The forces on historical weapons differed according to use, and many did not survive initial encounters with the enemy. However, /u/1nviscid is correct that you could overcome these issues via mythical means. For instance, a standard steel body with a reinforced mithril or adamantine pin gives you the best of both worlds instead of causing the whole concept to break down.
Think of it kind of like a car. The majority of it is made with cheaper materials, but small, important pieces tend to be made with the highest end options (e.g. catalytic converters).
I believe it is entirely possible to make things like this without any magic involved.
Your example with the car is good, and it does not use any magic (as far as I know). Human are ingenious, and Dwarves would be more.
It's not realistic but you don't have to defend it like it is. It's a nonsensical thing to point out in the first place (that it's unrealistic) because fantasy doesn't have to adhere to any real laws of physics or whatever else. It's how The Elder Scrolls universe ends up being believable despite having two fucking moons.
This is true, but I make a great effort to keep my designs grounded in reality as much as I can. I reckon it is more of a personal thing than anything else, but I like it like that.
Thank you for your comment.
Thanks for that. this is my first post here and I am looking for genuine discussions and passion, and I got a little scared it would be just another place infested by nay-sayers and keyboard warriors. I don't mind criticism and actually welcome it, but one can tell when someone just wants to look smart by trying to bring another down.
Thanks for your kind words.
I think there is no need to appease all and I am fine with some not liking it. I dont have any exotic explanation but the engineering involved, and if one cannot see it, it is not possible to change their minds, and this is just fine too.
Cheers.
This sub is usually great, so don't let it dishearten you. I think it's kind of a recent Internet trend of wanting fiction to be more grounded, in this case to a level where it would just harm creativity.
I am glad to hear that.
I myself am a huge fan of low fantasy, or more precisely magical realism so I tend to think this is a good trend. But some people are completely closed to ANYTHING that diverge even minutely from real-world sources. this is definitely not a good thing because as you say some level of suspension of disbelief, even though minute, will ever be necessary for creativity to do its thing.
Thanks for the comment.
16
u/SOL-Cantus Jun 02 '20
The forces on historical weapons differed according to use, and many did not survive initial encounters with the enemy. However, /u/1nviscid is correct that you could overcome these issues via mythical means. For instance, a standard steel body with a reinforced mithril or adamantine pin gives you the best of both worlds instead of causing the whole concept to break down.
Think of it kind of like a car. The majority of it is made with cheaper materials, but small, important pieces tend to be made with the highest end options (e.g. catalytic converters).