EMP in the TU

[Jeff M. Hopper]

I've got to go dig through my Stacks of Stuff to find it, but there was a Dragon magazine article about masers that I think had suggestions on EMP effects. I'd have to find it

Otherwise, I'd most ships would be hardened against EMP to a certain degree because they'd have to be hardened against low-level solar flare activity just to operate. I know that most of our current spacecraft are not, but they also primarily operate beneath the Van Allen belts and thus use them as a charged-particle "shield".

I'm gonna see if I can find that Dragon magazine...

 

[Jeff M. Hopper]

I've got to go dig through my Stacks of Stuff to find it, but there was a Dragon magazine article about masers that I think had suggestions on EMP effects. I'd have to find it

Otherwise, I'd most ships would be hardened against EMP to a certain degree because they'd have to be hardened against low-level solar flare activity just to operate. I know that most of our current spacecraft are not, but they also primarily operate beneath the Van Allen belts and thus use them as a charged-particle "shield".

I'm gonna see if I can find that Dragon magazine...

 

[far-trader]

Yep, Masers could do EMP effects, the US is supposedly working on such, I think they call it HPM (high power microwave). That's what I was thinking along the lines of for a man portable EMP weapon. I don't recall the Dragon article but it'd be cool if you can find it, even just the issue number, I still have a ton of the older ones around here.

 

[far-trader]

Yep, Masers could do EMP effects, the US is supposedly working on such, I think they call it HPM (high power microwave). That's what I was thinking along the lines of for a man portable EMP weapon. I don't recall the Dragon article but it'd be cool if you can find it, even just the issue number, I still have a ton of the older ones around here.

 

[kafka47]

Originally posted by far-trader:
Of course there are other ways (non-nuke) to create damaging EMP bursts. Conventional explosive EMP bombs (lesser area effect but no messy nuke effects) and electrically generated EMPulses (no explosives at all) for two.

Nukes, in the conventional sense of fusion bombs are rarely used in the Traveller Universe. What I had in mind was the whole range of weapons that utilize atomic principles and with the attendant EMP.

Man Portable EMP generator...evil...I like it. Just what would stop terrorists from acquiring one and holding cities on a world hostage?

 

[kafka47]

Originally posted by far-trader:
Of course there are other ways (non-nuke) to create damaging EMP bursts. Conventional explosive EMP bombs (lesser area effect but no messy nuke effects) and electrically generated EMPulses (no explosives at all) for two.

Nukes, in the conventional sense of fusion bombs are rarely used in the Traveller Universe. What I had in mind was the whole range of weapons that utilize atomic principles and with the attendant EMP.

Man Portable EMP generator...evil...I like it. Just what would stop terrorists from acquiring one and holding cities on a world hostage?

 

[far-trader]

Originally posted by kafka47:
Man Portable EMP generator...evil...I like it. Just what would stop terrorists from acquiring one and holding cities on a world hostage?

Well a EMPG (felt like time for an "official" designation(1) Electro-Magnetic Pulse Gun) MP (man-portable) would be pretty limited in both range and effect. Knock out vehicles, small generators, and such. Not whole cities unless you struck a critical center like a powerplant and were lucky enough to cause a cascade grid failure. Or something like a major computer server for vital communications.

Something vehicle, or starship mounted, now that could threaten cities, even worlds potentially. Ooooh, more evil genius time(2).

Of course an EMPG is likely to be moderately expensive and high tech. It'd be easier to just make a conventional terror type weapon. Terrorists aren't likely to be concerned with a clean EMP strike. They, literally, would want more bang for their buck. A local crime lord/evil genius on the other hand...

(1) Of course now I'll have to think about actually statting one up instead of just waving my hands

(2) Drat, and now bigger ones too

 

[far-trader]

Originally posted by kafka47:
Man Portable EMP generator...evil...I like it. Just what would stop terrorists from acquiring one and holding cities on a world hostage?

Well a EMPG (felt like time for an "official" designation(1) Electro-Magnetic Pulse Gun) MP (man-portable) would be pretty limited in both range and effect. Knock out vehicles, small generators, and such. Not whole cities unless you struck a critical center like a powerplant and were lucky enough to cause a cascade grid failure. Or something like a major computer server for vital communications.

Something vehicle, or starship mounted, now that could threaten cities, even worlds potentially. Ooooh, more evil genius time(2).

Of course an EMPG is likely to be moderately expensive and high tech. It'd be easier to just make a conventional terror type weapon. Terrorists aren't likely to be concerned with a clean EMP strike. They, literally, would want more bang for their buck. A local crime lord/evil genius on the other hand...

(1) Of course now I'll have to think about actually statting one up instead of just waving my hands

(2) Drat, and now bigger ones too

 

[sgbrown]

Originally posted by kafka47:
-clip-

Man Portable EMP generator...evil...I like it. Just what would stop terrorists from acquiring one and holding cities on a world hostage? [/QB]

A) Well shielded electronics
- the potential answer to why a traveller computer is so huge (backfitted answer to be sure, but still a potential answer.)

B) MPEMP detectors with it being a capital crime to have one.

c) Aggressive distain for their use - to the point of vigilante justice being acceptable and quick.

Just some thoughts.

 

[sgbrown]

Originally posted by kafka47:
-clip-

Man Portable EMP generator...evil...I like it. Just what would stop terrorists from acquiring one and holding cities on a world hostage? [/QB]

A) Well shielded electronics
- the potential answer to why a traveller computer is so huge (backfitted answer to be sure, but still a potential answer.)

B) MPEMP detectors with it being a capital crime to have one.

c) Aggressive distain for their use - to the point of vigilante justice being acceptable and quick.

Just some thoughts.

 

[Jeff M. Hopper]

Found it! Issue #51 of Dragon magazine. It just gives a cumulative -1DM to the enemy's attack rolls for each maser hit. Not affected by sand, if the target ship has a fib computer its -2 DM to hit. Pretty straightforward. No real EMP info, though. Sorry.

Oh, and with the subject of EMP weaponry today. The January 22, 2007 issue of Aviation Week & Space Technology has some good articles on High Powered Microwave weapons. BAE Systems developers have found a method that will allow for power outputs to increase by a factor of 10-100 over the next two years and allow for 100-gigawatt microwave pulses to be emitted. The designs that they are experimenting with would be high output radars that could rapidly switch to a weapon emitter setting to confuse sensors and electronics and destroy incoming missiles.

 

[Jeff M. Hopper]

Found it! Issue #51 of Dragon magazine. It just gives a cumulative -1DM to the enemy's attack rolls for each maser hit. Not affected by sand, if the target ship has a fib computer its -2 DM to hit. Pretty straightforward. No real EMP info, though. Sorry.

Oh, and with the subject of EMP weaponry today. The January 22, 2007 issue of Aviation Week & Space Technology has some good articles on High Powered Microwave weapons. BAE Systems developers have found a method that will allow for power outputs to increase by a factor of 10-100 over the next two years and allow for 100-gigawatt microwave pulses to be emitted. The designs that they are experimenting with would be high output radars that could rapidly switch to a weapon emitter setting to confuse sensors and electronics and destroy incoming missiles.

 

[Gadrin]

Originally posted by far-trader:


(1) Of course now I'll have to think about actually statting one up instead of just waving my hands

<drop my own hands suddenly>

so something that could be secreted in a cargo hold (hire a ship to transport it as part of their cargo).

I'm thinking a pirate scenario or possibly a bounty hunter who needs to make sure someone doesn't flit off.

mostly "civilian" targets.

 

[Gadrin]

Originally posted by far-trader:


(1) Of course now I'll have to think about actually statting one up instead of just waving my hands

<drop my own hands suddenly>

so something that could be secreted in a cargo hold (hire a ship to transport it as part of their cargo).

I'm thinking a pirate scenario or possibly a bounty hunter who needs to make sure someone doesn't flit off.

mostly "civilian" targets.

 

[Gadrin]

from the CT SS3 Special Supplement 3 Missiles.pdf pg7...


Fusion Warheads release great amounts of energy through hydrogen fusion. Those
below standard tech level require a fission trigger (0.1 kiloton yield) while those
at standard tech level and above achieve fusion by other means. They inflict 10
damage hits and 2 radiation hits per 0.1 kiloton of yield. Below standard tech level,
there is a minimum yield of 0.2 kilotons. Base Price: Cr1,000,000 per kiloton yield
(at tech level 8 there is a Crl00,OOO surcharge for the fission trigger; at TL 9, there
is a Cr90,OOO surcharge for the fission trigger). TL 10. Mass: 20 kilograms (40
kilograms if below tech level 10).

however this seem like waaaaaaaaaaay too much overkill for what I was envisioning (mainly price).

that's next: EMP-type device at a reasonable price, yet not being generally available.

hmmm, the OCR didn't get the zeroes/letter-O correct

 

[Gadrin]

from the CT SS3 Special Supplement 3 Missiles.pdf pg7...


Fusion Warheads release great amounts of energy through hydrogen fusion. Those
below standard tech level require a fission trigger (0.1 kiloton yield) while those
at standard tech level and above achieve fusion by other means. They inflict 10
damage hits and 2 radiation hits per 0.1 kiloton of yield. Below standard tech level,
there is a minimum yield of 0.2 kilotons. Base Price: Cr1,000,000 per kiloton yield
(at tech level 8 there is a Crl00,OOO surcharge for the fission trigger; at TL 9, there
is a Cr90,OOO surcharge for the fission trigger). TL 10. Mass: 20 kilograms (40
kilograms if below tech level 10).

however this seem like waaaaaaaaaaay too much overkill for what I was envisioning (mainly price).

that's next: EMP-type device at a reasonable price, yet not being generally available.

hmmm, the OCR didn't get the zeroes/letter-O correct

 

[Jeff M. Hopper]

Now that would work, an EMP bomb in the cargo hold disguised as a shipment.

I've gotta steal this for my own games...

 

[Jeff M. Hopper]

Now that would work, an EMP bomb in the cargo hold disguised as a shipment.

I've gotta steal this for my own games...

 

[Gadrin]

Originally posted by Jeff M. Hopper:
Now that would work, an EMP bomb in the cargo hold disguised as a shipment.

I've gotta steal this for my own games...

yeah, follow the KISS principle and stick to something reasonable. I'd envision it triggered by someone aboard.

it could be done after reaching the 100-D mark, providing, the transit time to the point was known, or if a sensor can detect the exterior gravity (and differentiate between the artificial interior G-net).

or the old, "follow 'em" and just use sensors and time the event.

seems like it'd be useful to have a person on the inside, preferably with a well-shielded comm and some workable firepower.

 

[Gadrin]

Originally posted by Jeff M. Hopper:
Now that would work, an EMP bomb in the cargo hold disguised as a shipment.

I've gotta steal this for my own games...

yeah, follow the KISS principle and stick to something reasonable. I'd envision it triggered by someone aboard.

it could be done after reaching the 100-D mark, providing, the transit time to the point was known, or if a sensor can detect the exterior gravity (and differentiate between the artificial interior G-net).

or the old, "follow 'em" and just use sensors and time the event.

seems like it'd be useful to have a person on the inside, preferably with a well-shielded comm and some workable firepower.