re: GEV and Grav Vehicles

> Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 18:06:30 -0500
> From: kaladorn@fox.nstn.ca
> Subject: GEV and Grav Vehicles
> 
[snip]
> 
> 2) A tank is loud and noisy. So is a GEV. Either can be made lower in
> singature by the application of a) money and b) engineering. Grav
> might actually be the quietest and lowest signature possible.
[snip]

i agree.  a grav propulsion unit would be quiet, but it would not
necessarily have the lowest signature.	signature not only depends
upon physical visibility, but also the level of sensor tech the opposing
race(s) possess.  if the enemy also had grav tech, they probably also
have grav detection gear (pick up grav distortions upto a certain
distance).
a low-tech race, OTOH, must rely on simple methods (Mk 1 eyeball, etc.).

this note is not to directly pick on you Thomas, but to point out that
everyone's FT/DS2/SG2 universe should work out relative tech factors
for things like sensors/detection, etc.  a simple rule for stealth is
that 
the level purchased is the effective signature to races of the same tech
level.	for each tech level greater than the enemy, stealth = +1
(minimum
signature = 1).  for each less than the enemy, stealth = -1 (minimum
stealth = 0).  for example, it is possible for an advanced race to
ignore 
a lesser races stealth!  one's universe, therefore, must assign general
tech levels to each race.

david