[Spaceships] Power Points for Smaller Systems?

Stripe · 06-19-2013, 01:14 PM

Spaceships 7: Divergent and Paranormal Tech, p. 4, allows for smaller systems to be installed into vessels using the stats for hardware for a vessel one SM smaller. A few systems require special treatment, and those are noted, but the rules on p. 4 only discuss smaller power systems not being able to power larger systems.

Rules as written and canonically speaking, what about smaller systems powered by larger reactors? If a ship generates four power points and has four high-powered systems and only one high-powered smaller system, does that system effectively use a whole power point that could be used for regular SM systems?

Page references appreciated.

Thanks!

vicky_molokh · 06-19-2013, 01:23 PM

IIRC RAW they are incompatible. But by common sense, small PPs should count as 1/3 of a normal PP (in both directions).

Stripe · 06-19-2013, 01:26 PM

Thanks. Naturally, I agree that it should, but I'm wondering what RAW is on the matter and where it's located.

Ulzgoroth · 06-19-2013, 01:27 PM

SS7 pages 4 and 5 say nothing about the power consumption of smaller systems in terms of full-size power points. Thus if you're playing at strict reading rather than trying to do the right thing, logically a small system which consumes one power point still consumes an entire power point even if it comes from a bigger reactor. You'd be well advised to include smaller system power plants instead.

Obviously, if you're trying to do what makes sense, each full-size system power point can be used as three smaller system power points.

RyanW · 06-19-2013, 06:00 PM

Or a simpler but less precise method: a system split into smaller subsystems counts as a high power system if any of the subsystems do.

Anthony · 06-19-2013, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyanW

Or a simpler but less precise method: a system split into smaller subsystems counts as a high power system if any of the subsystems do.

Practically speaking, unless you have a subsystem that consumes more than one power point, this will always work and has the benefit of being a simple rule.

ericbsmith · 06-19-2013, 10:29 PM

Canonically, the mention in Spaceships 7 is the only place where power usage is discussed.

Spaceships 8 has one ship, the Golub-Class USV (p. 38) with a Smaller SM Weapon Battery and a full sized reactor. The Smaller SM System location is listed as being high powered. OTOH, the Sudbury-Class USV on p. 39 has a Smaller Weapon Battery and a Fuel Cell to power it, and the Smaller SM System is not listed as being high powered, though the Weapon Battery does have a [!] notation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyanW

Or a simpler but less precise method: a system split into smaller subsystems counts as a high power system if any of the subsystems do.

That seems to be what was decided upon for Spaceships 8 - unless the entire Smaller SM System is self-powered, in which case it doesn't count as a high powered system.

Personally I would just combine them, with Smaller Power Points counting as 1/3 of a full Power Point. That's why I offer that option in my Spaceships Design Spreadsheet.

SCAR · 06-20-2013, 02:31 AM

Small System Power Points counting as 1/3 of a Full Power Point is also consistent if you look at Beam Weapon Output.

For Example:
A Medium Battery at SM+10 can mount 3x 1GJ Beams - which requires 1 (SM+10) PP
Using Small Systems, an SM+10 slot can hold 3x SM+9 Major Batteries, each of which would be 1GJ and each of which would require 1x SM+9 PP.

Therefore, 1x (SM+10) PP = 3x (SM+9) PP.

06-19-2013, 01:14 PM	#1
Stripe Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Midwest, USA	[Spaceships] Power Points for Smaller Systems? *Spaceships 7: Divergent and Paranormal Tech, p. 4, allows for smaller systems to be installed into vessels using the stats for hardware for a vessel one SM smaller. A few systems require special treatment, and those are noted, but the rules on p. 4 only discuss smaller power systems not being able to power larger systems. Rules as written and canonically speaking, what about smaller systems powered by larger reactors? If a ship generates four power points and has four high-powered systems and only one high-powered smaller system, does that system effectively* use a whole power point that could be used for regular SM systems? Page references appreciated. Thanks! __________________ . "How the heck am I supposed to justify that whatever I feel like doing at any particular moment is 'in character' if I can't say 'I'm chaotic evil!'"? —Jeff Freeman

06-19-2013, 01:23 PM	#2
vicky_molokh GURPS FAQ Keeper Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Kyïv, Ukraine	Re: [Spaceships] Power Points for Smaller Systems? IIRC RAW they are incompatible. But by common sense, small PPs should count as 1/3 of a normal PP (in both directions). __________________ Vicky 'Molokh', GURPS FAQ and uFAQ Keeper

06-19-2013, 01:26 PM	#3
Stripe Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Midwest, USA	Re: [Spaceships] Power Points for Smaller Systems? Thanks. Naturally, I agree that it should, but I'm wondering what RAW is on the matter and where it's located. __________________ . "How the heck am I supposed to justify that whatever I feel like doing at any particular moment is 'in character' if I can't say 'I'm chaotic evil!'"? —Jeff Freeman

06-19-2013, 01:27 PM	#4
Ulzgoroth Join Date: Jul 2008	Re: [Spaceships] Power Points for Smaller Systems? SS7 pages 4 and 5 say nothing about the power consumption of smaller systems in terms of full-size power points. Thus if you're playing at strict reading rather than trying to do the right thing, logically a small system which consumes one power point still consumes an entire power point even if it comes from a bigger reactor. You'd be well advised to include smaller system power plants instead. Obviously, if you're trying to do what makes sense, each full-size system power point can be used as three smaller system power points. __________________ I don't know any 3e, so there is no chance that I am talking about 3e rules by accident.

06-19-2013, 06:00 PM	#5
RyanW ☣ Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Southeast NC	Re: [Spaceships] Power Points for Smaller Systems? Or a simpler but less precise method: a system split into smaller subsystems counts as a high power system if any of the subsystems do. __________________ RyanW - Actually one normal sized guy in three tiny trenchcoats.

06-20-2013, 02:31 AM	#8
SCAR Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Yorkshire, UK	Re: [Spaceships] Power Points for Smaller Systems? Small System Power Points counting as 1/3 of a Full Power Point is also consistent if you look at Beam Weapon Output. For Example: A Medium Battery at SM+10 can mount 3x 1GJ Beams - which requires 1 (SM+10) PP Using Small Systems, an SM+10 slot can hold 3x SM+9 Major Batteries, each of which would be 1GJ and each of which would require 1x SM+9 PP. Therefore, 1x (SM+10) PP = 3x (SM+9) PP.