Re: The interception challenge

Mikko wrote
> Scenario: B jumps into system and tries to move to fixed, known point 
C. A
> is patrolling the space in between.
> 
[snip]
> Interception must happen before B is within 20 turns of movement from 
C.

You have not defined 'interception' here. Is it:

1) At some point in (real, 4D) spacetime the Blue (Defender) ship must 
be within weapon range of the Red (Attacker) ship ? Irrespective of 
relative courses and speeds ?

2) At some point in an FT game, the Blue ship must end its move within 
weapon range of the Red ship ? Again irrespective of relative courses 
and speeds ?

3) Blue must be able to match Red in course and speed for a prolonged 
firefight ?

If it is case (1) and you assume omniscient sensors, zero reaction 
times and equal acceleration capabilities, both ships starting at zero 
speed, the interception points are on a plane half way between the two 
starting points. If the target is closer to Blue's start than to Red's,
it can 
be protected.

If Red starts at speed Blue, the calculations start to get interesting, 
but should remain feasible, resulting in a fairly simple set of 
interception points.

Case(2): If weapons range is bigger than the ships' combined speed, it 
is basically the same as case (1). Otherwise, again some interesting 
calculations

Case(3)is the toughest. 

[snip]
> Bonus question 2:
> 
> Translate your parameters into real world terms and calculate what 
kind of
> g-stresses your crew is under. 
> 

With grav compensators (as in FT) an equal ships, this is irrelevant.

[snip]
> Trivial solutions (e.g. "A is waiting at known endpoint") not 
accepted,

This precisely contradicts your opening conditions 'known point C'. It 
is an obvious and valid solution. Even if Blue is not on the target, it 
could be nearby. You would have to make the target either unknown or 
give Red the choice of several targets.

> Call it a summer school project ;-) 

Greetings
Karl Heinz