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Tales from Space

Powertech

Energy/Power Tech Levels

  1. Atomic Power
  2. Fusion Power
  3. Dorloxium Power
  4. Cold Fusion
  5. Antimatter Reaction
  6. Singularity Power
  7. Zero Point Energy
Standard Tech Level: 3

These are brief details of the energy/power sources in the system. Dorloxium is the most widely used form of energy/power and while Cold Fusion and Antimatter Reaction have been proven, Zero Point Energy is still in theory. All energy is produced and/or delivered by three normal methods: Reactors, Generators and Batteries.

Reactors are large and heavy structures because of the materials needed. For every 25 END/25 REC a reactor produces it requires a 1 hex area. Therefore, standard ship reactors require at least a 4 hex area. Reactors always have REC equal to their END and are always OAF Immobile.

Generators are actually storage devices that are "charged" by a reactor when refueling is required. Generators always deliver more energy/power then they create making their REC always 1/2 of their END. Generators are also smaller than reactors with every 5 END/3 REC requiring 1 hex area. Life of a generators power is equal to the half life of a reactor of the same type. OAF Bulky limitation is required.

Batteries are generally known as charges and can be recharged either by a reactor or a generator (standard). Normal charges rules apply.

Atomic Power
Atomic Power is still in wide use on Darvo, Kotan and Fal. Atomic Power is still used in rural areas through out the system and even on planets using Dorloxium. Atomic Power is the cheapest method of generating power. It's often used to power long term exploration or mining setup crews. It requires 50 kilograms of uranium per 5 END/5 REC and can last up to 10 years before refueling. FTL travel can not be achieved with Atomic Power. Atomic Reactors can only support 500 END/500 REC production before requiring a second reactor. An Atomic Reactor can push for 10% of it's full capacity. Atomic Reactors require a 1 hex area per 25 END.

Example Ship Atomic Reactor: 100 END/100 REC (110) OAF Immobile (-2), Only Power Electrical Devices (-1/4), Real Reactor (-1/4), Requires Uranium (-1/2), Fuel Charge: 1yr (-0) Total Cost: 27 Area: 4 hex(Can push systems for 10 AP per the pushing rules)

Fusion Power
Fusion Power is used throughout the system. A more advanced and powerful version of Atomic Power, Fusion Power triples the output of power for the same amount of material. However, the cost of producing Fusion Power is double that of Atomic. It requires 50 kilograms of deuterium per 15 END/15 REC and can last up to 50 years before refueling. FTL Travel up to 2LY/year can be achieved with Fusion Power. Fusion Reactors can support up to 2,000 END/2,000 REC production before requiring a second reactor. A Fusion Reactor can push for 20% of it's full capacity. Fusion Reactors require a 1 hex area per 50 END.

Example Ship Fusion Reactor: 100 END/100 REC (110) OAF Immobile (-2), Only Power Electrical Devices (-1/4), Real Reactor (-1/4), Requires Deuterium (-1/2), Fuel Charge: 1yr (-0) Total Cost: 27 Area: 2 Hex (Can push systems for 20 AP per the pushing rules)

Dorloxium Power
Almost everything in the system is power by Dorloxium. It is an ore found in numerous meteors, moons and even some planets. When the ore is irratiated to 1 kilorad it begins to detoriate and release enegry. It is also the main source of power for FTL travel. While space craft can be powered by other means no other stable energy source allows for FTL travel. It requires 200 kilograms of Dorloxium per 20 END/20 REC and can last up to 5 years before refueling. FTL travel up to 8,000LY/year (1LY/hour) can be achieved with Dorloxium Power. Dorloxium Reactors can support up to 10,000 END/10,000 REC production before requiring a second reactor. A Dorloxium Reactor can push for 75% of it's full capacity. In some cases they have been known to push higher than 75% with the END cost doubling from 76% and up. Dorloxium Reactors require a 1 hex area per 100 END.

Example Ship Dorloxium Reactor: 100 END/100 REC (110) OAF Immobile (-2), Only Power Electrical Devices (-1/4), Real Reactor (-1/4), Requires Dorloxium (-1/2), Fuel Charge: 1yr (-0) Total Cost: 27 Area: 1 Hex (Can push systems for 75 AP per the pushing rules)

Cold Fusion
The idea of Cold Fusion has been around for centuries, however, the practical use of it was never mastered until recently. About 50 years ago Ryosian scientist discovered the process in which to cause fusion with at least 5 atoms at a time. The downside to Cold Fusion power is the heavy water and it's containment. While it doesn't require shielding the heavy water must be replenished within one year. Cold Fusion Reactors require 40 kilograms of heavy water per 20 REC/20 END and can last up to 1 year before replenshing. FTL travel up to 12,000LY (1.5LY/hour) can be achieved with Cold Fusion Power. Cold Fusion Reactors can support up to 50,000 END/50,000 REC production before requiring a second reactor. A Cold Fusion Reactor can push for 100% of it's capacity. Pushing to 125% of capacity is possible at double the END cost. Cold Fusion Reactors require a 1 hex area per 500 END.

Cold Fusion Power can only be found on Ryos I & II. The collective Ryosian government and science body refuses to share their secret and process. However, Ryosian Cold Fusion Reactors are for sale at 400,000 credits per kilogram of heavey water. Space craft looking to use a Ryosian CFR must also get a Ryosian FTL Drive to suppor the CFR.

Antimatter Reaction
Antimatter Reaction is the only power who's source can not be mined or collected it has to be created. It is also highly volatile. Both the fuel containment cells and the reactor core must be contained within a high magnetic field. Basically, antiatoms are made by reversing the polarity of normal atoms. Antiatoms colloding with themselves forms Antimatter Fuel. When antimatter collides with matter (normal atoms) they destroy each other in a rather violent way causing a chain reactor until the antimatter in the area is depleted. The collison of antimatter and matter gives of a rich energy. However, unless the collosion is contained within a magnetic field the collision starts a chain of other collisions destroying everything in the area. Currently 1 gram of Antimatter Fuel can produce 5,000 END/5,000 REC and it's theorized that the same 1 gram could produce 5,000,000 END/5,000,000 REC. At this time they believe the Antimatter Reactor will need refueling within 1 year. Antimatter is experiemental at this point and is not used in any practical enviroments (ships, housing, etc). They also theorize that Antimatter Reactors will allow for 500% pushing of capacity. While Antimatter Reactors only require a 1 hex area per 1,000 END the magnetic shielding makes it extremely heavy. Reactors weigh 1 ton per 50 REC/50 END because of this rectors are built at 1 hex area per 250 END.

Singulatiry Power
Singularity Power is power drawn from small black holes, either created artificially or collected from an existing black hole. The energy must contained within a special force field or the black hole will grow. This allows almost everything to be fuel for the reactor. Dirt, water, garbage. At this point all experiements on Singularity Power have been stopped due to the accident of Research Station Gy Vor VII in a remote sector about 20LY from Caldari System space. All was lost when the force field gave way and the black hole expanded and consumed everything and everyone.

Zero Point Energy
Zero Point Energy is considered "rubber science" for this setting. It's the ability to pull energy from space itself. The theory is simple, the entire universe is in perpetual motion and it's this perpetual motion that stops systems and stars from crashing into each other. And that this energy that seems to be coming from nowhere is tapable. While it is highly theorized it is used as the "energy of the future" in current science fiction material.

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