Vector Movement Made Simple

[Supplement Four]

Originally posted by flykiller:
(glances at a list of ready-to-go rules) we could, but for now I'd like to concentrate on just maneuver. vector movement is a whole 'nuther world all by itself and it may take some getting used to.

Alright. You're the GM. That's fine by me.

I'm not quite sure I understand the vector system. Let's see: If the SDB wants to accelrate straight towards the warship at max thrust, then it can move horizontally across the map on the X axis by 6 LS. So, in one turn, it will move 180 pixels. Is that correct?

If not, you might want to give me an example of how the SDB moves. I'm better at following examples.

 

[flykiller]

I'm better at following examples.

no problem. figuring out how to explain this properly is valuable experience.

no, the ships move in pixels. 1 turn of acceleration at 1G will result in a vector (a movement in a direction per turn) of 1 pixel per turn in that direction.

I've updated the graphic and tracker above to show the sdb accelerating at 6G straight at the warship for 3 turns, to illustrate it's movement.

at the start of turn 1 the sdb is at (x,y)(120,300) and is 4.0 LS away from the warship. it has a vector of (xv,yv)(000,000). it accelerates at 6G directly towards the warship, (xd,yd)(006,000). at the end of turn 1 the sdb has moved 3 pixels to (x,y)(123,300).

at the start of turn 2 the sdb is at (x,y)(123,300) and is 3.9 LS away from the warship. it has a vector of (xv,yv)(006,000). it accelerates at 6G directly towards the warship, (xd,yd)(006,000). at the end of turn 2 the sdb has moved 9 pixels to (x,y)(132,300).

at the start of turn 3 the sdb is at (x,y)(132,300) and is 3.6 LS away from the warship. it has a vector of (xv,yv)(012,000). it accelerates at 6G directly towards the warship, (xd,yd)(006,000). at the end of turn 3 the sdb has moved 15 pixels to (x,y)(147,300).

at the start of turn 4 the sdb is at (x,y)(147,300) and is 3.1 LS away from the warship. it has a vector of (xv,yv)(018,000).

 

[flykiller]

I'm better at following examples.

no problem. figuring out how to explain this properly is valuable experience.

no, the ships move in pixels. 1 turn of acceleration at 1G will result in a vector (a movement in a direction per turn) of 1 pixel per turn in that direction.

I've updated the graphic and tracker above to show the sdb accelerating at 6G straight at the warship for 3 turns, to illustrate it's movement.

at the start of turn 1 the sdb is at (x,y)(120,300) and is 4.0 LS away from the warship. it has a vector of (xv,yv)(000,000). it accelerates at 6G directly towards the warship, (xd,yd)(006,000). at the end of turn 1 the sdb has moved 3 pixels to (x,y)(123,300).

at the start of turn 2 the sdb is at (x,y)(123,300) and is 3.9 LS away from the warship. it has a vector of (xv,yv)(006,000). it accelerates at 6G directly towards the warship, (xd,yd)(006,000). at the end of turn 2 the sdb has moved 9 pixels to (x,y)(132,300).

at the start of turn 3 the sdb is at (x,y)(132,300) and is 3.6 LS away from the warship. it has a vector of (xv,yv)(012,000). it accelerates at 6G directly towards the warship, (xd,yd)(006,000). at the end of turn 3 the sdb has moved 15 pixels to (x,y)(147,300).

at the start of turn 4 the sdb is at (x,y)(147,300) and is 3.1 LS away from the warship. it has a vector of (xv,yv)(018,000).

 

[Supplement Four]

Originally posted by flykiller:
it accelerates at 6G directly towards the warship, (xd,yd)(006,000). at the end of turn 1 the sdb has moved 3 pixels to (x,y)(123,300).

If it accelerates at 6Gs, then why doesn't it end the turn 6 pixels away.

It seems like turn 1 should put its velocity at 6Gs. And turn 2 should see the ship at a velocity of 12Gs.

 

[Supplement Four]

Originally posted by flykiller:
it accelerates at 6G directly towards the warship, (xd,yd)(006,000). at the end of turn 1 the sdb has moved 3 pixels to (x,y)(123,300).

If it accelerates at 6Gs, then why doesn't it end the turn 6 pixels away.

It seems like turn 1 should put its velocity at 6Gs. And turn 2 should see the ship at a velocity of 12Gs.

 

[flykiller]

If it accelerates at 6Gs, then why doesn't it end the turn 6 pixels away.

the distance over time formula is:

distance = (1/2)(acceleration)(time)^2

so,

distance = (1/2)(6 pixels/turn^2)(1 turn)^2

distance = (1/2)(6 pixels) = 3 pixels

It seems like turn 1 should put its velocity at 6Gs. And turn 2 should see the ship at a velocity of 12Gs.

it does. at the start of turn 1, the sdb is at velocity (000,000). at the start of turn 3 after 2 turns of 6G it is at velocity (012,000).

 

[flykiller]

If it accelerates at 6Gs, then why doesn't it end the turn 6 pixels away.

the distance over time formula is:

distance = (1/2)(acceleration)(time)^2

so,

distance = (1/2)(6 pixels/turn^2)(1 turn)^2

distance = (1/2)(6 pixels) = 3 pixels

It seems like turn 1 should put its velocity at 6Gs. And turn 2 should see the ship at a velocity of 12Gs.

it does. at the start of turn 1, the sdb is at velocity (000,000). at the start of turn 3 after 2 turns of 6G it is at velocity (012,000).

 

[Supplement Four]

OK. I'm sure I'll "get it" as we move along.

I'll tell you what I want to do, and hopefully, you'll get me there.

SDB wants to ignite the drives, full bore, and head in a direction that is SW on the map. I want to move as fast as possible in that direction.

At the end of that move, what's my distance from the WS?

 

[Supplement Four]

OK. I'm sure I'll "get it" as we move along.

I'll tell you what I want to do, and hopefully, you'll get me there.

SDB wants to ignite the drives, full bore, and head in a direction that is SW on the map. I want to move as fast as possible in that direction.

At the end of that move, what's my distance from the WS?

 

[flykiller]

SDB wants to ignite the drives, full bore, and head in a direction that is SW on the map. I want to move as fast as possible in that direction.

At the end of that move, what's my distance from the WS?

no problem. I've updated the graphic and movement chart above to show this. maximum vector to SW on the map is (x,y)(-4,4) - -4 moving right to left, 4 moving top to bottom. thus, at the beginning of turn 2, the sdb's new location is (x,y)(118,302), its new vector is (xv,yv)(-4,4), and its distance from the warship is now 4.1 LS.

 

[flykiller]

SDB wants to ignite the drives, full bore, and head in a direction that is SW on the map. I want to move as fast as possible in that direction.

At the end of that move, what's my distance from the WS?

no problem. I've updated the graphic and movement chart above to show this. maximum vector to SW on the map is (x,y)(-4,4) - -4 moving right to left, 4 moving top to bottom. thus, at the beginning of turn 2, the sdb's new location is (x,y)(118,302), its new vector is (xv,yv)(-4,4), and its distance from the warship is now 4.1 LS.

 

[Supplement Four]

Originally posted by flykiller:
and its distance from the warship is now 4.1 LS.

I noticed you didn't move the WS, but there isn't a turn 2 for the SS.

Is the order this?: SDB moves; then WS moves; then SS moves?

 

[Supplement Four]

Originally posted by flykiller:
and its distance from the warship is now 4.1 LS.

I noticed you didn't move the WS, but there isn't a turn 2 for the SS.

Is the order this?: SDB moves; then WS moves; then SS moves?

 

[flykiller]

oh, I thought you were asking for a movement example. if you're ready to start then I'll move the warship and the supply ship.

movement is simultaneous. before you stated the sdb's move I'd already decided what the warship and the supply ship should do, and that's the plan I'll be following.

hang on a minute ....

 

[flykiller]

oh, I thought you were asking for a movement example. if you're ready to start then I'll move the warship and the supply ship.

movement is simultaneous. before you stated the sdb's move I'd already decided what the warship and the supply ship should do, and that's the plan I'll be following.

hang on a minute ....

 

[Supplement Four]

My first move is the SDB moving at full thrust SW on the map.

 

[Supplement Four]

My first move is the SDB moving at full thrust SW on the map.

 

[flykiller]

</font><blockquote>code:</font><hr /><pre style="font-size:x-small; font-family: monospace;">SDB - agility 6, weapons range 3LS, hits 4
WARSHIP - agility 4, weapons range 3LS, hits 10
SUPPLY SHIP - agility 1, hits 2


SDB WARSHIP SUPPLY SHIP
turn x y xv yv xd yd wars supp x y xv yv xd yd sdb supp x y xv yv xd yd sdb wars
---- ----------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
001 120 300 000 000 -04 04 4.0 20.0 240 300 000 000 04 00 4.0 16.0 720 300 000 000 -01 00 20.0 16.0
002 118 302 -004 004 05 03 4.1 20.1 242 300 004 000 02 03 4.1 15.9 720 300 -001 000 -01 00 20.1 15.9
003 116 307 001 007 -- -- 4.4 20.1 247 301 006 003 -- -- 4.4 15.7 719 300 -002 000 -- -- 20.1 15.7

</pre>[/QUOTE]

 

[flykiller]

</font><blockquote>code:</font><hr /><pre style="font-size:x-small; font-family: monospace;">SDB - agility 6, weapons range 3LS, hits 4
WARSHIP - agility 4, weapons range 3LS, hits 10
SUPPLY SHIP - agility 1, hits 2


SDB WARSHIP SUPPLY SHIP
turn x y xv yv xd yd wars supp x y xv yv xd yd sdb supp x y xv yv xd yd sdb wars
---- ----------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
001 120 300 000 000 -04 04 4.0 20.0 240 300 000 000 04 00 4.0 16.0 720 300 000 000 -01 00 20.0 16.0
002 118 302 -004 004 05 03 4.1 20.1 242 300 004 000 02 03 4.1 15.9 720 300 -001 000 -01 00 20.1 15.9
003 116 307 001 007 -- -- 4.4 20.1 247 301 006 003 -- -- 4.4 15.7 719 300 -002 000 -- -- 20.1 15.7

</pre>[/QUOTE]

 

[Supplement Four]

The ship-to-ship hail squaks, incoming from the SDB.

"You bastard! I know what you're doing! So, it's a race you want then, eh? OK, it's a race you'll get!"

ON THE BRIDGE OF THE SDB: "Helmsman. Angle a course towards the supply vessel, but keep us out of firing range of that warship. I want to skim just outside weapon's range and beat the warship to the supply vessel. Alert me if the warship changes course."

--------------------------

So, that's my move. Begin to alter vector, top speed, in a direct line as possible at the supply ship, mindful to keep a few pixels out of the warship's weapon range.

I also want to account for warship movement later in the round. I don't want to be so close to the warship's weapon range that the warship can bring me in at long range, moving after I move. So, the distance outside of range needs to account for the warship's possible change of vector.

I imagine this "saftey zone" will have to be wide on early rounds, but as the WS picks up speed, it will be harder and harder for the ship to angle towards me (if I'm reading your system correctly), and therefore my SDB's saftey zone can be "thinner", giving me a straighter line to the supply ship.

The SDB will open up on the SS as soon as that vessel gets into range.

That's my course, every turn, unless the WS changes vector. If it does, I may have alter course.

As long as the WS doesn't change from it's beeline to the SS, you can play out a couple of turns on the movement graph if you like. If the SDB gets into range with the SS, stop then and let me re-evaluate.

Stop if the WS changes course.

Stop if I've miscalculated somewhere and the WS surprises me with a shot.

Otherwise, play as many rounds as needed given my instructions to the SDB above.