Diaspora/Variant slipknots
From UTRPG
By default, slipknots are predictable and bidirectional. In a recent thread on the Diaspora mailing list some alternate slipknot types were suggested. Here is a summary of the suggestions.
Contents |
[edit] Slipknot types
[edit] Standard slipknot
- number per system
- 2
- location
- on ecliptic normal line through barycenter
- distance from ecliptic
- 5AU
- skill check
- unmodified Navigation upon exiting
- connections
- all linked systems
[edit] Close/far
for some reason the slipknot is not at the usual distance from the system. Adjust travel times accordingly.[1]
[edit] Erratic/predictable
an erratic knot is difficult to traverse. There is a penalty to the Navigation roll on exiting the knot. A Predictable knot could give a bonus and be a very popular line to use![1]
[edit] Gravitic
you need to use the North slipknot to go "up" the cluster; and the South slipknot to go "down"[2]
[edit] Limited Destinations
the knot does not go to all possible connections. (Good if you want to force some in-system traffic)[1]
[edit] Occult
the slipline is hidden or somehow otherwise undetected. (What's behind it?)[1]
See also Occultation: A System/Setting Hack for Diaspora, on RPG Geek.
[edit] One-way
The knot can only be traversed in one direction.[1]
[edit] pairwise one-way
the north slipknot allows only inbound traffic; the south slipknot allows only outbound traffic[3]
[edit] Unfocussed
Only allows T3 or higher ships in or out. [2]
[edit] more unfocussed
Only allows T4 ships through[3]
[edit] Unstable
traversing the slipknot causes an attack on the ship.[1] There are three subvariants:
- thermally unstable
- attacks the Heat track
- gravitically unstable
- attacks Frame
- electromagnetically unstable
- attacks Data
- You could even use more than one of these at once.
- I think these could add a lot of interesting dimensions to space travel, especially if they are placed creatively. Do we play it safe and make two jumps through stable slipknots, or do we take a little risk and go through an unstable knot to shave off the travel time? And what about the old spacers tale of a hidden "northwest passage" that lets you jump clear across the cluster? That would be worth millions to the right people… [1]
