Subject: MYSTARA-L Digest - 1 Mar 2004 to 2 Mar 2004 (#2004-55) From: Automatic digest processor Date: 03/03/2004, 19:00 To: Recipients of MYSTARA-L digests Reply-to: Mystara RPG Discussion There is one message totalling 40 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. Stronghold Builders ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp The Mystara Homepage: http://www.dnd.starflung.com/ To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2004 22:23:00 +1300 From: Chris Furneaux Subject: Re: Stronghold Builders > Alphatia, obviously :-) Those imperialistic Thyatians will pay for > their > crimes :-) > Back to the concrete... I don't know how you call it in english, but > concrete was not used until modern times to build great buildings > because > wasn't invented yet "concrete reinforced by steel", I got you, but the romans did use it in a similar war to using stone. However it has similar properties to stone when un-reinforced (which it would be). Therfore the buildings constructed with un-reinforced concrete would look pretty much ths same as those of stone, bar the surface texture which would not be as nice (which might be one of the reasons the romans used brick/stone facing). The surface quality is one of the advantages of stone. Aditionally concrete requires formwork which is cheap in the modern age but could be comparitivly expensive in ancient times especally when the same result can be achived with stone. Finally IIRC modern concrete is different from ancient concrete. Modern concrete IIRC started with portland cement which was the 1st concrete that could set while wet. I have my notes on the history of concrete somewhere and I can check if you like. Basically concrete is not that special and I'm not sure it is a lot easier to deal with then stone. Especally without a concrete mixer, modern vibrating equipment (to remove air) etc. I would bassically lump it in with stone in the matterials. Anyway wellcome to the list, and don't worry too much, we're a pretty reasonable bunch. Chris. ------------------------------ End of MYSTARA-L Digest - 1 Mar 2004 to 2 Mar 2004 (#2004-55) *************************************************************