[Spaceships] Emergency Thrust Task

[Stormcrow]

According to the Emergency Thrust Task on page 52 of GURPS Spaceships, the Emergency Thrust Task uses the same procedure as the Emergency Power Task, except you get double acceleration instead of double power. Success for emergency power says you get double power but any attempt to increase power with that system in the next hour is at −4. Is there some kind of corresponding penalty for emergency thrust, or do you simply get double acceleration out of it?

[SuedodeuS]

As "do not apply the penalty" isn't stated, but "use the same procedure as emergency power" is, I'd apply the same penalty. The concept of overloading the engines by "red-lining" them fits well with a lot of tropes (and, at least to some extent, reality).

[Ulzgoroth]

Originally Posted by SuedodeuS

As "do not apply the penalty" isn't stated, but "use the same procedure as emergency power" is, I'd apply the same penalty. The concept of overloading the engines by "red-lining" them fits well with a lot of tropes (and, at least to some extent, reality).

But there is no Increase Thrust task.

[Langy]

I'd say the penalty applies to any further Emergency Thrust attempts. Seems to make sense, yeah?

[PK]

Originally Posted by Spaceships

Emergency Thrust Task

You may overload the engines of one or more engine systems [...]. Use the same procedure as emergency power, except instead of doubling power, the acceleration doubles. A high-energy system whose thrust is doubled requires double the Power Points; a reaction drive will require delta-V commensurate with its increased acceleration.

That's pretty straightforward. You use all of the rules under Emergency Power Task (including the -4 penalty to try it again); all that changes is that acceleration doubles.

[AmesJainchill]

My one problem is that since you can only perform one task a turn, and I'm using Reactionless Drives, you can't Increase Power *and* Increase Thrust at the same time, meaning there's not a lot of point for the engineer to do (except repair whatever gets hit).

[PK]

Originally Posted by AmesJainchill

My one problem is that since you can only perform one task a turn, and I'm using Reactionless Drives, you can't Increase Power *and* Increase Thrust at the same time, meaning there's not a lot of point for the engineer to do (except repair whatever gets hit).

See Multitasking (p. 50). The engineer could pull an Increase Power or Emergency Power task and an Emergency Thrust task, both at an extra -2.

[Langy]

The engineer can also do Engineering Analysis tasks.