Hovercars, Opinions Welcome

[GypsyComet]

Even at 1 or 2G you are basically using straight line solutions unless something else (like the star) is in the way. The Local Frame velocity corrections at the end are trivial when you have this kind of thrust and duration available.

 

[AndrewW]

The thing is, even the UVAST-based distance calculations are a bit of a fraud - the two planets aren't at a given distance, or stationary, relative to one another - to transfer from one orbit to another means knowing where you are in your 'year' relative to the other planet, plus assorted manouvres to make orbit at the other end.

Admittedly, if you can pull 6G continuously this is probably a damn sight easier than working out accelerations for manouvre 'burns' like a NASA astrogator is stuck doing! Ultimately, to some extent you can just point and go....

Don't forget gravity assists...

 

[F33D]

Even at 1 or 2G you are basically using straight line solutions unless something else (like the star) is in the way. The Local Frame velocity corrections at the end are trivial when you have this kind of thrust and duration available.

Exactly. For instance, at 1G accel it only takes ~20 minutes to make up the difference in orbital velocity between the Earth & Mars. Depending on which direction you are traveling.

 

[F33D]

Don't forget gravity assists...

Much faster to fly straight to the target.

 

[dmccoy1693]

Don't forget gravity assists...

Much faster to fly straight to the target.

I just realized that you have been talking about ships this whole time and not vehicles. The three vehicles I have placed at the start of this thread are hovercars. They are not interplanetary ships. Now what you have been talking about this whole time makes much more sense. I have literally been lost by every word you have typed thus far. But now it makes sense.

 

[F33D]

I have literally been lost by every word you have typed thus far. But now it makes sense.

What ARE you talking about?

 

[dmccoy1693]

What ARE you talking about?

I'm talking about the fact that you, to date, have not been talking about the thread topic. You are talking about:

interplanetary ship

This requires:

Type of power source, fuel, instruments, environmental systems...

None of which are major necessities in the vehicle stat block. The vehicle design system has a default power source so unless it is changed, it does not require being stated (which I did not at first). The quantity of fuel does not require being stated as well since it has a range you can go on a full tank. Instruments and environmental system that are above and beyond the default can be added, but like your car, upgrades are not required. You don't have to add in a planet wide communication system. You can be happy with a basic radio.

I would prefer and actual vehicle design system. Whatever you used certainly doesn't qualify.

Actually, I have been very consistent with the vehicle design system from book 5-6. It is considerably different than the system presented in book 5 and book 6. You have been talking about web pages calculating G-forces and orbital velocity from earth to mars.

I'm talking about a hovercar that can go from dallas to ft worth.

 

[GypsyComet]

I'm talking about a hovercar that can go from dallas to ft worth.

So... no gravity sling, then?

(Yeah, we got off topic a bit. Sorry about that.)

Like Will, I consider a picture extremely important. Statblocks are easy, but I'll pay for actual creativity.

 

[Nathan Brazil]

Why I was giving presentation ideas. Stats are stats, some cooler than others. I find what will give me a chuckle, add some old Judge Dredd insanity and go with it.
or
Dale, can you make an Edsel hovercar? Or more interestingly, Vehicle Quirks! Hey if starships can have them why not hovecraft.

Irregular boost - not perfectly level, causes -1 to perception rolls due to vision readjusting due to angle for first 30 minutes in vehicle. Same once done driving for 30 min.

"Chaos, panic, disorder. My job here is done."

 

[F33D]

Like Will, I consider a picture extremely important. Statblocks are easy, but I'll pay for actual creativity.

Truth. I can crank out stat blocks without much effort. Great artwork plus REALLY captivating descriptions I will pay for.

 

[dmccoy1693]

Fair enough.

 

[Colin]

The Vehicle Upgrade book has Quirks in it, and there is certainly room for more.

 

[Infojunky]

I notice that they are Grav based as such shouldn't they be Aircars?

I have been playing with a fusion of the Grav and Hovercraft sections to build landspeeder like vehicles, Mostly it is a lowering of the top speed and cost as I am trying for a very automotive feel for what i am doing. (note I am stat-ing out miniatures using these rules for a very homebrew setting....)

All in all they look great.

 

[dmccoy1693]

I notice that they are Grav based as such shouldn't they be Aircars?

I have been playing with a fusion of the Grav and Hovercraft sections to build landspeeder like vehicles, Mostly it is a lowering of the top speed and cost as I am trying for a very automotive feel for what i am doing. (note I am stat-ing out miniatures using these rules for a very homebrew setting....)

All in all they look great.

The vehicle book calls them hovercars.

 

[Infojunky]

The vehicle book calls them hovercars.

Well there is that.....