On Fri, 20 Jun 2014 17:13:36 -0700, Evyn MacDude
<xxxxxx@gmail.com> wrote:

>How much does it change the game if you use Jump range as maximum speed?

There isn't strictly speaking enough information about the change, so
here are my assumptions:

1. The speed in question is measured in parsecs per week.
2. The fuel usage is not changed - that is, a J1 ship requires 10% of
   the hull volume to be fuel.
3. The range is not limited - that is, in theory, a J1 ship, using that
   10% fuel, can go as far as it wants in a single jump - but going 52
   parsecs will require a full year.

Given those assumptions, you will have the following effects:

A. A ship's range will be roughly four times its Jump rating - but most
   ships will probably limit to three times. This limitation is imposed
   by power plant fuel, which in standard designs is sufficient for four
   weeks of operation.
B. The patterns of trade routes, communications routes, and
   'backwaterism' will change, and the 'socioeconomic divide' between
   'hub' worlds, main trade route worlds, minor trade route worlds, and
   backwaters will be more pronounced. A world's relative importance
   will be less dependent on astrography, and more dependent on economic
   factors. Rifts will not be as significant as obstacles to travel; for
   example, the "J5 route" across the Great Rift could be serviced by J2
   ships, at the cost of time (2.5 weeks)rather than a J5 ship with its
   higher fuel/construction costs. The inherent sociopolitical structure
   of polities such as the Imperium will probably not change, because
   comm lag, which is the key limitation, hasn't really changed -
   although with rifts being less of an obstacle, the stellar political
   geography is likely to change.

Now: Clarify YOUR assumptions, work out the implications (or post here
for more discussion), and then write me an article for Freelance
Traveller!

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