GURPS Space question

[awesomenessofme1]

The description for Marginal (Low Oxygen) says you treat the atmosphere as one pressure class lower. Does that include for the purposes of determining habitability? And if so, if that reduces the effective pressure from Very Dense to Dense, do you still lose the 1 point because it's Marginal, even though it's actually helping you?

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by awesomenessofme1

The description for Marginal (Low Oxygen) says you treat the atmosphere as one pressure class lower. Does that include for the purposes of determining habitability? And if so, if that reduces the effective pressure from Very Dense to Dense, do you still lose the 1 point because it's Marginal, even though it's actually helping you?

Two words for you.

Nitrogen narcosis.

It does help you by giving you a net +1 habitability but human lungs aren't really designed to handle nitrogen under that much pressure.

[awesomenessofme1]

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

Two words for you.

Nitrogen narcosis.

It does help you by giving you a net +1 habitability but human lungs aren't really designed to handle nitrogen under that much pressure.

I'm not sure you understand what I said. It doesn't improve habitability. As written, Very Dense plus Marginal (Low Oxygen) gives 1/4 hab points, while Very Dense plus no Marginal gives 2/4, despite the former being objectively better for human habitation.

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by awesomenessofme1

I'm not sure you understand what I said. It doesn't improve habitability. As written, Very Dense plus Marginal (Low Oxygen) gives 1/4 hab points, while Very Dense plus no Marginal gives 2/4, despite the former being objectively better for human habitation.

But it isn't. You're right, I forgot that if it didn't have Low Oxygen then it would be Habitability 2. So because it has Low Oxygen...it's still Habitability 2. It's not objectively better because with or without Low Oxygen the amount of nitrogen in your lungs is still lethal.

[awesomenessofme1]

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

But it isn't. You're right, I forgot that if it didn't have Low Oxygen then it would be Habitability 2. So because it has Low Oxygen...it's still Habitability 2. It's not objectively better because with or without Low Oxygen the amount of nitrogen in your lungs is still lethal.

Atmospheric nitrogen has no listed effects in GURPS. Even the description for Very Dense only talks in the context of oxygen.

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by awesomenessofme1

Atmospheric nitrogen has no listed effects in GURPS. Even the description for Very Dense only talks in the context of oxygen.

Perhaps that's an oversight. But when you are subjected to more than 10 atmospheres of pressure, the result is intense hallucinations. More than thirty will render you unconscious.

[awesomenessofme1]

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

Perhaps that's an oversight. But when you are subjected to more than 10 atmospheres of pressure, the result is intense hallucinations. More than thirty will render you unconscious.

That's Superdense. Very Dense is 1.51 to 10. In the specific context of the planet I'm looking at, it's around 4 atm. Superdense does have the mechanical effects you describe.

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by awesomenessofme1

That's Superdense. Very Dense is 1.51 to 10. In the specific context of the planet I'm looking at, it's around 4 atm. Superdense does have the mechanical effects you describe.

At 4 atmospheres, the effects would be mild euphoria and a slight reduction in IQ.