09-26-2013, 12:38 AM | #1 |
Join Date: Feb 2011
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Alternatives to base Spaceships?
I admire the Spaceship ruleset for making rocket science something that can be done with no counting device more complicated than fingers (and, potentially, toes). It's quite flexible, as well; I think the basic system might serve for naval vessels, zepplins, or whatever thematic vehicles people invent for various other settings.
However, there are a few flaws... Firstly, small vessels, particularly extremely small fighters and mechs, are too fine for the granularity of the system. Second, extremely large vessels are forced to be somewhat specialized. In fact, this is most notable with medium ships; the Millenium Falcon (A smuggling, cargo, combat, passenger speedster) is harder to simulate than the Death Star (A really big gun). Those are more thematic issues than practical ones. The only real practical issue with Spaceships might be the difficulty of figuring out loaded weight vrs. unloaded weight and effective speed. The fact that the rocket equation is built into the fuel tank system is impressive and useful, but not entirely accurate, especially with modern, realistic ships that are mostly fuel and have much higher accelleration empty than full. These are certainly reasonable sacrifices! It would be formidable to say the least to have players calculate acceleration and delta-V over time for their ships, and recalculate for their current cargo and missile loads... I've seen the Spaceships Spreadsheet, and it looks good, but it doesn't address these shortcomings. Is there are similar spreadsheet or computer program that allows for a more fine-grained spaceship simulation? I'm imaging that it would allow a ton-by-ton breaktdown of systems aboard a ship (300 tons of fusion pulse engine, 10 tons sensor equipment...) and a results tally (Ship is SM +8, X00 yards long, 700 dHP, has following attacks...). If not, does anyone else want a more detailed ship building system? |
09-26-2013, 01:08 AM | #2 | |
Join Date: Mar 2008
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Re: Alternatives to base Spaceships?
Quote:
You'd probably have to make your own spreadsheet, though. |
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09-26-2013, 07:09 AM | #3 | |
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Oz
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Re: Alternatives to base Spaceships?
Quote:
Otherwise I agree with Irenaeus: the base rules in GURPS Spaceships were a little bit awkward at times, but the "smaller systems" rules on p.4–5 of Spaceships 7 provide plenty of fineness in the grain where it is wanted.
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Decay is inherent in all composite things. Nod head. Get treat. Last edited by Agemegos; 09-26-2013 at 07:20 AM. |
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09-26-2013, 09:54 AM | #4 |
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Forest Grove, Beaverton, Oregon
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Re: Alternatives to base Spaceships?
The only one glaring omission in the rules I find is the lack of aerial propeller motive systems. I mean, we have jet engines, and screw propellers for Spaceships!, but no way to write up basic prop planes?
Realistic blimps would need them too, as just having gas bags won't get you far or at least the direction you may want.
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Beware, poor communication skills. No offense intended. If offended, it just means that I failed my writing skill check. |
09-26-2013, 10:01 AM | #5 | |
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Yorkshire, UK
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Re: Alternatives to base Spaceships?
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There have been extras for ther Spaceships system published in Pyramid - I can't see Propellers in the issues I have, but I am missing the Vehicles issue at least. |
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Tags |
rules variant, sci-fi, science fiction, space, spaceships, vehicles |
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