Re: (1753) Black Globes and other things

 In message 1753, [email removed] (Dave Johnson) writes:
 >
 >This is all from memory as I don't have the old High Guard rules with
 >me at the time,

     Fortunately, my copy was just across the room.  2nd Edition _High
Guard_, Copyright 1980 (1st printing), to be exact.  If you have the
first edition, your mileage may vary.  ;-)

 >        Black Globe generators were designed as an powerful defense
 >system, the draw backs however are fairly major.
 >        (1) At tech 15 when they are first introduced they are
 >prototypes, (Imperial Navy used an High Lighting Class ship to test
 >one)... This gives next possiblities for worrying players .. will the
 >ship explode when it is turned on, will it move to a different universe
 >etc etc.

     One small quibble.  "Prototype" isn't the best word to use.  I
think that "copy" would be more accurate.  The device wasn't developed
by Imperial (or any other contemporary) technology.  To quote from page
31 of _High Guard_:

          "Black globe generators are not available commercially; they
     are recovered artifacts installed on a makeshift basis or
     experimental versions installed on tech level 15 Imperial
     warships."

     Also, the behavior of the field is fairly well known--it won't
explode or "move to a different universe."  *It* won't--the capacitors
that it's connected to are a slightly different matter.  They might
explode if you overload them.  I've been playing Traveller for ten
years, and I've never heard this "move to a different universe" rumor.
Where did it come from?

 >        (2) The Black Globe absorbs all forms of energy. It places a
 >shield around the ship and absorbs all forms of energy (as defined by
 >Enstein) fired at the ship.

     Yes.  I don't know where Uncle Albert gets into this (I assume
you mean "Einstein" above), but that's what the black globe does.

 >Also all forms of energy from the ship.

     True, if someone on board the ship is stupid enough to fire a
weapon while the field is on.  However, since I'm sure the Captain of a
globe-equipped ship would take a dim view of this sort of asinine
behavior, it's probably a rare occurrence.  ;-)

 >This means means the ship is part a of a nasty feedback loop as the
 >ship provides the energy sinks for the Globe, This means the Globe must
 >flicker to remove the energy which is of a form that is no good for
 >anything on board. High Guard gives all the rules for this (40% flicker
 >rate remove 40% of the energy stored)

     Buzz!  Wrong answer.  Well, sort of wrong.  From page 42:

          "Since a black globe absorbs all energy, a ship with its field
     on is protected from all fire.  Unfortunately, the forcefield
     works in both directions; the ship may not fire, maneuver, or even
     see out.  These limitations would make the black globe of little
     value in battle if not for the ability of the field generator to
     flicker--switch the field on and off many times per second--giving
     the ship part-time protection while still allowing it to fire,
     maneuver, and track enemy ships during the "off" intervals.
     ...
          Energy striking a black globe screen is diverted to the ship's
     capacitors will hold 36 energy points.  When the screen is
     flickering, a percentage of the incoming energy equal to the
     flicker rate is absorbed."

when it comes to getting rid of the stored energy:

          "Stored energy may be removed from the capacitors by using
     it to power the ship.  Energy may only leave the ship, however, when
     the black globe is off (or during the off intervals of its flicker)."

     I always assumed that this meant using *any* system that used
energy:  weapons, drives, computer, etc.  If you have a large computer,
it *is* possible to get rid of a small amount of absorbed energy with
the field 100% on.  This assumes that the incoming energy is less than
or equal to the amount needed by internal systems.  On page 43, we have
the *really* fun sentence:

          "If a ship absorbs enough energy to make a jump, and is
     supplied with sufficient fuel, it may jump at the end of the turn."

     Of course, this can be dangerous.  If you overload your capacitors,
your ship is destroyed (by violently exploding capacitors, I guess).  I
imagine that it's not a very good idea if you only have your jump drive
capacitors available.

     Kids, these are trained professionals--don't try this at home.  :-)


- - --
     Brent

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