Author Topic: Max velocity in SM:P? (Read 8473 times)

markc · « **on:** July 14, 2009, 02:17:14 PM »

What is the max velocity in SM:P of starships?

MDC

Steve_990 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 14, 2009, 02:23:03 PM »

Lightspeed?

Defendi · « **Reply #2 on:** July 14, 2009, 03:56:11 PM »

Lightspeed.

markc · « **Reply #3 on:** July 14, 2009, 05:59:49 PM »

Thanks I was just wondering how fast a ship could go before it engaged the Quantum Drive.

MDC

Defendi · « **Reply #4 on:** July 14, 2009, 11:42:39 PM »

There is no such thing in physics. I suppose you could get to a point where interstellar dust damaged the ship, but I don't think anyone would practically get there.

providence13 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 15, 2009, 08:24:55 AM »

There is no such thing in physics. I suppose you could get to a point where interstellar dust damaged the ship, but I don't think anyone would practically get there.

That's a good thing to remember!
I read a story where ships that got close to c would use spray down the hull with ice to act as an ablative shield. There's still a chance you won't make it; but it helped a bit.

Also, I really like the light speed limit! Not many people use it in Sci-Fi, but it does add another layer of drama to travel. The time difference in campaigns is a great way to describe how players might drop out of a game for a few years. With a crew not dependent on planet-time and existing solely on ship-time, an entirely new culture could develop. SpaM:P is really cool 'cause it's easily adaptable.

David Johansen · « **Reply #6 on:** July 15, 2009, 03:35:07 PM »

Mind you the closer to the speed of light you get the greater your apparent mass is. Now, the apparent mass of fuel probably keeps pace but reactor power doesn't so you probably cap out somewhere around 99/100c.

Incidentally Robert what on earth possessed you to give PCs reactionless drives and zero point energy?

I lose more planets that way...

Defendi · « **Reply #7 on:** July 15, 2009, 11:49:50 PM »

What are your players doing that you're allowing them to bring a planet to escape velocity?

markc · « **Reply #8 on:** July 16, 2009, 01:04:06 AM »

I have been thinking about limiting the max velocity by RIF tech level, what do you think?

Why? well I think I need to have a max velocity to provide the old situation that two ships both have the same acceleration profile but one will eventually catch the other so something has to be done by the ship that cannot out run the other one. I already have an in game reason for the above to happen but I think I need another one to go along with it.
IMO it makes sense that different tech "part" could regulate the max speed of a craft does it make sense to you? I was thinking about maybe .7c as a starting point and increasing by some factor for every .1 of a Tech level. So tech level 20.6 will go .6x faster than tech level 20 ship.

Thanks
MDC

David Johansen · « **Reply #9 on:** July 16, 2009, 02:35:05 PM »

Quote from: Defendi on July 15, 2009, 11:49:50 PM

What are your players doing that you're allowing them to bring a planet to escape velocity?

Well, usually it starts with oort cloud asteroids and salvaged drive systems. And there's a disturbing tendancy for it to involve friendly Xanotasian worlds. Why?

Nothing makes PCs squirlier than a friendly Xanotasian queen.

Defendi · « **Reply #10 on:** July 16, 2009, 03:06:00 PM »

Quote from: markc on July 16, 2009, 01:04:06 AM

I have been thinking about limiting the max velocity by RIF tech level, what do you think?

Why? well I think I need to have a max velocity to provide the old situation that two ships both have the same acceleration profile but one will eventually catch the other so something has to be done by the ship that cannot out run the other one. I already have an in game reason for the above to happen but I think I need another one to go along with it.
IMO it makes sense that different tech "part" could regulate the max speed of a craft does it make sense to you? I was thinking about maybe .7c as a starting point and increasing by some factor for every .1 of a Tech level. So tech level 20.6 will go .6x faster than tech level 20 ship.

Thanks
MDC

I think it's a pretty spectacular violation of physics.

If you need it, though, you can probably figure out some way to rationalize it.

Defendi · « **Reply #11 on:** July 16, 2009, 03:07:54 PM »

Quote from: David Johansen on July 16, 2009, 02:35:05 PM

Well, usually it starts with oort cloud asteroids and salvaged drive systems. And there's a disturbing tendancy for it to involve friendly Xanotasian worlds. Why?

Nothing makes PCs squirlier than a friendly Xanotasian queen.

Wow. That's a pretty big investment in time. I guess if you're going to commit planetary genocide, though, a few years is a small price to pay.

markc · « **Reply #12 on:** July 16, 2009, 03:14:17 PM »

Maybe a Q Drive that allows for faster acc then other Q Drives. Or I guess I can gave the Pilot and Nav make a few FTL rolls to reflect an interactive requirement of using a Q Drive.

MDC

Defendi · « **Reply #13 on:** July 16, 2009, 03:15:30 PM »

There are already different scales of Q drive, btw.

Defendi · « **Reply #14 on:** July 16, 2009, 03:18:57 PM »

But I can't blame them. Friendly Xatosian queesns make me squirly too.

markc · « **Reply #15 on:** July 16, 2009, 05:12:35 PM »

Quote from: Defendi on July 16, 2009, 03:15:30 PM

There are already different scales of Q drive, btw.

Correct they modify the speed. I was thinking about maybe modifying them so they also let the ship accelerate faster than normal.
MDC

Steve_990 · « **Reply #16 on:** July 16, 2009, 05:27:42 PM »

Maybe ships could use the gravity pull of planetary bodies in order to increase velocity. Or sling shot through atmoshperes...

Could make for some dramatic piloting rolls.

Defendi · « **Reply #17 on:** July 16, 2009, 07:12:19 PM »

Mark, they change the distance, not the speed. So both acceleration and relative speed are apparently effected (not actually, but that's splitting a hair).

Steve, The acceleration isn't likely to be affected much by a slinghot at the speeds we're talking about it here, but a talented pilot can do things with a large stellar body and a forced orbit the will turn another pilot's hair white. Especially when atmospheres are involved.

providence13 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 16, 2009, 08:52:45 PM »

a talented pilot can do things with a large stellar body and a forced orbit the will turn another pilot's hair white. Especially when atmospheres are involved.

Is that a Starship Troopers (the book) quote?

markc · « **Reply #19 on:** July 17, 2009, 12:27:07 AM »

1) So do you guys have any idea on a way to make FTL piloting or regular piloting rolls matter in a starship chase scene?

2) How would you RP upping the power to the engines [over and above normal] to make better time/get away/get to another ship?

Thanks
MDC

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Author Topic: Max velocity in SM:P? (Read 8473 times)