Once again, I get a good question my players. Although this question can also apply to Rolemaster (all versions), it got asked in the Spacemaster campaign. I searched the forums, but there were no topics devoted to just Time Travel. Just posts that mention "time travel" in passing. And all of those are 3+ years old.
Question: Why can't we time travel?
I did not give them an answer right away. Besides, I just hate always saying, "It's impossible," all the time. I'd rather give a good reason why it is virtually impossible, instead of just saying it is impossible. Below is the response I am currently working on. Please give me some feedback on what y'all think.
Time TravelTime Travel has become one of the most exploited subjects. No other subject has elicited as much speculation in all fields of writing: science-fiction, romance, drama, suspense, and even theoretical physics. In this section, I cover how I handle time travel. Basically, anyone achieving the capability to telephase through time simply ceases to exist in the current timeline and slips into another, yet different, timelime, regardless. Even if you try to get back to your original timeline, you will never make it. Each time you try, you just create another timeline. The best you can do is to find another timeline very similar to your original timeline.
IMHO, in real life, I do not think time travel is possible. Even our current understanding of physics does not say that time travel is impossible. Nor do they say it is possible. When I say time travel, I do not mean the nice little "tricks" we can use to "appear" to time travel by using relativistic velocities or close approach to an immense gravitational field. I mean true time travel much like opening a portal and stepping through like walking through a doorway. Even if it were possible, I believe one would truly cease to exist in their original timeline and slip into another timeline. And each time they telephase, they simply go into yet another completely different timeline. And if they keep doing it, they may get so far removed from their original timeline, that the timelines they enter become more and more different than their original timeline. The timelines may even get to a point where they are completely insane and unrecognizable. One could even say that this would be similar to the sci-fi TV show
Sliders (
Wikipedia and
IMDB and an
Unofficial Site).
Into the PastTravelling into the past is handled rather simply. Since you will slip into another completely separate timeline, differences between the timelines can be virtually nil to extremely drastic. To determine the differences between the two timelines, use the below equation:
Equation 1) oed100 - 200 - Mod; where oed100 = unmodified open-ended d100 roll, and Mod = -1 per 5 days travelled into the past. NOTE: Travelling one 365-day year into the past would mean a Mod of -65.
Equation 2) oed100 - Mod; where oed100 = unmodified open-ended d100 roll, and Mod = -1 per 5 days travelled into the past. NOTE: Travelling one 365-day year into the past would mean a Mod of -65.
The greater the negative number, the greater and more drastic the differences. Basically, time travel into the past is usually not done.
Into the FutureTravelling into the future is handled in the same manner as travelling into the past. However, the chances of differences are more drastic than travelling into the past. Reasoning: The future has yet to happen and possesses many more possibilities. To determine the differences between the two timelines, use the below equation:
Equation 1) oed100 - 500 - Mod; where Roll = unmodified open-ended d100 roll, and Mod = -1 per day travelled into the future. NOTE: Travelling one 365-day year into the future would mean a Mod of -365.
Equation 2) oed100 - Mod; where Roll = unmodified open-ended d100 roll, and Mod = -1 per day travelled into the future. NOTE: Travelling one 365-day year into the future would mean a Mod of -365.
The greater the negative number, the greater and more drastic the differences. Basically, time travel into the future, also, is usually not done.
Another question. Do you think Equations 1 are too drastic? Or, not drastic enough? Or, are Equations 2 good enough?
rmfr