Quote:
Originally Posted by warellis
If one has reactionless engines, a refrigerated hull, & some form of heat sinks, how much easier is it to have some type of "stealth" in space?
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Well back in the thread, I said I didn't think there were any rules for that.
I wasn't entirely right about that.
The external radiator design switch includes rules (not very involved or realistic, likely, but rules) for ships overheating when the radiators are retracted, and for using heat sinks to hold off that event. These could provide a starting point to build on.
While I don't see any rules about how that interacts with detection, it would be reasonable to suggest that reactors have reduced heat signature when radiators are shut down. (Rockets probably shouldn't, because of hot exhaust, but that doesn't matter if you're using reactionless.)
If you give that a -2 to signature, fission reactors are compatible with stealth. If you gave a -3 or more, all reactors would be.