Sorry for all of the bandwidth this is costing:
I think we're all on similar wavelengths regarding deep-space jumps,
although we all have taken different approaches to the seemingly
conflicting data about them.
I think we're agreed on the following "facts":
o Deep-Space Jumps ARE allowed
o Deep-Space refueling stations DO exist
o Deep-Space refueling stations ARE NOT extremely common
o Large distances (eg: Great Rift) DO present an obstacle to travel
o Blockades (eg: Regency) ARE possible
o Stellar and planetary bodies DO affect jump (eg: 100 diameter limit)
If anyone else has any facts to add, please do. But take note, I
have avoided using obscure references as well as many not-so-obscure
rules references so that I can generalize.
To me, a natural conclusion from all of these facts is that jumps to
deep space are somehow very difficult and/or risky. This is not the
only conclusion at which you could arrive, but it makes sense to me.
Another suggestion has been that it is simply too expensive to use
multiple jumps (for traders) or to set up deep-space refueling
stations (for the military). I don't think this reconciles all of
the facts, for reasons I've already stated.
====================
I am now done talking about the effects of the background, game
mechanics, etc. The rest of this is merely a suggestion, which
doesn't come from the rule book, so don't start quoting me page
numbers from books I probably don't have. :-) I'd better give
that a few more smileys: :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)
====================
My interpretation has been that gravity plays an integral part in
jumps, such that it is difficult to jump to interstellar space.
I am now inclined to revise this interpretation so that gravity
wells are REQUIRED as destinations of any jump.
There is plenty of interstellar dark matter, so deep-space jumps
would still be possible, although the difficulty of finding such
matter may change throughout the galaxy (eg: there might be less
in the Great Rift, and the Regency might have cleared it out at
the border). Also, interpretations of how much matter is needed
may vary (eg: do you need something the size of a comet? will a
dust cloud do?). These two things would affect whether deep-space
jump points are common or are well-guarded secrets at different
places in the galaxy.
This also helps me justify the way mis-jumps work. I avoided
mentioning this earlier, since it opens up a whole new can of
worms (intentional mis-jumps: JUST SAY NO! :-) :-) :-).
====================
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|Gerald S Williams|
|[email removed]|
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AT&T DSP tools development