Re: [GZG][FH] Planet types (was Re: Locations of Stars)

On Mon, 30 Nov 1998, John M. Atkinson wrote:

> Tony Wilkinson wrote: 
> > 2) Planets without atmosphere.
> 
> > 4) Planets with low gravity. (I'm thinking moon here)
> 
> Editorial note:  If you've got too low a gravity (moon, for instance)
> you will likely overlap with above category.	Or the atmosphere will
be
> some sort of wierdo exotic compound mix.  Or atmosphere will be thin.
> 

An atmosphere where firing your HEL results in a catastrophic explosion
engulfing the entire atmosphere...planetary fuel-air explosives...

> Additional category:	Smaller/Larger planets than Earth (ties in
closely
> with gravity). Horizons!  On a Traveller Size 5 world, the horizon is
> 4km away.  This obviously limits visibility and hence max range of
> weapons.

This is true - weapons like HELs and the bigger MDCs/etc have ranges
limited not by weapon range by by sensor range - stuff is hard to hit
when
it's over the curve of the horizon. On bigger-than-Earth worlds, you'd
have horizon lines farther away, and corespondingly greater ranges.

This would also be a bigger factor, I think, in determining ranges on
small vacumn worlds, eg Luna/asteroids/etc. I think the horizon on Luna
is
only 2-3 km away (info/math, anyone?) so sight lines rather than weapons
ranges matter.

In vacumn worlds, DFFGs would have hugely increased ranges, as well.
'Everything close range band, maybe? I could see using DFFG/5s in
appropriate mounts as light anti-starship weapons on small vacumn
worlds.

My $0.02,

Brian (burger00@camosun.bc.ca)
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