[Shipyard] The Xboat discussion

[aramis]

Assuming the above is accurate, how are plasma/fusion guns technically viable weapons?

They are shooting down down a partially evacuated path, and splashing at 5,000°K+ into the target...

The partially evacuated path is heated by a laser, then the plasma is ejected out along it. Fusion guns don't actually continue to fuse after the chamber opens, but that plasma is still probably 20k-30k°K.

Moving plasma, I'm told, forms a skin. But that skin is less essential since the ionized tube that the laser created both guides and forms that skin for it... There's very little interaction at short range with the air... but as the beam strength drops and widens... hence the massive penalties at longer ranges.

They cook what they hit, as they spend a bunch of time there...

 

[whulorigan]

Suppose a Unified J-Drive/P-Plant Unit displaces 75% of the total displacement of the two units calculated separately?

That satisfies the first item.
Now, what's the drawback or drawbacks?

Suppose the "optimized" dual-unit is significantly more difficult (i.e. time-consuming and/or expensive) to repair, or is more susceptible to damage to both systems from a single hit in combat.

 

[Selandia]

combination J+P

nice idea of very limited practical application (that is the drawbck). If Eng space with an integrated J+P= J + (50 % PP), the only reason why you would not buy 100% pp is because you do not have M drive. Otherwise, you need what: another 50%? a whole new additionnal PP?. Only pure Jumpers would benefit from it ( BTW I believe in Jumpers for high volume services that justify the tug/tender infrastructure).

Are we trying to go back to when a PP number was tied to M and not to J? That would be the same thing. With capacitor that can hold the charge for extended duration, I easily see PP operating J at twice their rating.

As far as weaponization is concern, new type of capacitors are a way to explain TL effect.

Without the capacitors (or a like tech explanation) "integration" is merely optimizing hardware space (same components, less space) at the expense of elbow room for maintenance.

This take for granted that the "integrated" PP provide power for life support and vector thruster (unless you want your jumper to be a controless ball) and have operating fuel. Thruster were always seen as coming with M drive, since no special entry were made in ship design (and jumper -the XBoat- special case). On Jumpers, you must have those factored in as a fractionnal M (M>1g) and figure the impact on the PP.

have fun

Selandia

 

[Condottiere]

Find capacitors that can hold a charge longer.

 

[Ackehece]

A recent thread that weaved its way through the varied and byzantine rules of powering the jump drive reminded me of two Oral Traditions in Traveller which are currently Canonical but only loosely defined.

First, the Self-processing Jump Drive: a jump drive that requires no power plant.

Second, the Xboat... with a maneuver drive:[FONT=arial,helvetica]

[/FONT]

No power plant jump drive:
drawbacks?

potential:

1. Longer time in Jump
2. Longer jump entry - stuck in a defenseless position for 15 minutes when entering jump
3. Jump requires a 1 week layouver to recharge
4. makes navigation task 1 die harder

Xboat M drive
seems fair.... no need for super speed like .25 grav or something
I really don't see the worry about them being able to maneuver themselves.
the idea is that they are packet ships correct? if they can maneuver themselves then they might survive a misjump. In major ports you can still use tenders to support them as it would be faster turnaround.

 

[Selandia]

Find capacitors that can hold a charge longer.

yes, As your TL increase you have capacitor that hold 150% (TL 11), 200% (TL 12 J-2 on PP1), 250% (TL 13) etc... so you ultimately perform J4 on a PP with volume of PP1,

For the shake of argument, 100% at TL 10 + 50% per additionnal TL?

hace fun

Selandia

 

[kilemall]

They are shooting down down a partially evacuated path, and splashing at 5,000°K+ into the target...

The partially evacuated path is heated by a laser, then the plasma is ejected out along it. Fusion guns don't actually continue to fuse after the chamber opens, but that plasma is still probably 20k-30k°K.

Moving plasma, I'm told, forms a skin. But that skin is less essential since the ionized tube that the laser created both guides and forms that skin for it... There's very little interaction at short range with the air... but as the beam strength drops and widens... hence the massive penalties at longer ranges.

They cook what they hit, as they spend a bunch of time there...

Hmm rereading this I’m not convinced. I would read it as an optimized version of the very well understood and used munroe effect. Not chemical per se, but effective force isn’t burning through, it’s kinetic.

The other part is I didn’t clarify the weaponized statement well. I meant more as a power source driving a PA/meson like weapon operating at several times the power of conventional spinals, not a direct plasma effect.

 

[Condottiere]

It is Easter.

So, official rules set has evolved, in the meantime.

You could always add jump capacitors to deal with the overflow from black globe energy absorption, so attaching those to the jump drive shouldn't be an issue, as an add on.

You can shrink jump drives by upto thirty percent, and by association, thereby increase jump capacitor energy density; in theory, replace the default jump capacitors with these.

Then, you need to know how fast the energy charge within jump capacitors leak, to that minimum requirement.

 

[Grav_Moped]

It is Easter.