Additive Nexus or Tavrchedl’?

[The Pakkrat]

And I reading T5.09 correctly?

Is the drive Nexus an additive connection? Are the Potentials of two or more drives added together?

Example:

Two Jump Drives, each with a Potential of 3 are linked via Nexus. Providing Power requirements (in EP), fuel is supplied (L-hyd, Drop Tanks, Collector, Anti-Matter, whatever...); are the two drives’ Potentials added for a hull that now has a six-parsecs range?

IF SO...

I have a TL-16 Ultimate Stage, 200-ton Hull sporting two Jump-3 drives connected by a nexus with a six-parsecs range, expending only 84 tons of fuel per jump, with plenty of tonnage left over for a Potential 3 M-Drive, compartments, four crew, and more than enough leftover tonnage for Fixings, Payload and a Power Plant that can handle such a tandem, cooperative jump.

This beauty will do a Jump-6, carry VIPs, Mail, Cargo, refuel in the wilderness and outperform a 100-ton X-Boat Courier IF the price is right. Bob? (Robert, I mean?)

IF NOT....

What does the Nexus between drives do exactly?

Brought to you by an anxious Pakkrat of Pakkrat Industries: What can PI do for you?

 

[AnotherDilbert]

Is the drive Nexus an additive connection? Are the Potentials of two or more drives added together?

No, not quite. You add drives, not potential.

Two Jump Drives, each with a Potential of 3 are linked via Nexus. Providing Power requirements (in EP), fuel is supplied (L-hyd, Drop Tanks, Collector, Anti-Matter, whatever...); are the two drives’ Potentials added for a hull that now has a six-parsecs range?

IF SO...

I have a TL-16 Ultimate Stage, 200-ton Hull sporting two Jump-3 drives connected by a nexus with a six-parsecs range, expending only 84 tons of fuel per jump, with plenty of tonnage left over for a Potential 3 M-Drive, compartments, four crew, and more than enough leftover tonnage for Fixings, Payload and a Power Plant that can handle such a tandem, cooperative jump.

You can add two lettered drives with a nexus, but it is still a J-6 drive, so can't use Ultimate stage until TL-19.

Note that two small jump drives connected with a nexus are bigger and more expensive than a single drive.


It work just as single drives, a jump drive B in a 100 Dt hull is J-4 hence TL13, but in a 200 Dt hull it is J-2 hence TL-11.

 

[whulorigan]

And I reading T5.09 correctly?

Is the drive Nexus an additive connection? Are the Potentials of two or more drives added together?

Example:

Two Jump Drives, each with a Potential of 3 are linked via Nexus. Providing Power requirements (in EP), fuel is supplied (L-hyd, Drop Tanks, Collector, Anti-Matter, whatever...); are the two drives’ Potentials added for a hull that now has a six-parsecs range?[/I]

What you do is calculate the power-requirements of the drive or (power production of a power plant) and compare drive configurations based on total power draw (or power output).

So a B1 (single drive) draws/produces 200 EP, but so does an A2 (dual linked A's) ==> 100 x 2 = 200 EP.

Note that two small jump drives connected with a nexus are bigger and more expensive than a single drive.

But it is also more survivable in terms of combat damage. A shot that would disable a single drive will knock out a single non-linked drive, but will only knock out a component drive in a nexus configuration.

 

[The Pakkrat]

pg. 336 T5.09
CoMBininG JUMP DRiVES

The standard jump drives (identified by letters A through
Z) are the only practical sizes which can be constructed (just
as there are limitations on the construction of internal com-
bustion engines; a million-ton version is impossible). Jump
drives can be ganged and their combined output harnessed
using Nexi.

A nexus(plural = nexi) connects the output of two or
more (up to 9) identical mechanisms, allowing the joined
devices to produce greater overall output.
For example, an N2 or NN Jump consists of two N Jump
Drives connected by a Nexus. The nexus itself is basically a
connection; it adds no tonnage and no additional cost.

A Nexus can also be used to create other combinations
up to nine drives: N3, K4, Z9. An A9 drive (consisting of nine
Standard J-Drive-A and nexi) creates an output of 900 EP, is
(9 * 10)=) 90 tons, and costs MCr90. Jump Drive-J is more
efficient at 50 tons.


Note that the blue 'standard' does not imply Standard Stage.

The above tells me that the Potentials of the connected drives are 'combined' (tr: added together). 'Output' does mean Potential, right?

Chart W Drive Tech Level Availability (pg. 294 T5.09)
Since Jump Potential 3 drives are TL-12 (TL-16 at Ultimate Stage), it is possible for two nexus-linked drives to attain Jump-6 on a B (200-ton) hull, at 0.7 fuel, 130% Efficiency, both being a quarter of the tonnage and both at three times the cost.

I'd mortgage that in a heartbeat.

Or do I know too much and should expect the Tavrchedl' to arrive at my door soon?

 

[AnotherDilbert]

A Nexus can ... An A9 drive (consisting of nine Rocket-A drives and a nexus) outputs 900 EP, is (9 * 2)=) 18 tons, and costs MCr9.

Connected drives add their output in EP, not potential, as Whulorigan points out.

Drive Potential for a specific drive is the EP (Energy Points) per Hull Ton; ignore fractions and round down.
The Starship Drive Potential table pre-calculates values for most common combinations of drive and hull.

A given number of EP gives a certain Potential, limited by hull size and TL:

A Standard stage Jump-6 is TL-15, regardless of how it is built.

 

[The Pakkrat]

Dilbert is displaying charts from How Maneuver Works when I'm focused on Jump Drives.

Lemme see if I understand the above:

On a Hull B (200 tons), two C Jump Drives (300EP each), added together by a Nexus which makes 600EP is equivalent to an F Drive on the same Hull, right?

So even though two C Jump Drives push the same EP as an F, they can't create a Jump-6 like an F Drive can on that very same 200-ton hull?

The Power Plant F (Standard TL-13, Improved TL-14, Modified TL-15 or Advanced TL-16 on that 200-ton hull would provide the power needed to engage both C drives or the F Drive (same letter of course).

In the end then, combining drives is only good for spreading the same, non-cumulative Potential out over the hull instead of combining Potential. That is useless except in starship combat as WHUlorigan points.

Then what was the use in Marc's address at Gamehole for the Hieronymous linkage causing two Jump drives to empower each other, (e.g. Annic Nova 3^2 or 2^3)?

Thus, no matter the EP combination, two C Jump Drives on a B Hull will not produce a Jump-6, regardless of Stage and regardless of fuel. Potentials do not stack even though we have not touched factored combinations between additive TL-11 through18 Nexus and TL-23+ Hieronymous.

 

[mike wightman]

I don't think the Hieronymus nexus is in the T5 rules as yet...

 

[AnotherDilbert]

Dilbert is displaying charts from How Maneuver Works when I'm focused on Jump Drives.

The table contains TLs for all drives, including jump drive.

On a Hull B (200 tons), two C Jump Drives (300EP each), added together by a Nexus which makes 600EP is equivalent to an F Drive on the same Hull, right?

Yes, regardless of hull size. Two drives of 300 EP equals one drive of 600 EP.

So even though two C Jump Drives push the same EP as an F, they can't create a Jump-6 like an F Drive can on that very same 200-ton hull?

Yes they can, but only at the required TL.

600 EP in a 200 Dt hull is Potential 6 at TL-15. A Standard stage jump drive of Potential 6 can only be achieved at TL 15 or higher.

A Std TL-12 jump drive can only achieve J-3 regardless of how large it is. E.g a Std TL-12 jump drive F in a 200 Dt hull is still only J-3.

The Power Plant F (Standard TL-13, Improved TL-14, Modified TL-15 or Advanced TL-16 on that 200-ton hull would provide the power needed to engage both C drives or the F Drive (same letter of course).

Yes.

You need a PP with Potential 6, which would be e.g. an Advanced stage power plant E at TL 16 (drive E is 500 EP, 500 EP × 120% Efficiency is effective 600 EP resulting in Potential 6).

Thus, no matter the EP combination, two C Jump Drives on a B Hull will not produce a Jump-6, regardless of Stage and regardless of fuel.

No, you need both the required amount of EPs and the required TL, if you fulfill that you can combine however you want.

E.g. a 2A3 drive is 2 × 100 EP × 3 = 600 EP and would give Potential 6 (at TL-15).

The lettered drives themselves have no TL, only Potentials have TLs.

 

[AnotherDilbert]

But it is also more survivable in terms of combat damage. A shot that would disable a single drive will knock out a single non-linked drive, but will only knock out a component drive in a nexus configuration.

Is that so?

I had, without base other that prejudice from earlier editions, assumed that a J-6 system is a single component.


A single hit would destroy a single sub-compartment, and hence only a part of a jump drive, implying reducing the capacity of the drive, not destroying it?

 

[The Pakkrat]

Dealer Says...

I think I begin to understand, even if I'm not groking in fullness:

No Staging is allowed until the Potential is known.

No Potential is determined until the combined EP versus Hull tonnage is known.

This means I cannot stand in the Drive Market showroom on Dhillourr (Gzaefueg 1413) B110A7A-G Hi In and ask for two Ultimate Jump Drive C (at TL-16) to go into the B (200 ton) hull I have out in the drydock for a nexus connection refit that will produce 600EP and what I thought would result in a Potential of 6 (a.k.a. Jump-6).

I asked the dealer why that wouldn't work. I mean, the drives are already made, sitting there on the showroom floor and waiting to be unpackaged and installed, right?

"That's not the way we do things here," the dealer who was also a technician answered me. "You cannot apply Staging before we mate the two drives to your hull and connect them with a nexus."

"Why?" I asked. "I mean, there they are, already Staged before me."

The dealer-tech raised an eyebrow at me as if I'd said something alien. "Because, sir, the Staging is set for only a single drive. You're looking at two, separate drives, hoping never to see each other again. If you make them work in tandem via a nexus, then their Ultimate Stage begins to erode depending on what hull you will make them fight over, in this case that sorry POS out there in the drydock."

"A wh-?"

"I mean, sir, that the two C Drives will change their Staging, almost magically handwavium-style, when you mash a nexus between the two of them on the same ship. You may get 600EP out them, but they will argue and fight over the Jump Grid you have installed. This 'arguing' will get you the Potential-6 you desire, but at a cost of moving from Tech-12 'Ultimated' up into Tech-16 here on Dhillourr to a measly Tech-15 'Improved' to Tech-16 courtesy of Dhillourr. You're going about this in the wrong order of operations, so it appears, sir."


I looked at the two drives and imagined them having spats. I really wanted a 200-ton ship to eat only 84 tons of fuel for covering six parsecs. With my tail hanging low, I begged another question, "What will the two drives do at Tech-15 Improved up to Tech-16?"

The dealer frowned his Vargr frown at me as if I should know the answer already. "Jump-6 taking 108 tons of fuel, sir, like an Improved F at Tech-16, only 5 tons more massive than an F. Same fuel but more tons." Though he wagged his tail hopefully at me, I knew he wanted me out of his showroom.

"What good is that?" I asked just to hold him before me. My Charisma was higher and I was the one with the credits in my account to spend.

"Combat survivability, sir," answered the dealer. "If one of the drives is hit, you can still Jump-3 with the remaining nacelle."

 

[AnotherDilbert]

This means I cannot stand in the Drive Market showroom on Dhillourr (Gzaefueg 1413) B110A7A-G Hi In and ask for two Ultimate Jump Drive C (at TL-16) to go into the B (200 ton) hull I have out in the drydock for a nexus connection refit that will produce 600EP and what I thought would result in a Potential of 6 (a.k.a. Jump-6).

J-6 is inherently higher tech than J-3, not just more power.

 

[The Pakkrat]

This was way too magical for me and I was beginning to think this dealer was either mad or a closet Psion from Kuzoevo (Gzaefueg 1201). "So, even though I can see two drives on this showroom floor that started out Tech-12, were 'Ultimated' to Ultimate Staging and now Tech-16; you're gonna tell me that they will somehow, mysteriously and honest-to-Ancients, change their Tech to 15 and that I should thank you for their Improved Staging here in Dhillourr Orbital Haven?"


"Are you going to buy something, sir?"


It was like the two drives were Mighty Morphing Jump-a-thon engines with delusions of grandeur. I rubbed my lupine head. A headache was coming on. "Y'know, this could be viewed as false advertisement, two drives that by themselves are Tech-12 given an Ultimate qualifier putting them up to Tech-16, a legal and binding one I might add, and then suddenly are only Tech-15 and meh-Improved to Tech-16."

"I don't make the policy here, sir. I just sell drives."

"And all because they won't play well together?"

"Let me get my boss and perhaps he can explain it better."

 

[The Pakkrat]

I was feeling my Rage Talent rise up from my solar plexus at the duality of the situation. It was like two entangled realities were waiting me to purchase one or the other. But before I could say anything else, this cute forty-something with a spiky-wild mane and neck ruff came inside. Since she was bouncy and laid back with her tail swishing, I swallowed my Rage as she sauntered up to the very same pair of Tech-12-to-Tech-16 Jump Drives C. My headache blossomed from holding back my Rage. I hid it well from the green eyes and timber wolf gray pelted lady. She carried herself tall and passed by me to examine the drives.

"Just like in the online catalog," the female said. She wore this heavy HEV-10 that was jagged of purple and white diamond patterns. She exuded Spacer Charisma like it was money to burn in her light attitude. Just then the dealer-technician returned. But before he could show me to his boss, the female nosed right in interruption.

"I'll take this one," the lady declared to the showroom whelp.

"Ah, excellent choice, ma'am. The Tech-16 C Jump Drive is the Ultimate model for many who come in here."

The female glanced at me and decided that she had the Charisma to continue. The smell of money was in the air, so I had to either make a purchase or stand aside and fume some more. But I did pipe up with, "But you just told me that this model was Tech-15 Improved."


The dealer rolled his eyes at me and pointed me to his boss, this tower of fur and teeth who glowered at me.

"Is there a problem?" boomed the Poice of the huge Urzaeng that I was sure was from a Size A or B world. Those muscles could turn his suit buttons into deadly projectiles if he but struck a bodybuilder's pose.

 

[AnotherDilbert]

Ultimate Vehicle TL-8:

Early Vehicle TL-8:

Two ground-cars is not a spacecraft, even if both are vehicles. There is a basic technological difference.

 

[whulorigan]

Is that so?

I had, without base other that prejudice from earlier editions, assumed that a J-6 system is a single component.

A single hit would destroy a single sub-compartment, and hence only a part of a jump drive, implying reducing the capacity of the drive, not destroying it?

It does not explicitly say so in the Rulebook, but it also does not say anything about the various component drives being right next to each other in the same subcompartment (unless I am mis-remembering), only that nexi connect their output:

[FONT=arial,helvetica]A nexus (plural = nexi) connects the output of two or more (up to 9) identical mechanisms, allowing the joined devices to produce greater overall output. For example, an N2 or NN Jump consists of two N Jump Drives connected by a Nexus. The nexus itself is basically a connection; it adds no tonnage and no additional cost.

A Nexus can also be used to create other combinations up to nine drives: N3, K4, Z9. An A9 drive (consisting of nine Standard J-Drive-A and nexi) creates an output of 900 EP, is (9 * 10)=) 90 tons, and costs MCr90. Jump Drive-J is more efficient at 50 tons.[/FONT]

Thus, the M-Drive on a Gazelle Class (based on the illustration might be a 2_2 drive (2 units linked starboard, 2 units linked port, and both port and starboard assemblies linked together).

 

[AnotherDilbert]

It does not explicitly say so in the Rulebook, but it also does not say anything about the various component drives being right next to each other in the same subcompartment (unless I am mis-remembering), only that nexi connect their output:

We can place the emphasis differently:

For example, an N2 or NN G-Drive consists of two N G-Drives connected by a Nexus.

I agree that it is not obvious.

Thus, the M-Drive on a Gazelle Class (based on the illustration might be a 2_2 drive (2 units linked starboard, 2 units linked port, and both port and starboard assemblies linked together).

Yes, the Gazelle (and many other ships) have always had two (or four) separate M-drives, but they have been a single system and taken damage as a single system.

Engineering: Two Triptic Halonic fusion power-
plants couples to an IDC Fardrive jump unit and 2
model 16 impulse maneuver drive modules.

 

[AnotherDilbert]

This was way too magical for me and I was beginning to think this dealer was either mad or a closet Psion from Kuzoevo (Gzaefueg 1201). "So, even though I can see two drives on this showroom floor that started out Tech-12, were 'Ultimated' to Ultimate Staging and now Tech-16; you're gonna tell me that they will somehow, mysteriously and honest-to-Ancients, change their Tech to 15 and that I should thank you for their Improved Staging here in Dhillourr Orbital Haven?"

An Imp Jump Drive C-16 (max J-6) and an Ult Jump Drive C-16 (max J-3) are two completely different systems from the ground up.

An Ult Jump Drive C-16 (base TL-12 so max J-3) is 10 Dt, MCr 30, 390 EP, and use 42 Dt fuel to propel a 200 Dt hull 3 Pc.

An Imp Jump Drive C-16 (base TL-15 so max J-6) is 20 Dt, MCr 20, 330 EP, and use 54 Dt fuel to propel a 200 Dt hull 3 Pc.

They can not be mistaken for each other...


Both will give a Potential of 3 in a 200 Dt hull.
In a 100 Dt hull (or two drives in a 200 Dt hull) the Ult drive will still give a Potential of 3 (limited by TL), but the Imp drive will give a Potential of 6.

 

[The Pakkrat]

“Are you his boss?” I asked Tall, Woolly and Proper.

“Yes,” said the biggest Urzaeng I’d ever seen in my entire time inside the Ruler of Five confederation. “And more. Now if I can turn your attention to the F Drives for a B Hull, I believe you will see....” He waved a huge left claw, an extremity with the longest claw digits that put the ladies to shame with length and their manicured blackness. I turned to see where he gestured and never got fully around to focus my eyes. Instead I teetered to a side and slumped down only to be caught in those huge claws. “I’m also the handwavium, sir. Swipe here. Pin please. Sign here. And here. And when you wake up I believe you’ll have exactly what I read you needed. Good doing business with you, Ovaghoun.”

When I did wake up, I was on the bridge of my POS, sitting in my chair. The helmsman indicated that 100D was coming up and it was time to engage the new, Improved Jump Drive F I apparently had been harping on about. For the past 70+ minutes.

 

[whulorigan]

Yes, the Gazelle (and many other ships) have always had two (or four) separate M-drives, but they have been a single system and taken damage as a single system.

Originally Posted by JTAS4, p17, Gazelle
Engineering:
Two Triptic Halonic fusion power-plants coupled to an IDC Fardrive jump unit and 2 model 16 impulse maneuver drive modules.

Oh, I agree that historically the M-Drive, P-Plant, and J-Drive were each treated as single systems and took damage as single systems. But then historically you could not "gang" letter-drives together with a nexus either under the CT RAW (or analogously under the MT or T4 RAW).

I am suggesting that under the T⁵ system you have more granularity and can do justice to the "flavor-text" like what you quoted above, which suggests that the Gazelle has two ganged P-Plants and two ganged M-Drives. Since the M-Drives are on opposite sides of the ship, they could theoretically take damage independently.

 

[kilemall]

Fearsome- high strength, psionics, and drive salesman.


That's a fast closer in any species.