Computers

[Rupert]

So maybe this is why there's the 100-diameter limit, outside which these n-bodies reduce to negligibility and allow much simpler calculation. It's jumping inside the limit where you definitely need to juggle n-body math, which apparently they still can't do at TL15.

It might be interesting if very high TL computers could jump closer than 100 diameters.

Inside 100 diameters is a 5-point penalty, so if the rules was a one-point penalty per parsec of jump, and a one-point bonus per level of Jump program, at high TLs low-diameter jumps become reliable if they're of short range (and your computer has sufficient power).

Add some variability to the sub-100 diameter penalty for more variety if desired - say one point per 10 diameters under down to 10 diameters, and a further -1 per diameter under that. Then allow a Jump-7 program, so those with really big computers have something to use that capacity for.

 

[Badenov]

Inside 100 diameters is a 5-point penalty, so if the rules was a one-point penalty per parsec of jump, and a one-point bonus per level of Jump program, at high TLs low-diameter jumps become reliable if they're of short range (and your computer has sufficient power).

Add some variability to the sub-100 diameter penalty for more variety if desired - say one point per 10 diameters under down to 10 diameters, and a further -1 per diameter under that. Then allow a Jump-7 program, so those with really big computers have something to use that capacity for.

That would be an interesting dynamic, because if you had a Jump 1 ship running Jump 2 software, you could jump to 90 diameters using those mechanics. A Jump 6 program on a J-1 route would let you jump to 50 diameters, cutting your inbound leg in half. However, per LBB2, 'Transit time to 100 diameters from a size 8 world takes 5 hours at 1 G.' Cutting that in half probably isn't meaningful unless you're conducting an attack or making an escape. 5 hours at 1G works out to about 2 hours at 6G, cutting that to an hour and a half for 50 diameters at 6G thrust, still plenty of time to scramble your defenses, so probably not a huge tactical factor. Enemies jumping in to 2 hours vs enemies jumping in to 1.5 hours really isn't that huge a thing, that I can see.

 

[mike wightman]

It might be interesting if very high TL computers could jump closer than 100 diameters.

I love it. Simple, elegant, easily adopted.
40+ years playing refereeing, and discussing and you come up with something I had genuinely never considered.

I will now mull this over for inclusion...

 

[Condottiere]

I'd say more likely that you shrink the spherical error probable, rather than violarite laws of physics.

 

[mike wightman]

This is another bump for computer rating being part of your to-hit roll in LBB5. It seems like the shipboard computer's primary job is fire control, and jump control is a secondary feature.

I agree to a point, but the considerable energy cost of the higher TL computers is more likely dues to sensor requirement than processing power.

A model 9 computer is 12EP, the same as a four triple laser turret battery. Using 250 MW per EP that is an awful lot of power running through computer circuits.

 

[mike wightman]

So maybe this is why there's the 100-diameter limit, outside which these n-bodies reduce to negligibility and allow much simpler calculation. It's jumping inside the limit where you definitely need to juggle n-body math, which apparently they still can't do at TL15.

Hmm, perhaps it requires quantum sentience to allow it.

Wonder how those Imperial Research Station experiments into using living brains to navigate their jump ships are going...

at higher TLs there is of course quantum consciousness (cybernetic) and later quantum consciousness (electronic)

 

[mike wightman]

I'd say more likely that you shrink the spherical error probable, rather than violarite laws of physics.

Mexican hat.

 

[Badenov]

I agree to a point, but the considerable energy cost of the higher TL computers is more likely dues to sensor requirement than processing power.

A model 9 computer is 12EP, the same as a four triple laser turret battery. Using 250 MW per EP that is an awful lot of power running through computer circuits.

Well, a lot of power for a just a computer. But if it's computer, sensors, EW, and commo gear, that all adds up, and it all sucks power. EW, in particular, and that's pretty key for the +Computer rating.

 

[Grav_Moped]

Well, a lot of power for a just a computer. But if it's computer, sensors, EW, and commo gear, that all adds up, and it all sucks power. EW, in particular, and that's pretty key for the +Computer rating.

That's been my assumption for a while now: most of the "computer" power requirements are for ECM transmissions.