I seems to remember reading or hearing at some point that if you tried to look outside a vessel during jump, you'd go insane. Does this sound familiar to anyone? If so, what's the source and cannonicity of jump madness? Do you have to open the airlock to observe j-space? Can a computer recreate the effect or would your holo just show static? Any ideas or house rules out there?
Jump Madness
- Thread starter Arsulon
- Start date
This reminds me of an article I read for early Warhammer 40k. It mentions that within Warpspace (Jumpspace) live a variety of beasties, most of which are very unpleasant.
What you see can't always be believed, but sometimes... well it's probably best that you don't get tempted to look...
daryen
SOC-14 1K
Actually, as we will see when the third JTAS reprint is published, one of the threads covered in the final CT TNS reports was of Commander Churner, the first known person to make contact with hyperspace (jumpspace) and survive.
The final TNS report mentioning him (140-1112 in Challenge 27) says that he was gradually recovering from his complete loss of equilibrium.
justindurkan
SOC-6
In MTU, there exists a religious sect who consider the image of the jumpspace bubble to be the face of God. Only the most devout can view and survive.
Of course they are all totally nuts but, man, do they cause mayhem to liner traffic?
/JD
Of course they are all totally nuts but, man, do they cause mayhem to liner traffic?
/JD
Neat. That reminds me of the Anabeth Ghouls from the Regency Sourcebook: hijacking liners so they can snuff it on j-translation. The religious significance attached to jumpspace actually reminds me of the Orlamu from Alternity or a similiar (heretical) sect from Fading Suns.
If anyone needs a misjump module, there's a real gem in Challenge #75. The entire crew and compliment of passengers start to go nuts while in the hole thanks to a bit error in the drive: naturally the players have to sort it out.
If anyone needs a misjump module, there's a real gem in Challenge #75. The entire crew and compliment of passengers start to go nuts while in the hole thanks to a bit error in the drive: naturally the players have to sort it out.
The Hinterworlds Rambler
SOC-14 5K
So what clinical form of madness are we talking here? Schizophrenia? This all sounds a little too "Armageddon" (Steve Buscemi gets the laughably moronic "Space Psychosis" near the end of this poopie piece of cinema)
What about debilitating epiliptic type seizures with a long recovery time or far reaching effects?
The real question is how can a Sophont's Brain percieve the mystery of Jump Space? Isn't it a dimension "outside" or "beyond" the third?
How would a (spits) Psionic be affected?
On one hand its kind of cool that there is a "Here There be Monsters" Rumor/Psychosis about it, but there must have been some form of hard Research done on it, What? Jump Drives have been in use for quite a while...
Yet another interesting topic...
What about debilitating epiliptic type seizures with a long recovery time or far reaching effects?
The real question is how can a Sophont's Brain percieve the mystery of Jump Space? Isn't it a dimension "outside" or "beyond" the third?
How would a (spits) Psionic be affected?
On one hand its kind of cool that there is a "Here There be Monsters" Rumor/Psychosis about it, but there must have been some form of hard Research done on it, What? Jump Drives have been in use for quite a while...
Yet another interesting topic...
Liam Devlin
SOC-14 5K
The adventure in Challenge#75 included megalomania in one passenger; monomania in the Dr. NPC; extreme paranoia in an imperial remnant Marine NPC (typical DN anti-imp eyewash); serial killer pyschosis in another...and examples of several others.
This from a "jump space embolism" on the ship.
(travelling in RC space from one RC planet to another on a J-3 Stellar 600dtn Sub liner).
This from a "jump space embolism" on the ship.
(travelling in RC space from one RC planet to another on a J-3 Stellar 600dtn Sub liner).
An "epiliptic type seizure" condition for those unfortunate enough to have come into physical contact with JSpace sounds reasonable enough given that such contact could be wildly disorientating/disturbing to the individual affected - the "here there be monsters" rumour/psychosis phenomonon also works well with this. On the other hand for a small majority such contact may be pleasurable giving rise to "jump cults" in the same vein as those found in the Fading Suns RPG.
Perhaps this is why such research into the matter has been stifled. Given the prolification of Jump Drive technology across known space, JSpace contact could be a draw to many "thrill seekers" -enough people today engage "extreme" sports to get their kicks - perhaps JSpace contact is the ultimate thrill but comes with the risk of the ultimate cost (Psychosis/Coma like state)
On the other hand perhaps research has been conducted into JSpace contact (which seems reasonable given the length of time humaniti in particular has has Jump Drive technology) and "something" is out there in JSpace - something so alien/horrifing/incomprehensible that it really is a danger and could affect the perception of Jump technology as a reasonably safe method of transport - even if the risk of something accually happening is remote. After all perception usually outweighs the facts when it comes to the average person making a decision (for example after 9/11 the public perception was that the risk of plane hijacking was dramaticly increased - in reality due to increased vigilance and airport/aircraft security the risk was in reality reduced - none the less passengers stayed away in droves...and nearly 2 years later many are still shunning air travel)
More ideas on the subject?
Liam: Thanks for mentioning the ex-marine remnant from "Jump Madness" (I think that's what the module was called.) I just loved that guy. I know he was supposed to be a anti-Imperial propaganda but the idea of that guy mentally re-fighting a 5FW ground action and calling nosy players "stinkin' Zho sympathizers" gave me the nostalgic warm fuzzies. I'd like to use him as a recurring NPC. What the heck was his name?
I like the Lovecraftian "Things Man Was Not Meant to Know" tie-in with j-space. This might make for an excuse to dust off my copy of Dark Conspiracy's "Dark Races, Vol. I" for all those dimensional horrors. Maybe j-space could be inhabited by creatures that can only interact with us if we directly observe them: or similarly, perhaps trying to observe jumpspace attracts their attention. Imperial society might have banned private research into the phenomenon because surviving contact with it can cause the spontaneous manifestation of psionic abilities. Bereft of the discipline instilled by proper psionic training, AND traumatized by the experience itself, a deranged but charismatic figure could emerge who claims to represent the Outsiders (as evidenced by his "gifts.") There's a good basis for a cult. What with the meritocratic, worldly cynicsm of the RC, a cult like that could fill the spiritual void of the disenfranchised, too poor or lacking in talent to leap to the stars.
I like the Lovecraftian "Things Man Was Not Meant to Know" tie-in with j-space. This might make for an excuse to dust off my copy of Dark Conspiracy's "Dark Races, Vol. I" for all those dimensional horrors. Maybe j-space could be inhabited by creatures that can only interact with us if we directly observe them: or similarly, perhaps trying to observe jumpspace attracts their attention. Imperial society might have banned private research into the phenomenon because surviving contact with it can cause the spontaneous manifestation of psionic abilities. Bereft of the discipline instilled by proper psionic training, AND traumatized by the experience itself, a deranged but charismatic figure could emerge who claims to represent the Outsiders (as evidenced by his "gifts.") There's a good basis for a cult. What with the meritocratic, worldly cynicsm of the RC, a cult like that could fill the spiritual void of the disenfranchised, too poor or lacking in talent to leap to the stars.
Liam Devlin
SOC-14 5K
I gotta go and look it up! (I'm at work presently!). Yer welcome. 
