Good name for a super weapon and which super weapon idea do you prefer?

Baryonyx · Apr 15, 2010

So, the major conclussion of my current WIP features a steam-powered super weapon that is been designed.

It's a Steampunk novel and the novels world is essentially 1930s-1940s technology level (With a few differences, i.e no major powered flight) in a world where railways cover the continent and where Steam Engines are the commonly used type of transport for all purposes (Freight, private travel, outlaws, war etc)

I've got two ideas for the super weapon and could do with any input on which would be best.

1. A steam locomotive/rocket hybrid. Rail mounted and launched from a ramp that is packed with enough TNT to destroy a city.

2. A set of interlinked steam engines and rail cannons modified into a flying weapons platform powered in a similar way to a helicopter.

Any input on which of the two would be best would be awesome, apologies for the pretty bad description. I suck at describing stuff

Also has anyone got any recommended names?

Best I can come up with is Archangel which I think sounds a little cliched.

Thankies!

ishtar'sgate · Apr 15, 2010

When I saw your thread title I just couldn't resist it.
The first thing I thought of was Calvin & Hobbes and Calvin setting his Zorcher on shake and bake. I loved that line.

Krintar · Apr 15, 2010

I like the sound of the second one better. If powered flight isn't a big thing, a heavily armed flying machine would be very intimidating to those below, given its great mobility and speed combined with that they probably wouldn't have any reasonable means for bringing it down.
The first idea, on the other hand, would have a major point of weakness: the launching platform. It might not be easy to destroy, but it would at least seem do-able.
No ideas for names though, sorry.

Baryonyx · Apr 16, 2010

Thanks for the replies

Tis a good point about a flying machine been intimidating to those who haven't seen. Think I'm gonna go with the flying weapons platform super weapon.

Gotta think of a good, uncliched name now. Having the build-up to the weapon hinted at by name a few times first so want a good name to draw the reader in so they want to read on and find out what exactly the weapon is.

Dr.Gonzo · Apr 16, 2010

I'm going to have a think about it. Hmmm, a super weapon that's either late or cancelled....

Stunted · Apr 16, 2010

Second.

Axler · Apr 16, 2010

SATANICOPTICON?

Dr.Gonzo · Apr 16, 2010

Sounds like a decepticon from Transformers^ lol

som1luvsmi · Apr 16, 2010

OLD BOB.

Offensive Locamotive Device Bringing Obliteration Beyond.

slcboston · Apr 16, 2010

som1luvsmi said:
OLD BOB.

Offensive Locamotive Device Bringing Obliteration Beyond.

I second this.

Plus, to me at least, it has that certain steampunk feel to it.

James D. Macdonald · Apr 16, 2010

Be aware that "enough TNT to destroy a city" is likely to be in the thousand-to-million tons of TNT range (That is, kilotons to megatons, which are used to measure the explosive power of nukes.)

A flying steam locomotive/rocket that could carry several thousand tons of TNT ... would be impressive.

(I like "Super-Padoopy Gun".)

Torrance · Apr 16, 2010

Storm cloud? _____ rain? ________ thunder? I don't know what the machine does so it's tough to assign it a name, but if it is in the sky, it might be cool to have it relate. You might check out some sites with meteorology terms.

cbenoi1 · Apr 16, 2010

Anything that begins with BFG, as in Big F***ing Gun. (ref: BFG_9000)

-cb

lucidzfl · Apr 16, 2010

ishtar'sgate said:
shake and bake

lucidzfl · Apr 16, 2010

THE DISASTER PISTOL!

MikeGrant · Apr 16, 2010

CHURCHILL'S WRATH!

slcboston · Apr 16, 2010

Oh... and for what it's worth - only flying machines I ever associate with steampunk (so this may well just be my limited exposure) wouldn't be able to carry that kind of arsenal sufficient to destroy a city...

Unless all the buildings are made solely out of wood, and you firebomb the heck out of it.

... Plus, I think trains are cooler anyway.

lucidzfl · Apr 16, 2010

MikeGrant said:
CHURCHILL'S WRATH!

That's what I call sunday mornings after an entire bottle of scotch the night before.

Axler · Apr 16, 2010

I'm writing a sorta steampunk graphic novel sequel to War of the Worlds, starring Gulliver Jones, arguably the first interplanetary hero, so I'm working on all sorts of steampunky kind of names, like Spaceonautical Service and that sort of thing.

Baryonyx · Apr 16, 2010

som1luvsmi said:
OLD BOB.

Offensive Locamotive Device Bringing Obliteration Beyond.

I like it!

Permission to ~~steal~~ I mean use

?

Oh yeah, city I guess is the wrong word to describe the settlement it's going to be set up on. It's actually a small town.

Anyway, thanks for your comments and stuff y'all

VileZero · Apr 16, 2010

Dr.Gonzo said:
I'm going to have a think about it. Hmmm, a super weapon that's either late or cancelled....

Thank you for that laugh!

Baryonyx · Apr 16, 2010

Dr.Gonzo said:
I'm going to have a think about it. Hmmm, a super weapon that's either late or cancelled....

This totally went over my head at first. Few hours later and I finally cottoned on and laughed.

som1luvsmi · Apr 16, 2010

Permission granted.

Baryonyx · Apr 16, 2010

som1luvsmi said:
Permission granted.

Yay!

JackinElgin · Apr 16, 2010

The Omega Option? Project Orion? Something like that. Something the president would say like, "Omega Option Authorized." Or "Commit Omega Option." Or "Use Project Orion." That'd be me.

Good name for a super weapon and which super weapon idea do you prefer?

Baryonyx

ishtar'sgate

living in the past

Krintar

Baryonyx

Dr.Gonzo

Wonderfully Irreverent

Stunted

Ich heiße Superphantastisch!

Axler

Dr.Gonzo

Wonderfully Irreverent

som1luvsmi

My brother loves me thiiis much! :)

slcboston

Pasture-ized

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

Torrance

cbenoi1

lucidzfl

Back from the dead

lucidzfl

Back from the dead

MikeGrant

slcboston

Pasture-ized

lucidzfl

Back from the dead

Axler

Baryonyx

VileZero

This is not for you

Baryonyx

som1luvsmi

My brother loves me thiiis much! :)

Baryonyx

JackinElgin

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