Re: Megatraveller starships

Adrian Hurt writes in AMN 305:
> 1. The new explanation of jump drives (i.e. a large power plant driving a net
> integral to the ship's hull) is official - it's in the Referee's manual.
> Given this, why can't you damage a ship's jump capability with mere surface
> damage? The starship combat damage tables are lifted straight from High Guard,
> and you can only harm the target's jump drive with an internal explosion or
> critical hit.

Well, the new, detailed task diagram on page 64 of the Starship Operator's
Manual states:

	[Step] 3 Navigator engages jump drive

	To engage the jump drive:
	Routine*, Engineer, Navigator's Edu (fateful)
	Referee: While the Navigator "pushes the button",
	both the engineer and the navigator monitor the jump
	transition together.  On a mishap, see Other Tasks.

	Inside 100 diameters, this task becomes difficult*
	(hazardous, fateful).

	Inside 10 diameters, this task becomes formidable*
	(hazardous, fateful).

	There is a high risk the jump field will not close if more
	than 10% of the ship's hull net is missing in any one
	location.  How could this happen?
	1. From any critical surface hit in starship combat.
	2. Compute percent of hull net damage = (number
	surface hits x 100) / hull disp
	   If this number is greater than 10, then high risk.

	In these cases, the task becomes...
	Difficult*, Engineer, Navigator's Edu (hazardous, fateful)

Original is Copyright 1988 Digest Group Publications.  Above quote was
reproduced without permission.

Looks like ten surface hits for each 100 tons displacement makes a jump
more difficult, and the result of a mishap hazardous.  A single critical
hit acts similarly.  All the above skills are marked with an asterisk,
meaning they must should be done "Cautiously", or the task becomes
uncertain and a warning light event may occur later on a result of Some
Truth.

James