GURPS Space: Stardrives

Diomedes · 04-02-2008, 05:43 PM

A simpler hyperdrive:

Quadratic Hyperdrive

Navigation is easy with this drive. You simply get your starship on the right heading, speed up to a decent clip, and engage the drive. In hyperspace, your effective speed is modified by 200,000. At the other end, you have to slow down again.

Two interesting consequences fall out of this drive:

1) The fastest trip of a given distance will involve spending a quarter of the time speeding up, another quarter slowing down, and half in hyperspace.
2) Assuming the above ratio, the distance travelled is proportionate to the square of the time involved.

Both these facts assume that the starship has sufficient ∆V to speed up and slow down again; otherwise, it can go no faster, and the ratio of time to distance becomes linear after that point.

The high velocity on has on exiting hyperspace means that warships will have limited tactical options upon arrival, unless they can manage to match velocity with their targets from interstellar distances. So popping into orbit from nowhere is probably out.

This drive is simpler than the previous one; no nodes to create choke points. The quadratic relationship between time and distance means that an interstellar empire can spread pretty far, while still requiring a decent amount of time to get around the core.

04-02-2008, 05:43 PM	#19
Diomedes Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Dallas, TX	Re: GURPS Space: Stardrives A simpler hyperdrive: Quadratic Hyperdrive Navigation is easy with this drive. You simply get your starship on the right heading, speed up to a decent clip, and engage the drive. In hyperspace, your effective speed is modified by 200,000. At the other end, you have to slow down again. Two interesting consequences fall out of this drive: 1) The fastest trip of a given distance will involve spending a quarter of the time speeding up, another quarter slowing down, and half in hyperspace. 2) Assuming the above ratio, the distance travelled is proportionate to the square of the time involved. Both these facts assume that the starship has sufficient ∆V to speed up and slow down again; otherwise, it can go no faster, and the ratio of time to distance becomes linear after that point. The high velocity on has on exiting hyperspace means that warships will have limited tactical options upon arrival, unless they can manage to match velocity with their targets from interstellar distances. So popping into orbit from nowhere is probably out. This drive is simpler than the previous one; no nodes to create choke points. The quadratic relationship between time and distance means that an interstellar empire can spread pretty far, while still requiring a decent amount of time to get around the core.