I have a question for the rules experts here regarding collectors and jump drives: if you have a jump drive which is connected to a collector, can it also use hydrogen fuel, for example if the collector has been used and not yet recharged? I can see arguments either way - what do the folks here think?
A question about collectors
- Thread starter Galadrion
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Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
I don't recall it being either one or the other.
My theory being, that collectors skip the processing stage in the jump drive that creates exotic particles, so that that is just channelled into the jump drive a stage further.
My theory being, that collectors skip the processing stage in the jump drive that creates exotic particles, so that that is just channelled into the jump drive a stage further.
AnotherDilbert
Emperor Mongoose
Sure, why not?
There is only one type of jump drive, not a special type for collectors.
Note: It's the power plant that burns the hydrogen fuel and delivers power to the jump drive. The Collector replaces the power plant, if used.
There is only one type of jump drive, not a special type for collectors.
Note: It's the power plant that burns the hydrogen fuel and delivers power to the jump drive. The Collector replaces the power plant, if used.
Actually, I don't think it replaces the power plant. The entry specifically says that the collector eliminates the need for fuel, not the need for power. As far as I can see, you still need to power the jump drive.
But I can easily run with the idea that a jump drive can switch between using hydrogen (jump) fuel and the collector's exotic particles. That might make a few things a little more flexible.
MasterGwydion
Emperor Mongoose
*throws a huge can of worms*
Yeah, but that fuel is going into producing a huge surge of power, exponentially exceeding its normal power production. My guess would be that, that tiny bit of power listed on your jump drive's power requirement, is insignificant next to how much it is producing for the jump drive. Collector circumvents the need for the burst of power and only the normal amount (the number listed next to the jump drive in the power usage list). As long as you have some method of generating that power, then you should be golden.
Actually, nothing in the current edition says that jump fuel goes into power production. I can easily see the usage instead consisting of hydrogen getting converted into "exotic particles" which are used in the jump process - exotic particles which the collector gathers directly, bypassing the need for all that hydrogen.
Sigtrygg
Emperor Mongoose
COLLECTORS
These are accumulators, sweeping up exotic particles captured by a canopy and removing the need to carry
separate fuel for the jump drive. This charge is released in a single spike to power a jump drive; collectors cannot be used for normal ship operations
The collector powers the jump drive, removing all need for fuel for the jump drive.
You still need a power plant for other ship systems.
Personally I would say that a jump drive designed with a collector powering it would need extensive modification to instead use hydrogen, and vise versa, although spend some money and make it "duel fuel" would be an option. The jump engine is a jump engine, but the accumulators, capacitors, power lines etc would need to be adapted.
These are accumulators, sweeping up exotic particles captured by a canopy and removing the need to carry
separate fuel for the jump drive. This charge is released in a single spike to power a jump drive; collectors cannot be used for normal ship operations
The collector powers the jump drive, removing all need for fuel for the jump drive.
You still need a power plant for other ship systems.
Personally I would say that a jump drive designed with a collector powering it would need extensive modification to instead use hydrogen, and vise versa, although spend some money and make it "duel fuel" would be an option. The jump engine is a jump engine, but the accumulators, capacitors, power lines etc would need to be adapted.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
The question then would be, why not just use the energy from another, non jump drive, source?
AnotherDilbert
Emperor Mongoose
The rules are carefully not specific, but the "Jump Space" article in JTAS#2 (reproduced from CT) is clear:
The "solar power generators" are presumably Collectors.
Jump fuel is used by the power plant, to produce power for the jump drive:
This is just like CT, but unlike MT, TNE, and T4.
The "solar power generators" almost certainly refers to the Annic Nova, which in its original CT form was clearly using solar power to charge up some form of capacitor. It also used those for internal power... note that the ship did not have any power plant or M-Drive in its CT version, just a J-2 and a J-3 jump pod.
"Fuel, Refuel, or Power. The canopy collects radiated stellar power and stores it in the accumulators on the drive deck. The only way to extend the canopy is with the controls on the drive deck or the control panel in the observation dome. It cannot be controlled from the bridge.
The accumulators can store enough energy to power each jump drive once, as well as maintain internal life support under normal conditions.
Duration of internal power: 60 days under ordinary load.
Required recharge time: 1 to six weeks (1D), depending on the distance from, and spectral type of the star serving as the radiation source."
No mention of exotic particles back then. But different editions have different ideas about technology... (TNE, I'm looking at YOU)
"Fuel, Refuel, or Power. The canopy collects radiated stellar power and stores it in the accumulators on the drive deck. The only way to extend the canopy is with the controls on the drive deck or the control panel in the observation dome. It cannot be controlled from the bridge.
The accumulators can store enough energy to power each jump drive once, as well as maintain internal life support under normal conditions.
Duration of internal power: 60 days under ordinary load.
Required recharge time: 1 to six weeks (1D), depending on the distance from, and spectral type of the star serving as the radiation source."
No mention of exotic particles back then. But different editions have different ideas about technology... (TNE, I'm looking at YOU)
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Default jump drives run on hydrogen.
Actually, that's wrong.
If one form of raw fuel is water, which you can feed to both the fusion power plant and the jump drive, then you actually do have a water powered engine.
Though, less car, and more star.
Actually, that's wrong.
If one form of raw fuel is water, which you can feed to both the fusion power plant and the jump drive, then you actually do have a water powered engine.
Though, less car, and more star.
MasterGwydion
Emperor Mongoose
Can not be controlled from the bridge? What moron designed that? Were they too cheap to put a toggle switch on the bridge?
This seems to be a holdover from when seagoing ships required people in the engine room controlling things. This hasn't been true in over 50 years. Trust Me. I still have My QMED, but it's expired.
WHULorigan
Emperor Mongoose
You mean your Imperial Navy ships don't have a digital slider at the Conning Officer's station to signal the Engine Room to increase from 4.0 G Cruising Speed to 5.0 G Full/Flanking Speed?
(I was actually surprised when I discovered that American WWII PT-Boat Commanders called their engine orders down to a Machinist mate below deck with a "clutch" and gear lever).
Fluffy Bunny Feet
Cosmic Mongoose
Might have been perfectly logical to the alien mind that designed it.
WHULorigan
Emperor Mongoose
Also keep in mind that the ANNIC NOVA was not a "Manoeuvre Vessel", so to speak; It was essentially a mobile Trade or Excursion Station/Platform, jumping from station @ 100D limit to station @ 100D limit. System travel and transit was accomplished by Pinnace. That makes the bridge more of an "operations center".
WHULorigan
Emperor Mongoose
No, that's where the giant hamster in the cage spins up the homopolar generator wheel . . .
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Supposedly, the reason we pay a semimegastarbux to wire up every hundred tonnes of volume.
AnotherDilbert
Emperor Mongoose
It wasn't designed to make sense, it was designed to be alien and mysterious.
