Saltpeter discovered

[Skips]

Wait...how are people using gunpowder without saltpeter? iirc gunpowder requires 75%saltpeter (potassium nitrate), 10% charcoal and 15% sulphur?

The saltpeter was mainly there to provide oxygen for the other ingredients when its lit. No good reason not to use it as a meat preservative as all three ingredients are totally harmless independantly..its when they are mixed that they become explosive. (I believe it is the reaction between the charcoal and the sulphur that causes the main reactive force.) Also its salty...hence saltpeter.

It's the nitrate part of it that makes it good as a fertiliser btw.

 

[Tibur753]

Wait...how are people using gunpowder without saltpeter? iirc gunpowder requires 75%saltpeter (potassium nitrate), 10% charcoal and 15% sulphur?

Saltpeter was removed as a resource because it would be too game changing because there would be too many units you can't build. Think about not having oil. You wouldn't be able to build ships, planes, or tanks. That at least lets you build Infantry and marines. Think about being stuck with longbows the whole game!

 

[Dryhad]

Saltpeter was removed as a resource because it would be too game changing because there would be too many units you can't build. Think about not having oil. You wouldn't be able to build ships, planes, or tanks. That at least lets you build Infantry and marines. Think about being stuck with longbows the whole game!

Well as you said Riflemen and subsequent units could be made without it. You don't actually have to mine saltpetre to make gunpowder, I believe they synthesise it nowadays.

 

[buffalo6542]

please get rid of post.