Artificial gravity

[eledonecirrhosa]

I’m currently slightly peeved at the depiction of artificial gravity in science fiction, particularly in novels. I’m prepared to forgive a lot in telly and movies, because they have the perfectly valid excuse that everything they film is done in 1g, and that wire work and effects are expensive. So I’m prepared to give TV and movies a Get Out OF

Comments

[ext_3134554]

I wonder to what extent these writers are just assuming TV SF tropes are universal - especially if they haven't written SF before, and are used to assuming that gravity is just sort of there.

Personally I do have a problem with artificial gravity these days, though not as big as the one I have with reactionless drives. It just implies too much about the technology that's needed to make it work. And I'll admit I prefer small vehicles that go "whoosh" to ones that go "hum".

[philmophlegm]

Good point, well made. I'll admit to overlooking it when I've run Traveller campaigns too.

[eledonecirrhosa]

I think overlooking stuff in RPGs can be partly forgiven, if by not forgiving it you instead have to look up 37 tables and do endless book-keeping. Encumbrance and recoil quite often get the 'Yeah Whatever' treatment. I guess gravity gets thrown on the same rubbish pile! :-)

On the other hand, Blue Planet has equipment rules to enable dolphin characters to take part in land-based plots (they have walkers/mecha or drones). So it probably just needs that sort of mindset to list the kit that the Moon Maid needs to get around on Earth.

[philmophlegm]

I'm all for handwaving past the science in SF RPGs (less so handwaving past economics, but that's showing my own academic bias), except where it would enhance the play. And actually I think all of the factors that you describe would help to make different worlds more different. That has to be a good thing.