A character idea

[feitzu]

Hey all, glad to be here.

I had an idea for a character that I bet might be a tad controversial, so I've decided it's probably best to run it past you lot. The basic idea is a Fire Nation citizen who uses technology to simulate Firebending. In particular, I imagined him as having a crude flamethrower apparatus underneath each sleeve, so that he could simulate fire strikes with his hands, as well as coating the inside of his sword's sheath with oils so that when drawn, the sword striking against the sheath would ignite oils on the blade and light it up. Of course, he has huge drawbacks compared to a Firebender, mainly being that his fire abilities are only as powerful as his fuel reserves are. Plus, there's always the chance that if someone finds out about the source of his "powers", they could just disarm him.

I hope this idea's all right. I was hoping to try and make some alternative to the usual "not-a-bender-but-master-swordsman" vibe I'm starting to see after perusing some non-bender profiles. Thanks for your time.

[xun]

*brotherly tackles Han Fei-Tzu*

Would-be-fellow-inventor-type-person-human!!! ;D

I've had some thoughts of my own on the use of a flame throwers when firebenders are not available for an operation. Basically just a flame-thrower FN based tank. Thing is it'd be bigger (probably twice) in size of the regular firebender-use tank. I've considered as something of a quick mobile anti-personnel platform for use in defending siege weaponery and command positions. Could be handy when faced with a nasty cavalry charge.

Or just used simply to terrorize people. >=)

If you haven't already you may want to look into pre-modern flamethrowers. Chinese, Greek, Roman and Byzantium. Note: whether or not the first three actually had or used or the extent of their use is sometimes debated due to the types and lack of sources though plausible.

Either way whether the flame thrower is pre-modern based or not it's gonna be somewhat big. Probably 2/3rds the height of your character. Then there's the matter of it being rather cumbersome in an actual close-combat fight. And if I remember right some WWOne flamethrowing required more than one man to lug the thing around.

That and the tanks/canisters used for flame throwing contained compressed gas. Something the FN probably lacks at the moment.

And then there's the possiblity of it exploding. >_<

Then there's the problem of your clothing. Two nozzles are quickly gun run the tank dry. Then there's hiding them under your sleeves--which would more than likely go up in flames. And using a sword for a wick would not only be unecessary as the sword is too long BUT you'd also ruin your sword. Those things are cheap--not even cheap swords were probably cheap.

I'm sure the swordsmiths would loathe him for doing such a thing.

If you wanna come up with an alternative to the sword master (who's hopefully above the age of 24 at least) then why not have him use something else other than a katana. They're not the end all and be all of swords to begin with in fact. Why not have a swordmaster with a golfbag full of different swords and with a personal caddy. Though that character is from a movie I can't remember at the moment.

As for me. I don't understand the big deal with swords. Much of the time they were used as a sidearm and expensive anyway. I'm a blunt object trauma sorta guy, myself.

If I could by some feat I could manage more than the three characters I got; I'd bust out with fighters running the gamut of blunt objects. Hammers, maces, clubs, bians, tetsubos, warfans, sticks, tonfas, cudgels, trucheons, fish, jitte, pots, pans, plates, staffs, sqiuds, yo-yos, multi-sectioned staffs, oars, blackjacks, billyclubs, warclubs, books. Anything that'd knock a person senseless (even when they're wearing armor) a leave em a headache. But that's just how I roll! XD

It's a good try nonetheless and at least you seem to be veering away from the well-since-I-can't-be-a-bender-I'll-have-a-sword-instead route. No offense to anyone who's taken that route though.

[kura]

Hm... the technology seems kind of advanced for Avatar, even if the Fire Nation is the most developed. If you worked out the kinks, it might be more acceptable, but I'm not entirely sure here

The main problem is that if the flamethrower was located under his sleeves... they'd burn. I can just imagine him trying to firebend and instead catching his whole outfit on fire ^^;

Second, I don't get the thing with the swords. Does he use them to firebend, like Zuko did in the episode "Zuko Alone"? The oil seems ill thought out... wouldn't it just sink to the bottom, resulting in a puddle of oil in his sheath? o.O Not very effective if you ask me.

It's an interesting idea, but I think you really need to give it some more thought.

[jialingjin]

Granted, while this is not the same as bending, it totally negates the fact that benders are special. Technology also seems a wee bit too advanced. I vote no.

[feitzu]

Actually, many types of sheaths have oil on the inside of them, meant to keep the sword lubricated for an easy draw. It doesn't puddle because of the material on the inside, which absorbs the oil and sort of "sweats" it onto the blade. The oil on the blade's surface would burn, and once the oil burned off he'd just be left with a rather hot sword blade. Naturally, he'd have to be careful about letting the sword cool off before sheathing it again, or else a hot sword might ignite his sheath, and in such a small space, all that fire and heat can only do one thing: explode.

As for the flamethrower, I've actually made a couple flamethrowers before, some of them liquid-based. The nozzles would merely be rubber tubing with a pilot light on the end (if he clenches his hands in a certain way, the pilot light ignites and a valve releases some fuel, creating the fire blasts). The rubber's impermeable, so no leakage. The fuel tanks would have to be small, probably only enough for four or five blasts each, otherwise he'd be forced to lug a huge tank around everywhere and he wouldn't be able to hide it under his clothes, ruining the illusion of him being a Firebender. He'd have multiple cartridges, though.

The reason I had the idea for this character mainly comes from my experiments with this kind of technology (and how much fun it is to use >_>). If you guys are adamant about it not being able to fly here, that's kosher, I'll make something else instead. Thanks for not just shooting me down immediately, though.

[xun]

Mmhm. Mmhm.

But why does he need a sword? With the use of steel, flint and oil couldn't he pull off the same effect with a dagger or knife. Can draw them much qiucker on the fly and more easily if your characters finds himself in an enclosed space.

Either way the blade may be ruined after a while. And how much oil woud supposedly stay on the sword. I mean there's a chance of oil spilling down the guard and onto his hand. >_<

Correct me if I'm wrong on this, but rubber is initially an inhabitant of the Americas. But I'm not sure what the status is on rubber trees in the Avaverse. =/

On igniting the pilot light: is that sort of akin to set up when using a blowtorch? Having to click that whachamacallitdohickeythingamabobjigdevice to which the name escapes me at the moment. =P

If this flamethrower is goin' be liquid based then what's the lliquid he's using? Oil again? How is this supplied to him? Is he supplying himself with the oil? Has friends or connections in obtaining it? Does he and/or someone else manufactures it for him? Is it given to him through his job?

I'm sure if it's pumping him four or five blasts then he's gotta be taking a blow in the coin purse.

Speaking of which what would be the character's occupation and decisions to warrant the need/use/purpose/creation/whatever for a flamethrower?

And whaddya mean by multiple cartridges? How many shots are they adding? How does he carry them about? What's the reload time with that set up? Wouldn't someone take note of that--him reloading or not using his "bending" after almost six puffs?

Nothing against you or your idea. I'm just really really curious as to how it'll work even if the mods don't accept it.

[feitzu]

Yes, rubber is native to the Americas. Then again, so is the moose, as well as the vulture, skunk, and several other animals, versions of which have either appeared or been mentioned over the course of Avatar. Plus, it's mentioned on Nick's website that the Fire Nation has large tropical forests, the kind of environment that rubber trees would grow well in. Their tech would be more than able to refine the rubber into something usable for the flamethrower.

As for the sword as opposed to a knife, yes there's a quicker draw, but if the Fire Nation's intent is to cause fear, wouldn't you want your scary guys to be equipped with big, impressive-looking weapons? Also, the oil wouldn't be slopped onto the surface; it'd be a thin coating that came from being rubbed against the sides of its own sheath. So, really, not much in the way of drippage, but I'd assume my character would know how to handle a burning sword.

The backstory I had in mind for this whole thing is that the war has been going on for over a century now. The Fire Nation is still doing strongly, but benders are falling in battle and they are slow to be replaced, as bending is a rare talent not held by the majority of its citizenry. So, the Fire Military would seek alternatives to actual bending, reserving real benders for situations where they were needed. Hence, with low-tech substitutes, a non-bending Fire soldier could simulate bending, allowing for more powerful troops overall, as well as demoralizing enemies with their supposedly never-ending supply of Firebenders. My character would be one of many special soldiers in the Fire military selected to give this technology and approach a field test, and so his fuel, etc would be furnished by the Fire Military.

The cartridges would add another four or five shots, and would be carried on his person, probably disguised as food rations. The liquid itself could be something as simple as lamp oil, or else it could be alchemical fire, like what the Byzantine navy used. Reload time wouldn't be too long; I imagined it could snap into place and the tubes could siphon from it freely once in place. The idea in the design is to simulate bending, meaning that it has to look as authentic as possible.

The Powers That Be have all ready voted no, though, so I s'pose it's moot.

[The Lion Turtle]

Well, the thing is, I'm willing to let anything happen so long as it's a.) cannon and b.) plasuible. Jia often feels the same -- if not, she'd better speak now -- but geneally if the bio is cannon and plausible as well as well written and creative, it'll pass. Prove you have a way to do it within the cannonical/plausibility realm and you may do it. That's all we ask.

Keep up the debate/discussion, though, it's helping to develop it.

[xun]

Whether the matter is moot or not doesn't mean it can't be refined for later purposes. Another rp or instances in the show making it canon and/or plausible.

Hmmm... Actually I'd want my boys to be equipped less with big impressive-looking weapons and more with useful, effiecent (& cost effective) weapons that'll still get the job done.

Since from the looks of things you'll be fielding the flamethrower in open combat--where the arrows and the spear were often more useful than the sword... I see your point in using a sword rather than a knife. Though seeing a firebender use a weapon may be somewhat of a uncommon sight as it is thus far. Benders, of any sort, don't often seem to carry a weapon on them. A concealed knife could still give the impression that he is a firebender.

If I was an Earthie veteran the sight of firebenders waving around swords and a hampered fighting style would make me suspect a few things. That they're either some quickly-trained, raw recruits of some kind or there's something going on that I can't put my finger on.

One reason being that the sight of weapon toting firebenders is so far considered unorthodox. Most of the ones I've seen thus far, except for Zuko, wear nothing more than their armor.

And two they may have a hampered fighting style--unable to do most of the manuvers with a tank on their back.

I wouldn't field a guy like that alone that's for certain. That equipment, even mass produced, might cost more than him. And if those damnable Earthies manage to capture a flamethrower... >.>

So I'd probably stick him with a small squad of polearmers or targetiers to play backup and support. But that'd be your call.

Will he be fielding this flamethrower as a working prototype or is it a MP model? Will he be the only flamethrower or are there others using it?

[feitzu]

It's a prototype, and there are others in the military with similar flamethrowers. Some of them are varied in one way or another, to see how effective they can make it, but they all use the same basic design. After extensive field-testing, the Fire Nation would see which models performed most consistently, and begin putting it into more extensive manufacture, and eventually mass-production.

My character, having been selected for the honor, would either have to be of some rank, or else distinguished himself in battle (the more likely option, as I intend for the character to be under 30). He'd be put in charge of a small platoon of soldiers whose skill would probably be getting close to the elite level (don't want to guard an experimental weapon with fresh recruits or local militia), most likely armed with swords or spears. They would be non-benders, so that enemies engaging the unit would be in for a nasty surprise when one of them unleashes fire on them all. His sword would a) give him a backup weapon when he's out of fuel, b) mark him as an officer, and c) allow him to continue to simulate Firebending when all his fuel is expended for the flamethrowers.

Also, it wouldn't be a fuel "tank", per se. It'd be very small and light. Like I said, a cartridge is more along the lines of how it'd look. I also intend for it to have a safety, so that in non-combat situations he could move freely without worrying about releasing fuel or igniting the pilot lights.

[xun]

Multiple competing prototypes are always fun for primary and secondary storylines--especially when its rival companies involved.

As far as rank and units led goes; the best he could probably do at under twenty--barring particular circumstances is: corporal at the least, sergeant (of some kind) at most, and lieutenant at best. A platoon, even today I think, would be somewhere from 20 to 50 men. I think that even includes those doing support too. Below that (about 8 and up) may be considered a squad. Hope that helps.

And yes it would be best to have a group veteran knuckleheads to help him out. And I forgot about the whole sword = officer thing. So that'd also make sense.

Sorry if I mistook the device for a backpack like fuel tank. I take it it's somewhat akin to a rack with a snap on/in cartridge insertion setup then?

[feitzu]

I don't intend for him to be highly-ranked in hierarchical terms, a lieutenant perhaps (if anything, I love the way that rank sounds). That said, he has to have the esteem of the higher-ups to have been selected for the honor of field-testing the weapon anyway, so he must be of some importance. The more that I think about it, the more I like the idea of him winning the honor after distinguishing himself in battle, perhaps the First Siege of Ba Sing Se.

Also, I didn't intend for his personal contingent to number more than twenty men (it would get unwieldly RP-wise if it were much more). It would be attached to a higher officer's command, but would also have special clearance to pursue individual goals, given the nature of the unit's existence: to test out an experimental weapon in as many different situations as possible.

And yes, the setup is exactly as you just described it.

[ashuku]

Hey dude, if your character needs a commanding officer in the Fire Nation, I'm the local Fire Nation high officer. We're going to attack Bai Seng Sai again, so send me a private message if your interested in joining up.

[feitzu]

So, Powers That Be...do I have a go-ahead to at least make a bio? Or is this concept out of the question?

[jialingjin]

Again.. I vote no. That's one profile mod's vote..