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MarikBentusi — Concept: Nail Gun
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Published: 2010-09-04 22:21:29 +0000 UTC; Views: 2713; Favourites: 16; Downloads: 37
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Description
So I dug up some bits of "horror" fiction and stumbled across someone who abuses a nailgun against the neverending hordes of zombies THE INFECTED. I actually liked the idea a lot because I'm a sucker for improvised and shabby equipment in an equally torn world, it keeps the characters on the edge and the story tense, especially when ammo is rare.I have a bit of a problem tho, I have no idea whom to give the nailgun.
Lilly got the propane tanks to keep the nailgun functional, but she's also DUAL-WIELDING FLAMETHROWERS which is a concept I'd rather not scrap in favor of nailguns who are not quite as original I think.
Tal itha is unsuited for the nailgun in her fighting style as it all revolves around using the opponent's strength against them, absorbing and redirecting energy, mostly magic and a bit of judo-like self defense techniques, which is why she comes off as civilian while inactive (which can be a tactical advantage).
I'm currently thinking of giving Kharseth a nailgun or two as he doesn't have a defining weapon yet aside from the sword (but even it isn't *that* unique). He would have to wield two tho because he's the ambidextrous one in the group (thanks to the two souls; Lilly is right-handed and Tal itha left-handed, prepare for symbolism).
I could give the nailgun to someone else, too, of course. I dunno. What are your thoughts on this and the design?
Edit: Here is a shot with Kharseth holding a nail gun.
Edit2: Added some stuff and the supplement. That should conclude the nail gun design, but I still need to decide on whom to give it. I'm thinking about Kharseth, but fresh input (agrees and disagrees) is always welcome.
Used this pack for splatters.
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Comments: 23
Wow..... really cool! I should try a concept map/list thing for my character some time ^^
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If you do so, please send me a link.
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Give it to Kharseth! He can use it if it comes to ranged combat! 
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...but it's right there. 
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thats the updated one? oops sorry. 
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Well if you [link] >directly compare it you may notice I worked a bit around the big version.
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yep I do notice the changes. Its an improvement, Ill say.
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In a forum thread people discussed what to do in a zombie apocalypse (which I thought would be a very weird thread but some parts were actually kinda fun to read haha) and somebody mentioned how he got a nailgun in the basement so he won't need a different gun against the undead and how it would be easier to find ammunition for a nailgun in a post-apocalypse town than for real weapons.
His variant worked with electricity instead of propane tho, but by making the fuel the same kind as the one Lilly already uses for her Flamethrowers I leave myself more room for drama involving fuel shortage. Also glorious amounts of teamwork.
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Id go for an electric powered nailgun. More portable. Problem is the fuel source. (unless the battery was rechargeable. Then id bring its charger as well.) Id also attach something to the back to reduce the recoil. (just a plank of wood and duct tape would do nicely.)
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a plank of wood and duct tape you say?
Hm, not sure on this one. While it does reduce the recoil and improves the aim, in handgun-shape the weapon is lighter and fits a more agile fighting style. Weight and storage of the weapon(s) are also factors.
I went around electricity for three reasons:
One, like mentioned above, it's a nice source of both drama and teamwork.
Two, in a world shattered through chaos or perhaps even during the zombie apocalypse itself, nobody will be working at a power plant anymore, so I think it's actually more likely to find butane than a working power outlet.
Three, as a last resort (for me, that is), since the main character's strong points of magic revolve around ash, fire and earth and carbon compounds are a vital part of those areas, he should be able to learn how to synthesize an alkane like butane.
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Well you do make a good point about power plants, theyd have to go down at some point. But you suggested magic so how bout some thunder magic as well, to charge the batteries. 
As for the plank wood and duct tape it isnt needed if what your after is versality over accuracy.
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Alright, I just dug up a bit of info and apparently propane nail guns don't generate their own power for the initial spark that triggers the explosion. I would have thought the propane also fueled a generator. Huh.
In short, a propane nail gun still needs a battery for the ignition.
On a better note, according to the manufacturer of a nail gun about the size I drew, their nail gun can fire 4000 nails before the propane tank inside the gun (like with hand guns, the cartridge is inside the grip), according to some customers it's "only" 2000 nails, but it's safe to say the character will run out of nails long before he/she will run out of propane.
That also means the gun can be used without an external tank strapped on the back or an arm or something, completely wireless.
Now I can either use electricity as an additional ammunition factor together with propane and nails, or I make the gun a bit futuristic (it's not based on a real model after all, only parts of the shape) and enable it to produce its own electricity for recharging its battery in a propane-driven generator. See that bulky part on the back of the gun with the "Caution!" sign? Now it's a generator. Haha.
Of course it would only be used if the gun is low on electricity and it would eat up a lot of propane.
It's a "shame" tho the gun will not require a hose anymore tho, I personally liked that part of the design. There are pneumatic nail guns that are always tied to a compressor that would give me that effect, but air compressors are not of the size to be casually carried around, plus they eat a lot of electricity.
Then again I could make the character carry around small propane tanks not only for the nail gun, but also in the case of Lilly running out of ammo. The three are all about teamwork after all.
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who said it wouldnt need a hose? Its your design, make something up! 
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I've been thinking about that, in fact it's time about he gets at least a small backpack, but seeing how air compressors are this fat and I bet they're also heavy and noisy, I'd need to apply a lot of "It's clunky today, but tomorrow or so it'll be light-weight and sexy!" and the better and more convenient the technology the harder to create a nice gloomy atmosphere. That's the difference between chainsawing your way through the city and sitting in a bunker trying to suppress the noise of your heartbeat while counting your remaining bullets. And the latter is what I'm aiming for.
I already feel a bit bad about including the electricity generator, but seeing how small a dynamo on your bike is and that cars recharge their own batteries with fuel, it's not that a big leap to combine the two with the power of Twenty Minutes Into The Future.
As for the hoses, all they have to do is transfer (liquid) propane from a container into the gun's storage chamber, right? Maybe I'll just strap one of these things on the arms and what pressure won't automatically pump through the hose will have to be managed by a bit of fiddling with gravity and valves.
Unless you find any holes in that train of thought of course.
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Is got as many holes as a thing that doesnt have any holes! 
For that improvised weaponry thing you want how about adding some homemade explosives to their arsenal? Ive always wanted to see something so ordinary be used to go boom, like a toaster!
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I definitely wanted to add grenades, but I haven't given it much thought yet. Do you think one could build a frag grenade from a small glass bottle (like this ), cork if the bottle top is missing, powder from Silvester fireworks and a piece of clothing as a fuse? I think glass splinters could make for some sharp fragments, but I'm not sure if that firework powder would be enough to bust a bottle of the size of a hand grenade and create a deadly frag storm.
By the way, I searched for exploding toasters on YouTube, but apparently they're not very good at it .
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Silvester fireworks would be enough to blow the bottle up. But I think the explosion would just shatter the glass into oblivion, meaning the glass splinters would be to small to do any real damage. But I guess you could control the amount of fireworks you put in the bottle solving that problem.
No exploding toasters, eh? Well there goes one of my life's ambitions.
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I just realized I keep saying "butane" when what I really mean is propane, silly me. >_>
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Nobody in the group is an electricity wizard and it would very hard to produce a steady electrical current.
The group got Lilly for precision and long range, Kharseth is a more agile fighter (tho not a kung-fu-jumper on speed) for middle and low range. It's reflected in both his main weapon (the sword) and the magical powers he can fart out.
The tanks probably would be heavier than a battery, which is why I was wondering whether to give him the weapon at all. There's always "boring" normal weaponry to choose from after all.
I think I should invest some time in researching how much butane a nailgun drinks.
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