How strong is a car?

kdtipa · 01-18-2019, 10:10 AM

If I wanted to have a Strength score for a normal sedan, how would I figure out something logical for it?

Horsepower and Basic Lift?
I guess I could try to figure out something with 150 horsepower or so. The lists a cavalry horse at ST 22. The basic lift would then be ~97 pounds. 150 times that would be 14,520. Then figuring out the ST based on that as a basic lift would mean a ST of ~270.

Car Weight and Basic Lift?
Or maybe using an average car weight of 4000 pounds, and the pulling rules on page 353 of the basic set, I could figure something out? For a four wheeled cart, you divide weight by 20, and then for being on smooth road you halve the effective weight again... so for purpose of pushing or pulling a car on a road, it would count as only 100 pounds. For a ST that is not encumbered by 100 pounds, we'd need a strength of ~23 (a little stronger than one horse). But maybe strength is a factor in speed too for a car, while it isn't for a person running by the rules.

Something Else?
What else might make sense?

To give an example when it might matter, imagine a car pushing a large robot that also weighs around 4000 pounds toward the edge of a cliff. The robot is fighting back by pushing back. It sounds like a contest of strength, and the robot already likely has a strength score. How would I find a ST for a car that makes sense and is balanced against ST scores in other contexts?

Juca · 01-18-2019, 10:23 AM

Well, I think that you can look into the car's ST score, don't? It is something around 45-60.

kdtipa · 01-18-2019, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Juca

Well, I think that you can look into the car's ST score, don't? It is something around 45-60.

From what source? Is that in the basic set somewhere?

Fred Brackin · 01-18-2019, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kdtipa

From what source? Is that in the basic set somewhere?

The big chart on p.464 of Campaigns. The third column is labelled "ST/HP".

kdtipa · 01-18-2019, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred Brackin

The big chart on p.464 of Campaigns. The third column is labelled "ST/HP".

Alright well I feel a bit foolish. Didn't see it in the table of contents.

Donny Brook · 01-18-2019, 01:57 PM

Unfortunately, until GURPS Vehicles 4e comes out, determining the exact stats of a particular car is not so easy.

Flyndaran · 01-18-2019, 04:36 PM

Don't forget that Strength is whatever is leftover from what's necessary to move. Two vehicles with the same horsepower but different masses would have different Gurps Strength scores.

Prince Charon · 01-18-2019, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

Don't forget that Strength is whatever is leftover from what's necessary to move. Two vehicles with the same horsepower but different masses would have different Gurps Strength scores.

Also, some vehicles are better for relatively-slow pulling than for speed.

Maz · 01-19-2019, 02:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prince Charon

Also, some vehicles are better for relatively-slow pulling than for speed.

This could be represented by giving them lifting ST.

Prince Charon · 01-19-2019, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maz

This could be represented by giving them lifting ST.

True, the question then becomes 'how much?' which varies from vehicle to vehicle.

Speaking of, though, I'm wondering if anyone can think of a car that you could justify adding striking ST to, because I can't at the moment.

01-18-2019, 10:10 AM	#1
kdtipa Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Southern New Hampshire	How strong is a car? If I wanted to have a Strength score for a normal sedan, how would I figure out something logical for it? Horsepower and Basic Lift? I guess I could try to figure out something with 150 horsepower or so. The lists a cavalry horse at ST 22. The basic lift would then be ~97 pounds. 150 times that would be 14,520. Then figuring out the ST based on that as a basic lift would mean a ST of ~270. Car Weight and Basic Lift? Or maybe using an average car weight of 4000 pounds, and the pulling rules on page 353 of the basic set, I could figure something out? For a four wheeled cart, you divide weight by 20, and then for being on smooth road you halve the effective weight again... so for purpose of pushing or pulling a car on a road, it would count as only 100 pounds. For a ST that is not encumbered by 100 pounds, we'd need a strength of ~23 (a little stronger than one horse). But maybe strength is a factor in speed too for a car, while it isn't for a person running by the rules. Something Else? What else might make sense? To give an example when it might matter, imagine a car pushing a large robot that also weighs around 4000 pounds toward the edge of a cliff. The robot is fighting back by pushing back. It sounds like a contest of strength, and the robot already likely has a strength score. How would I find a ST for a car that makes sense and is balanced against ST scores in other contexts?

01-18-2019, 10:23 AM	#2
Juca Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Neverland	Re: How strong is a car? Well, I think that you can look into the car's ST score, don't? It is something around 45-60.

01-18-2019, 01:57 PM	#6
Donny Brook Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Snoopy's basement	Re: How strong is a car? Unfortunately, until GURPS Vehicles 4e comes out, determining the exact stats of a particular car is not so easy.

01-18-2019, 04:36 PM	#7
Flyndaran Untagged Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Forest Grove, Beaverton, Oregon	Re: How strong is a car? Don't forget that Strength is whatever is leftover from what's necessary to move. Two vehicles with the same horsepower but different masses would have different Gurps Strength scores. __________________ Beware, poor communication skills. No offense intended. If offended, it just means that I failed my writing skill check.