NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm just curious as to how far and fast FT folks can go on an interstellar scale. FTL, in other words. Maybe we can get a nice lil chart or something. Helps figure out who can travel to where.

If you use some system (like Warp speed from ST or Hyperdrive from SW) just lemme know.

If you don't but you still have a good idea of how long it takes to go from star A to star B do let me know too.

I have a pretty specific speed ~3 light years per day. Thus I can travel the length of the Milky Way in about 82 years.

Greater Trostia: 3 light years per day (~1095 c)
Bautizar: warp 9 ( ~9c)
Otagia: instantaneous
Balrogga: 250 ly/day to 250 ly/hour (~91,250 to 2,190,000 c)
The Phoenix Militia: 2,160,000,000,000kph (~120,000 c)
Gaian Ascendancy: instantaneous
Atopiana: instantaneous

<< OOC: I'm operating on the standard warp scale, which means that warp one equals the speed of light. Warp two is twice as fast as the speed of light, warp three is three times faster than the speed of light, et cetera. Seeing as how I come from a Star Trek-based simming experience before this, it's a system that I am far more comfortable and familiar with.

I've gathered that there are a number of FTL technologies in operation. One that has caught my eye features the common principle of jumping directly from point A to point B, which is sound but not without its flaws. (As is the case with all faster-than-light technology.) >>

I just use AHGTTG's Improbability Drive :D

Generally it's good to use speed based on the demand of the plot. Me, well, I can go anywhere in a day, personally >_>

I personally use a Point-to-Point FTL system, so travel time is rather negligible for me. Slightly wanky, but I like it, and I haven't really had a problem with it yet, especially considering it takes time to organise reinforcements and such, which prevents me from simply bringing in more troops whenever I feel like it. Well, that's my rationale anyway. ;)

FTL systems vary EXTREMELY amongst the FT community, with most of them revolving around the speed of the plot.

I use a couple different scales based on the ships I am using.

My civilian traffic uses the KK Drives from the ADF Commonwealth and Flinx series. At best speed they can cover 80 parsecs (about 250 Ly) per day.

The military versions of the drives along with some other tech from our Dimensional specilization bumps the rate up to 80 Parsecs each hour maximum.

We also use artificial Wormhole travel which allows a ten minute trip through the wormhole. The end points of said wormhole can be anywhere.

Like it was said earlier, speed is usaly plot driven.

OOC: The maximum speed of most of my ships is roughly 2,160,000,000,000kph (Warp 9.6{Star Trek})

I use ST technology, which means I can potentially cross the galaxy in a matter of hours. However that tends to be a bit godmoddish, so I make speed dependent on the story. For example, in my current RP entitled "Pact of Iron Penal Planetoid Open For Prisoners!" the story depends on me getting the soldiers to the planet quickly, so the journey will only take a couple of hours. If the journey involves important character development, or its better for the story if the journey takes a long time, then it takes a long time. Gotta love free-form RPing :)

Mine move at the speed of plot. As do most peoples'.

Assigning a definite speed ends up with situations where you don't manage to get into the event until everyone starts mopping up.

The ERD (Einstein Rotation Drive) works by trampling all over Albert Einstein via violating special relativity without causing any detrimental effects to reality at large.

The effect of this trampling is that Albert Einstein starts rotating in his grave - and the faster he rotates, the faster the ship goes.

I.e. if he manages one rotation per second, the ship goes at 1 c. If he rotates twice per second, the ship goes at 2 c. If he rotates thrice per second, the ship goes at 3 c. And the faster one tramples on his theories, the faster he rotates.

The upper limit is where Einstein's rotation does itself reach the speed of light - at a width of 50 cm, the circumference of the circle described by the rotation is 157 cm, which means that the upper limit is approximately 190 million rotations per second - the maximum speed of a ERD-equipped ship is therefore ~ 190 mio c.

HAHAHAHAHAHA

I love that response. Good job Der Angst

Assigning a definite speed ends up with situations where you don't manage to get into the event until everyone starts mopping up.

But that's not a bad thing, surely? I mean isn't it awfully convenient and boring that anyone can always get anywhere just in time? No real delays, no near-misses, no drama?

I mean try using the argument in MT roleplays. Suddenly aircraft and naval carriers have no definite speed... they can be anywhere in the world, instantly. Isn't that a bit ridiculous?

But that's not a bad thing, surely? I mean isn't it awfully convenient and boring that anyone can always get anywhere just in time? No real delays, no near-misses, no drama?

I mean try using the argument in MT roleplays. Suddenly aircraft and naval carriers have no definite speed... they can be anywhere in the world, instantly. Isn't that a bit ridiculous?

Well, when you consider stuff like a 40k Warp Engine (Which facilitates faster than light travel by plunging the vessel into a daemonic realm of pure energy with significant time-fuckage) it all makes things interesting. Imagine turning up after or before the battle you were meant to fight in :P

That and mine is speedy because the Gods look favorably on me ;)

I use the theoretical (what FTL drive tain't theoretical..) drive of Fold Drives. It's somethingbetween the types used in Robotech and Dune, where rather than actually moving the vessel, you simply move between two points in space.

Any two points, as long as you have an idea where the heck you're going. The better coordiantes, or at least the best you have available, the more accurate a jump, with a powerful enough energy core. Zero Point Energy is another theoiretical energy source from the fabric of space itself, and since space is rediculously infinite and old, there's a 'lot' of material to use. Using the Hikari Power through it's subspace medium gives a second energy source (think we covered theorietical, ala not real yet.. danke..) to power the drive.

Since Fold travel requires a huge amount of energy to maintain the Folding process, as well as stabilization shields since this more than likely is traveling through a two dimensional medium, and anything passing through the jump point, ending up as a flat pancake of metal and dead bodies would be a rather 'bad' thing, the stabilization fields help maintain the three dimensional anchor a vessel usually exists in, the high energy requirement keeps everything very stable. All of the energy used though only needs to be maintained long enough to pass through the Fold point.

The Fold drive however usually acts in concert with a secondary FTL drive, usually hyperdrive, though jump gates are used for smaller craft to reduce drive stress within Sphere territories, to allow actual movement of a vessel besides sublight drives, to give flexibility. However the 'only' way to maintain a realm as larger as mine is through the Fold drive. Otherwise the possibility is impossible on any scale. It's not a matter of only distance, but time as well. It's the same problem the old British Empire had with maintaining communications with it's worldwide territories. Outside of loyalty and a large standing military, there's 'little' else holding an empire together unless communications are maintained as effectively as possible.

As once in RL I was once a USAF radio maintenance technichian, and FCC GROL technichian, communications was impressed easily on me for all it was. No less in an intergalactic empire. Fold Drive makes direct contact easy and effective. Between that and the Comm-Orb series platforms, both needs of communication lines are maintained.

If I'm gonna wank, it's gonna be an effective one, that's dang sure. =^^= And I'm only working with a fraction of the universe at large, nevermind now many 'other' universes there are out there, in this Dimension alone. (Another discussion for another time.. =^^= )

Would it not be better merely not to wank at all. I'm sorry, but I'm rather biased of the opinion that "Good" or "effective" Wank does not exist. It's just the source of inane debate and the scourge of story, outside of plot devices.

Pssht, it's all techno (or trekno) babble anyway, so here's mine:

fold:shift drives. It takes about 1 to the power of -1,000,000 seconds to get from A to B (so long as you know where B is, uncharted folds will put you somewhere utterly random in space - do try not to appear in the heart of a star...).

It's fast.

It's amusing.

It's mine, all mine!

Chron and Atop: True... won't defend it. And every last part of it all is plot device. =^^= I'm a bad boy.

Chron and Atop: True... won't defend it. And every last part of it all is plot device. =^^= I'm a bad boy.

Long live the deus ex machina! :D

I explain it by way of "my nation is 100,000 years in the future, so we've learned so much about the universe by now that $randomcrackpottheory has been proven correct and investigated". In other words, we go by the M-theoristic prediction that there are multiple universes, and then manipulate the quantum-level strings by energising one of them to the degree that it expands to form an entirely new universe (a "kappa-plane" -- kappa being the symbol for some random constant discovered at some point in the 23th century that represents the amount of energy needed to expand a string to that size) which the ship can then enter, then re-enter our normal universe (the "XYZ-plane") at a completely different point, which is random (due to the magnification of the quantum fluctuations to a macroscopic scale). Of course, this isn't very efficient, but since my nation is just a massive ship many times larger than the largest of suns, whenever it wants to move around it does, sometimes flattening a star system or two in the process.

Yeah, I didn't really think it through either.

No argument here. It'd be interesting for a First Contact, though details like location, language differences, ect.. ect.. would need to be worked out. =^^=

I move to the speed of the music. As the faster my music gets, the faster my ships tend to get where they're going. Since I tend to post more when the tempo hits 120+

Would it not be better merely not to wank at all. I'm sorry, but I'm rather biased of the opinion that "Good" or "effective" Wank does not exist. It's just the source of inane debate and the scourge of story, outside of plot devices.

It's just about impossible to not wank at all when dealing with future tech. FTL is itself pure wank.

I would define "good" wank in the context of NS roleplaying, however, as that wank which is balanced and not more than is needed. It's the same with writing most science fiction. The fewer handwaviums, unobtaniums and cop-outs involved, the more believable it is. In RPing, the fewer ways you have "OMG TECH OUT-WANK!" over other players the more enjoyable it will be if it's in any way a competitive situation (i.e, war or battle).

Of course, if you're not competing with others (in an IC way) then wank doesn't matter, since you're just in it for cooperative storytelling and everything serves the plot. But even then, you'll probably want to know what happens when two societies go to war. Who wins? Well, what if one has FTL travel, and the other doesn't? What if one society can explore the entire galaxy and the other is limited to a handful of nearby systems? What if one can control gravity to propel ships or destroy things, and the other cannot?

These are major issues even if all you care about is "plot," since setting is undeniably a part of plot.

I move to the speed of the music. As the faster my music gets, the faster my ships tend to get where they're going. Since I tend to post more when the tempo hits 120+

Boy, all that electro-techno stuff must be fast stuff man. =^^= Hate to know what Hair music does...

It's just about impossible to not wank at all when dealing with future tech. FTL is itself pure wank.

I would define "good" wank in the context of NS roleplaying, however, as that wank which is balanced and not more than is needed. It's the same with writing most science fiction. The fewer handwaviums, unobtaniums and cop-outs involved, the more believable it is. In RPing, the fewer ways you have "OMG TECH OUT-WANK!" over other players the more enjoyable it will be if it's in any way a competitive situation (i.e, war or battle).

Of course, if you're not competing with others (in an IC way) then wank doesn't matter, since you're just in it for cooperative storytelling and everything serves the plot. But even then, you'll probably want to know what happens when two societies go to war. Who wins? Well, what if one has FTL travel, and the other doesn't? What if one society can explore the entire galaxy and the other is limited to a handful of nearby systems? What if one can control gravity to propel ships or destroy things, and the other cannot?

These are major issues even if all you care about is "plot," since setting is undeniably a part of plot.

I'm in it wholely for the storytelling, but too many people see tech and the deus ex machinas associated with them as easy ways to victory. I dragged my nation up from MT, started out with nothing and rode the waves of fortune to where I am now.

The fact is that tech and races should never start out as godlike, ascendant beings who can cross the galaxy in a blink without serious penalties. I respect those who develop their nations and build intricate histories that justify their present power. Not those who think that they have it because they say so and the fantasy race they conjured in their mind can do anything.

Ability and tact have to support plot, everything but the story as the backdrop through which it grows and develops. I've made my views on this repeatedly clear and hope that I'm respected as a die-hard storyteller in it for the joy of literature and comraderie, rather than propping up my efforts upon pages of numbers and statistics :)

I embrace utterly the tech I've chosen, and play within the confines of its canon. And I can't say I could be happier :P

The ships of Onarr travel through the Realm, then shift back into normal space when they reach an appropraite place.

Time within the Realm itself varies incredibly - in some places a second in the normal world will pass in the time it takes for a century to take place in the Realm.

So, although Onarr's ships have relatively limited FTL drives their ability to phase into the Realm and then take several days to get to where they need to counters this, and links between the Realm and real space are not the same relative distance as their counterparts between items in our world or theirs.

So in other words...varies on plot.

There are numerous factors for my FTL, most of which, isn't FTL at all. Rather, FTGUT, (Faster than Galactic Undertow), I do all my traveling in Fluidic Space. Light travels at diffrent speeds in diffrent places and has no definate speed. However, the movement of the undertow is constant, and slightly faster than Lightspeed in Dry Space. Each Galactic region has diffrent Undertow speeds, and The Great Ocean, overlaying Andromeda, has a speed of 1.5 x the speed of light. The fastest on record. I have an engine that works with greater effeciency in Fluidic Space, because my scientists, the Aquamarinians, have lived there the for the life of their entire species, and developed their science off of Fluidic Space, not Dry Space, thus my strange ship design. It works like normal warp in Dry space at regular warp measurings like that in ST. Basicly, I can cover the distance between Andromeda and Milky Way in a Day. But that's for normal Military.

Merchant fleets are restricted to Fluidic space only, unless going to dry space for trading points, and thus usually cover ground in two days, due to the Spacial Hazards of Fluidic Space.

Civilians are restricted to Dry space, and it takes them weeks sometimes months to get anywhere, unless they use the Ri-an to SR358 Wormhole. Then its cut down to two days, due to limitations on Wormhole speed, imposed by The Department of Spacial Travel.

I also have Stargates.

I personally use a Point-to-Point FTL system, so travel time is rather negligible for me. Slightly wanky, but I like it, and I haven't really had a problem with it yet, especially considering it takes time to organise reinforcements and such, which prevents me from simply bringing in more troops whenever I feel like it. Well, that's my rationale anyway. ;)

FTL systems vary EXTREMELY amongst the FT community, with most of them revolving around the speed of the plot.

... I make speed dependent on the story. For example, in my current RP entitled "Pact of Iron Penal Planetoid Open For Prisoners!" the story depends on me getting the soldiers to the planet quickly, so the journey will only take a couple of hours. If the journey involves important character development, or its better for the story if the journey takes a long time, then it takes a long time. Gotta love free-form RPing :)

Mine move at the speed of plot. As do most peoples'.

Assigning a definite speed ends up with situations where you don't manage to get into the event until everyone starts mopping up.

I think you, and others who agreed, have it exactly correct. FTL, itself simply a plot device to bring our characters together, ought to revolve around the plot's needs.


But that's not a bad thing, surely? I mean isn't it awfully convenient and boring that anyone can always get anywhere just in time? No real delays, no near-misses, no drama?

I mean try using the argument in MT roleplays. Suddenly aircraft and naval carriers have no definite speed... they can be anywhere in the world, instantly. Isn't that a bit ridiculous?

Also very valid. I think Otaga's defense comes in well here, while travel may be fast, preparation for it doesn't need to be. Also, if FTL is a plot device, then it should not be abused to harm the plot. adjusting it to the plot means holding it back as well; knowing when to let it fail. We also need limitations. People who instantly have battle fleets available without prior notice aren't helping the plot, they're hurting it. The mechanisms you use to help the plot can be whatever you wish, if it takes a lot of preparation and then it's an instant transit, ultimately it's the same as slow transit and instant departure.

...I've made my views on this repeatedly clear and hope that I'm respected as a die-hard storyteller in it for the joy of literature and comraderie, rather than propping up my efforts upon pages of numbers and statistics :)...

Exactly- statistics aren't the end-all be-all as some seem to believe they are. They aren't inherently bad either, good RP can take place around them, but as Hakurabi pointed out, they're liable to back you into a corner.



So where does this leave me and my tech? Right where I've always been. It's rather ambiguous, like much of my original tech, even the naming- we jump, blink, 'come to be,' appear, and more. Loosely, it involves leaving this existence (dimension, plane, universe....) for a state of limbo, then reentering at another location. It's a point to point system, if one departs still they will arrive still, if they depart moving, they will arrive moving in the exact same manner. This is useful as everything (computers, walking, falling objects, finger strokes, etc.) simply picks up where it left off. Transit is not instant relative to the stable galaxy, but to my characters on board it is. There is no set speed for transit- though it's generally less than a few moments. There is a range, however, which is relative to the vessel and also ambiguous. Major constraints are the power huge requirement and preparation time prior to jump.

First of all I do not consider the Xithis Combine to be 'my' nation, and won't refer to it in the first person. I prefer to think of them as living entities, as it helps to ease the very difficult task of trying to roleplay from their perspective (I'm not an alien insect nor do I know any, so I'm still figuring them out myself). It also helps me from falling into the very common pitfall of having them simply firing weapons at everything that moves just for fun; instead I have to consider how they would more realistically react to various circumstances whilst keeping their own survival and best interests at the forefront of those decisions. I'm not here to win wars or compete with other people, I want to develop a fictional species and see where they end up through the medium of storytelling.

When creating the Xithis Combine, I tried my best to make everything as scientifically plausible (to myself at least) as possible. After establishing a basic premise, I did a little research and tried to construct their biological functions, sociological peculiarities and, most relevantly to this thread, their technological wizardries accordingly in as plausible a manner as I could, taking into account evolutionary and social reasons for everything as much as I could. Scientist I am not, I won't claim to have an in-depth understanding of any of the fields required for such a feat and I'm well aware that the Xithis, like all other science fiction nations here, rely on pseudo-science at the very best of times. However, I tried my best and if I do say so myself I like to think I achieved something. This is not because I am an 'elitist' or obsessed with technology - short of people utilising ostensibly divine or magical powers I'll happily roleplay with anybody who plays fairly and maturely - I just enjoy the idea of pondering what the universe at large may be like or where we might be headed ourselves. Perhaps I just need to indulge in a few more space operas, hehe.

With all this in mind, the Xithis themselves utilise a form of space folding technology as their flagship form of interstellar travel. I considered several other theories, but in my eyes this one made the most sense to me - additionally, it fits into the same technology level of the civilisation I was trying to create, it does not seem to (at least not dramatically) bugger up relativity, and it does not require the use of pretty lighting effects (I'm on a budget here, people). There are a number of advantages and a number of disadvantages to space fold technology, and I believe it is sufficiently balanced. There is no travel time as such, as there is no movement - which also eliminates the problem of inertia, one of the reasons why the Xithis themselves began researching it in the first place. However, the further you go, the more power is required and the longer it takes to actually do the folding, and as with all forms of locomotion a time-consuming amount of number crunching must be completed beforehand to compensate for stellar and planetary drift. Not to mention the rare possibility of being deposited inside an unexpected object such as a rogue planet or an asteroid. All of this is purely divulged on an OOC basis, of course.

However, some smaller ships which I have yet to introduce rely on a less sophisticated, more time-consuming form of superluminal travel which is most closely related to the Alcubierre drive. I am aware of the problems with this theory, but again it stood out in my eyes as a sufficiently plausible form. And again, it does not appear to significantly screw up relativity and inertia is still not a problem. To the Xithis, it is an older, smaller, more economical form of propulsion which works well for smaller ships which are incapable of mounting or powering the gravity core of a space fold drive. I am yet to make a firm decision, but roughly 20ly\h is probably the speed I will ultimately cite for this form of travel.

I took more liberties with their main form of sublight propulsion, namely the negative mass drive. I just did not want the Xithis to rely entirely on ion propulsion, although a few smaller ships (such as the Dartic-class) do indeed utilise xenon based ion drives thanks to their significantly reduced power requirements. Sublight actually presented a bigger problem to me (and the Xithis) than faster than light, as there are fewer ways of getting around the inertia problem - a problem I'm yet to figure out.

Anyway, I could keep going on and on about it all, as I just felt the urge to talk to somebody about the process behind it all (and it's not the sort of thing you can bring up in a casual bar room conversation). But I answered the question in a roundabout way and bored you all to tears in the process, so I'll stop now...

Well if I ever decided to rp in FT times I would use "jumps" like those you see in Battlestar Galactica where-in-which travel time is almost instantaneous.

I think you, and others who agreed, have it exactly correct. FTL, itself simply a plot device to bring our characters together, ought to revolve around the plot's needs.


A gas combustion engine may well be a similar plot device, but that doesn't mean you can really write about your character driving across the USA in 5 hours. It's good to know the limits of the physical universe, even a fictional one.

Also very valid. I think Otaga's defense comes in well here, while travel may be fast, preparation for it doesn't need to be. Also, if FTL is a plot device, then it should not be abused to harm the plot. adjusting it to the plot means holding it back as well; knowing when to let it fail. We also need limitations. People who instantly have battle fleets available without prior notice aren't helping the plot, they're hurting it. The mechanisms you use to help the plot can be whatever you wish, if it takes a lot of preparation and then it's an instant transit, ultimately it's the same as slow transit and instant departure.

Yeah, but again I question the instistance on "plot." What if I don't have a plot. What if I just want to play the character of a sprawling space empire, have it interact with others and see what happens?

Then, keep speed limits in mind. Why should RL be the only place that has Speed limits? have your government or whomever oversees spacial travel institute speed limits in non-emergency situations. Certain Spacial hazards like Warp fields, ( The Star Trek Kind, not Chronosia's kind) practicly require impulse instead of Warp.

A gas combustion engine may well be a similar plot device, but that doesn't mean you can really write about your character driving across the USA in 5 hours. It's good to know the limits of the physical universe, even a fictional one.
To which I ask that I not be selectively quoted. If you read further:
Also, if FTL is a plot device, then it should not be abused to harm the plot. adjusting it to the plot means holding it back as well; knowing when to let it fail. We also need limitations. People who instantly have battle fleets available without prior notice aren't helping the plot, they're hurting it. The mechanisms you use to help the plot can be whatever you wish, if it takes a lot of preparation and then it's an instant transit, ultimately it's the same as slow transit and instant departure.
Driving across the country in 5 hours may be unrealistic, but it doesn't really matter if it took him 48 to prepare before departure. Besides, jet engines burn (combust) jet fuel (gas) and can cross the country in less than 5 hours.
FTL is bending the known limits of physics, so we cannot hope to be truthful to them entirely. It's like asking me to use only English while speaking entirely in Hindi. (They share no words, in case you wondered...) MT is much stricter because we live it and know for a fact every relivent rule and law. In FT, we have to bend and create some of our own or else it would not be FT (which, by definistion, has technology that does not currently exist) You may be able to tell I'm not a fan of hard-sifi...

Yeah, but again I question the instistance on "plot." What if I don't have a plot. What if I just want to play the character of a sprawling space empire, have it interact with others and see what happens?
If you don't have a plot, I'm sorry, but your RP sucks massively. Every story has a plot. While few of my RPs are planned out, and those that are only loosely so, all have plots. The writers don't necessarily need to know them- they developed as we write them. Stories without plot aren't stories. The instance you give does have a plot, indeed many small plots contributing to a grand plot. I do not need to know what will happen to Kazecistan next month to know it would be bad for the story to have my characters appear in another galaxy instantly and pwn all opponents with our Über cannons and invinca-armor.

What I think the problem you're getting at is what if people abuse the system? What if people only want to win, and their plot is heavily biased? IGNORE cannons solve that nicely.

TFU uses something called hyper warp its an inter universal drive pretty much, the drive has the ship go under or around the universe kind of like sub orbital flights are supposed to do today, only a lot faster, I don't have a set speed on them because like many others I use the plot to dictate when my ships will get to the area they are supposed to be at, its not like I'm there in .00000000000000000000001 seconds or any thing like that :P, but I suppose the methods I use for drives are very wanky to some but then again what isint in FT? I usealy don't pay any mind to those babbling technocrats that say this or thats impossible because it bends or brakes the laws of physics , because it just dose not matter in the long run FFS theoretically you can rig an FTL drive to a dead sperm whale along with an dampening field sufficient enough to hold it together and have it go FTL :P , any way my point is theres really no way to have a set speed for NS FTL drives its to diverse and has to many factors to decide to do such a thing :P any way I hope this little passage helped, I know some players might be cringing at it though.

If you don't have a plot, I'm sorry, but your RP sucks massively.

Horseshit. I'm sorry, but RP isn't making a fiction masterpiece. It's playing a character and interacting with other characters.

While few of my RPs are planned out, and those that are only loosely so, all have plots. The writers don't necessarily need to know them- they developed as we write them. Stories without plot aren't stories.

Roleplaying isn't a story. It can be, and can have stories, but it's a bit more than collaborative fiction.

The instance you give does have a plot, indeed many small plots contributing to a grand plot.

No, not really. Maybe you see a potential plot but again, potential is not a plot. And my point is we are not slaves to this idea of plots; or at least I'm not. If I was I'd be writing novels or stories and not bothering with calling it "roleplay."

Roleplaying is taking up the mantle of a fictional character mostly for personal enjoyment and the furtherment of a shared storyline, be it online or pen and paper :P Sexual deviancies and Napoleon complexes aside ;)

I see it, as a means to an end of furthering a story and embodying what you stand for in a fictional arena, becoming what we're not, what we want to be, saying what we want to (And could never) say and doing what we could never do :P

Roleplaying is taking up the mantle of a fictional character mostly for personal enjoyment and the furtherment of a shared storyline, be it online or pen and paper :P Sexual deviancies and Napoleon complexes aside ;)

I see it, as a means to an end of furthering a story and embodying what you stand for in a fictional arena, becoming what we're not, what we want to be, saying what we want to (And could never) say and doing what we could never do :P

That's why I RP. Though, over the past year, I've finally gotten rid of the Guilt, and gotten in touch with my Inner Psychopath.:D

Horseshit. I'm sorry, but RP isn't making a fiction masterpiece. It's playing a character and interacting with other characters.



Roleplaying isn't a story. It can be, and can have stories, but it's a bit more than collaborative fiction.



No, not really. Maybe you see a potential plot but again, potential is not a plot. And my point is we are not slaves to this idea of plots; or at least I'm not. If I was I'd be writing novels or stories and not bothering with calling it "roleplay."

*Runs off to do some research, just to back up points he already knows are true*

Alright, the American heritage dictionary 4th edition blah blah blah says plot is "The pattern of events or main story in a narrative or drama."
Random House dictionary says it's "Also called storyline. the plan, scheme, or main story of a literary or dramatic work, as a play, novel, or short story."

That's how I used the word plot, and how (I'm almost positive) everyone else in the thread has used it as well. In any RP (unless you simply have an entire thread of description without change or events at all- which I referred to as horrible story) things happen. those come together to make a story. That is plot- events coming together to make a story. RP creates a story, though its methods are unorthodox. (multiple writers responsible for different portions and usually little plan before the construction, as well as minimal revision)

Please, tell me how you could possibly RP above the absolute lowest gutters without creating a plot? Enlighten this heathen to how his 'horseshit' is really that bad?

I'm enjoying this....

*Runs off to do some research, just to back up points he already knows are true*

Alright, the American heritage dictionary 4th edition blah blah blah says plot is "The pattern of events or main story in a narrative or drama."
Random House dictionary says it's "Also called storyline. the plan, scheme, or main story of a literary or dramatic work, as a play, novel, or short story."

That's how I used the word plot, and how (I'm almost positive) everyone else in the thread has used it as well. In any RP (unless you simply have an entire thread of description without change or events at all- which I referred to as horrible story) things happen. those come together to make a story. That is plot- events coming together to make a story. RP creates a story, though its methods are unorthodox. (multiple writers responsible for different portions and usually little plan before the construction, as well as minimal revision)

Please, tell me how you could possibly RP above the absolute lowest gutters without creating a plot? Enlighten this heathen to how his 'horseshit' is really that bad?

I'm enjoying this....

Unless I'm wrong, wouldn't a reactive RP be what GT is thinking and your refferring to as a loosely planned story?

You get a general goal and a few highlets to work towards in mind, but leave it loose enough to fit into anything that could happen.

Basicly, you just react to what other people post, while still delicatly trying to steer things towards your own goals. You never quite know where things are going to end up that way.

Sometimes it does help if you share those, but you don't have to.

Unless I'm wrong, wouldn't a reactive RP be what GT is thinking and your refferring to as a loosely planned story?

You get a general goal and a few highlets to work towards in mind, but leave it loose enough to fit into anything that could happen.

Basicly, you just react to what other people post, while still delicatly trying to steer things towards your own goals. You never quite know where things are going to end up that way.

Sometimes it does help if you share those, but you don't have to.

I never said it needed to be planned, but otherwise, yes. My characters have goals, and they work to their best abilities to achieve them, but I as a writer have only two goals, one IC and the other OOC: that the race survives for me to RP and that a good story comes of my writings (the two of which imply the goal of being liked enough that others will RP with me, and force smaller, short term goals to achieve them, obviously). Plots don't need to be planed, or even the slightest bit conceived of before they happen. They're almost a side-effect. I have a set of information and details and so do my partners, then each of us acts to the best of our abilities as the characters would on it, while using our OOC knowledge base to try to make it interesting and fun- a good story. Plot results. I do not know the plot before it happens, but I do have experience that tells me what not to do and what to do that will generally make for a good one. Also, because I have some intellectual capacity (I know a few that would disagree, but they are inferior anyway....) I possess foresight. I can anticipate what's going to happen in the near future and modify things to make for better story, better plot. (remember, plot is the series of events that make up story) Even when I have no clue and don't care what will happen next, I have a similar set of do's and don'ts that guide how I act. As stated before, I know 99.999999999...% of the time it is bad to call out the Über invincibility. I also have a feel for about how much description to use, and a general intuition for which way the 'random' events out of character's control go. (remember through it all, my characters are what they are, and I do not change them for plot [obviously, however, sometimes I create and remove them for it, using what I as a writer can legitimately control, intimate events.])

Here's an example. In an RP I'm currently participating in with a new nation, just emerging from far-NFT type tech, I'm engaging in a battle. Obviously, if I so chose, I could have my sole carrier call for backup who would flash into existence and overwhelm the STL only opponent, but I don't think it's good story, so I make the reinforcements unavailable. I could have its weapons and defenses working at peak and probably finish him very quick, but I break a few things, run out of a few more, etc. until the match is much more even. I do all of this to thwart the will of my characters and nation so that there may be a better story, and I do it all legitimately using intimate events and circumstances.

These are traits I believe all RPers possess to some degree. There are some with verry little (they usually don't last) and there are those with very many, who have the respect of the whole community (we can all think of a list of the really good players- I won't write one to save myself from the embarasment of missing a worthy name).

EDIT: To keep this post firmly topical, I meant to say that similar discression could and should be applied to FTL as a plot device, used to make a better story.

I'm just curious as to how far and fast FT folks can go on an interstellar scale. FTL, in other words. Maybe we can get a nice lil chart or something. Helps figure out who can travel to where.

If you use some system (like Warp speed from ST or Hyperdrive from SW) just lemme know.

If you don't but you still have a good idea of how long it takes to go from star A to star B do let me know too.

I have a pretty specific speed ~3 light years per day. Thus I can travel the length of the Milky Way in about 82 years.
*waves around the shiny stick of deus ex machina!* I DUB THEE TREKNOBABBLED! *Smacks Greater Trostia with the stick*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~wavy_lines.twilight_zone~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For my side-jumpers, speed is dependant on depth.

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/7853/hyperau6.jpg

Between points A and B in the real universe, there is C distance. However, at dept 1 in jumpspace, the distance between points A1 and B1 is only D units (let's call it half) Therefore, I can travel half the distance at the same speed and get there in half the time. X distance determines energy cost, but the distance between points AX and BX is also figured in. It's a tradeoff.

I could go all the way down to where the universe can be approximated as a hyperdimensional point if I REALLY wanted to. (I actually lack the ability to go to where it is defined as a point, as doing so requires infinite energy) However, the energy expenditure on X would be so great as to make the energy savings (in terms of life support and mission duration) virtually worthless. Along the same lines, I could just go to a depth where everything is four times closer and power along. However, the energy savings on X would be negated by losses on mission duration, et cetera. So for me it's a rather fine balance. I can cross vast distances in the blink of an eye. Or I can go somewhat slower, and save energy. (Since the energy requirements for X go up faster than the energy requirements for the distance between AX and BX decrease) Fortunately, these things are as subtle as a brick to the face. You'll know I'm coming, ESPECIALLY if I'm "running deep." Since everything still propagates at C, and only the distances change, you'll detect me some time before I get there most likely, and my tech is pretty far from stealthy.

Most of all though, I totally lack speed and weapons yield statistics. Why? It's inane to try to compare statistics in FT of any kind. My Xasers aren't your Railguns, his Gravitic Lances, or her Singularity Torpedoes. Heck, I don't even have a date relative to Earth. Every piece of tech I have bends to the RP. Sure I RP my cruisers as flying slabs of lead, but if you're some near FT nation with stargate-esque tech, I'll RP my ships comparatively to your vessels.

Same goes for FTL drives. I can go faster than the fastest FTL drives out there, literally getting from my home galaxy to the milky way in plank time. However, it's too much energy to bother and there's no fun in instant everything. I like to think of everything I have as wiggle room and plot devices for the main story. The point is the characters and the story, not the tech.

Between points A and B in the real universe, there is C distance. However, at dept 1 in jumpspace, the distance between points A1 and B1 is only D units (let's call it half) Therefore, I can travel half the distance at the same speed and get there in half the time. X distance determines energy cost, but the distance between points AX and BX is also figured in. It's a tradeoff....snip

I'm no quantum-quasi-sifi physisist, but geometry tells me that D + 2X > C as a rule in that diagram. I think that X is not a distance that is traveled, necessairly, but an energy expended to reach the level of D and the second X to return from it. (It's a distance diffrence between the levels, but the FTL drive moves you that distance (near instantly, I presume), your STL drives only need to take you D.) Effectively, your new distance would simply be D, not D + X + X.

*Runs off to do some research, just to back up points he already knows are true*

Alright, the American heritage dictionary 4th edition blah blah blah says plot is "The pattern of events or main story in a narrative or drama."
Random House dictionary says it's "Also called storyline. the plan, scheme, or main story of a literary or dramatic work, as a play, novel, or short story."

Merriam-Webster gives: "the plan or main story (as of a movie or literary work)"

And if you "already know" you're correct, why argue? Just to put me in my place? I didn't make this thread for argument, but when you say that just because I have a different mindset, my "RP" must "suck" you're kinda forcing my hand here.

That's how I used the word plot, and how (I'm almost positive) everyone else in the thread has used it as well. In any RP (unless you simply have an entire thread of description without change or events at all- which I referred to as horrible story) things happen. those come together to make a story. That is plot- events coming together to make a story.

Well, in any news story, then, since events happen, news has a plot.

In anyone's journal or diary, the same - they have a plot.

In any life, life has a plot.

So really what you've done is diluted the word "plot" to mean any situation in which time moves forward. And then you're using this as the basis for why I should be a slave to the idea of "serving the plot" and why if I don't, I suck at RPing. Sorry, I no buy, sell elsewhere plz.

*waves the stick of deus ex machina*
It's a 2 dimensional sketch of a hyperdimensional point in an attempt to make connections with two levels of apparent 4 dimensional space, so there's some weirdness inherent. It's like trying to describe a 3 dimensional sphere when you live in a 2 dimensional world.

Yes you're right that technically X is not traveled as a distance, it's merely how 'deep' (for lack of a better word) you go into jumpspace. You expend some energy on the new distance, but the main power hog is X.

The reason I can justify it is that without spending a lot of energy going relatively deep, it's a LONG way. I haven't taken geometry in a while, so I forget how to calculate arc lengths, but when the original distance starts as hundreds of light years, you've got to go down pretty deep to get your .2C spacedy vessel there in a sane time frame.

Unless I'm wrong, wouldn't a reactive RP be what GT is thinking and your refferring to as a loosely planned story?

You get a general goal and a few highlets to work towards in mind, but leave it loose enough to fit into anything that could happen.

Basicly, you just react to what other people post, while still delicatly trying to steer things towards your own goals. You never quite know where things are going to end up that way.

Yeah, but I don't steer things toward my goals - my only real goal is to have fun and be creative - but rather the goals of my 'character' (in this case a fictionalized state and sub-factions).

As such it's more like written-down method acting than writing a plot. Plot has middle, beginning, end; dramatic arches, etc. Acting just has exits and entrances and character development; in other words, RPing, in an open forum.

Hmmm....well....

Most nations seem to have something interestingly scientific and technologically advanced using sophisticated construction to skip dimensions and bend reality.

We just go really, really, really fast.

Don't ask me how it works, because I have no idea. Goblins are Goblins are Goblins, they can make just about anything work, even if mostly by accident.

Similarly, we stop our ships by pulling out the SupaSpeed plug.

Merriam-Webster gives: "the plan or main story (as of a movie or literary work)"

And if you "already know" you're correct, why argue? Just to put me in my place? I didn't make this thread for argument, but when you say that just because I have a different mindset, my "RP" must "suck" you're kinda forcing my hand here.

I love the counter definition- we're being constructive and intelligent! Problem here is that that definition does no damage to my position. It is correct, but my definitions given expand upon it for precision.

Why debate? I enjoy it! Why RP? Why have this discussion thread? Why eat food? We enjoy either the activity or its fruits. Here, I enjoy the activity. You made the thread hoping for a constructive and interesting discussion, as per your first post. There was no disclaimer to warn me you were deathly afraid of conflict or people disagreeing with you. If you'd like to boot me because I'm trying to get across a legitimate point in a legitimate manner and you disagree, be my guest. Personally, I'm happy to settle for your side if you can argue for it well enough.

I never said you RP sucked, I said that if it truly was without plot it would suck. As I defined plot, all of your RP had it and thus didn't suck. Remember, whenever I use the word plot, I refer to it as my own, provided definitions do.

Well, in any news story, then, since events happen, news has a plot.

In anyone's journal or diary, the same - they have a plot.

In any life, life has a plot.

So really what you've done is diluted the word "plot" to mean any situation in which time moves forward. And then you're using this as the basis for why I should be a slave to the idea of "serving the plot" and why if I don't, I suck at RPing. Sorry, I no buy, sell elsewhere plz.

Plot is inherent to story. my life has no plot unless it is made into a story, told or written or shown by someone. News is a series of summaries. It covers multiple stories (each of which has a plot) but does not do so fully, it does so in brevity. It has a plot, I suppose, but a weak one at best since not much happens between the summaries. I could go on with the news example for quite a while, but it isn't really relevant. The subject area in which we are applying the word plot is RP, more specifically NS RP. You provide no reason the definition isn't functional in that context.

Time can move forward, but if nothing happens within the setting during the change in time, then no plot exists.

Diluted it? There's no solid basis to begin with. It's a contextual application of a general definition. If all you wish to deal with are the exact phraseologies given to us by supposed authorities then nothing applies to anything. We adapt definitions for their context. Nothing I have done to the definition disagrees with any reputable dictionary's relevant definition. If we went strictly off of the exact text of MW's definition, then plays, audio stories, poems, a massive portion of all prose, and a great deal more could not have plot. 'Only books and movies, damn it!' That kind of narrow mindedness damages and abuses the definition, as well as harming discussion regarding it.

I never told you that you needed to be a slave to anything, I made the statement that respected RPers TRY to make a good story, even if they are ignorant of and indifferent to the ends. Since plot is the events that make up a story, they use the plot and plot devices to make the story a good one.
I'm not making you anything, I'm verbalizing what you already do, by your own admission. You want a good story, and you do your best to make it one right? Those actions affect the plot. You’re essentially saying "No! I don't want to be healthy! I only care for my body's condition so that I may enjoy life. Don't make me a slave to health- that's different from caring for the condition of my body!"

OUR WHOLE DISSAGREEMENT comes down to one thing, the definition of plot. You (yes, I'm accusing you now, unlike before) have perverted my words and caused us both this anguish. I made a valid point which no one has actually disagreed with (even you) and you took one word, plot, perverted it, and single-handedly turned it to fight me, accuse me, demonize me. That I will not stand for. Increasing the insult, your misinterpretation was invalid and unsupported. Plot is the series of events making up a story and can exist in the world of RP, independent of authors intent. If we want good story we act to make it so (as discussed prior) and those changes affect the plot, use the plot, to make a good story. Call it whatever the <bleep> you will, plot is the word I used to express the idea, which is valid. If you don't like my word choice don't make me do all of this to justify it. Make up your own <bleep>ing word for all I care! Attack the <bleep>ing ideas or stop typing.

Was it that you were just offended originally, having misinterpreted plot into a narrow constraint fettering you to the ground, and then were too embarrassed to admit fault?

There are two directions for debate now, you may engage in either, both, or neither and I'd be happy to join you.
1) the definition of plot and its applicability to the idea I use it to express. (trivial, but if you win it's redeeming)
2) The idea that you act to further the story's quality through events and devices within it and if you don't, the story will have lesser quality


snip
It was simply an observation, and not too far off base, either. I have no problems with the technology's use or means (which are relatively unimportant), I simply sought to clarify the expression of it.

Might I suggest moving the plot debate off this Thread and onto my Arguments Thread so it doesn't detract from this Thread's actual topic?

It would help keep this on topic.

As such it's more like written-down method acting than writing a plot. Plot has middle, beginning, end; dramatic arches, etc. Acting just has exits and entrances and character development; in other words, RPing, in an open forum.

Final time I'll say it: PLOT IS NOT NECESSARILY INTENTIONAL. The elements of plot you describe can all be found in RPs, and due to their on-going nature we rarely see ends, but that's because we're never done. Plot still exists. People act out plots, acting is a medium like writing or speaking or illustrating. All can have plot. Simply because it is not planned out ahead of time or even intended doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Look to before where I mentioned that plot was like a side-effect, but also a tool. It's a side effect because it's created as we RP, just as it is while method acting. You can't do that without creating a story, and all stories are made up by a series of events commonly known as plot. I've already explained how we can use these elements and events to make a better story, making plot a tool as well.

Might I suggest moving the plot debate off this Thread and onto my Arguments Thread so it doesn't detract from this Thread's actual topic?

It would help keep this on topic.
The origional debate is on topic, the debate on the definition of plot is not, but is relivent to the first. I have no objections to moving the definitional debate there, provided I get a link and other parties agree.

I love the counter definition- we're being constructive and intelligent! Problem here is that that definition does no damage to my position. It is correct, but my definitions given expand upon it for precision.

THis "expanding" is exactly what I was referring to by "diluting" the word. Again, according to your 'precise' definition as applied to any situation with events happening, the word "plot" has become meaningless. So yes, according to your extremely broad definition of "plot," all things serve the plot. Including breathing. A rather meaningless sentiment at this point.

Why debate? I enjoy it! Why RP? Why have this discussion thread?

This discussion thread was about FTL travel times, if people had them.

The debate arose when you and others seemed to want to go off-topic about how much superior you are for having things go at the "speed of plot" and not caring about FTL travel speed. Fine by me if that's your choice, but this thread isn't about that and at this point, you're just hijacking. Maybe you enjoy it, but then again some people enjoy pornography and this isn't the place for that either.

You made the thread hoping for a constructive and interesting discussion, as per your first post.

Not really. I invited people to offer their FTL travel times if they had them. Perhaps constructive in the sense of creating a little chart. As per the OP.

There was no disclaimer to warn me you were deathly afraid of conflict or people disagreeing with you. If you'd like to boot me because I'm trying to get across a legitimate point in a legitimate manner and you disagree, be my guest.

There was no such disclaimer, true. But that's a strawman. I'm not afraid of people disagreeing with me, and I love to argue and debate in the NS General forum (and a good many others). I have no power to "boot" you. But I don't think your point is very legitimate nor do I think your contribution to the discussion is by now either interesting or constructive.


I never said you RP sucked, I said that if it truly was without plot it would suck. As I defined plot, all of your RP had it and thus didn't suck.

Sure. But you defined plot in retrospect. Based on my knowledge of what plot meant at the time (I wasn't using your applicable-to-anything definition) it didn't look like a compliment or a hypothetical.

Plot is inherent to story. my life has no plot unless it is made into a story, told or written or shown by someone.

Your definition, again: The pattern of events or main story in a narrative or drama.

Drama: a state, situation, or series of events involving interesting or intense conflict of forces

So, just because it isn't written down doesn't mean it's not a drama, and therefore your life has a plot and a story. According to your definition.

Time can move forward, but if nothing happens within the setting during the change in time, then no plot exists.

It's just about impossible for nothing to happen within any given change of time. So, plot always exists.


I'm verbalizing what you already do, by your own admission. You want a good story, and you do your best to make it one right? Those actions affect the plot.

I don't care about making a good story - for one reason including the fact that I don't RP for others. They may well contribute what constitutes to a 'bad story,' or the 'plot' may suck terribly. I don't care. My goal is enjoyment, creativity and character roleplaying. This is not the same thing.


I made a valid point which no one has actually disagreed with (even you) and you took one word, plot, perverted it, and single-handedly turned it to fight me, accuse me, demonize me.

:rolleyes:

I haven't demonized you; you're overreacting. I think it's best you just drop this now if you're so offended. And because I'd like this thread to stay relatively on-topic.

Uh. You both are wasting time trying to define what plot is unless the implied idea s to what a plot is in story telling is truly lost on you. Instead of writing up 30 paragraphs trying to create a great pyramid of logic as to why plot = important, I shall just use a simple example as to why ignoring the plot can be bad.

Thread opens up about an evil menace attacking a star system. Almost everyone goes at Plot speed to intercept the bastard before it strikes again. Evil is defeated, everyone goes home with a ton of new backstory and ideas about the future. That one guy who disagreed with making his ship go plot speed arrives two weeks later with nothing to do. He missed out on all the fun, and also wasted a bunch of time. That is why plot speed is important.

I use the theoretical (what FTL drive tain't theoretical..) drive of Fold Drives. It's somethingbetween the types used in Robotech and Dune, where rather than actually moving the vessel, you simply move between two points in space.

Any two points, as long as you have an idea where the heck you're going. The better coordiantes, or at least the best you have available, the more accurate a jump, with a powerful enough energy core. Zero Point Energy is another theoiretical energy source from the fabric of space itself, and since space is rediculously infinite and old, there's a 'lot' of material to use. Using the Hikari Power through it's subspace medium gives a second energy source (think we covered theorietical, ala not real yet.. danke..) to power the drive.

Since Fold travel requires a huge amount of energy to maintain the Folding process, as well as stabilization shields since this more than likely is traveling through a two dimensional medium, and anything passing through the jump point, ending up as a flat pancake of metal and dead bodies would be a rather 'bad' thing, the stabilization fields help maintain the three dimensional anchor a vessel usually exists in, the high energy requirement keeps everything very stable. All of the energy used though only needs to be maintained long enough to pass through the Fold point.

The Fold drive however usually acts in concert with a secondary FTL drive, usually hyperdrive, though jump gates are used for smaller craft to reduce drive stress within Sphere territories, to allow actual movement of a vessel besides sublight drives, to give flexibility. However the 'only' way to maintain a realm as larger as mine is through the Fold drive. Otherwise the possibility is impossible on any scale. It's not a matter of only distance, but time as well. It's the same problem the old British Empire had with maintaining communications with it's worldwide territories. Outside of loyalty and a large standing military, there's 'little' else holding an empire together unless communications are maintained as effectively as possible.

As once in RL I was once a USAF radio maintenance technichian, and FCC GROL technichian, communications was impressed easily on me for all it was. No less in an intergalactic empire. Fold Drive makes direct contact easy and effective. Between that and the Comm-Orb series platforms, both needs of communication lines are maintained.

If I'm gonna wank, it's gonna be an effective one, that's dang sure. =^^= And I'm only working with a fraction of the universe at large, nevermind now many 'other' universes there are out there, in this Dimension alone. (Another discussion for another time.. =^^= )

I'm too lazy, but I basically use the same thing as GA here.

The point you just made is valid. There was an RP I was involved in where I had reinforcements being sent via tm WH method. They were sent to help defend the resident sentients from a pirate fleet backed by another nation. I posted the ships entering the WH and informed the others that the ten minute countdown would be controlled by them. I asked them to let me know when the time limit expired by adding it to their posts. During the combat, one of the defender's ship was crippled and in danger of falling from orbit onto their capital. The fact I had ships on the way added drama to the Thread because of the travel time needed to transverse the wormhole.

That is one instance where travel times was crutial to the current plot and it allowed the others to decide if I was able to help them or if the ship went boom.

The link to the Arguments Thread is located in my signature below if you still wish to use it...

I use 'Jump FTL' which is like opening a tunnel in subspace that is then traveled through... examples include the show/movie(s) Babylon Five and the computer game series Freespace 1 & 2.

How it translates to the speed of light is unknown to me. However, it takes a couple hours, if not days, to go anywhere other then the nearby systems to where the jump happens.

Usually, ships and fleets move at the speed of plot. When there is a lull in the action that is time based, we might say that it has been a couple days and the advanced elements of the fleet began to show up. I hate people who say that they can have a fleet on hand at the snap of a finger, so I try to make a system that seems reasonable. Thanks to a recent rp with Gaian Ascendancy, where they have given me access to some old ships, my 'Jump FTL' will be enhanced when my civ finishes researching his 'Fold Drive' technology.

THis "expanding" is exactly what I was referring to by "diluting" the word. Again, according to your 'precise' definition as applied to any situation with events happening, the word "plot" has become meaningless. So yes, according to your extremely broad definition of "plot," all things serve the plot. Including breathing. A rather meaningless sentiment at this point.



This discussion thread was about FTL travel times, if people had them.

The debate arose when you and others seemed to want to go off-topic about how much superior you are for having things go at the "speed of plot" and not caring about FTL travel speed. Fine by me if that's your choice, but this thread isn't about that and at this point, you're just hijacking. Maybe you enjoy it, but then again some people enjoy pornography and this isn't the place for that either.



Not really. I invited people to offer their FTL travel times if they had them. Perhaps constructive in the sense of creating a little chart. As per the OP.



There was no such disclaimer, true. But that's a strawman. I'm not afraid of people disagreeing with me, and I love to argue and debate in the NS General forum (and a good many others). I have no power to "boot" you. But I don't think your point is very legitimate nor do I think your contribution to the discussion is by now either interesting or constructive.



Sure. But you defined plot in retrospect. Based on my knowledge of what plot meant at the time (I wasn't using your applicable-to-anything definition) it didn't look like a compliment or a hypothetical.



Your definition, again: The pattern of events or main story in a narrative or drama.

Drama: a state, situation, or series of events involving interesting or intense conflict of forces

So, just because it isn't written down doesn't mean it's not a drama, and therefore your life has a plot and a story. According to your definition.



It's just about impossible for nothing to happen within any given change of time. So, plot always exists.



I don't care about making a good story - for one reason including the fact that I don't RP for others. They may well contribute what constitutes to a 'bad story,' or the 'plot' may suck terribly. I don't care. My goal is enjoyment, creativity and character roleplaying. This is not the same thing.



:rolleyes:

I haven't demonized you; you're overreacting. I think it's best you just drop this now if you're so offended. And because I'd like this thread to stay relatively on-topic.

You don't want me here. You've missed my points entirely. I'm gone.

Boy, all that electro-techno stuff must be fast stuff man. =^^= Hate to know what Hair music does...

Metal results in point to point transport. It's fun.

Skeelzania, being run by someone whose own technical ineptitude is astounding, makes use of several FTL Drives which, for the most part, are all derived from the Gideon MK I Tachyon Bubble Improability Drive. As explained by the brilliant and mysterious Dr. Gideon, the drive creates a sphere around the ship which negates most laws of physics affecting the ship itself, yet not the crewmen in side. Some Fleet authorities dispute this, as Skeelzanian ships have occasionally smashed into asteroids, planets, or four mile long superfreighters, as well as just disappear completely.

Following Dr. Gideon's untimely disappearance, no one has seriously taken a look at the Drive, other than to expand its size and power in order to move ever larger vessels.

There is some slowing associated with larger size, but even teh three-mile Godhood battleships can travel from Solomon to Sol in about three weeks (a distance of approxmiately 40,000 lightyears).

Communicating over such a distance is another story, however.

It should be noted that the various Greenskinz who inhabit Skeelzania's border systems use a similar method of FTL transportation, one also ultimately derived from Dr. Gideon's work. Greenskin drives create a tiny "Impossihole" which functions as a short-lived wormhole for Orkish vessels, allowing them to jump through space. It is unknown how they plot a course using such devices.

I use a number of drives and equipment ...

FTL Drives

1). Warp

http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/warp.htm

http://members.tripod.com/da_theoretical1/wdphysics.html

http://www.startrek2.com/articles/05202006.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcubierre_drive

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/364496.stm

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/research/warp/warp.html

2). Trans Warp or Slip-Stream Drive

http://www.itsf.org/resources/factsheet.php?fsID=16

http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Quantum_slipstream_drive

3). Hyperspace

http://deoxy.org/hs_phys.htm

http://archives.betterhumans.com/News/5138/Default.aspx

http://www.defensetech.org/archives/002065.html

4). Door Gates; Personnel & Starship size Star Gates

http://www.stargate-sg1-solutions.com/wiki/Supergate

5). Jump Drives ( As found in Mech Assault 2 )

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jump_drive

6). Jump Gates; As found in Freelancer or Babylon 5

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumpgate_(Babylon_5)

7). Trade Lanes: As found in Freelancer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freelancer_(computer_game)

http://moo3.quicksilver.com/official/spacetravel.html

Usually used within any given solar system, between Jump Gates.

8). Space Catapults; Interstellar / Subspace

http://www.orionsarm.com/tech/interstellar_catapults.html

http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Subspace_catapult

8). Dimensional Drive / Gates Exclusive to Kormantor; travels between dimensions.

http://www.coldnorth.com/memoryicon/adventure/adventure_enter_chimera.htm


Sub Light Drives

1). Impulse Drive

http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Impulse_drive

2). Ion Engines

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/exploration/futurespaceflight/ionengines.shtml

http://science.nasa.gov/newhome/headlines/prop06apr99_2.htm

2.1 light-years/day

Drive Used. Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine.

This new engine allowed ships to tunnel into "the Slipstream" (also called "Slipspace"). Technically called "Shaw-Fujikawa Space"(after the mathematicians who proved its existence), Slipspace is a domain with alternate physical laws, allowing faster-than-light travel without relativistic side-effects (much like hyperspace from Star Wars movies). Faster-than-light travel is not instantaneous; "short" jumps routinely take up to two months, and "long" jumps can last six months or more, which is why most Yukatan ships have cryo chambers.

Slipspace can be thought of as our Universe (which, technically, it is) but with a greater number of dimensions. Our plane of existence is thought to have four dimensions (up-down, front-back, side-to-side, and time), but Slipspace is an eleven-dimensional spacetime. Slipspace is currently theorised (in 2525) as a "tangle" of our plane's dimensions, rather like taking the classic "flat sheet" used to represent gravity and crumpling it up into a ball, therby creating extra dimensions and shorter spaces between points. As such, the physical laws of our plane (eg. relativity) are accentuated and distorted.

The SFTE (Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine) generated a resonance field, which when coupled with the unusual physics of the Slipstream, allowed for dramatically shorter transit times between stars; however, scientists noted an odd "flexibility" to temporal flow while inside the Slipstream. Though no human scientist is sure why travel time between stars is not constant, many theorize that there are "eddies" or "currents" within the Slipstream—there is generally a five to ten percent variance in travel times between stars. This temporal inconsistency has given military tacticians and strategists fits—hampering many coordinated attacks. The drive used particle accelerators to rip apart normal space-time by generating micro black holes. Those holes evaporated via Hawking radiation in a nanosecond. The real quantum mechanical "magic" of the drive was how it manipulated those holes in space-time, squeezing a hundred-thousand-ton cruiser into Slipspace.

Even my scientists don't fully understand how our own drives work, but they do, and thats good enough for the Military.