Annic Nova in MgT

[philabbot]

In MgT, a ship's jump drives work by injecting exotic particles into a bubble of boiling liquid hydrogen which is then blown up around the ship, creating an extra dimension through which the ship moves until the jump bubble collapses, hopefully at the desired destination (I've looked through the first few CT books, but can't find what if anything it says about this).

But the AN works on solar power - so how does it jump?

 

[Higgipedia]

Solar power charges the coils which heat the liquid hydrogen.

 

[robject]

They're magi-tech "Collectors" which charge up jump drives slowly. IMTU, jump drives are field generators not unlike screens, dampers, and globes.

 

[hdan]

But the AN works on solar power - so how does it jump?

Very carefully?

I don't think Annic Nova is compatible with MgT's version of how Jump works. Unless you assume that there is another jump technology unknown to Imperial science, or that the "Solar Energy" includes cosmic rays and solar wind particles that the drive uses instead of atomic hydrogen. Maybe that's why it takes so long to "recharge"?

 

[mike wightman]

The Annic Nova is a bit of a mystery. Even in CT its particular version of jump drive was never fully detailed. It did get a brief mention in Marc's Jumpspace article but construction rules, costs, and how it works was never fully explained.
But then, the workings of the standard jump drive have kept us arguing for years

 

[MCEvans]

Just an FYI
Signs & Portents #93 (free from DrivethruRPG.com) has Annic Nova MtG style

 

[middenface]

I drew the new model, the plans and made the specs too... it was fun.

 

[Easterner9504]

Jump

Boiling?

To Jump, a ship creates a bubble of hyperspace by means of injecting high-energy exotic particles into an artificial singularity. The singularity is driven out of our universe, creating a tiny parallel universe which is then blown up like a balloon by injecting hydrogen into it. The Jump bubble is folded around the ship, carrying it into the little pocket universe.

This new universe is short-lived, and will eventually collapse, precipitating the ship back into normal space several light-years from its original position.


The AN mirrors the standard jump by releasing electrical energy instead of direct hydrogen energy. Electrical energy discharge can create hydrogen as needed. Ship needs water though and as illustrated has only minor tankage in pods for pinnace fuel.

I added large water tank forward from above enlarged bridge to the dome level. Increased size of Deck 4 adding aft lab. Visible on Sean Kennedys work. Added more efficient solar collector, hours instead of days.

Only drawback is collector size, it makes ship far more massive than needed.

 

[rancke]

No no no no. :nonono:

The jump drive pitches the ship across a dimensional interface and into jumpspace. However, jumpspace is dense. So dense that the transistion would smash the ship. So first the drive opens a small aperture into jumpspace, then large amounts of hydrogen is injected, creating a small bubble of diluted jumpspace. Then the drive pitches the ship into that small bubble.

The hydrogen disperses quite quickly. If the ship doesn't get across within 40 minutes of the start of the process, the jump must be abandoned.

The amount of hydrogen needed is directly proportional to the volume of the ship.

Jump-2 space is denser than jump-1 space and requires twice as much hydrogen, and so on up through higher jumpspace dimensions.

And, no, this is not canon. I submit that it fits well with what is known about the behavior of the jump drive, though.


Hans

 

[philabbot]

fascinating stuff, thanks fellas - but where does the AN get that hydrogen from...?

the large water tanks above seem to work, but i like my AN just the way it is...

 

[mike wightman]

The Annic Nova does not need hydrogen because, according to Marc, the hydrogen is used by the jump drive to generate the energy (and carry away waste heat) needed for jump and nothing more.

The Annic Nova replaces the hydrogen burning fusion reactor component of the jump drive with a solar powered accumulator.

Hydrogen filled jump bubbles, hydrogen injections into jump space are pure fanon - they are not canon.

 

[rancke]

fascinating stuff, thanks fellas - but where does the AN get that hydrogen from...?

My version: The Annic Nova is built around an Ancient artifact hidden deep inside the jump drive that is a valve into a pocket universe filled with fuel-grade hydrogen.


Hans

 

[rancke]

The Annic Nova does not need hydrogen because, according to Marc, the hydrogen is used by the jump drive to generate the energy (and carry away waste heat) needed for jump and nothing more.

The Annic Nova replaces the hydrogen burning fusion reactor component of the jump drive with a solar powered accumulator.

Hydrogen filled jump bubbles, hydrogen injections into jump space are pure fanon - they are not canon.

And jump drives that only require as much energy as can be gathered by solar collectors in one to six weeks is completely setting-destroying, seeing as it would allow you to replace the fusion plant with a steam engine[*].

[*] This may or may not be a slight exaggeration, but you certainly do not need a huge fusion power plant and many tons of hydrogen to provide that level of power.​

Hans

 

[mike wightman]

So you deliberately want to start another discussion that has been had I don't know how many times before?

Fair enough.

The Annic Nova is canon - MWM's jump space article is canon and mentions how the alternative solar collector system can be used instead of fusion.

There are plenty of hand waves that can be used with the technology of the setting to allow it and not break the setting.

 

[rancke]

The Annic Nova is canon - MWM's jump space article is canon and mentions how the alternative solar collector system can be used instead of fusion.

I didn't say it wasn't canon. I said it contradicted other, crucial, parts of canon.

There are plenty of hand waves that can be used with the technology of the setting to allow it and not break the setting.

Name one. Or rather, don't bother. You tried last time we discussed it (that was you, wasn't it?) and you didn't manage it back then, so if you're just going to rehash your arguments, there's little point.

If you can demonstrate that the amount of solar energy a ship with collectors the size of the Annic Nova's can collect in a week is commensurate with the amount of energy produced by Traveller's fusion power plants in 40 minutes (that would be 200 Mwh per power point), then please do so. Otherwise, as I said, don't bother waving your hands. You're not going to fly no matter how hard you flap.


Hans

 

[mike wightman]

May I commend you on possibly the most condescending post I have ever seen you type.

 

[rancke]

May I commend you on possibly the most condescending post I have ever seen you type.

In what way is expressing a belief that you are wrong and a reluctance to rehash old arguments condescending? Dismissive, yes. But not dismissive because I feel superior to you. Just dimissive because I don't want to rehash old arguments. As stated. If you have any new arguments, I'd be happy to discuss them with you.

Or should I be asking how I can express the opinion that you are wrong in a way that you do not consider condescending?

I think perhaps that word does not mean what you think it means.



Hans

 

[mike wightman]

And with your last sentence you prove my point - thank you.

 

[far-trader]

Tone down the language, keep it civil, and discuss the topic.

 

[philabbot]

Wow, had no idea such an innocent little query could provoke such a fiery and entertaining response ;-)

Had no intention of opening up old wounds, sorry all.

2 things strike me -

1stly, 'canon' seems to be whatever version of traveller you're using says is so. I'm using MgT as my springboard (tho chucking in whatever takes my fancy from the other versions), and so it's MgT's explanation of jump drive I'm using to explain to my PCs.

2ndly, the following from hdan seems to be about the closest-acceptable 'handwave' for AN that fits the MgT setting.

I don't think Annic Nova is compatible with MgT's version of how Jump works. Unless you assume that there is another jump technology unknown to Imperial science, or that the "Solar Energy" includes cosmic rays and solar wind particles that the drive uses instead of atomic hydrogen. Maybe that's why it takes so long to "recharge"?

Finally, thanks to MCEvans & middenface for the Signs&Portents heads-up. I like the artwork, especially. One question, though - the build price for the ship seems to have doubled (CT says MCr 200; yours says 400). Is there an inflationary spiral operating from CT to MgT that I missed?