FFW doing it my way

[phavoc]

I think you need to learn the difference between the art and the rules. Or do you think Aslan are 12' tall now?

I'm trying to engage you and be civil, but you continue to make snide remarks like this.

The art reflects the ships and the rules. If the art isn't a fair representation of the ship they either the descriptions are wrong or the art is. The artwork has been more or less consistent since it first debuted. So I'm going to use common sense and say the artwork is a fair representation of what the ships would look like.

The rules are the rules, doesn't mean they were written well or correctly, just means someone though spaceships can fly at Mach 30+ and wrote them down without actually thinking what that means (or perhaps they didn't care, it sounded too cool).

Happy to debate, but if you want to snipe let me know and I'll put you on ignore.

 

[MasterGwydion]

They aren't flying bricks, but they are also not streamlined enough to make the speeds that MasterGwydion posted.

The first issue is one of materials science - we already know Traveller hulls are magically strong.

The second issue is how airflow works. Even the smallest protrusion or surface change can produce a lot pressure and airflow shocks - and the faster you go the worse it gets. These 'streamlined' ships are fine at lower atmospheric speeds, but they'd have to expend so much energy and effort to maintain control that it's not practical - even if it was possible (and since they have no magical field surrounding their craft other than the magic of anti-grav) they are still subject to the laws of aerodynamics. The only one they get a pass on is lift since they don't need it. They still have to deal with drag and the other forces that would be fighting them for just flying in a straight line.

At around an altitude of 40km there is no air density, so no friction. Just a smoothly accelerating M-Drive. To go 1,000km straight up and come to a complete stop only takes 365 seconds with a 3G drive. They only need 40km to be out of the atmosphere. So, your airflow argument is pointless since they are where there is no air to flow. Only have to go slower on take-off and landing. Easy.

 

[Condottiere]

For convenience, there's a formula for lift off and atmospheric reentry, based on local gravity and sustained acceleration.

For Terran norm, with maximum acceleration factor three, one six minute term, plus another half six minute turn to leave orbit.

Spinward Extents, I think.

If you want to go faster, even streamlined and manoeuvre driven, you have to add heat shields.

 

[MasterGwydion]

I'm trying to engage you and be civil, but you continue to make snide remarks like this.

The art reflects the ships and the rules. If the art isn't a fair representation of the ship they either the descriptions are wrong or the art is. The artwork has been more or less consistent since it first debuted. So I'm going to use common sense and say the artwork is a fair representation of what the ships would look like.

Art reflects "artistic license" as always. Rules represent the reality of the game world.

The rules are the rules, doesn't mean they were written well or correctly, just means someone though spaceships can fly at Mach 30+ and wrote them down without actually thinking what that means (or perhaps they didn't care, it sounded too cool).

You are correct. It does not mean that they were written well or correctly, but they are the rules. You can change them IYTU, as always, Rule Zero, but saying a ship doesn't do what the rules say it does is just...? I am not even sure what the word I am looking for is. You can't play the game without rules. You can play it without art. The rules determine how a game is played, not the picture on the box.

Happy to debate, but if you want to snipe let me know and I'll put you on ignore.

I am not sure how to say it any nicer than this. Traveller still exists without art. Traveller doesn't exist without rules. Maybe someone else can help as I seem to be doing poorly?