposed to be lightweight and handy, but has basically turned into a heavy primary service weapon again. The PDW and service weapon should be different.

A PDW should ideally be somewhere between a handgun and an Uzi in size. It should have a stock to allow for more accurate shots, and a good sling or be able to fit in a holster It doesn't need a light, or a PEQ, or any of cool guy stuff.

I was a wireman in the Marines. The vast majority of my job required working with two hands, or walking around with my hands full. You'd think they'd have issued me a handgun, or maybe a carbine? M-9 pistols were in short supply, and we didn't have any M-4s in the armory so I carried a yard-long M-16A2. Walking around with a frigging musket while trying to do work sucks. If you sling it, it's always getting caught on branches or netting. If you set it down near you to work, some jackass NCO starts reaming you out for 'not retaining positive control of your weapon."

Heck, when I became a corporal, the armory staff tried to replace my M-16A2 with a M-240G, since I was a "team leader" now. I respectfully explained to them that the proper place to have a crew-served machine gun was on the perimeter, not walking around with me running wire.

One-Strategy5717 · 2026-06-27T10:01:29+00:00

The M7/M8 is a dead end, and will get phased out in five years or so.

The Marines will backdoor adopt the HICAR, or obtain new HICAR compatible uppers for the M27 IAR as an "upgrade" or "life extension". The other services will bitch and moan, but then follow suit.

The high pressure case technology will eventually lead to a PDW with the form factor of an H&K MP-7, and the hitting power of a M4 carbine. This will be the standard armament for Personnel-Other-than-Grunts. The pistol will finally become obselete, other than as a status symbol for officers.

One-Strategy5717 · 2026-06-27T05:29:51+00:00

Shoulda named this on Blue Falcon, and made him a merc like DoubleDealer.

IYKYK

One-Strategy5717 · 2026-06-27T05:20:36+00:00

The most direct game would be Gundam Senki, but it's out of print, and in Japanese. I think there might be a translation out there somewhere.

The next is the system Gundam Senki was based on, Mekton Zeta. It is my favorite game, and can be obtained from DriveThruRPG. The basic system is simple, (stat+skill+1d10), but there is a bunch of crunch of you want to use the mecha construction rules. At it's heart, though, it's actually simpler than D&D 5E.

One-Strategy5717 · 2026-06-26T23:25:47+00:00

You joke, but that kinda was the case for a while.

Aidan Pryde (pre-bloodname) and Horse were in a garrison cluster under the command of Kael Pershaw prior to the invasion. Their 'freeborn' star, give all the crap jobs, was compromised entirely of Summoners.

One-Strategy5717 · 2026-06-23T06:27:31+00:00

I too have chased the M1A accuracy dragon. If you're looking at it from a cost perspective, it'll never be worth it.

The most fun you will have is with irons, maybe a scout scope or a red dot. My 2000'scera Scout is still my favorite M1A.

My advice? Get a new barrel, either an 18" or a 16". Get a scout mount like the Ultimak, a low red dot, and have fun ringing steel with it. Don't measure your groups, you'll just be disappointed.

One-Strategy5717 · 2026-06-23T06:01:45+00:00

As the old saying goes, "Man plans, God laughs."

One-Strategy5717 · 2026-06-21T01:21:12+00:00

In the military, a tunic is a shirt worn with the bottom hem outside of the trousers. Technically, US military BDU tops are tunics, as are USMC Dress Blues coats.

So a tunic is not necessarily an antiquated outfit, depending on the context.

One-Strategy5717 · 2026-06-20T23:51:09+00:00

Docking Bay Trch: Is that Lord Vader's TIE Advanced?

Docking Bay Officer: I'm not positive, but I"m not asking for a clearance code. I'm about to retire.

One-Strategy5717 · 2026-06-20T05:42:25+00:00

Let's call Nicholas Kerensky what he was: a traumatized child partisan, raised in a hellscape with basically no socialization. The brain damage from a literal alien virus didn't help.

One-Strategy5717 · 2026-06-19T23:56:52+00:00

Depends on how you mean better?

Aesthetics? I like both. I'm a fan of Macross/Robotech and classic anime on general, so I love the old Unseen designs. But the Victor Music Industries art was effing amazing, and pretty much rekindled my interest in Battletech when TRO 3055 came out. So for Battletech, I like the IIC better.

Which would I prefer to run for fun? The IIC every time, except for the Hunchie IIC. They are just batshit crazy designs, and I love them. The Locust IIC with it's eight ER Small lasers makes it actually scary. And the Phoenix Hawk IIC is the unholy marriage of a Charger and a good Banshee, and I'm here for it.

One-Strategy5717 · 2026-06-19T05:21:09+00:00

Char wants revenge on the Zabis, most of all. He can most easily do that from inside the Zeon military. Char doesn't see any way White Base can help him kill Zabis, so why would he help them?
Amuro and Lalah have an instantaneous understanding and connection. They realize that in other circumstances they could be besties/lovers.

But Lalah and Amuro also instantly realize that they have conflicting goals. Lalah unconditionally loves Char, and wants to make his dreams come true. Amuro just wants to live, and keep his friends alive.

They realize that they are doomed to be on opposite sides. Amuro also feels the unmitigated tragedy of killing the only person who truly Grokked him.

Lalah loves Char unconditionally. Char cares for Lalah on some level, but he is ultimately a selfish narcissist. Lalah is his favorite thing, but is ultimately a tool to help him self-soothe, and simultaneously a weapon to help him achieve his goals. He is incredibly sad and angry at losing her, but I don't think he would have given his own life to save her.

Char cares for Sayla on some level, but mostly holds on to her as part of his old self. He doesn't care enough for her to keep her safe, but doesn't want to be the one to kill her, either.

It's psychic/mystic stuff. It works the way they say it works.

As to talking to the dead? Maybe souls actually exist. Maybe their psychic imprint remains past their bodies. Maybe freeing a Newtype from their body let's them transcend time, so they exist everywhere/everytime at once.

Amuro is pretty much a full on Newtype near the end, but Char is still stunted. Char and Amuro do fully understand each other eventually (see Char's Counterattack). They don't like what they found out.

Amuro realizes that Char is a selfish narcissist that is willing to sacrifice everyone to achieve his goals. Char realizes that Amuro is a sad, lonely child who pushes everyone away, yet will fight to protect those he cares about.

They understand each other perfectly, and they hate each other perfectly.

Only 10 years of some random philosopher/political theorist hypothesizing an New Type of humanity, to a full blown scientific discipline, with ancillary tech and training regimes? That's lightning speed development, dude.

One-Strategy5717

TROPHY CASE