[Spaceships] Re-entry and armour systems

EGerbil · 10-14-2009, 09:42 AM

I'm sure I read somewhere in Spaceships a rule about the armour that a ship has to have to make re-entry in a given atmosphere, but for the life of me I can't find reference to it now. Could anyone let me know where the rule's written, or if my mind's just playing tricks on me and no such rule actually exists?

Ulzgoroth · 10-14-2009, 10:18 AM

I don't think there's one in any published Spaceships PDF.

nerdvana · 10-14-2009, 10:26 AM

Perhaps you are thinking of "A streamlined spacecraft must be given at least one armor system on its front or central hull." on p10? Not really what you were mentioning but I could see a mistaken connection forming there...

SuedodeuS · 10-14-2009, 10:33 AM

Is there any official GURPS ruling on how much damage per second re-entry causes? I suspect it would be a formula using velocity and atmospheric pressure. Once you've figured that out, you can figure out how much armor your craft needs.

I suspect, however, that one armor system is sufficient once you get into TL8+ military grade armor.

Ulzgoroth · 10-14-2009, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuedodeuS

I suspect, however, that one armor system is sufficient once you get into TL8+ military grade armor.

Maybe...depending on just how fast you intend to re-enter! If you can get away with it, you could save some fuel by re-entering at full interplanetary speed...

EGerbil · 10-14-2009, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nerdvana

Perhaps you are thinking of "A streamlined spacecraft must be given at least one armor system on its front or central hull." on p10? Not really what you were mentioning but I could see a mistaken connection forming there...

I suspect you're right, and since the last time I went through the PDF I mistakenly made the connection between that and re-entry. Thanks for clearing it up.

David Johnston2 · 10-14-2009, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EGerbil

I suspect you're right, and since the last time I went through the PDF I mistakenly made the connection between that and re-entry. Thanks for clearing it up.

It's not mistaken. That's the reason why streamlined craft need an armor system.

Ulzgoroth · 10-14-2009, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

It's not mistaken. That's the reason why streamlined craft need an armor system.

I hope not, since that's something that would have been easy and valuable to state if true.

Plus, not all streamlined craft need to reenter and some unstreamlined craft can reenter (and not just ones with soft landing systems).

nerdvana · 10-14-2009, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ulzgoroth

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

It's not mistaken. That's the reason why streamlined craft need an armor system.

I hope not, since that's something that would have been easy and valuable to state if true.

Plus, not all streamlined craft need to reenter and some unstreamlined craft can reenter (and not just ones with soft landing systems).

I have to agree here. I've never seen any rules that stated that unstreamlined craft cannot perform reentry maneuvers (although I conceed that obviously it would be harder for them)

David Johnston2 · 10-14-2009, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ulzgoroth

I hope not, since that's something that would have been easy and valuable to state if true.

Can you think of another reason for such a requirement?

Quote:

Plus, not all streamlined craft need to reenter and some unstreamlined craft can reenter (and not just ones with soft landing systems).

What other use would there be for a streamlined spacecraft except to go in and out of atmosphere?

10-14-2009, 09:42 AM	#1
EGerbil Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: LV-426	[Spaceships] Re-entry and armour systems I'm sure I read somewhere in Spaceships a rule about the armour that a ship has to have to make re-entry in a given atmosphere, but for the life of me I can't find reference to it now. Could anyone let me know where the rule's written, or if my mind's just playing tricks on me and no such rule actually exists?

10-14-2009, 10:18 AM	#2
Ulzgoroth Join Date: Jul 2008	Re: [Spaceships] Re-entry and armour systems I don't think there's one in any published Spaceships PDF. __________________ I don't know any 3e, so there is no chance that I am talking about 3e rules by accident.

10-14-2009, 10:26 AM	#3
nerdvana Join Date: Nov 2006	Re: [Spaceships] Re-entry and armour systems Perhaps you are thinking of "A streamlined spacecraft must be given at least one armor system on its front or central hull." on p10? Not really what you were mentioning but I could see a mistaken connection forming there...

10-14-2009, 10:33 AM	#4
SuedodeuS Join Date: Sep 2008	Re: [Spaceships] Re-entry and armour systems Is there any official GURPS ruling on how much damage per second re-entry causes? I suspect it would be a formula using velocity and atmospheric pressure. Once you've figured that out, you can figure out how much armor your craft needs. I suspect, however, that one armor system is sufficient once you get into TL8+ military grade armor. __________________ Quos deus vult perdere, prius dementat. Latin: Those whom a god wishes to destroy, he first drives mad.