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1500 questions
42
votes
17 answers
Despite being invulnerable against ballistic projectiles, why does a wizard's robe still get wet during rain?
A battlemage practiced the art of close combat fighting, and could deal huge amounts of damage to his opponents at point blank range. He also had a special robe, which was enchanted by a powerful spell such that it parries all ballistic…
user6760
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42
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32 answers
Most effective long-term zombie killing weapon
So I asked this question a few days ago, with excellent and certainly useful feedback. I've decided I'd like to build upon that question with some ways to combat our 'new and improved super zombies'.
For the sake of this question, let's assume that…
wposeyjr
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42
votes
10 answers
What is a realistic time needed to get a properly trained army?
The situation is the following:
a country, in theory an industrial power (modern times equivalent), maintains a tiny (but well trained) peace-time army which could be used as a source of officers and NCOs
the country is suddenly forced into a proxy…
Shadow1024
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42
votes
24 answers
Why can't my huge trees be chopped down?
In my world there is a forest of huge trees which people can't or won't chop down. The trees are similar to redwood trees but they have a large crown and no lower branches. The forest is quite dark because the trees block out most of the sun. Due to…
Erathiian
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10 answers
What effects would a change in the nature of human sexuality have on society and infrastructure
Consider a group of humans at a bronze-age to early iron-age technological level colonizing a new earthlike planet. There is just one difference - there exists on the planet something which changes the nature of human sexuality - and the colonists…
Monty Wild
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42
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21 answers
What could be the right powersource for 15 seconds lifespan disposable giant chainsaw?
Imagine when a jet fighter swoops in to drop a 400 pounds giant chainsaw to you just so that you can use it to grind down one problematic enemy into a pulp then discard it a foot away from you. What power source would suit such a weapon with only 1…
67ironwhale
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42
votes
14 answers
How can I explain a planet with perpetual rain?
I was planning a short story that focuses on a rainy day in a city, and I realized that there's one interesting feature of it: Even though the weather seems bleak, and it affects the actions of those in the story, anyone reading it knows that the…
HDE 226868
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42
votes
12 answers
What steps are necessary to read a Modern SSD in Medieval Europe?
So the main team of characters is traveling back in time from "modern day" to medieval Europe, arriving around the 1300s.
Assumptions: They Know they are going, they have space and time to prepare, the team consists of 10 people in their mid-20s…
ChaosCenturian
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42
votes
22 answers
How can you prevent a theocracy from being inevitable when religious leaders have power over nature?
In this world, religious leaders of a world religion practice a form of ritual magic that is essential to human existence. Certain rituals must be performed at certain times for nature to function properly. The sun must rise and set, seasons must…
Incognito
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42
votes
32 answers
Why would a previously spacefaring civilization become unable to build another interstellar ship?
I'm writing a story in which a civilization previously capable of (firmly technobabble-based) FTL travel has become stranded, orbiting an isolated star with no rocky planets. (There was a planet, but it was destroyed by their crash-landing in the…
Olle
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42
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10 answers
Is it more likely that merfolk would evolve with horizontal or vertical tails?
Another mermaid questions I'm afraid!
Fish have tail fins which are vertical, whales have fins which are horizontal. My race of merfolk are:
Very active (more likely to be warm blooded)
Have gills and lungs so can breath in and out of water
Have…
Liath
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42
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21 answers
How can I explain a world where everything is working together to kill the protagonist?
Say an explorer lands on a previously undiscovered land, filled with humans, humanoids, wildlife, elementals, undead, demons... you name it.
One would expect that these existing inhabitants would have their own power struggle. For example, the…
user58335
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42
votes
15 answers
How can a criminal organization incentivize its employees to do better while keeping its ruthless image?
SPECTRE (SPecial Executive for Counterintelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion) is a nefarious organization run by me, a criminal mastermind named Ernesto Blofeld. It has its tentacles in many different parts of the world and is connected with…
Incognito
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42
votes
21 answers
Why would witches create warlocks when it makes them weaker?
In my story's world, witchcraft is a respected institution, with the most powerful practitioners being at the top echelons of society. Due to this, society traces its lineage through matrilineal lines. Witchcraft is usually exclusive to females,…
Incognito
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42
votes
12 answers
How to trigger explosive arrows?
So, I have a small tribe of island people with stone-age technology who have discovered how to make gunpowder. However, they want to make war on the neighboring islands, and they need a delivery system for their new explosive because blowing holes…
Gryphon
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