dragoner said:
. . . MWM, posits in T5 the availability of "disposable" Gauss Rifles in the future, save even more on your armorer costs by just pitching the rifle after a certain number of rounds have been fired through it, and then print more rifles as needed.
. . .
I don't have T5, but this is an interesting observation. It sounds like Marc Miller thought through some consequences of
Baumol's cost disease; in this case, the way the cost of a skilled repair technician would greatly exceed the cost of heavily automated manufacturing.
In the case of a disposable Gauss rifle, it seems like it should be possible to build a weapon that could fire hundreds of rounds every day for years -- and for marksmanship training that's a good idea -- but that to minimize cost and weight, regular issue weapons might be built with less reinforcement against material fatigue, and maybe a rounds fired counter that advises replacement when the recommended service life has passed, and refuses to function when the weapon decides that it's no longer safe to use. (The latter feature would have an "I'll take my chances" override for soldiers awaiting resupply under a siege, of course)
A disposable weapon near the end of its service life might be a good gimmick to offer characters who like the idea of a powerful weapon, but aren't going to like the consequences of using it in a game where combat is deadly. I can imagine an unscrupulous back alley weapons dealer obscuring the rounds fired indicator, and tripping the override on an expired weapon right before showing eager player character buyers that it works. Then next time they fire it after some sort of rough treatment (dropping it, nearby grenade blast, etc.), the entire acceleration channel crumples into a twisty mess of advanced materials.