I’d be more excited about it, but I think this is the third time we’ve hit page 500. Originally, the first several pages were all short strip comics, but we combined them to make a couple pages out of many strips. Then we cut a few pages out of the archive completely (namely some pages where Yori thinks he’s dying and has a needlessly long flashback, we may put those in the Extras section later). So by now we’d probably be at page 510!
Ahhh, the arquebus. The most complete destabilization factor to samurai rule since katana-sliced bread.
One of the reasons it was so dangerous was that samurai armor was meant to stop (or at least absorb a bit of the impact of) arrows— and samurai were deadly at close range. Any attempt to kill a samurai would then have to involve trickery/ambush (thus ninja), another samurai, or quite a lot of good luck— until the arquebus came along.
Sure, they were noisy, smoky, dubiously accurate, useless in wet weather, time-consuming to reload, held up to one musket ball at a time, and would occasionally backfire in the face of their owner… BUT the sheer power of the things overruled every drawback, shifting the balance of power in the Japanese feudal system.
In the movie Seven Samurai, all the samurai who die are killed by gunfire.
(PS: In response to the introduction of the arquebus, Japanese armor-makers started modifying their armor to include aspects of European plate armor for greater firearm resistance.)
Funnily enough, firearms were not disruptive because they were especially deadly, neither in Europe nor Asia (nor America).
They were disruptive because they were very easy to use. Drill a force of peasants for a few days in reloading and following orders/not running away and you’ve got useful infantry. An archer was more deadly than a arquebusier but he needed to train for years to build up muscles in order to use a proper war bow. Crossbows were as easy to use but less robust. Peasants with guns will be able to kill men at arms with a hundred times their training time (unless they’re well armored like steel plate and stuff). Sure, you need a good deal more of them but there are actually lots of peasants and guns are cheap.
It didn’t occur to me until now that those brackets in the word balloons were for the Captain speaking Portuguese, not for the Captain speaking Japanese. So I just thought that Genchu was the only one who was wise enough to heed the words of the crazy foreigner. But no, you’re right. Either he knows Portuguese, or he’s heard of guns before.
Or he can read minds. Or he can see into the future. Or someone else who can see into the future just warned him that he should cover his ears when the crazy foreigner is about to fire his stick.
Guns aren’t scary at all. They’re beautiful. Almost as beautiful as swords.
Well… unless they’re pointed at you. Then they’re a *little* scary… I guess.
That said, those old Tanegashima were not on the prettier side of firearms, I admit… terrible design. I never understood how we didn’t skip the matchlock phase of firearms entirely and skip straight to flintlock – or at least the wheel lock.
Happy 500 guys!
Thanks poo!
*cackles* There’s such a thing as selling TOO hard, my good fellow…
No doubt knowing the language would’ve helped out his sales pitch!
He forgot the rule set down by Alec Baldwin in the 6th century, “A.B.S”. ” A-Always! B-Be! S-Shooting!!!”
Woo 500 pages! let the good times roll!
I’d be more excited about it, but I think this is the third time we’ve hit page 500. Originally, the first several pages were all short strip comics, but we combined them to make a couple pages out of many strips. Then we cut a few pages out of the archive completely (namely some pages where Yori thinks he’s dying and has a needlessly long flashback, we may put those in the Extras section later). So by now we’d probably be at page 510!
Wow. 500! So glad you’re back!
I share in your jubilance!
Thats his boomstick
Ahhh, the arquebus. The most complete destabilization factor to samurai rule since katana-sliced bread.
One of the reasons it was so dangerous was that samurai armor was meant to stop (or at least absorb a bit of the impact of) arrows— and samurai were deadly at close range. Any attempt to kill a samurai would then have to involve trickery/ambush (thus ninja), another samurai, or quite a lot of good luck— until the arquebus came along.
Sure, they were noisy, smoky, dubiously accurate, useless in wet weather, time-consuming to reload, held up to one musket ball at a time, and would occasionally backfire in the face of their owner… BUT the sheer power of the things overruled every drawback, shifting the balance of power in the Japanese feudal system.
In the movie Seven Samurai, all the samurai who die are killed by gunfire.
(PS: In response to the introduction of the arquebus, Japanese armor-makers started modifying their armor to include aspects of European plate armor for greater firearm resistance.)
So what you’re saying is it’s all down hill from here!
Downhill? Dunno about that, but things are veering every which way, yes.
Only for a bit, then everything goes back to the way it was for a LONG time.
Funnily enough, firearms were not disruptive because they were especially deadly, neither in Europe nor Asia (nor America).
They were disruptive because they were very easy to use. Drill a force of peasants for a few days in reloading and following orders/not running away and you’ve got useful infantry. An archer was more deadly than a arquebusier but he needed to train for years to build up muscles in order to use a proper war bow. Crossbows were as easy to use but less robust. Peasants with guns will be able to kill men at arms with a hundred times their training time (unless they’re well armored like steel plate and stuff). Sure, you need a good deal more of them but there are actually lots of peasants and guns are cheap.
Does Genchu know Portuguese, or has he seen a gun before? I guess we’re about to find out.
It didn’t occur to me until now that those brackets in the word balloons were for the Captain speaking Portuguese, not for the Captain speaking Japanese. So I just thought that Genchu was the only one who was wise enough to heed the words of the crazy foreigner. But no, you’re right. Either he knows Portuguese, or he’s heard of guns before.
Or he can read minds. Or he can see into the future. Or someone else who can see into the future just warned him that he should cover his ears when the crazy foreigner is about to fire his stick.
If he’s been to China at some point in his life explosive weapons would not be new to him. Although more likely he knows Portugese.
I’m pro the mind reader suggestion.
The answers to these questions will be apparent in short order!
Meh. Guns, swords, arrows, Ken’s advice stays good. Don’t ever stop not dying.
Those are words to live by! Or rather not die by!
Blasphemy!
Guns aren’t scary at all. They’re beautiful. Almost as beautiful as swords.
Well… unless they’re pointed at you. Then they’re a *little* scary… I guess.
That said, those old Tanegashima were not on the prettier side of firearms, I admit… terrible design. I never understood how we didn’t skip the matchlock phase of firearms entirely and skip straight to flintlock – or at least the wheel lock.
Luckily we got there eventually, and then it was straight on to Kalashnikovs!
personally, i like the blunderbuss. early shotgun able to fire just about anything shoved down the barrel.
And this is how Genchu will vindicate the Wataro clan, by being the only one with a rifle…
Nah, his sales pitch was fine. His sales volume was a little loud, though.