I love this post by dreamwa1ker. It's singing the same tune I usually hit when I'm ranting about vehicle/ship/military design. Unfortunately, none of my friends are into mecha/scifi/future technology design so I get rolled eyes a lot. It doesn't help that I'm showing a talent for drawing cute characters and not badass ships/vehicles.

I will have sketches and concept art to elaborate on these theories if I have free time tomorrow.

Basing future systems on archaic concepts.
1. Projectile Weapons in space.
2. Turrets
3. Giant Robots with hands? (see robot deviation I posted)
4. Up and Down
5. Naval similarities
6. Wings
7. Windows
8. Aerodynamics
9. Human Crew/Pilots
10. Armor Plating


1. Projectile Weapons in space.

Newton's 3rd law + microgravity + shooting a big cannon = no

Also, theoretically a ship with laser themed weapons could theoretically shoot at something for as far as the laser reaches: Which travels at the speed of light. So if it had a powerful enough targeting computer it could shoot at something from Earth and hit something near the sun in 8 minutes if it doesn't change trajectory.

A simpler one would be the range between two planets or between earth and our moon. That way, targeting has increased accuracy the sooner light/laser can reach it's destination without the target changing course.

2. Turrets

Though I think turrets will always have a place, or at least the concept of a smaller, independent targeting systems, the idea of needing your weapon to turn in order to hit anything within 180 degrees seems inefficient. Which is why I love my sphere turret designs. Barrel (or laser or missiles) are housed internally in a sphere which can be rotated with gyroscopes and/or magnetic attraction. I have it all planned out in my sketchbook. (see Ortho Cruiser Design but take spheres and stick the guns inside the shpere so there are only 4 holes in the ball.)

3. Giant Robots with hands?

(see robot deviation I posted)

4. Up and Down

In space Up and Down have no meaning. Why must ships all have a specific up?

5. Naval similarities

Naval movements are based off a 2d plane, Space is nothing but 3d...space. Having a ship that only has big cannons on the top of it's deck means they'll just come from below.

6. Wings

Looks cool don't it? Also makes you a bigger target. And most spacecraft won't be entering any atmosphere.

7. Windows

The camera was first invented in about 1000AD, granted it was a pinhole camera, the theory remains the same. You don't need to have your bridge visible outside with a window view of your enemies guns. You have cameras and large screen TVs.

8. Aerodynamics

So, you having trouble with wind resistance in space? Didn't think so.

9. Human Crew/Pilots

Granted many space ship games wouldn't be half as fun if there were no humans on board running things, but everything from reloading ammunition, firing weapons, navigation, etc could be done autonomically.

Namely the turrets in Star Wars. Both in classic ep.6 and Ep.1,2,3. The Imps had troopers using the cannons. The Trade Federation used robots. (why not take out the robots and make the GUN an robot)

Also, why the heck did the robots start having emotions...but I digress.

10. Armor Plating

In an environment where momentum and inertia synonyms for death, adding a 60% increase to mass sounds like a bad idea.

Some armor may be necessary though. In space there are debris and particles traveling and thousands of miles per hour. Our current space stations and satellites have trouble dealing with these deadly debris, most less than a millimeter in diameter.