Board Thread:Speculation House/@comment-203.14.52.144-20150518014116/@comment-24891101-20151027220521

Nitpick: To add flaws, you mean. That's work hardening, that is. Working the material to add defects, specifically dislocations, so that the density is so great they entangle and inhibit deformation.

Basically, I speak of their lack of expertise when it comes to weapons design, and thus the need for a strong support network of specialists to help them do the engineering to make sure they actually work. Most of the physical labor is done by the student, but not the math. They'd need specialized training over too long a period to be able to do that.