[Spaceships][Vorkosigan] Off-Size Systems and Power

SCAR · 06-13-2009, 11:20 AM

GURPS Vorkosigan includes a custom version of Spaceships, and as part of that it has an inset on 'Off-Size Systems', i.e. installing smaller and larger systems in a Spaceship (SM +/-1) and half-systems.

It states: Smaller power plants can only power other small systems.

Installing a Big Gun is one of the listed reasons for installing a larger system in a spaceship.

Nothing however is mentioned about the Power requirement for a larger system, except, since a smaller power plant (e.g. SM+7) can't provide enough power for a normal system (e.g. SM+8), then we have to conclude that a normal power plant (e.g. SM+8) can't power a larger system (e.g. SM+9).
Therefore, as well as installing a larger gun, you would have to install a larger power plant to power the gun.

This raises the question of how many normal sized systems can a larger power plant supply? (more generally, what sort of scaling is there between Power Points and different SM's?)
If a smaller-power plant simply cannot provide enough power for a normal system (as stated), can you assume that a larger power plant can power all smaller systems for free? or for 1 PP.

This would make installing a one SM larger power plant in a spaceship much more economical than 3 or more normal SM power plants!

I know some of this has been discussed in various threads, but I'm fairly sure that Vorkosigan is the first official appearance of rules for Off-Size systems, and I'm hoping there might be some official ruling on this sort of issue, perhaps in a future Spaceships supplement?

06-13-2009, 11:20 AM	#1
SCAR Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Yorkshire, UK	[Spaceships][Vorkosigan] Off-Size Systems and Power GURPS Vorkosigan includes a custom version of Spaceships, and as part of that it has an inset on 'Off-Size Systems', i.e. installing smaller and larger systems in a Spaceship (SM +/-1) and half-systems. It states: Smaller power plants can only power other small systems. Installing a Big Gun is one of the listed reasons for installing a larger system in a spaceship. Nothing however is mentioned about the Power requirement for a larger system, except, since a smaller power plant (e.g. SM+7) can't provide enough power for a normal system (e.g. SM+8), then we have to conclude that a normal power plant (e.g. SM+8) can't power a larger system (e.g. SM+9). Therefore, as well as installing a larger gun, you would have to install a larger power plant to power the gun. This raises the question of how many normal sized systems can a larger power plant supply? (more generally, what sort of scaling is there between Power Points and different SM's?) If a smaller-power plant simply cannot provide enough power for a normal system (as stated), can you assume that a larger power plant can power all smaller systems for free? or for 1 PP. This would make installing a one SM larger power plant in a spaceship much more economical than 3 or more normal SM power plants! I know some of this has been discussed in various threads, but I'm fairly sure that Vorkosigan is the first official appearance of rules for Off-Size systems, and I'm hoping there might be some official ruling on this sort of issue, perhaps in a future Spaceships supplement?