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

[Darrin Bright <darrin@neobright.net>]

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.

> 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.

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.

> 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*
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*