Advice Thread OOC Future Tech Only

[Yes Im Biop]

Ulran the fact that were talking about sand moving at 99%c and a LOT of it Micrometors don't even scale at all.

[Ularn]

Okay; right now I'm not sure which of my points you're arguing against where.

[Yes Im Biop]

Most of em. What i said originally was right. A massive blast of sand moving way to fast would superheat the Atmo. And make a Giant BBQ

[The Fedral Union]

http://www.projectrho.com/public_html/r ... ic_Weapons <--- I was speaking more towards sand making rounds and missiles in to slag the moment they hit if they were going fast enough.

[Ularn]

http://www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/spacegunexotic.php#id--Relativistic_Weapons <--- I was speaking more towards sand making rounds and missiles in to slag the moment they hit if they were going fast enough.

Ah, so you were talking about using your sandpit as point defence rather than an offensive weapon. That's fair enough and perfectly feasible assuming you can afford the energy drain and get rid of the heat generated by using that sort of mass driver so frequently. Personally I think it's so energy intensive that I'd rather go for laser clusters in my point-defence and save the c-frac kinetics for my one-hit-kill supercannon style weapons.

[Steel Confessors]

One thing that intrigues me about FT is that the empires and units here could actually travel past the extent of the observable universe where we see the light from 13.7 billion years ago. We perhaps could even travel past the extent of the Big Bang, the universe being so vast that the edges of the catastrophic event could actually be traverseable . So, what do you guys think?

[YellowApple]

One thing that intrigues me about FT is that the empires and units here could actually travel past the extent of the observable universe where we see the light from 13.7 billion years ago. We perhaps could even travel past the extent of the Big Bang, the universe being so vast that the edges of the catastrophic event could actually be traverseable . So, what do you guys think?

Most certainly possible and - depending on the precise technologies - more than feasible. I RP with wormhole-based FTL, which has already been put to use in traversing not only this universe, but other universes.

Of course, you'd probably want to see where you're going first before you make a jump to beyond the observable universe. However, being able to say "f*ck yeah! I just jumped to the exact location of the Big Bang!" would be well worth getting lost forever.

EDIT: I should clarify that by "location" I'm talking "location in spacetime"; I'm fully aware that the Big Bang has no specific point of origin other than (possibly) a specific time at which it occurred.

[SquareDisc City]

Regarding the c-frac bucket of sand, you guys do realise that Earth is getting hit by micrometeorites like this all the time and we're not any worse for it.

Meteorites hitting Earth do 72 km/s maximum (because there's a maximum speed for them to be in a closed orbit and a fixed speed of the Earth). Relativistic and ultrarelativistic shells could be going over 4000 times faster. It's like trying to understand how bullets kill by studying how cars do.

Tbh no observed situation is anything like an ultrarelativistic impact of a massive projectile. I'm unaware of any theoretical work in the area, and as such I don't really know what would happen. If I had to guess I'd probably take inspiration from effects of particle beams, assuming that the speeds are so great that the atomic bonds in the projectile have negligible strength.

One thing that intrigues me about FT is that the empires and units here could actually travel past the extent of the observable universe where we see the light from 13.7 billion years ago. We perhaps could even travel past the extent of the Big Bang, the universe being so vast that the edges of the catastrophic event could actually be traverseable . So, what do you guys think?

The "extent of the Big Bang" is as likely as not to be boundless. Also, while I have seen people claim systems beyond the edge of the observable Universe, and the FTL drives to get from there to the Milky Way and back, they haven't been the same people who would know what kind of differences might be expected if there were any. Claiming a galaxy a trillion light-years away is likely to be regarded as silly techwankery unless you do a very good job of explaining what the differences are and/or why the heck you're interested in the Milky Way.

On the Big Bang, I'm sitting where it happened right now. And so are you, and so is everyone, because at the Big Bang every point in space was one point in space.

[Our Most Resplendent Goddess Sen]

One thing that intrigues me about FT is that the empires and units here could actually travel past the extent of the observable universe where we see the light from 13.7 billion years ago. We perhaps could even travel past the extent of the Big Bang, the universe being so vast that the edges of the catastrophic event could actually be traverseable . So, what do you guys think?

could you clarify your statement? Especially "travel past the extent of the big bang".

[Avenio]

One thing that intrigues me about FT is that the empires and units here could actually travel past the extent of the observable universe where we see the light from 13.7 billion years ago. We perhaps could even travel past the extent of the Big Bang, the universe being so vast that the edges of the catastrophic event could actually be traverseable . So, what do you guys think?

could you clarify your statement? Especially "travel past the extent of the big bang".

I think he's talking about travelling beyond the 13.7 billion-year light cone and out into the 'rest' of the observable universe.

[Steel Confessors]

could you clarify your statement? Especially "travel past the extent of the big bang".

I think he's talking about travelling beyond the 13.7 billion-year light cone and out into the 'rest' of the observable universe.

Hitting the nail on the head. That was right what I was speaking about. Just wasn't quite sure how to phrase it. Obviously by Sen's response not well at all.

[Ularn]

could you clarify your statement? Especially "travel past the extent of the big bang".

I think he's talking about travelling beyond the 13.7 billion-year light cone and out into the 'rest' of the observable universe.

I thought he meant out beyond the furthermost lump of shrapnel from the initial explosion - where none of the energy, light and matter from the original explosion or whatever has travelled yet.

EDIT: Never mind.

[Fata (Ancient)]

well... thanks I guess guys. I was just talking about a rod that is like heated to just before melting, and then launched. Also I was thinking on a lot smaller scale then ships. I was thinking of tank sized and smaller. I don't even understand how it changed to throwing sand at each other's ship but it was interesting to say the least.

[Yes Im Biop]

well... thanks I guess guys. I was just talking about a rod that is like heated to just before melting, and then launched. Also I was thinking on a lot smaller scale then ships. I was thinking of tank sized and smaller. I don't even understand how it changed to throwing sand at each other's ship but it was interesting to say the least.

Welcome to Nation States.

[Strykla]

well... thanks I guess guys. I was just talking about a rod that is like heated to just before melting, and then launched. Also I was thinking on a lot smaller scale then ships. I was thinking of tank sized and smaller. I don't even understand how it changed to throwing sand at each other's ship but it was interesting to say the least.

Well, heating a rod and launching it is not necessarily a good idea if you want it for a weapon. You know what blacksmiths are associated with? Forges. You heat up metal to make it pliable, then forge it into shapes. I think launching your rod cold would do better.

As for the sand, it's not a bad idea. In fact, if you take a shitload of sand, put it in a big ship, bring it to relativistic speeds, then dump it out and let fly, that massive clump of sand is going to hit whatever's in front of it like a train. Any ship caught in its path would be vaporized. Well not vaporized, but turned into itty bitty pieces.

[Our Most Resplendent Goddess Sen]

I think he's talking about travelling beyond the 13.7 billion-year light cone and out into the 'rest' of the observable universe.

Hitting the nail on the head. That was right what I was speaking about. Just wasn't quite sure how to phrase it. Obviously by Sen's response not well at all.

If that's what you meant, then it'll still be pretty much the same as the observable universe. Matter's large-scale structure is the same, Hubble's Law still applies, and if you look at the universe with a microwave telescope you'll still see the CMB 13.7 billion years ago.

More of the same, pretty much.

I think he's talking about travelling beyond the 13.7 billion-year light cone and out into the 'rest' of the observable universe.

I thought he meant out beyond the furthermost lump of shrapnel from the initial explosion - where none of the energy, light and matter from the original explosion or whatever has travelled yet.

EDIT: Never mind.

This reveals a fundamental misconception about the nature of the big bang. Relative to nearby objects, everything is pretty much stationary. The observed expansion of the universe isn't a due to matter flying outwards from some central point; rather, it's due to space itself becoming larger and taking matter along for the ride. The old analogy to help people get this is to imagine that the galaxies are dots on a balloon. As you blow the balloon the dots don't move, but the distance between them becomes larger since the space that they exist on (the balloon) expands.

[Hurun]

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=198478

Writing tips? Or wrong section?

[Trailers]

Back to kinetic kill munitions, I think it's silly when anyone suggests they can accelerate anything of significant mass (Re: Not a subatomic particle) to within a crab fart of light speed on something as compact as a space ship. Yeah sure, I know, free-form RP all points are valid, but do you guys consider how much energy it would take to contain and accelerate something the size of a grain of sand to the speed of light? I mean I'm not saying it couldn't be done but there is a lot of handwavium involved in accelerating a projectile to .99c. I'm just saying when I use k-kill tech, my shit is accelerated to about 2-3% lightspeed, tops. Even ships over a km long wouldn't have an acceleration ladder capable of more (Handwavium sold seperately), not to mention the stupendously large reactors needed for power of an Admiral Ackbar magnitude.

[Ularn]

Back to kinetic kill munitions, I think it's silly when anyone suggests they can accelerate anything of significant mass (Re: Not a subatomic particle) to within a crab fart of light speed on something as compact as a space ship. Yeah sure, I know, free-form RP all points are valid, but do you guys consider how much energy it would take to contain and accelerate something the size of a grain of sand to the speed of light? I mean I'm not saying it couldn't be done but there is a lot of handwavium involved in accelerating a projectile to .99c. I'm just saying when I use k-kill tech, my shit is accelerated to about 2-3% lightspeed, tops. Even ships over a km long wouldn't have an acceleration ladder capable of more (Handwavium sold seperately), not to mention the stupendously large reactors needed for power of an Admiral Ackbar magnitude.

This is exactly why my only kinetic kill weapons are mounted on my capital ships (cruisers and above), have a maximum velocity of .07C and generate so much waste heat that the ship's going to be having serious problems if you fire more than about five rounds in quick succession.

[Sertian]

Back to kinetic kill munitions, I think it's silly when anyone suggests they can accelerate anything of significant mass (Re: Not a subatomic particle) to within a crab fart of light speed on something as compact as a space ship. Yeah sure, I know, free-form RP all points are valid, but do you guys consider how much energy it would take to contain and accelerate something the size of a grain of sand to the speed of light? I mean I'm not saying it couldn't be done but there is a lot of handwavium involved in accelerating a projectile to .99c. I'm just saying when I use k-kill tech, my shit is accelerated to about 2-3% lightspeed, tops. Even ships over a km long wouldn't have an acceleration ladder capable of more (Handwavium sold seperately), not to mention the stupendously large reactors needed for power of an Admiral Ackbar magnitude.

I'm with ya there.

[The Akasha Colony]

Back to kinetic kill munitions, I think it's silly when anyone suggests they can accelerate anything of significant mass (Re: Not a subatomic particle) to within a crab fart of light speed on something as compact as a space ship. Yeah sure, I know, free-form RP all points are valid, but do you guys consider how much energy it would take to contain and accelerate something the size of a grain of sand to the speed of light? I mean I'm not saying it couldn't be done but there is a lot of handwavium involved in accelerating a projectile to .99c. I'm just saying when I use k-kill tech, my shit is accelerated to about 2-3% lightspeed, tops. Even ships over a km long wouldn't have an acceleration ladder capable of more (Handwavium sold seperately), not to mention the stupendously large reactors needed for power of an Admiral Ackbar magnitude.

The energy required itself is not the problem. A reasonably efficient antimatter reactor will be able to put out sufficient power relatively easily. The problem is finding a way to impart that power to the round itself within the length of most ships.

[Kreanoltha]

Back to kinetic kill munitions, I think it's silly when anyone suggests they can accelerate anything of significant mass (Re: Not a subatomic particle) to within a crab fart of light speed on something as compact as a space ship. Yeah sure, I know, free-form RP all points are valid, but do you guys consider how much energy it would take to contain and accelerate something the size of a grain of sand to the speed of light? I mean I'm not saying it couldn't be done but there is a lot of handwavium involved in accelerating a projectile to .99c. I'm just saying when I use k-kill tech, my shit is accelerated to about 2-3% lightspeed, tops. Even ships over a km long wouldn't have an acceleration ladder capable of more (Handwavium sold seperately), not to mention the stupendously large reactors needed for power of an Admiral Ackbar magnitude.

To be honest, I use KKVs as my main ship to ship weapons and I just say that the rounds are fast enough to be effective at a couple of light seconds and heavy enough to be extremely powerful. I also acknowledge that the cannons involve a certain amount of Handwavium which works fine for me since my nation is fairly slushtech.

[Sskiss]

Back to kinetic kill munitions, I think it's silly when anyone suggests they can accelerate anything of significant mass (Re: Not a subatomic particle) to within a crab fart of light speed on something as compact as a space ship. Yeah sure, I know, free-form RP all points are valid, but do you guys consider how much energy it would take to contain and accelerate something the size of a grain of sand to the speed of light? I mean I'm not saying it couldn't be done but there is a lot of handwavium involved in accelerating a projectile to .99c. I'm just saying when I use k-kill tech, my shit is accelerated to about 2-3% lightspeed, tops. Even ships over a km long wouldn't have an acceleration ladder capable of more (Handwavium sold seperately), not to mention the stupendously large reactors needed for power of an Admiral Ackbar magnitude.

Only used as orbital bombard style weaponry for larger craft and is typically spinal mounted. Velocity is typically about 3% of light speed and is more than enough to do the job done. As a result, the mass of the projectiles (in the case of the spinal mounted bombard weapons) need not be much beyond several kilos and is often fired buckshot style. Otherwise its used for orbital to surface attack craft (two types), armoured troop landers and attack drones. The munitions used are for these craft are artificially created degenerate matter - typically a kilo in mass per cubic centimeter. For the these craft, a velocity of up to 20,000 mps suffices nicely.

[Trailers]

Back to kinetic kill munitions, I think it's silly when anyone suggests they can accelerate anything of significant mass (Re: Not a subatomic particle) to within a crab fart of light speed on something as compact as a space ship. Yeah sure, I know, free-form RP all points are valid, but do you guys consider how much energy it would take to contain and accelerate something the size of a grain of sand to the speed of light? I mean I'm not saying it couldn't be done but there is a lot of handwavium involved in accelerating a projectile to .99c. I'm just saying when I use k-kill tech, my shit is accelerated to about 2-3% lightspeed, tops. Even ships over a km long wouldn't have an acceleration ladder capable of more (Handwavium sold seperately), not to mention the stupendously large reactors needed for power of an Admiral Ackbar magnitude.

To be honest, I use KKVs as my main ship to ship weapons and I just say that the rounds are fast enough to be effective at a couple of light seconds and heavy enough to be extremely powerful. I also acknowledge that the cannons involve a certain amount of Handwavium which works fine for me since my nation is fairly slushtech.

If you're engaging at more than one light second with mass drivers, you have to deal with targeting lag, information lag, and missing every shot. Better to use lasers/masers missiles or fighters at such extreme ranges. I use fighters specifically for long range engagement, since they can provide their own targeting telemetry once in range of the vessel, and dont have to rely on a firing solution from the mothership who is having to deal with information lag.

[Entaurii]

To be honest, I use KKVs as my main ship to ship weapons and I just say that the rounds are fast enough to be effective at a couple of light seconds and heavy enough to be extremely powerful. I also acknowledge that the cannons involve a certain amount of Handwavium which works fine for me since my nation is fairly slushtech.

If you're engaging at more than one light second with mass drivers, you have to deal with targeting lag, information lag, and missing every shot. Better to use lasers/masers missiles or fighters at such extreme ranges. I use fighters specifically for long range engagement, since they can provide their own targeting telemetry once in range of the vessel, and dont have to rely on a firing solution from the mothership who is having to deal with information lag.

/handwave

My KEWs are already hitting your ship.

These are not the droids you're looking for.


On a serious note, you have a point. To travel the distance of even 0.5 light seconds, it would still take your round 17 seconds (at 0.03c) to hit. Kind of a big difference there.