What is Unstable Space?

[MoonMan]

In relation to Strangelove's submission: viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1376&st=0&sk=t&sd=a


The request is as it sounds; what are the properties of unstable space?

I see this stuff ringing most of our known universe, and some of it is even being utilized as walls of defensive measures, such as in the Uesu Military Sector. Seeing as it also corrals the setting into this part of the universe, this has led me to believe Unstable Space is something that is, in essence, impassible.

I'd like to hear some official word on it.

 

[Wes]

I always imagined it as a place with very dangerous space distortions, where the fabric of space time is moving and folding on its own.

 

[Lance Nemo]

But wouldn't that make it, at least in theory, passable, and in some instances both a short cut and a longer route?

Or leave the possiblity of an entire war fleet that could become practically "frozen" in time till the distortions allowed them to leave?

 

[Wes]

Correct.

There's is also "FTL Deadzones" (a separate concept). See Anti-FTL Field on the wiki.

 

[MoonMan]

So, Unstable Space basically is a double-edged sword, in terms of things moving through it. You could end up on the other side almost instantly, and you could also end up on the other side seventy-two years later.

Huh.

So, it's up to the GMs using the Unstable Space to determine what happens. I suppose that answers my question.

 

[Lance Nemo]

Don't forget that it could also be used to create a rather interesting storyling one way or another.

ie. Suddenly, a massive battle fleet arrived at the *station name* fully prepared for battle, but in outdated ships that hadn't been seen for centuries and equipped with weapons that would prove ineffective to most, if not all, modern starships.

The communication systems of *station name* had trouble identifying what forms of communication the ancient ships used, eventually attempting to establish an auto connection using radio broadcasters...

Hm, I've got to say, that woudl be interesting... but, difficult to pull of... of course, you could also have the oppisite, where a fleet/ship from the future enters the past, due to the whole problem of both space and time naturally and randomly (assumed) folding in on each other.

 

[Toshiro]

Wes...I will have to speak to you about this after some thought. ^^

 

[Lance Nemo]

*notes it to be his original idea foundation*

Like previously stated, I think if a GM could effectivly pull this off, it could prove for an extremely interesting storyline to follow up on.

 

[Andrew]

I would be excited to see a story developing around this, or mentioning it. Often times strange spacial phenomenon make for great roleplaying. I encourage anyone with some plot ideas, slap some up here for us all to look at.

Some ideas I had:

• Discovering some really strange races up in the unstable region. By strange I mean non-human, unique races that make people go into awe over their awesome strangeness.
  
• Black Hole fun... Several theories about black holes out there, wikipedia presents several in their articles. Could be a new energy source or even a wormhole to some far away place off the current map.
  
• Research ship gets stuck out there, massive search and rescue to find them as the characters on board take part in some beautiful character developing interaction and discovery.

 

[Legix]

Is this part of the setting still incorporated? This is the first time I've heard/seen the term "unstable space" thrown-around. It seems like these regions might be documented, given the ability to travel and sense things within the sector... or at least have rough "guesstimations" of where these things are. I mean, we can roughly detect blackholes, so certainly detecting these irregular sections of space should be possible.

Unless this got removed as a setting element. If so, then I'm just goofing. My mistake.