World Devastator: Unappciated Workhorse?

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2005-04-05 05:58am

What about that little thing known as energy? They still need hypermatter.

Alexus · Post by **Alexus** » 2005-04-05 06:19am

I thought they were powered by what they consumed? Also, RTFT.

Post by **Ghost Rider** » 2005-04-05 07:14am

Alexus wrote:I thought they were powered by what they consumed? Also, RTFT.

No, they can expand themselves, but their powersource is still seperate. Both the DE sourcebook and the DE appendix demonstrate this thought.

Post by **NecronLord** » 2005-04-05 08:24am

Imperial Overlord wrote:What about that little thing known as energy? They still need hypermatter.

The production requirements of which are unknown but we do know that it is simply mass-energy conversion using fuel with complex mass. There is no reason why it couldn't park itself on a star (Trade fed coreship shields can handle that) and use the star's mass to power it. Hypermatter is not inherently required, it is simply ultra-dense fuel.

apocolypse · Post by **apocolypse** » 2005-04-05 09:44am

Aren't WDs powered by microscopic black holes? TU said something about it earlier, and I checked it with one of my guides. Or are they for powering the molecular furnaces only?

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2005-04-05 09:45am

The black holes are part of the operation of the molecular furnaces.

apocolypse · Post by **apocolypse** » 2005-04-05 11:10am

Spanky The Dolphin wrote:The black holes are part of the operation of the molecular furnaces.

Ah, I wasn't sure if they provided power for the whole ship, or just powered the furnaces. The GSWU wasn't very specific on it. Thanks for the info.

PainRack · Post by **PainRack** » 2005-04-05 12:35pm

CaptainChewbacca wrote: Yes. They require less maintenance and starting materials.

Starting materials yes, less maintenance? Hello, the entire droid factory of Mechis had only 3 ppl on it, and only 1 was essential. Weapons factories and the like can be virtually droid automated, with only starship yards requiring non droid involvement.

I seem to recall WDs spitting out Carrack-class cruisers, but does anyone have any pictures of it spitting out the swarms of TIE fighters? That should give us an idea of how big its output is.

The question was never about how large the WD end product can be. It was how much more "efficient" it would be as compared to a factory.

Ekiqa · Post by **Ekiqa** » 2005-04-05 12:41pm

PainRack wrote:
CaptainChewbacca wrote: I seem to recall WDs spitting out Carrack-class cruisers, but does anyone have any pictures of it spitting out the swarms of TIE fighters? That should give us an idea of how big its output is.
The question was never about how large the WD end product can be. It was how much more "efficient" it would be as compared to a factory.

It may be less efficient, but can the factory planet move?

The factory needs its materials sent to it, otherwise it wont work.

The WD goes to the materials, saves on efficiency there. No shipping of materias.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2005-04-05 12:45pm

apocolypse wrote:
Spanky The Dolphin wrote:The black holes are part of the operation of the molecular furnaces.
Ah, I wasn't sure if they provided power for the whole ship, or just powered the furnaces. The GSWU wasn't very specific on it. Thanks for the info.

I don't think it actually powers the furnace, rather it is part of its operation.

Wait, actually, I can't precisely recall if black holes even have anything to do with the molecular furnace...

EDIT: No, I actually can't find anything that mentions black holes in relation to molecular furnaces, neither details on the operation of molecular furnaces besides what they basically do.

apocolypse · Post by **apocolypse** » 2005-04-05 01:30pm

Spanky The Dolphin wrote:
apocolypse wrote:
Spanky The Dolphin wrote:The black holes are part of the operation of the molecular furnaces.
Ah, I wasn't sure if they provided power for the whole ship, or just powered the furnaces. The GSWU wasn't very specific on it. Thanks for the info.
I don't think it actually powers the furnace, rather it is part of its operation.

Wait, actually, I can't precisely recall if black holes even have anything to do with the molecular furnace...

EDIT: No, I actually can't find anything that mentions black holes in relation to molecular furnaces, neither details on the operation of molecular furnaces besides what they basically do.

The GSWU (2nd edition, maybe it changed in the 3rd?) stated that "The open maws on these machines contain raging molecular furnaces that are powered by microscopic black holes."

I thought at first the black holes powered the entire WD, since it's the only source of energy mentioned. However, after re-reading it, it seems as though the black holes are specifically powering the furnaces?

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2005-04-05 02:02pm

If that answer was already confirmed then there is no need to continue asking.

apocolypse · Post by **apocolypse** » 2005-04-05 03:14pm

Spanky The Dolphin wrote:If that answer was already confirmed then there is no need to continue asking.

Actually there is, since it isn't really confirmed one way or the other. It states that the black holes power the furnaces, yet doesn't list any other source of power aside from the BHs. If there are hypermatter reactors powering it, then it changes things like TU already pointed out.

I'd say that the WD's most likely are run from the black holes, as it is the only power source given for them. If they were a secondary power source, the primary one would most likely be listed as well.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2005-04-05 03:48pm

I recommend not analysing the issue with so much scrutiny. It forces you to see the complicated in the obvious, and introduces nitpickery.