Grav Belt skill?

[Sturn]

Am I missing something or is there no skill for Grav Belt use? It may be intended to be in the Flyer (Grav) category? I don't think that is sensible however, since the same speciality would be used to operate a Grav Belt (or battledress with grav) and an Intrepid heavy grav tank, for example.

I'm currently considering Flyer (pgrav) as a new specialty. PGrav being being for "Personal Grav" device. This could be used for drop pod operations, civilian grav belts, and battle dress with grav.

Perhaps this is one of the things being saved for Mercenary?

 

[Zowy]

It is part of the Zero-G skill :wink:

 

[Sturn]

It is part of the Zero-G skill :wink:

Thanks, read that part now. I understand the reasoning (with a grav belt you are floating around like you are in zero-G), but not sure if I like it.

Yes its similar, but they are leaving out the actual operation of the grav-belt itself. A person who grew up in a 0G environment shouldn't automatically be a master of the grav belt, knowing how to perform actual flight movements at high speeds. Sure it could help, but shouldn't give skillful operation of the actual device. Heck, some Traveller pictures of a grav belt have two arms with joysticks, so you are actually operating something, more like a vehicle (it is considered a vehicle after all, not something like a parachute). 0G is noted in MGT as the skill that is used for actual thruster packs too, which have nothing to do with nullifying gravity.

Experience in a 0G environment isn't going to tell me how to work the various controls with skill while I'm cruising at 225kph. If I grew up on a high-G planet, would I know how to operate a jet that pulls high-Gs?

 

[SableWyvern]

Actually, wouldn't a grav belt fail to function in microgravity anyway, per typical Traveller grav vehicles, making Zero-G a completely innapropriate skill?

Zero-G for thruster packs makes plenty of sense, however.

 

[AKAramis]

It is part of the Zero-G skill :wink:

Yes its similar, but they are leaving out the actual operation of the grav-belt itself.

Agreed. But it's probably a bit late to fix it now...

Besides, for me, a grav belt (really more of a corset, if you use the MegaTraveller illos) doesn't nullify local gravity, but provides thrust, and so Zero-G is TOTALLY inappropriate. It's Flyer:Grav.

 

[EDG]

Besides, for me, a grav belt (really more of a corset, if you use the MegaTraveller illos) doesn't nullify local gravity, but provides thrust, and so Zero-G is TOTALLY inappropriate. It's Flyer:Grav.

That's how I always pictured it (esp. given the cover of MT IE). But how is it actually supposed to provide thrust - does it have a built in Thruster Plate or something?

The other way to picture it is that it does actually negate local gravity, but also has little reaction jets to push you around, so it's like being in zero G. If that's the case then using Zero G skill to get around would make more sense, since it's like being in an EVA suit in space.

 

[AKAramis]

Besides, for me, a grav belt (really more of a corset, if you use the MegaTraveller illos) doesn't nullify local gravity, but provides thrust, and so Zero-G is TOTALLY inappropriate. It's Flyer:Grav.

That's how I always pictured it (esp. given the cover of MT IE). But how is it actually supposed to provide thrust - does it have a built in Thruster Plate or something?

The other way to picture it is that it does actually negate local gravity, but also has little reaction jets to push you around, so it's like being in zero G. If that's the case then using Zero G skill to get around would make more sense, since it's like being in an EVA suit in space.

Actually, all gravitic thrust agencies in both striker and MT provide thrust, EXCEPT the M-Drives, whch induce acceleration upon a target volume...

Note that TNE/T4 screw up the definitions...
TNE/T4 Contragrav disconnects 98% of local gravity, but provides no thrust inherently.
T4 Thruster Plates provide thrust.

So, if you were describing it in Striker or MT terms, it's a Gravitic module, a form of thrust-based suspension/propulsion.
In TNE/T4 terms, yes it's a tiny T-Plate AND Contragrav.

 

[EDG]

In TNE/T4 terms, yes it's a tiny T-Plate AND Contragrav.

If you can make thruster plates/contragrav that small, doesn't that have further implications for the tech in the setting? Like, I dunno, grav-propelled missiles (I'm thinking of the "little" ones that you'd find on the wings of modern aircraft, not cruise missile size)? You just need a battery or power source of the right size and away you go.

 

[captainjack23]

In TNE/T4 terms, yes it's a tiny T-Plate AND Contragrav.

If you can make thruster plates/contragrav that small, doesn't that have further implications for the tech in the setting? Like, I dunno, grav-propelled missiles (I'm thinking of the "little" ones that you'd find on the wings of modern aircraft, not cruise missile size)? You just need a battery or power source of the right size and away you go.

Okay. Grav belts go in the "Do not look at me" cupboard....and you too, I think....

 

[captainjack23]

By which I mean, heck yes. Flying hats for instance, would those be cool or what ?.....beer cans that follow you around the room; sofas that can reach low orbit. Intercontinental Pogo sticks (cf famile Spofulan 1117); over the horizon anything. Microgravity organ prosthesis (good for a bad heart) and transonic frisbees. self pulling-on pants. zero weight backpacks and luggage. baloons at parties ? HA ! floating ANVILS with corporate logos. !

Heck, I'm an American , I NEED those things.

 

[Sturn]

There has to be some sort of propulsion system with the grav belt. You don't just lean forward and get to 300 kph (max. speed for a gav belt) without a thruter plate of some kind.

Zero G skill would give you experience floating around in 0G, pushing off walls to get someplace, being used to the 3d orientation of space, etc.

I think I will use a new Flyer specialty: Flyer (ppd) for Personal Propulsion Device. This would include the grav belt, and thruster packs, whether used in a a gravity well or in space. This could also cover drop pods, if a skill is even needed to operate them (don't recall, they might just drop to surface without any input from the idiot on-board).