Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- drawingboard:components:propulsion:ftl [2024/06/05 16:32] – created tailkinker
+++ drawingboard:components:propulsion:ftl [2024/06/05 16:40] (current) – removed tailkinker
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-====== Faster Than Light ======
-A key component of most science fiction is faster-than-light travel.  After all, the stars are so ridiculously far apart that travel between them can take centuries, if there is not some sort of shortcut available.
-But the nature of that shortcut is very much up to the Game Master!  Before worrying about your exact FTL system, you'll need to consult with the Game Master about the setting's basic assumptions.
-No Tech Rating is given for anything FTL!  Either the setting has it, or it doesn't.  Every type of FTL offered below has some setting-tweakable variables;  if your setting includes different grades of FTL (such as Star Trek, with its four kinds of warp drive), this is how you'd adjust it.
-===== Basic Assumptions =====
-Before incorporating FTL into any game, start by considering the following points.
-==== Nature of FTL ====
-The five different types of FTL drive listed below each come with certain assumptions.  You'll want to pick the one that most closely matches the theory of FTL for your universe.
-==== Speed ====
-You'll need to define the speed of FTL, or---in the case of the Jump Drive and Wormhole Drive---the maximum distance of a jump.  Hyperdrives and Transit generators may also include a maximum distance.
-For drives that rely on velocity, **two parsecs per week** is a fair assumption.  As a comparison, the original USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) at cruising speed (Warp 6) covered 1.25 parsecs per week, and at flank speed (Warp 8) could cover 3 parsecs per week.
-For drives that rely on distance, **four parsecs per jump** is a fair assumption.  Traveller ships were far more limited, at one to two parsecs per jump, but Battletech jumpships could clear 30 parsecs per jump.  However, energy and fuel factors play into both of those as well.