They still need gunpowder and bullets (or musket balls, or whatever) to make them work, and the gunpowder (at least) won’t like being wet. Eijiro might find himself in trouble, still, if he can’t get those guns to fire.
(by the way, Alex? Any updates on my commission?)
http://www.nn4b.com suburban_samurai
It’s coming this week, I promise! (at least a first pass barring any changes).
Technically the ammo and gun powers are in the barrels that did not go into the river.
Leo
Also, Japan had gunpowder before it had firearms. They got it from China and used it for their cannons. Still, though, it wasn’t their specialty (naval warfare wasn’t a priority during the Sengoku Jidai) so I imagine Ricardo’s gunpowder would still be fairly valuable.
Kid Chaos
If anyone can get away with standing up to Nataku, it’s Eijiro! 👹
Flaming Squirrel
And he’s doing it sitting down!
http://www.nn4b.com suburban_samurai
Too observant, I can’t keep up!
IDPounder
Style looks a little different today, Alex. Could just be me, but Nataku’s body seems different, and his head a lot longer, especially in panel 7. Epic beard there, though! It looks like it could conquer Japan all by itself.
Flaming Squirrel
His head a bit fuller of himself? Eyebrows a little angrier?
Christopher Gargani
Are either of those two things possible?
http://www.nn4b.com suburban_samurai
I kind of drew and inked this one a little fast. DON’T TELL NOBODIES OR ELSE!
IDPounder
Your secret is safe with me, sir! Well, me and my thousands of Internet friends. But they’re totes chill.
charles81
I think the Japanese still had gunpowder back in the day… At least I’m presuming their rockets and fireworks had the same stuff in them, or close enough. I doubt musket balls would have been ruined by the water. Even then, the gunpowder barrels may well have been waterproof.
http://www.fennecfoxpress.com David A. Tatum
Well, who knows what happened when in the NN4B universe, but in real history Japan imported most of its fireworks for hundreds of years; they didn’t start manufacturing their own gunpowder (or rather, didn’t start manufacturing their own SALTPETER, a key component of gunpowder) until the mid-16th C (nearly 500 years after China, and nearly 300 years after Europe).
So, gunpowder production would begin right around the same time as guns were introduced. I’m not saying the guns are USELESS, but Eijiro might still be in trouble until they find a reliable source of gunpowder.
(and yes, musket balls could have been ruined by the water, if they weren’t dried off and oiled promptly; they tend to rust quickly).
This is No Need For Bushido; an alternate world where anacronisms abound. Whether NN4B-Japan has a long-established gunpowder industry or is just going to be setting it up, who knows? Besides, I was saying more that those guns can’t be fired NOW, with the
gunpowder wet, and so Eijiro would have trouble proving to Nataku that yes,
these aren’t toys — not until he can do something about the gunpowder.
Christopher Gargani
I could be totally wrong, but for some reason I have the impression that the gun Nataku threw was dropped on the ground instead of falling into the river with the others.
http://www.nn4b.com suburban_samurai
There is a crate in front of him that’s open in the first panel, implying he opened it and took a look at one of the guns.
charles81
Really Nataku, those men just about had to fish for YOU.
Hfar
They say that the strength of the gun back then was not just its power but its ease of use. With just a few days training a man with a gun could theoretically kill a man who’s spent years training with a sword. I’ve got a sinking suspicion this concept may be dawning on Eijiro.
SlugFiller
That’s actually only half of it. The gun had to compete with the bow (not the sword), which had better range, accuracy, and even firing rate. However, it took a lifetime to properly train a bowman to stretch a bow and hit a target, while it took only a couple of days to arrange a battalion of gun-armed conscripts.
Near the birthtime of the guns, archers were like snipers today – one shot one kill – while gunmen were more like an angry mob.
In the NN4B universe, however, bows are apparently easy enough for farmers to be trained with in just a couple of days, less lethal-per-volume than swords (A whole battalion of archers is needed to do the damage a single swordsman does), while guns have significantly higher yield and accuracy, while lacking in quantity. So historical rules clearly do not apply.
http://www.nn4b.com suburban_samurai
Alas, poor history, how we abuse you!!
Xinef
Nataku’s life must be miserable… with people almost never standing up to him, he’s never learned the value of good constructive criticism :c
Flaming Squirrel
It’s not that they don’t offer constructive criticism, it’s just that his rebuttal for said criticism is often applying a sword to their innards.
clogboy
From brat to idealist in less than ten pages. This kid may yet become a good leader and a strong political adversary for Ina. She needs her uncle now.
http://www.nn4b.com suburban_samurai
No spoilers, but I am super excited for coming Eijiro plot stuff!
Xinef
The one where he marries Ina, because Yorikiro would not make for a good daimyo?
http://www.nn4b.com suburban_samurai
Yeah, that one!
Kid Chaos
You’re just messing with me, right? RIGHT??? Oh, crap… 😯
endplanets
Next strip: brat gets stabbed for talking back and then is kicked into a shallow grave (that’s the “plot” stuff.)
Flaming Squirrel
Nataku is just FULL of dramatic poses today! Work it, Natty, yeah!
Warcodered
My favorite kimono will not of been ruined in vane.
Flaming Squirrel
I was bored and had a little free time today, so I made this.
http://www.nn4b.com suburban_samurai
When will Nataco learn that the tacos are always suspect?!
IDPounder
Stick to the spring rolls.
Flaming Squirrel
Nataco Bell 😀
TekServer
This taco has cheese in it.
It’s mine.
It’s nacho taco.
😎
endplanets
You stupid youngsters with your selfies and rifled rifles. Back in my day stabbing people worked just fine.
“Hey Dad, how are the new weapons working?”
“Quite well… Did you said Nataku wanted to let them float away?”
“Well, he wanted to kill Gen-”
“Looks like you’re getting a promotion!”
“Promotion from family heir?”
“You’re a general now, look alive”
BeigePaladin
“goddamnit how could you let genchu get away – I mean sure, I, the far more experienced, skilled and probably physicaly stronger and faster warrior got my ass handed to me by him in a way that was, quite frankly, downright embarasing…
but this is all your fault Enjiro
Now take this magic long range killystick that I’m discouraging and don’t point it at me. we chill bro?”
wpd7
Just started this today and I have to say that I love the story and the artwork.
