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Old 09-23-2017, 01:04 PM   #96
David Johnston2
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Default Re: Spitballing a Space Opera Boxed Set

Quote:
Originally Posted by awarnock View Post
Yup, and I am aware of it, but it still has that little 'reactionless' problem. As someone else pointed out, once you take fuel out of the equation, you get planet-crackers on the cheap.
You just give your reactionless engines a maximum speed. They're magic so they can have any rules you want. For Stardivers I earnestly explain that the engines are actually jets that use "dark matter" as propellant and just like atmospheric jets they reach a point where drag balances thrust. (Technically of course that makes them pseudo-reactionless but that's a petty detail.) Fighters on the other hand use plasma rockets that have better acceleration and no set speed limit, but limited endurance.
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