This is a thread to discuss and science and/or realism issues of any kind in TSP RPs.

Nobody likes to see a load of BS (Bad Science  :tounge: ), so if you have any questions about anything or want to make it more realistic please share it here. Whether it be a technology or military strategy, all questions are welcome and anyone is free to contribute.

Please keep this thread civil, and do not insult or belittle other people's RPs. Where possible, try and source more obscure or advanced topics, and try to leave a simple explanation for more complex subjects. There's nothing wrong with ideas but please try to remember some things are impossible or unreasonably impractical in the real world, especially in Modern Technology (MT) RPs.

Personally, I'm no expert but I'm knowledgeable about science and technology (especially military) across a variety of periods, from ancient to modern, with a speciality in sci-fi.

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I'm glad there's a thread for this. It'll help keep some of the crazier scientific crap out of the forums.

Darkstrait  :ninja:

Former Justice, Former Local Councilor, Roleplayer, Former SPSF Deputy for Recruitment, Politically Active Citizen, Ex-Spammer Supreme, and Resident Geek

"Hats is very fashion this year."

RP Info

The Socialist Federated Democracy of Darkstrait
Ruled by Archchancellor Ridcully
Member nation of the United Front
[Image: 4ma0p5y.png]

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I should mention there is nothing wrong with some artistic liberties. For instance, in a sci-fi RP I participate in which is typically hard sci-fi we assume the existence of negative energy, which allows the Alcubierre Drive, a Star Trek-esque FTL that is currently under serious research by NASA, and the existence of hyperspace through an extra dimension which is "smaller". The trick is to make sure it sounds plausible enough to allow suspension of disbelief while being consistent in its function. Even high-tech sci-fi can be made fully plausible with being restrictive or scientific exposition.

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Part of the trick here is to know the tech level of the RP you are doing at any given time. For instance, you simply can't use Warp-powered spaceships in MT roleplays, or nukes in PT roleplays.

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Similarly, try doing some research on the RP era.

Doing a medieval RP? Spend 15 minutes skimming the Wikipedia pages on feudalism and medieval weaponry. Modern war? Check out the equipment used by countries that interest you. MT politics? See if you can find similar real treaties and learn their format. You might learn something interesting and may find a subtopic that inspires you. It doesn't take lomg but it can help quality.

Also remember the difference between plausible and practical. Something may be possible, but doing so may be so expensive finacially, logisitically, etc that it's usage may be limited to a couple weak, unreliable prototypes and it'd be some time before anything like it could even be mass-produced, if ever. Similarly things take time to build and even more to distribute, and it takes lots of both time and money to replace and entire military's equipment with something new. In the real world the same vehicle may stay in service for a couple decades before being decommissioned, constantly being retrofitted at a much lower cost than outright replacing (and those big fancy vehicles you will especially try and keep in service longer)

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