NationTraits:FTL Drive

> *This article is a subset of the SIGC's **NationTraits™** project.*
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Nations of the FTL Era have to have an FTL Drive to function, otherwise they're not moving far quickly. As such, there is a very specific list of Drives that has been accumulated and carefully researched, polls having been looked at across the universe to find what works and what doesn't. Below is the list of all FTL Drives we have encountered, and as such, there may be some we may not yet know exists.

## **No FTL Drive**

If you're picking this, it better be because you're not FTL. Because without an FTL Drive, you are not an FTL Nation. **No FTL Drive** indicates this Civilization is unable to travel the stars at Light Speeds or higher.

### **Effects**

Nations that pick *No FTL Drive* get the following effects*.*

* Nation does not have an FTL Drive.
* Cannot travel faster than Light.

## **Light Drive**

> *This is not an FTL Drive, this is just an L-Drive. But it is included in the list.*
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A **Light Drive** is the deviled used by **Luminal Era Nations** as a way to travel at the speed of Light. This drive does not work while close in to large objects and may cause fatal accidents if one hits another object while at light speed. Travel time is directly proportional to the distance in light-units.

### **Effects**

Nations that pick *Light Drive* get the following effects.

* Nation can use Light Drives, thus allowing travel at the speed of light.

## **Alcubierre Warp Drive**

An **Alcubierre Warp Drive** is the most basic form of FTL Drive. The Device pushes the Space-Time in front of the spacecraft down and pulls the Space-Time behind up, allowing for the potential difference between the two points to force the ship forward at speeds faster than light. While not fatal like the Light Drive if it gets near an object, it can become unstable and throw the user out of wrap if the object it encounters has a large enough effect on the space-time continuum. There is travel time of a few minutes to several hours.

### **Effects**

Nations that chose *Alcubierre Warp Drive* get the following effects:

* Nation can use AWDs to warp between two points.
* Drive allows for warping between two points so long as:
	+ Neither point is near a large object (planet, star, remnant, etc.).
	+ There are no large objects between the two points.

## **Cochrane Warp Drive**

> *Sometimes referred to as a Plasma Drive.*
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A **Cochrane Warp Drive** is the second most basic form of FTL Drive. It is also a form of warp drive, warping the space-time continuum to allow the starship to travel. The Device uses a matter/antimatter reactor to create plasma, and by sending this plasma through warp coils, it creates a virtual warp bubble which could be used to wrap around a craft and make a subspace, thus allowing it to move this bubble and exceed the speed of light. Warping too close to large objects can cause distortions in the bubble and potentially make it burst, and as such damage or destroy the ship. There is travel time of a few minutes to several hours.

### **Effects**

Nations that chose *Cochrane Warp Drive* get the following effects:

* Nation can use CWDs to warp between two points.
* Drive allows for warping between two points so long as:
	+ Neither point is near a large object (planet, star, remnant, etc.).
	+ There are no large objects between the two points.

## **Warp-Dimension Drive**

> *Sometimes referred to as Warp-Drive or Warp Engine.*
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A **Warp-Dimension Drive** is a form of FTL Drive that allows the user to enter a separate Dimension for travel. A ship that uses this device enters a Dimension known as the **Warp**, an alternate dimension of purely psychic energy that echoes and underlies the familiar four dimensions of realspace. A Warp Engine is extremely large and bulky, requiring almost the entire space of a cargo ship to house it. There is travel time at a few hours, though it doesn't deviate by much except over extreme distances.

### **Effects**

Nations that chose *Warp-Dimension Drive* get the following effects:

* Nation can use WDDs to warp between two points.
* There is a small chance that the creatures of the warp get to the ship before the ship makes it to the second point, and as such can be lost forever, or spit out at some random point.

## **Hyperspace Drive**

> *Sometimes referred to as a Hyperdrive.*
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A **Hyperspace Drive** is a form of FTL Drive that allows the user to enter a separate Dimension for travel. The Device uses a system in which the craft and occupants are "shunted" into a **Hyperspace Dimension**, allowing the craft to cover a distance in a considerably shorter amount of time. Once at the corresponding point for the desired destination, the vessel is "shunted" back into this Dimension. There is travel time of a few minutes to several hours.

### **Effects**

Nations that chose *Hyperspace Drive* get the following effects:

* Nation can use HSDs to warp between two points.
* While safe for the most part, Hyperspace Inhibitors can be put in place to prevent spacecraft from being able to leave Hyperspace in their location.
* Hyperspace Lanes leave an opening and a closing while in transit, and as such can be tracked and/or spotted.

## **Jump Drive**

A **Jump Drive** operates by rapidly speeding up the particles of the Craft and all contained before "teleporting" the particles to a new location using the Laws of Quantum Physics.

### **Effects**

Nations that chose *Jump Drive* get the following effects:

* Nation can use JDs to warp between two points.
* Starships cannot jump into spaces too close to large bodies. Will slip due to the space-time, forcing it to crash.
* Jumping to a location where another object already is will make the two phase together, which can cause issues if they're of significant size.

## **Wormhole Drive**

A **Wormhole Drive** creates a Wormhole between two points large enough for the craft in question to use. This method is very unstable, as it has a 45% chance of suddenly disappearing, and has a short lifespan. It leaves a clear mark when it's being used, as well as other ships can potentially use it if they're willing to take the risk. While not instantaneous, the user doesn't spend more than an hour within the wormhole.

### **Effects**

Nations that chose *Wormhole Drive* get the following effects:

* Nation can use WHDs to warp between two points.
* Wormholes can dissipate or disconnect at random, causing users to be spit out in other locations or stuck in the wormhole until it reconnects or naturally forms. If it fully closes, ship and crew will be lost for good.

## **Wormhole Gates**

A **Wormhole Gate** uses two gates that can connect a wormhole. It allows for a longer-lasting Wormhole than the Wormhole Drive, though is still fairly unstable, with a probability of sudden disconnection at 25%. Travel time is usually less than an hour in the wormhole.

### **Effects**

Nations that chose *Wormhole Gate* get the following effects:

* Nation can use WHGs to warp between two connected points.
* In order to use the wormholes, they must be connected via two gates. The larger the gate, the more unstable it can be, but the larger objects you can send through.
* Wormholes can dissipate or disconnect at random, causing users to be spit out in other locations or stuck in the wormhole until it reconnects or naturally forms. If it fully closes, ship and crew will be lost for good.

## **Starburst Drive**

A **Starburst Drive** is a very **very *very*** unstable but extremely effective form of Superluminal Travel. Craft takes in ionized particles from Stellar and Interstellar Wind and creates a semi-"shield" that ionizes the rest of the craft and allows it use the Laws of Quantum Physics to move the ship from one point to another.

### **Effects**

Nations that chose *Starburst Drive* get the following effects:

* Nation can use SBDs to warp between two points.
* Starships cannot burst into spaces too close to large bodies. Will slip due to the space-time, forcing it to crash.
* Bursting to a location where another object already is will make the two phase together, which can cause issues if they're of significant size.

## **Psionic Warp Drive**

A **Psionic Warp Drive** is a powerful engine that functions by surrounding the ship in a hard light bubble that allows it to travel through space at speeds faster than light. A psionic engine requires a psion, or psions, depending on strength. Some Psionic Races can turn their brain energy into physical energy and make batteries.

### **Effects**

Nations that chose *Psionic Warp Drive* get the following effects:

* Nation can use PWDs to warp between two points.
* Using Psionic Elements or having Psionic Races, Nation can make use of their biochemistry to allow them to create a warp bubble for the ship.
* If exiting too close to a large object or something is in the way, the Psionic Elements will automatically move the ship out of danger and place it in a safer drop location.

## **Psionic Hyperspace Drive**

A **Psionic Hyperspace drive** is a powerful engine that functions by conversing with the other side to open up an interdimensional rift between two points, allowing the ship to skip the distance. A psionic engine requires a psion, or psions, depending on strength. Some Psionic Races can turn their brain energy into physical energy and make batteries.

### **Effects**

Nations that chose *Psionic Hyperspace Drive* get the following effects:

* Nation can use PHDs to warp between two points.
* Using Psionic Elements or having Psionic Races, Nation can make use of their biochemistry to allow them to send the ship to the Hyperspace Dimension.
* If exiting too close to a large object or something is in the way, the Psionic Elements will automatically move the ship out of danger and place it in a safer drop location.

## **Psionic Burst Drive**

A **Psionic Burst Drive** is a powerful engine that functions by using Psionics to meditate on the exact location and with the power of their will, bring the ship and everything to the target location. A psionic engine requires a psion, or psions, depending on strength. Some Psionic Races can turn their brain energy into physical energy and make batteries.

### **Effects**

Nations that chose *Psionic Burst Drive* get the following effects:

* Nation can use PBDs to warp between two points.
* Using Psionic Elements or having Psionic Races, Nation can make use of their biochemistry to allow them to send the ship to wherever they need.
* If too close to a large object or something is in the way, the Psionic Elements will automatically move the ship out of danger and place it in a safer drop location.