Reaching the space stage without usage of guns

[domin2ktr]

Sulfur is quite common in the universe, and it is also one of the most important organic compounds, so it must be on the planet (otherwise there would be no life on it). Charcoal is simply cellulose overheated without oxygen. (In any case, there must be wood on the planet, otherwise the problem of civilizations without fire arises.)
There are no problems with saltpeter either, as it can be created by simply putting limestone, manure (or other rotting components), and some dried vegetation into a pit. Then it’s up to the nitrifying bacteria (which will definitely be there, because without them the ecosystem will not be able to function).

[aah31415 (The maker of SitF, Radiostrocity, The Lifenote and TGBing; The Second Ascended...; And just maybe a security warning come alive...?)]

Hm. Would the civ being blind decrease the chance of guns arising, at least early on?

[AnthropocenianAge (AnthropocenianAge Arthropleura wants to give you a hug!)]

I do wonder whether the discovery and creation of gunpowder and rockets/guns would be hindered by a species that is afraid of loud sounds/explosions?

[domin2ktr]

I think they basically won’t be able to use long-range weapons if they don’t have any way to perceive distances and objects at distances greater than 2 meters, and there are also many other problems: How will they, for example, pilot an airplane or a rocket?
If they have a way to perceive the position, direction and distance of objects without eyes (for example through echolocation), then they should have no problems.

[aah31415 (The maker of SitF, Radiostrocity, The Lifenote and TGBing; The Second Ascended...; And just maybe a security warning come alive...?)]

Guns seem irreplaceable and unavoidable for most civs then…

[domin2ktr]

This can be solved simply by military training. Horses and people are afraid of explosions, but properly trained people and horses are not afraid of explosions.

[aah31415 (The maker of SitF, Radiostrocity, The Lifenote and TGBing; The Second Ascended...; And just maybe a security warning come alive...?)]

I wonder just how far back in tech terms could a civ discover firearms…

[AnthropocenianAge (AnthropocenianAge Arthropleura wants to give you a hug!)]

Even if the fear is evolutionary ingrained/genetic?

[aah31415 (The maker of SitF, Radiostrocity, The Lifenote and TGBing; The Second Ascended...; And just maybe a security warning come alive...?)]

Why would a species fear explosions this much? I suppose if it lived on a volcano planet with plenty of thunderstorms, but just maybe that’d be…

[domin2ktr]

Even so, you can overcome fear. For example, the fear of snakes and spiders has a genetic component, but it can still be overcome. It can also even slightly encourage the use of explosive weapons, since they can instill fear in the enemy.

[aah31415 (The maker of SitF, Radiostrocity, The Lifenote and TGBing; The Second Ascended...; And just maybe a security warning come alive...?)]

Would there ever be a reason for a species to LIKE explosions naturally?

[AnthropocenianAge (AnthropocenianAge Arthropleura wants to give you a hug!)]

Perhaps if they were made to be living weapons? Or if they are a deaf species, so the sound does not affect them?

[aah31415 (The maker of SitF, Radiostrocity, The Lifenote and TGBing; The Second Ascended...; And just maybe a security warning come alive...?)]

Or maybe a species which correlates explosions with “destruction” and happens to live the best off of animals that run away or are killed by the said “destruction”?