Accumulators: A concept for GURPS Spaceships

YankeeGamer · 01-01-2018, 08:32 PM

I was originally thinking of space opera, in particular, Lensman style accumulators, that store energy for use in a battle, or anything else, as dramatically necessary. It seems that, if I want the "accumulators" to do both, it would need to include both batteries for long term storage, and capacitors for firing the weapons, after charging them from the batteries.

Goal is to have extra energy for whatever needs it, without extra reactors, be it for firing a weapon, entering hyperspace when hyperspace needs 5 power points and a reactor has one, but only need those 5 power points for a moment...

Medium hard science fiction to Space Opera--and I learned a lot here.

I know that model railroad locomotives use a capacitor on some fancier DCC (Digital Command Control--fancy electronic comtrol for model trains) to keep it going over short sections of dead track. Beyond that, I didn't really know much about capacitors or batteries.

Ulzgoroth · 01-01-2018, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YankeeGamer

entering hyperspace when hyperspace needs 5 power points and a reactor has one, but only need those 5 power points for a moment...

This is the kind of thing that, at Spaceships resolution, is most likely just an integral part of the hyperdrive. Just as many weapons likely incorporate on-mount capacitors to translate between steady reactor power in and intense spike power needed for firing, below the resolution of the system.

Kale · 01-02-2018, 12:52 PM

I think they would have to be background specific. If you are running a space opera game go ahead and create an Accumulator system that stores X power points where X is whatever doesn't break your game. This will skew your ship designs into those with smaller reactors, at least for short engagements. Smaller ships with limited endurance like fighters will probably favor accumulators over reactors.

01-01-2018, 08:32 PM	#1
YankeeGamer Join Date: Dec 2017	Re: Accumulators: A concept for GURPS Spaceships I was originally thinking of space opera, in particular, Lensman style accumulators, that store energy for use in a battle, or anything else, as dramatically necessary. It seems that, if I want the "accumulators" to do both, it would need to include both batteries for long term storage, and capacitors for firing the weapons, after charging them from the batteries. Goal is to have extra energy for whatever needs it, without extra reactors, be it for firing a weapon, entering hyperspace when hyperspace needs 5 power points and a reactor has one, but only need those 5 power points for a moment... Medium hard science fiction to Space Opera--and I learned a lot here. I know that model railroad locomotives use a capacitor on some fancier DCC (Digital Command Control--fancy electronic comtrol for model trains) to keep it going over short sections of dead track. Beyond that, I didn't really know much about capacitors or batteries.

01-02-2018, 12:52 PM	#3
Kale Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Cowtown, Canada	Re: Accumulators: A concept for GURPS Spaceships I think they would have to be background specific. If you are running a space opera game go ahead and create an Accumulator system that stores X power points where X is whatever doesn't break your game. This will skew your ship designs into those with smaller reactors, at least for short engagements. Smaller ships with limited endurance like fighters will probably favor accumulators over reactors. __________________ FYI: Laser burns HURT!