Re: [HoE] Question #2 of the Day - Powerup

["Steve Crow" <crow_steve@hotmail.com>]

>Steve Crow wrote:
>
> > See my earlier example - would a light bulb or fluoresecent tube fit 
>into
> > your guideline here?
>
>Of course.  A light bulb is really nothing more than a resistor, but I 
>don't
>think we really want to get into basic electronics, because I know almost
>nothing about it. But a light bulb does not produce energy (unless you want 
>to
>talk about photosynthesis, and I don't), it just requires a current and 
>converts
>some of it into light and heat.  Same thing with a flourescent tube, 
>although
>the physics are different, the effect is the same. So yes, your Doomsayer 
>could
>pick up any lightbulb and "pull a fester"... I'd give him a TN of 3. 
>Actually,
>that sounds like a pretty handy use of Power Up... you could pick up an old
>maglite or flashlight and not have to worry about batteries.
>

Well, there's where you get into the interesting question.  By referring to, 
say, "Generator" the implication is that you can possibly "store" stuff in a 
Generator.  Otherwise, why sit there and touch a generator to power a 
building, when you could just grab the main conduct direct and power the 
building.

> > Since "Hovercar" is given as an example, it seems the intent was that
> > carscould be powered by this miracle as well.  From what I recall of the 
>WW
> > Companion, many cars are electrical by 2081.
>
>Hovercar/hovercycles use turbine engines. Although they do rely on 
>electrical
>components, they still need some sort of fuel to burn in the turbine. There 
>is
>no such thing as a turbine that runs entirely on electricity as far as I'm 
>aware
>of.  If the electrical components on a hover vehicle were missing or not
>working, then Power Up might work on those... but you'd still need fuel 
>make a
>combustion or turbine engine work.
>

Actually, the reference (as someone else noted) is to "Hovertank."

>Any really complex machine is going to have a lot of different components, 
>and
>only some will be electrical. And you're right, we don't have any idea of 
>how
>some of the tech in HOE works.
>

Well, unfortunately Powerup simplifies things.  in this case by simply 
saying, "Hovertank."  The implication is that...well, you can power a 
Hovertank.

> > Neither do I, but "battery power" is listed as a TN 3 use for Powerup.  
>Thus
> > my confusion.
>
>I don't have the table in front of me... *shrug*

Since several other people haven't as well, here's the chart from Children 
of the Atom:

TN 3  Battey Power
TN 5  Computer
TN 7  Generator
TN 9  Electric Car
TN 11 Hovertank


>I'm thinking the table might be differentiating between just how much juice 
>is
>required to power the thing normally.  Battery Power may refer to a 
>flashlight
>or lightbulb, while something like a buzzsaw or electric chainsaw requires 
>a
>portable generator of some sort. The more juice an item needs, the higher 
>the
>TN. Unfortunately, I don't have the book in front of me, but maybe thats 
>where
>you're getting confused... it's not listing batteries or generators as 
>devices
>the power can be used on, but giving a TN based on how much electricity is
>needed. *shrug*
>

The problem with that theory is that this chart seems to be mixing its 
references.  In one case, as you note, it could be listing how much 
electricity needed (Battery Power and Generator).  In the other cases, it is 
listing the actual items that you can activate.

The question is, what kind of "Generator" are they referring to?  A 
generator enough to power a building probably takes _more_ power than an 
Electric Car, but the TN is one step lower.  (Your mileage may vary on that 
opinion, of course).

Also, the miracle is described in terms of what you can power up, not how 
much power you generate.  As such "powering up" a Generator is a rather 
confusing reference.  Either that, or you might potentially be "storing" 
electricity into a generator so that it can run after the Doomsayer leaves 
the scene.  It is the latter that my players are interested in as far as 
potential.

>
>
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---

Steve Crow

"Worm Can Opener Extraordinare"

Check out my website at:  http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Stargate/4991/


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