From v03.n133 Fri Oct  3 12:26:25 1997
From: ajackson@iii.com (Anthony Jackson)
Date: Wed, 23 Oct 96 14:22:52 -0700
Subject: Exploding Power Cells

Hm..if you look at the energy density of a TL8+ power cell(15.8 MJ/kg at
TL 8 for A-D cells; 40 MJ/kg for larger) it compares quite favorably to 
high explosives (TL8 high explosive is 3x as powerful as TL7, which means
an energy density of 13-14 MJ/kg).  In addition, judging by how they are used
in high energy weapons, most power cells can be fully drained in under a
second (try hotshotting a military laser pistol).  This leads to a few
interesting speculations:

1) ETX (Electro-Thermal Explosives)
	ETX is basically a modified power cell which is hooked up to a quantity
of conveniently vaporized material; this typically includes the casing of the
cell itself -- if using vehicles to compute explosive effect, the value C
used in the formula for HE, etc, is equal to TL-6, unless the weapon
is 125mm or larger, in which case C is equal to (2.5 * TL-6).
Note: the efficiency given for ETX, above, is slightly lower than for
conventional explosives; it is assumed that irregular heating generates a
slight loss in efficiency.  If you don't agree with this, increase the listed
damage by 50%.
2)	Cost: for HE,HEC,SAPHE, multiply cost by 10.  For APEX and HEPF, multiply
	cost by 5.
3)	Effects of ETX
	The concussion effects of ETX are identical to conventional high explosives;
however, there are additional effects which are different:
a) ETX does not generate shrapnel
b) ETX generates a thermal flash; this does 10% of the damage of the
initial blast, divided by the square of the range (as per a nuke); DR is
not squared against this effect.
c) ETX generates an EMP effect, which is frequently amplified; this is
resolved as requiring a HT roll for any electronics anywhere nearby (if no HT
is obvious, roll against 12 or TL), with the following modifiers:
	- the range penalty from you to the source of the surge
	+1/20 points of metal or laminate armor.
	+1 for heavy frame, +2 for very heavy.
	- 5 + the size penalty of the blast (from nominal radius)
The 'nominal radius' of ETX is equal to 10*sqrt(dice of damage); the size
penalty is equal to the range penalty for that distance, and is set at the
point where it will cause 50% of electronics to crash.  The effects of
the HT roll are as follows:
success by up to 5: electronic sensors will detect noticeable static; this
may cause burglar alarms and the like to go off.
- -Fail by 0 or 1: 'dropout' -- the system flickers for one turn.  Any attempt
to use the system for the next turn is at -5; a vehicle with electronic
or computer sensors should always check for a hazardous manuever.
- -Fail by 2-3: 'extended dropout' -- the system is completely unusable for
1d seconds; if a computer is involved, roll 1d for every program:
1: program crashes. 2: major memory corruption, program will goes berserk
in some way. 3: minor memory corruption, program will unexpectedly fail 
within 1d minutes.  4-6: no effect.
- -Fail by 4 to 7: system crash, must be restarted; this requires 1 minute
and a skill roll, at +4-degree of failure.
- -Fail by 8+: major system crash, cannot be restarted without repairs.
electron
4)	Options:
	ETX may be rigged for enhanced EMP; divide damage by 10, additional -3
on the roll to resist EMP.
5)	Power Cells:
	Depending on how you assume the technology works, it may or may not be
possible to detonate a power cell, either by juryrigging a circuit, or
possibly simply by puncturing the cell (if this is true, it makes car
crashes truly spectacular).  In either case, if possible, a C cell will
explode for 6d*(TL-6); x10 for a D cell, x100 for an E cell.  At TL8, the
nominal radius of a C cell is 35 yards, giving a HT penalty of -14.