From: djwj <djwj@e...>
Date: Tue, 13 Apr 1999 10:20:43 -0600
Subject: Re: Vacuum
> C. Downes-Ward wrote: > I did some thinking on this some time ago, based on the way that one range band closer would be more accurate. Gravity has as much affect on a modern projectile as air resistance, maybe even more. Oerjan Ohlson probably would know more specifics on that than me. > and HEL's as if they were one size class bigger. changing the validities to: red and yellow (red v.s. abalative) would produce a more consistant increase in power. The class 1 HEL using the previous suggestion would gain 100% of it's firepower while a class 5 would gain only 20% > Using the Striker figures it suggested increasing the range of DFFG's DFFGs as the PSB in DSII goes atmosphere dosen't affect range, magnetic containment does. *As a sidenote I've been soing some research on the Railgun (see thread on "Weapon Naming Madness"). The scientific device (a one farad or larger capacitor, two stainless steel rails, and a copper wire for ammunition) can fire plasma: the superheated copper wire, two ways: The first is to use a nozzle that will accellerate the plasma to supersonic speeds. This gets the plasma out to range before it dissipates using speed instead of containment(this more or less fits the PSB and the range/damage profile for the DFFG) The second way (as far as I know is HIGHLY theoretical) is to use three microwave horns (one for each axis) and pulse microwaves at the plasma just as it leaves the rails. The plasma should develop a circular orbit to the pulse, generating it's own magnetic field. Multiple shells of plasma will exist each containing the others. This is a very large weapon, definately NOT man portable, the generators alone would take a single truck to carry. It is quite possible that the only "practical" thing that could carry such as device would be as starship designed for planet destroying (and strangely enough the Death Star's main gun looks like how such a railgun might work.) Oerjan Ohlson I know that you use the term railgun to mean something like DSII's HKP (using a plasma accellerant to throw a slug at hypervelocities) but my background is in science, I use railgun to refer to the plasma accellerator, because there are at least three ways to make one work as a weapon. In any case they are a moot point as far as modern military practicality. The energy requirements are too great and the recharge times are unacceptable in combat. Maybe in 200 years the technology will be there to make them viable. The original post from Laserlight said that Alarshi troops prefer DFFGs, they might also use the HKP for longer range fire as they use similar ignition sources. anyways back to the vacuum problem: > Other thoughs: -1 to the required damage points? > CFE and HMT powerplants are non-starters CFE and HMT engines can be space profed easily enough. All it requires is a LOX tank (1 capacity or 1 x class capacity?, points = 20 x class? This is a suggestion I just came up with 30 seconds ago, it needs some analysis and feedback. Maybe no capacity requirement?) > How much does it cost to vaccum proof a turret ring? or in other words Turret rings will probably already be space profed. The treatment of biochemical weapons in DSII assumes that all AFVs are airtight. The expectation of firing and impact stresses on AFV subassembalies will probably require that the AFV is spaceproof in order to not become unsealed on a contaminated battlefield > I could not decide what happened to conventional artillery, especially The game effect on MAK is negligeable, MAK's don't rely on explosive shrapnel but area saturation with shaped charge warheads (even on SGII a 2 yard HEAT warhead explosion will only affect one target) HEF explosions may or may not be affected depending if they can gain more than 100 yards in range (1 inch at scale) The explosion itself probably won't change as the energy released will travel farther, but there will be no superheated air to cause burns evening out for game statistics > If you use the optional abandoned vehicles rule from p45 I can see the agreed. 1 in 6 instead of 3 in 6 (infantry crews will probably be equipped with thin space bodysuits for such emergencies.) > Should there be a possibility of any "Damaged" result being converted Life support comprimise isn't the first thing to worry about. Simply unsealing the AFV is very likely to cause explosive decompression, reducing the crew to a fine red (or green depending on blood color) paste near the impact site. All the more reason that a crew might choose to evacuate (optonal evac rule modification above) is the threat of being violently sucked through a hole the size of a football, lined with hot jagged edges,..... I think that we don't need to visualise the end of THAT outcome... okay that's my $0.02 plus inflation, tax, and intrest