Noisy 10

DemiBenson · 06-04-2021, 07:38 AM

One of my (new to GURPS) players first pass at a steam-powered magical golem included Noisy 10(!)
I explained why this was probably not what he wanted, but now I’m curious - just how loud is that?

whswhs · 06-04-2021, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DemiBenson

One of my (new to GURPS) players first pass at a steam-powered magical golem included Noisy 10(!)
I explained why this was probably not what he wanted, but now I’m curious - just how loud is that?

Each level of Noisy gives +2 to Sense rolls. Ten levels give +20. Doubling the range is -1 to Sense rolls, so +20 cancels out twenty doublings. You can hear it as well at 8 miles as you can a sound at the threshold of hearing at half an inch. I would call it 200 dB. Note that the limit of undistorted sound in air is 194 dB, so this is equivalent to an explosive shockwave.

A jackhammer is 120 dB and is just audible at 64 yards with an unmodified Sense roll. That might be a reasonable level. Call it Noisy 6. It will cause long-term hearing damage but doesn't quite reach the threshold of pain. [It looks as if long-term hearing damage is possible for anyone out to 4 yards.]

[Alternatively, a gasoline engine is 90 dB, or +9, or 4 1/2 levels of Noisy. You might say that a steam engine is Noisy 5.]

See p. 21 of GURPS Powers: Enhanced Senses for more on this.

ericthered · 06-04-2021, 08:06 AM

Well, its a +20 to hear you. That means that you are as easy to notice from 5000 yards away as a normal person would be when walking by 2 yards away.

That's about 3 miles. I think that's under commercial jet levels. I think.

EDIT: its louder. Hearing uses a different table.

ericthered · 06-04-2021, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whswhs

Doubling the range is -1 to Sense rolls

I thought doubling the range would give a -2 to sense rolls, once converted to the speed/range table.

whswhs · 06-04-2021, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericthered

I thought doubling the range would give a -2 to sense rolls, once converted to the speed/range table.

Not for hearing. See p. B358 for the hearing distance table, which uses a different function than the speed/range table. The table in Enhanced Senses elaborates on this but assumes the same basic progression.

WingedKagouti · 06-04-2021, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whswhs

I would call it 200 dB.

A quick google search claims that 185-200 dB is potentially lethal for humans.

whswhs · 06-04-2021, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WingedKagouti

A quick google search claims that 185-200 dB is potentially lethal for humans.

Note my comment that 200 dB is an explosive shock wave.

The Colonel · 06-04-2021, 11:05 AM

...more of a Heavy Metal golem by the numbers then...

Anders · 06-04-2021, 11:15 AM

Must be the "Iron Man" Ozzy sings about.

WingedKagouti · 06-04-2021, 11:19 AM

It's also worth noting that 120 dB is immediately dangerous to human hearing.

A 194 dB "sound" will still be above 120 dB at 2.5 miles (at least according to one online calculator I found). If it's actually 200 dB, then it will still be above 120 dB at 5 miles.

Noisy 10 is essentially only appropriate for explosions capable of levelling cities.

06-04-2021, 07:38 AM	#1
DemiBenson Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Boston, Hub of the Universe!	Noisy 10 One of my (new to GURPS) players first pass at a steam-powered magical golem included Noisy 10(!) I explained why this was probably not what he wanted, but now I’m curious - just how loud is that? __________________ Demi Benson

06-04-2021, 08:06 AM	#3
ericthered Hero of Democracy Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: far from the ocean	Re: Noisy 10 Well, its a +20 to hear you. That means that you are as easy to notice from 5000 yards away as a normal person would be when walking by 2 yards away. That's about 3 miles. I think that's under commercial jet levels. I think. EDIT: its louder. Hearing uses a different table. __________________ Be helpful, not pedantic Worlds Beyond Earth -- my blog Check out the PbP forum! If you don't see a game you'd like, ask me about making one! Last edited by ericthered; 06-04-2021 at 08:28 AM.

06-04-2021, 11:05 AM	#8
The Colonel Join Date: Jul 2006	Re: Noisy 10 ...more of a Heavy Metal golem by the numbers then...

06-04-2021, 11:15 AM	#9
Anders Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Gothenburg, Sweden	Re: Noisy 10 Must be the "Iron Man" Ozzy sings about. __________________ “When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love ...” Marcus Aurelius

06-04-2021, 11:19 AM	#10
WingedKagouti Join Date: Oct 2007	Re: Noisy 10 It's also worth noting that 120 dB is immediately dangerous to human hearing. A 194 dB "sound" will still be above 120 dB at 2.5 miles (at least according to one online calculator I found). If it's actually 200 dB, then it will still be above 120 dB at 5 miles. Noisy 10 is essentially only appropriate for explosions capable of levelling cities.