Gadgets, weapons & battle tactics! (split from Watchmen/Marvel/DC thread)

wordmonkey said:

Punisher would be WAY easier.

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For anti heroes that is.

wordmonkey said:

And why it would be easier to be a real-life Punisher is because a bit of kevlar and some legally purchased automatic weaponry and you'd be set. No need for cape, cowl, utility belt or gimmicky car.

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Wait. You'd need the belt--at least for pouches, dropleg or otherwise. You need somewhere to put your extra magazines for pistol and rifle. And holster(s) for pistol(s).

I'd also think you'd want a bit of training and practice in engaging multiple opponents in an urban setting. Ex-Spec Ops would be a good Punisher-type.

wordmonkey said:

But when I have the firepower, I am not totally relying on the hand-to-hand combat skills, no the fancy duds to strike fear into the hearts of superstitious and cowardly criminals.

And that ammo-belt... I can snag that at the army surplus store and I don't need to special order components via shell-companies that will allow me to construct the elements into the finished item later.

If I'm the Punisher, I can just lock-and-load and shoot those bad-guys.

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I meant you still needed a belt--for your ammo. I wasn't referring to special gadgetry.

And I wasn't referring to hand-to-hand when I noted the training and practice in fighting multiple opponents in an urban setting. I was talking about CQB tactics.

Or not.

AceTachyon said:

I'd also think you'd want a bit of training and practice in engaging multiple opponents in an urban setting. Ex-Spec Ops would be a good Punisher-type.

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Krav Maga for close combat, with (maybe) a knife. It isn't impossible to take down five or six people in a tight alleyway, you just have to be prepared to take a couple of punches while you're doing so.

BigWords said:

Krav Maga for close combat, with (maybe) a knife. It isn't impossible to take down five or six people in a tight alleyway, you just have to be prepared to take a couple of punches while you're doing so.

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Agreed on Krav Maga.

But as I pointed out to wordmonkey above, I was actually referring to CQB tactics (close range firearms work, room clearing, dynamic entry, etc) and its application to multiple targets in an enclosed environment.

wordmonkey said:

I know. No worries, dude.

Frankly, I can't believe we are sitting here debating who is more real, Batman or Punisher!

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But that's what we do.

Although I'm thinking that if you get a guy with the seemingly unlimited resources of a Bruce Wayne, train him to peak levels of fitness and combat, give him high-tech bodyarmor and practical "toys", I suppose you could have a real-world equivalent of a Batman.

Dunno about the costume and cape. I'd picture him looking more like Snake Eyes.

AceTachyon said:

Although I'm thinking that if you get a guy with the seemingly unlimited resources of a Bruce Wayne, train him to peak levels of fitness and combat, give him high-tech bodyarmor and practical "toys", I suppose you could have a real-world equivalent of a Batman.

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Bolding mine.

Firstly, I have to point out that a thread specifically created for debating the equipment needed for engaging in Punisher / Batman-type activities is better suited than here.

Secondly, the eighties Punisher comics (to the best of my memory) stated explicitly that he took what he wanted from the criminals he took down. If you whack enough mobsters then you will never have to worry about ammo, money or grenades ever again. The guys in New York 'families' who were arrested by the FBI had arsenals worthy of a military cache.

Body armor isn't prohibitively expensive, and most of the equipment seen in Punisher (idiotic storylines about 'spirit guns' and angels aside) is tech which is available now. ANY marine or SAS member would be able to carry out the assaults which the character is best known for.

Side-point. The shuriken (batarangs) used by Batman wouldn't work. That isn't what ninjas traditionally used them for (ie hurting combatants), and in most texts on traditional fighting styles they are only a diversionary tool. A ninja would throw a "throwing star", which could be any shape they needed, at a wall to get a guard to look in that direction then perform a silent kill from behind.

It's a case of popular belief assuming media representations, and not really a good trope at that. Batman's car is cool, though (though the lateral stress of throwing out a grappling hook to latch a streetlamp at speed would make a mess in reality).

I wrote a massive list of the tools one would need to assume a vigilante role. I'll pull it out of the drawer and take another look at it and, if the contents still hold up, I'll post some of the equipment needed.

BigWords said:

Firstly, I have to point out that a thread specifically created for debating the equipment needed for engaging in Punisher / Batman-type activities is better suited than here.

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I'll play.

Mods--would that new thread fit here or elsewhere?

Thread split as suggested, shout if I've missed any other relevant posts from the Watchmen/Marvel/DC thread.

-Derek