Chess Mage of Faerûn

Chapter 527 Gaoyaling DR 1366 Annual Military Technology Development Report (Part 1)
The first thing to do is to redistribute and adjust human resources.

With the watch and bicycle markets gradually stabilizing and even approaching saturation, it would be inappropriate to continue focusing the efforts of all Keane craftsmen on maintaining their survival efficiency.

As a result, the production schedule for this project has been significantly reduced.

The dwarven craftsmen responsible for assembling bicycles and the newly recruited apprentices in the territory were also affected.

The questline at the dwarven blacksmith shop is no longer filled with assembling various bicycle models, and plans for new projects are underway.

Of course, the spare time wasn't meant for Kader to go hunting or for the dwarves to drink and boast. Although Master Zhang was kind-hearted, he didn't have that much free time.

Two production plans and two research and development plans were put on the agenda simultaneously.

First, there's the forging of conventional weapons and armor. As standard equipment for the standing militia, the idea of ​​meticulous craftsmanship and painstaking effort is nonsense. However, the steel smelted in the elemental furnace and then hammered into weapon prototypes in the forging furnace is already comparable to the work of ordinary dwarven craftsmen and can be considered of excellent quality.

Moreover, the efficiency of a semi-automated production line is incomparable to that of a traditional workshop. The most time-consuming and labor-intensive steps are handled by the enchanting workshop, and the dwarven blacksmiths only need to complete the final forging and sharpening.

Similarly, Zhang Yuan had considered equipping his troops with half-body or even full-body plate armor that was easier to forge and offered better protection, but he quickly rejected the idea due to the heavy load and cost.

If amateur militia members who can't even take a full-time break were to wear full armor, they'd probably be crushed into a tortoise-like state by their own weight.

The final choice was woven scale armor, which is similar to a combination of chainmail and scale armor. Interlocking iron rings provide basic protection, while vital areas are protected by additional layers of armor plates.

The manufacturing process is also simple. The iron ring armor plates are all produced on an assembly line in the enchanting workshop. Dwarven blacksmiths and apprentices only need to drill holes and weave them. Although it is a delicate and patient job, it is much simpler than the skill standards for armor casting.

In conclusion, given Gaoya's current industrial capabilities, manufacturing conventional ordnance is merely a piece of cake. The current bottleneck in military development is that equipment is waiting for people, not the other way around. The real focus of this article lies in the subsequent research and development projects.

The research and development of heavy rune-enchanted power armor and standard-issue alchemical muskets for individual soldiers, collectively known as power armor and explosive guns.

While it might seem far-fetched to speculate on the resources that the Astartes have to make a living in the ancient magical civilization of Ferenc, which has already declined, upon closer examination, it doesn't seem impossible.

Magical metals inherently possess many superior properties, so it's not surprising that they would be used to create the materials needed for the concept prototype, regardless of cost.

The key challenges lie in the micro-energy core and the metallic muscle fibers.

The former, with the technical support provided by Tyranitar and the crystal technology of the Keen craftsmen, has completed its theoretical construction and only needs to manufacture and verify the experimental machine. The latter, after taking over and digesting the legacy of that Shadow City arcanist, has also made progress.

After all, with the vast technical resources of the Dota world at my back, my mentor's support, and my own modest (though not exceptional) research abilities, it shouldn't be a problem.

Right? !

Ultimately, Zhang Yuan only wanted to acquire a few sets of enchanted armor to strengthen the veterans in his Canaan team. He wasn't planning any grand astral expedition or leading a bunch of canned goods on constant boarding maneuvers. He was fine holding the high cliff base alone, but if he wanted to extend his influence and acquire long-sought-after benefits, capable fighters who could stand alone were indispensable. After all, Zhang Yuan didn't have the time or energy for long-distance teleportation and back-and-forth trips every day.

The militia, trained part-time, can handle some territorial security tasks. Patrolling and clearing out weak monsters like goblins or bandits would be considered a success, but they are far from being truly useful. Compared to the uncertainty and risks of recruiting reinforcements from outside, strengthening the old comrades is clearly a more feasible option.

With the two-month exclusive sales period coming to an end, the High Cliff Treasury, which had accumulated approximately 25,000 gold coins, was full of confidence. After purchasing a considerable amount of magical metals and alchemical raw materials from the magic academies and temples of Neverwinter and Waterdeep, several research and development projects were launched in parallel.

The core power project was spearheaded by the tinkerer, and old Bosh had absolute authority on the application of the energy hub architecture.

The power frame and armor plating were handled by the experienced Clockwork and Timber Machine.

If the Tinker is a precise and powerful laser cannon, then the latter two are like small tanks charging head-on at the forefront, domineering, sturdy, and reliable.

As for the active metal project, it is a bit special. The Keen's active armor is similar to a more active memory metal, which can quickly self-compensate and repair areas that are frequently attacked, but it has nothing to do with neural connections or thought sensing.

The technology also owes its origin to the legacy of that arcane mage from the City of Shadows.

As the spellcaster's last resort, if the mage's spirit residing within the soul-possessed golem were to use a traditional construct's control module hub to manipulate the machine's operation, a rather awkward situation would arise:
Despite being a possessor, it feels like remote control, which is very inconvenient. Therefore, more direct control and perception of the construct, and faster feedback and response to achieve a truly intuitive and intuitive control effect are essential.

For the original owner who has abandoned the body, neural connections and control are out of the question. Instead, there are more direct thought links, which is where the problem lies.

The application of technology is not necessarily better the more advanced it is; directly copying it in different situations will only lead to a dead end.

As pre-registered users, Münster and Bard were all muscular warriors with far greater muscle mass than brain capacity, and they didn't possess the psionic talents of the Giese Yankees. With their mental strength, they couldn't possibly manipulate the active metal device freely...

At least in Zhang Yuan's analysis and speculation, it is not very realistic.

In other words, the power armor made according to this plan actually has an intelligence requirement for wearers!
Isn't this just making things difficult for the barbarians?
After much deliberation, they still had to return to the path of physical connection, since their muscular instincts and nerve reflexes were far more efficient than any mental hub.

However, as a master of spellcasting, transformation, and energy manipulation, Master Zhang obviously has no say in this matter. When it comes to physical research and modification, one has to look to the Necromancer faction.

For example, a highly respected and especially effective religious master…

"Teacher, I've come to visit you again!"

"..." ╮(﹀_﹀”)╭

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(End of this chapter)