I'll get corrected if I mistate this...but typically, the technical stuff gets sort of ignored in the face of the fun stuff. There probably isn't much information on what you're asking outside of basic assumptions. Such as it being the ether rather than space, the laws of physics as we know them probably operate differently...like as not, such as there being negligible issue with cannon fire and kickback reaction. Then again, the cannon may be on a shock absorbing carriage, operating much like a recoiless rifle in effect if not in action.  The time line is the years before the first WW so far.  Ships have gravity...leastwise that's been the assumption. Nothing's been said about inertia other than the ether does create, in effect, drag...hence only half of the ship's velocity carrying over turn to turn.

Dan's always been pretty open minded when it comes to the telling of a good story vs the nuts n bolts...just run it by him before kicking it out would be my recommendation and opinion. 

As far as time was concerned I figured we were using parsecs (see original Star Wars).  Only a bubblehead.   

What is the time scale per turn?  Each inch equals what distance?  Each turn represents how much time?   :roll:

You would use tracers to track and adjust your fire.  At sea you can watch your shells as they hit the water to adjust fire..."in space no one can see your steam"  So you'd use tracers to adjust fire.  Because visually tracking your rounds beyond a mile would be just about impossible.  And mechanical ballistic computers were rare as hen's teeth (entire ships were built around them). But, the tracers would have the effect of telegraphing your shots.  With a velocity of 1000 yds/sec a battlewagon shell would be visibly on the way for up to 20 seconds at 10 nautical miles.  Plenty of time to shift a ship enough for the rounds to miss.  I know you are a submariner so I'll cut you some slack.     Which is why I am asking about speed of the ships...are they too ponderous to dodge or are they moving so fast it's not an issue?  I get it.  It's dreadnaughts in space so no dodging battleships.  8-) No Trek tech got it.  So no beam of light from the gunfire.  But Aether Torpedoes would still look like photon torpedoes...sorry.  As the torpedo propulsion system interacts with the Aether they'll give off light as a byproduct (as someone noted would happen with the Aether sails on ships--in reference to the different countries having different colored sails  :ugeek:  ). 

I wasn't clear on explaining the inertial sump thing.  If we have a ship going to Mars or the Moon for that matter, higher velocities are acheivable using the rules as written.  The only thing that interacts with the Aether is the sails and propellors...they are the only thing charged per your description.  So if a ship travelling at 100 or 1000 inches per turn allows the momentum rules to bring it to a stop what would the end result for the crew be (go from 100 inches to 50 inches or from 1000 inches to 500 inches in one turn)?  They end up as red smears on the front bulkhead!   :shock:  Or the front end of the ship would tear off...funny but not to the admiral that has to explain it to his government.    An inertial sump would act to compensate for changes in inertia for the crew and ship (and internal gear--"I say better stop loading the 500lb shell in the gun"--"why?"--ship maneuvers--gun bunny squished like bug--"That's why." Ok this maybe an exageration but ships and crews would have to be a lot more constrained, or at least cognizant of their situation than they generally are on the ground).  Without gravity all sorts of things become very difficult...and maybe just out and out impossible with straight 1900's tech.  That's why I am proposing Aether Tech along with 1900's tech.  :ugeek:

Aether Sails and propellors probably would not be enough to stabilize a ship while firing.  They would just act as pivot points, or would add increased strain on the rest of the ship as it flexed at said pivot point.  So you'd probably need something that stabilized the entire ship.  This would be critical during maneuvering as well as during firing.

I am no Naval architect, but I have been to sea in a typhoon three times and spent 4 years at sea.  So I have a pretty good idea about how maneuvering and weather, effects a crew and equipment. (Saw the cow fly across the galley one time  ) That would just be magnified by operating in a zero g environment.

So recoilles rifles for guns?  If so the pictures you've done are really off.  Unless you want them to vent inside the ship?  :oops:

The answers to these questions are indeterminate, and likely to remain so.

Assumptions, all.

Who's to say tracers "would be used"? It's one option, sure ... but not the only option. If we're going to get technical, with the only reference being the blackness of space behind the target, how exactly are you to tell how far off your tracer round was? Or in what direction? Unless the round passes directly in front of the target (or vice versa) you have absolutely no reference point. On the other hand, as you reference, shell splashes were used at sea -- and these had the effect of "telegraphing" your shots, so I'm not sure the drawback you propose is that much of a negative.

Torpedoes could look like photon torpedoes; then again, they might not.

Why would the crew end up as red smears? Two reasons why this isn't a problem: (1) a ship can't slow down faster than it can accelerate, and (2) the indeterminate scale means we don't know exactly how many G's are being pulled (see? it can be helpful not to be tied to specific numbers. )

I could say, "Aether Sails and propellors probably would be enough to stabilize a ship while firing", and be as "correct" as you are when you say they probably would NOT be enough.

I'm not trying to squelch discussion, or poo-poo your ideas; but when things are thrown around as "this is the way things HAVE to be", I feel the need to step in and point out that we are, after all, playing make-believe.

That's right I am a grognard...so sue me.    I don't have a problem with you being a former submariner 

OK suspension of disbelief fully engaged.  8-)

But, this discussion has made me go back and read the movement rules yet one more time.  :idea:  On page 11 of the original rules when a ship's momentum is greater than the thrust rating of the ship the ship must move at least the difference.  But I wasn't meaning that particular situation.  I was looking strictly at the momentum rules.  If a ship travelling at a high velocity, loses it's engines, or kills it's engines to slow down wouldn't it, according to the momentum rules go from say a 100 inch move to a 50 inch move in one turn?

Having lived in North Central Texas for much of my life (born there)...I do agree that pillbugs may not wheel.  They locomote in a strictly columnar fashion. 

Dugan when was the last time you saw a horned toad?  And I don't mean the TCU mascot.

Also, I am not trying to keep people from talking about the "technical" aspects of Iron Stars -- quite the contrary, in fact.

My concern is that too MUCH technical detail will make the background LESS accessible. Right now, we all can look at the Iron Stars universe and kinda "fill in the blanks" for ourselves. I'd like to be able to keep that aspect, even if some of the technical specs are fleshed out.

Ant Lions, Doodlebugs and Horned Toads.  That's Texas.  I believe you are right about the fire ants killing off the red ants. 

I lived in Stephenville till about 1998.  And I didn't see any Horned Toads there then.  I remember when I was a kid in the 70's seeing them all the time.

I don't have any issues with you being a submariner...just giving you a hard time.  I was a tin can sailor for awhile, but I more strongly identify with the Army.  I was medically discharged from the Army in 2005 as a Captain.  I liked the Navy...I just didn't like spending months at a time at sea.  So I got out went to Tarleton in Stephenville and got a commission.  Leading troops has been the greatest privledge and pleasure I have known professionally.

I agree with the comments about old school games.  I don't know if its that I got older.  Have less time. Or because I have kids.  Or all of the above, but I don't like complicated anymore.

That's why I like Ironstars...and I must admit I am beginning to spend a little time learning Starmada as well