Re: Black Globes

"Brent L. Woods" [email removed] writes:
>      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."

" ... or experimental versions ..."
Sounds like prototypes to me.  Besides, in due time the Imperials should
learn how to copy the things.  And one or two places are now TL 16, and
should be capable of designing them.  The Darrians probably have a few
hidden away somewhere; and two Vargr worlds are TL 16, according to the
old Vargr Alien Module.

>
>      Also, the behavior of the field is fairly well known--it won't
> explode or "move to a different universe."

This depends on how the PC's get hold of it.  (Assuming that they do, of
course - and assuming that they role-play properly, and don't make use of
what the players read in various manuals.)  If they got one by looting an
Imperial warship, they are probably more powerful than they have any right
to be, but can probably interrogate someone from the ship.  If they got one
the same way as the Navy did, by looting an Ancient base, and if the Navy
hasn't been publishing documents about black globes, then the PC's  will
not know what they have, or what it does.

>           "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.

I don't see the danger.  If the ship has absorbed enough energy to make the
jump, it absorbed the energy into the jump capacitors.  If it still exists,
it hasn't overloaded the capacitors.  There should be no risk of overload
due to trying to jump - either the capacitors are sufficiently charged for
the jump, leave them alone; or they need a little more charge, give it to
them.

- - --
 "Keyboard?  How quaint!" - M. Scott

 Adrian Hurt			     |	JANET:  [email removed]
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