RiptideX1090 wrote...
RedTracer7 wrote...
1) Like the rebar in reinforced concrete, steel enhancements would strengthen one of the weakest parts of Quarian phisiology. This is especially useful when you take into consideration the added pressure quarian ankles would take, what with their recurved legs.
2) This "hole" does not create a suit breach potential, as I established that the ends are sealed in the same way the rest of her suit is. To think that these small holes would add a risk of exposure would be to disregard that the rest of her suit seems to work so well.
3) The bolt's actual use is to act as a hard point, where the suit can be directly attached to the body itself. Without that attachment, the suit could slide around, not unlike a wetsuit. Such sliding would be a disaster, when you take into consideration that Quarian suits have very localized armor. It simply wouldn't do to have that armor sliding off of the vital portions of her body that need protecting.
4) The bolts explain the holes ACTUALLY VISIBLE in her suit's shinguards.
5) From a story standpoint, the bolts act as a way in which to increase Tali's woobiness factor. It also allowed me to add in the story regarding her father, thus adding a bit of backstory.

That works from a mechanical standpoint, but not a biological one. Drilling into the bone like that would compromise her entire leg's ability to stand. Drilling two holes that leave a narrow strip of bone between them is inherently danderous, as leg bones require fibers that travel from the bottom of to bone to the top to be effective. Think of it like a bunch of straws. Tape them together. If you lay the straws on the ground and stand on them, you'll crush them. If you stand them up, you can actually stand on them withought them bending. Now drill big ass holes into that, and it's suddenly VERY inneffective.
The rest of the suit doesn't have parts that go from the inside of the bone all the way to the outside of the suit. This makes a point in the suit that is inherently weak and vulnerable to tear.
Why not use the fabric as a hard point? Using hooks or other fastening devices would be just as effective. I'm sure Shepard's armor, as well as the armor of every other character in the game works like this. Fastened to the fabric. Screwing it into the skin is just unnecessary. Why bother when you can JUST ATTATCH IT TO THE SUIT? As for the suit shiifting around, your pants will shift around more than the suit ever will. ADJUST THEM. This is an extreme solution to a VERY simple problem.
For all you know, that could simply be an articulation point for where it attatches to the suit itself, allowing flexiblity. Shepard and Garrus both have similar things on their gear, and I doubt theirs is attatched to their bone structure.
You could have just as easily blown off her fingers and legs. That would have added to the story and given you something to write about too. Just because it does those two things does NOT make it a good idea. There are far better ways you could have done both.
Let me say that my explanation, followed by your rebuttal, is thrice as long as the entire description of the bolts. It's like we are arguing about the 'Import Enhancements' that Buddha referenced in his Raela fics. But, regardless, this is about my story, and I will defend it:
First off, I know it is common (I even do it myself) to refer to the bolts as being made of "steel". In fact, I do not reveal what material they are made of, besides stating that they are a "metal". As such, let us assume that these bolts are an advanced form of the Hydroxyapatite Reinforced Polymer Biocomposites currently under research. These will, in the near future, hopefully offer a robust system in which to engineer synthetic bone substitutes with tailored mechanical, biological, and surgical functions. When we take this into consideration, your straw analogy falls short. It would be like drilling out that hole in the straws, and then adding a concrete plug. The straws would actually become stronger.
As to the suit breach, I must point out that I state that she has the holes "coated with a carbonic fiber", thus making it possible for a strong seal to be made. Without that coating, I agree that it would be difficult to establish a good seal.
Lastly, as to the emotional pull the story brings, I must disagree with the idea that "blowing off her fingers" would add the same amount of woobiness. I know you were making a rough analogy, but the shin bolts actually make sense. They are an actual part of her suit (with BTV was written to explore), and their addition to the story serves as an emotional and developmental beacon.