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How do I make a space battle both realistic, with physics in play such as no sound and weird motion, but also very epic and intense still?
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I always wondered what it would look like for a Sci-Fi battle in space to occur if it were a bit more realistic. I don't plan to use any space fighters or anything like that, just big capital ships and freighters that can fire in zero vacuum.
warfare science-fiction space spaceships hard-science
asked 1 hour ago
Anara
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up vote
4
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I always wondered what it would look like for a Sci-Fi battle in space to occur if it were a bit more realistic. I don't plan to use any space fighters or anything like that, just big capital ships and freighters that can fire in zero vacuum.
warfare science-fiction space spaceships hard-science
asked 1 hour ago
Anara
212
New contributor
Anara is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
2
Use epic music and intense acting
– Bald Bear
1 hour ago
4
You might not be able to hear the other ship, but you can definitely hear your own... when it accelerates, when it fires, and when it's hit. -- It's also reasonable that pilots and gunners would have headphones and vests that would provide sound-based and haptic-based indications of other ships that are to the side or behind, not on a screen. (And since the hard-science tag is included, it's nearly impossible to hide a spaceship from any other spaceship. You'd have to do ALL of the thrust before the battle AND give a LOT of time for your ship to radiate away all heat.)
– Ghedipunk
1 hour ago
5
How do you want to present this? In writing? A role-playing game? Video?
– David Thornley
1 hour ago
2
Beyond sound, which the game doesn't express realistically, an existing video game that goes into very-hard sci-fi territory is Children of a Dead Earth. Generally most battles are fought over seconds-to-minutes over the course of a single orbit.
– Ghedipunk
1 hour ago
3
This is kind of like the challenge of writing a submarine story -- the torpedoes move so slowly -- or a 19th century navy story -- hours or days of waiting for just minutes of action. Great writers can make these weird forms of combat suspenseful and exciting. Go watch The Hunt for Red October and Master and Commander then report back.
– Joe
1 hour ago
 |Â
show 2 more comments
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
I always wondered what it would look like for a Sci-Fi battle in space to occur if it were a bit more realistic. I don't plan to use any space fighters or anything like that, just big capital ships and freighters that can fire in zero vacuum.
warfare science-fiction space spaceships hard-science
asked 1 hour ago
Anara
212
New contributor
Anara is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I always wondered what it would look like for a Sci-Fi battle in space to occur if it were a bit more realistic. I don't plan to use any space fighters or anything like that, just big capital ships and freighters that can fire in zero vacuum.
warfare science-fiction space spaceships hard-science
warfare science-fiction space spaceships hard-science
asked 1 hour ago
Anara
212
New contributor
Anara is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 1 hour ago
Anara
212
New contributor
Anara is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 1 hour ago
Anara
212
New contributor
Anara is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 1 hour ago
Anara
212
asked 1 hour ago
Anara
212
212
New contributor
Anara is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Anara is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Anara is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
2
Use epic music and intense acting
– Bald Bear
1 hour ago
4
You might not be able to hear the other ship, but you can definitely hear your own... when it accelerates, when it fires, and when it's hit. -- It's also reasonable that pilots and gunners would have headphones and vests that would provide sound-based and haptic-based indications of other ships that are to the side or behind, not on a screen. (And since the hard-science tag is included, it's nearly impossible to hide a spaceship from any other spaceship. You'd have to do ALL of the thrust before the battle AND give a LOT of time for your ship to radiate away all heat.)
– Ghedipunk
1 hour ago
5
How do you want to present this? In writing? A role-playing game? Video?
– David Thornley
1 hour ago
2
Beyond sound, which the game doesn't express realistically, an existing video game that goes into very-hard sci-fi territory is Children of a Dead Earth. Generally most battles are fought over seconds-to-minutes over the course of a single orbit.
– Ghedipunk
1 hour ago
3
This is kind of like the challenge of writing a submarine story -- the torpedoes move so slowly -- or a 19th century navy story -- hours or days of waiting for just minutes of action. Great writers can make these weird forms of combat suspenseful and exciting. Go watch The Hunt for Red October and Master and Commander then report back.
– Joe
1 hour ago
 |Â
show 2 more comments
2
Use epic music and intense acting
– Bald Bear
1 hour ago
4
You might not be able to hear the other ship, but you can definitely hear your own... when it accelerates, when it fires, and when it's hit. -- It's also reasonable that pilots and gunners would have headphones and vests that would provide sound-based and haptic-based indications of other ships that are to the side or behind, not on a screen. (And since the hard-science tag is included, it's nearly impossible to hide a spaceship from any other spaceship. You'd have to do ALL of the thrust before the battle AND give a LOT of time for your ship to radiate away all heat.)
– Ghedipunk
1 hour ago
5
How do you want to present this? In writing? A role-playing game? Video?
– David Thornley
1 hour ago
2
Beyond sound, which the game doesn't express realistically, an existing video game that goes into very-hard sci-fi territory is Children of a Dead Earth. Generally most battles are fought over seconds-to-minutes over the course of a single orbit.
– Ghedipunk
1 hour ago
3
This is kind of like the challenge of writing a submarine story -- the torpedoes move so slowly -- or a 19th century navy story -- hours or days of waiting for just minutes of action. Great writers can make these weird forms of combat suspenseful and exciting. Go watch The Hunt for Red October and Master and Commander then report back.
– Joe
1 hour ago
2
2
Use epic music and intense acting
– Bald Bear
1 hour ago
Use epic music and intense acting
– Bald Bear
1 hour ago
4
4
You might not be able to hear the other ship, but you can definitely hear your own... when it accelerates, when it fires, and when it's hit. -- It's also reasonable that pilots and gunners would have headphones and vests that would provide sound-based and haptic-based indications of other ships that are to the side or behind, not on a screen. (And since the hard-science tag is included, it's nearly impossible to hide a spaceship from any other spaceship. You'd have to do ALL of the thrust before the battle AND give a LOT of time for your ship to radiate away all heat.)
– Ghedipunk
1 hour ago
You might not be able to hear the other ship, but you can definitely hear your own... when it accelerates, when it fires, and when it's hit. -- It's also reasonable that pilots and gunners would have headphones and vests that would provide sound-based and haptic-based indications of other ships that are to the side or behind, not on a screen. (And since the hard-science tag is included, it's nearly impossible to hide a spaceship from any other spaceship. You'd have to do ALL of the thrust before the battle AND give a LOT of time for your ship to radiate away all heat.)
– Ghedipunk
1 hour ago
5
5
How do you want to present this? In writing? A role-playing game? Video?
– David Thornley
1 hour ago
How do you want to present this? In writing? A role-playing game? Video?
– David Thornley
1 hour ago
2
2
Beyond sound, which the game doesn't express realistically, an existing video game that goes into very-hard sci-fi territory is Children of a Dead Earth. Generally most battles are fought over seconds-to-minutes over the course of a single orbit.
– Ghedipunk
1 hour ago
Beyond sound, which the game doesn't express realistically, an existing video game that goes into very-hard sci-fi territory is Children of a Dead Earth. Generally most battles are fought over seconds-to-minutes over the course of a single orbit.
– Ghedipunk
1 hour ago
3
3
This is kind of like the challenge of writing a submarine story -- the torpedoes move so slowly -- or a 19th century navy story -- hours or days of waiting for just minutes of action. Great writers can make these weird forms of combat suspenseful and exciting. Go watch The Hunt for Red October and Master and Commander then report back.
– Joe
1 hour ago
This is kind of like the challenge of writing a submarine story -- the torpedoes move so slowly -- or a 19th century navy story -- hours or days of waiting for just minutes of action. Great writers can make these weird forms of combat suspenseful and exciting. Go watch The Hunt for Red October and Master and Commander then report back.
– Joe
1 hour ago
 |Â
show 2 more comments
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
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up vote
3
down vote
Space battles, at least realistic ones will be done with computer targeting systems. Humans will not have a big task on the spaceship. I imagine repair and ensuring the AI/computer won't go rogue will be the main task of these crew members. Beyond that will be troop and logistical transport.
Realistic spacebattles can easily be incredbiy intense. Crew members put their fate into the hands of a targeting computer that can hopefully outperform the enemy's targeting computer. To give you an idea of the atmosphere look at movie scenes featuring submarines. Das boot, the hunt for red october,...
Maybe the ship gets hit and high velocity projectiles penetrate the hull. Rooms become decompressed, people get sucked out, critical systems might get destroyed or disabled.
My best guess is focus on the aftermath. Battles themselves will be brief, but brutal affairs where humans have little to no control over. Somebody get his head blown off by a passing projectile, another guy gets sucked out into space,... However crew have to deal wih the aftermath. They might have won, but are they going to be able to get home?
Realistic spacebattles will be a combination between trench warfare and submarine warfare. The helplessness of standing in a trench during a bombardment and the hostile environment of a submarine. Ever heard of a tv serie named 'The Expanse?' Perhaps you could look at that for some ideas. I've heard it's pretty realistic, at least compared to most space operas.
answered 1 hour ago
TheShadowOfZama
60925
1
"Realistic spacebattles will be a combination between trench warfare and submarine warfare. The helplessness of standing in a trench during a bombardment and the hostile environment of a submarine" - I really liked that :)
– adonies
1 hour ago
The tip about 'The Expanse' is actually really good. I've only read one book of the series, but it's space battles were definitely both very realistic and very intense. The crucial point that's missing from your answer which is used correctly in 'The Expanse' is the element of hiding: A spaceship that's painted black and powered down is next to impossible to detect, but it can be flying towards you at tremendous speeds. So the central theme of any space battle must be to surprise the enemy with superior numbers when attacking, and to flee into the black when overpowered.
– cmaster
8 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
I'd like to respectfully disagree with @TheShadowOfZama's answer: there will be a lot more than just waiting for a computer to do its thing.
Generally, human+computer team will beat a pure computer: https://jods.mitpress.mit.edu/pub/issue3-case
Broadly, humans will try to find and exploit faults (or features) of enemy’s computers and hardware.
There could be evasive maneuvering to confuse the target-tracking system. There would be electronic counter-measures against the one type of targeting or guiding system, but exposing the ship to other system type.
There would be rock-paper-scissors choice of weapons and defensive systems.
There will be a choice of aligning the ship for best protection / best weapon coverage / easiest escape. You can have fighters or smaller ships hiding behind or inside larger ones.
There could be flanking the enemy, which gives you a chance to surround them, or strike vulnerable points, but it also disperses the force, and lets them be picked one by one if enemy has multiple weapons (or multiple ships).
I would recommend watching Battlestart Galactica; it has pretty realistic space combat, and tactics that goes with it.
answered 1 hour ago
Bald Bear
4,100516
I agree with most of this except for flanking. Effective ranges of weapons in space is measured in tens or hundreds of kilometers, depending on how well you can aim and how fast they can dodge. They see you hours before. And, you're in orbit, which means you're going FAST. You can either slowly creep up behind them if you know you have superior range, or have an opposed encounter where you're both going several kilometers per second relative to each other. In space there is no "up" so there is no flank, and there is no surprise.
– Ghedipunk
1 hour ago
"Smaller ships hiding behind or inside larger ones" -- This would be missiles or drones, depending on the sophistication of the guidance system. More guidance = more weight = less maneuverable = less range.
– Ghedipunk
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
By the time we get into space and do battle, we already have such advanced computers that humans barely have anything to do in the grand scheme of warfare. The only reason humans would still be anywhere near the attacks is when AI cant be trusted. Not because the AI goes rogue but because AI learn so fast we wont know what they'll do when, say, they have a choice between saving 101 murderers or 100 civilians, or decides to build somewhere and evicting the people there.
With self-replicating robotics it becomes a matter of mass and useable energy. Entire asteroidbelts if not planets would be transformed into space ships and launched at the enemy. Although at that tech level the question arises of why anyone would still wage war outside of pure disagreement on how to live.
answered 23 mins ago
Demigan
5,0171326
add a comment |Â
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
Space battles, at least realistic ones will be done with computer targeting systems. Humans will not have a big task on the spaceship. I imagine repair and ensuring the AI/computer won't go rogue will be the main task of these crew members. Beyond that will be troop and logistical transport.
Realistic spacebattles can easily be incredbiy intense. Crew members put their fate into the hands of a targeting computer that can hopefully outperform the enemy's targeting computer. To give you an idea of the atmosphere look at movie scenes featuring submarines. Das boot, the hunt for red october,...
Maybe the ship gets hit and high velocity projectiles penetrate the hull. Rooms become decompressed, people get sucked out, critical systems might get destroyed or disabled.
My best guess is focus on the aftermath. Battles themselves will be brief, but brutal affairs where humans have little to no control over. Somebody get his head blown off by a passing projectile, another guy gets sucked out into space,... However crew have to deal wih the aftermath. They might have won, but are they going to be able to get home?
Realistic spacebattles will be a combination between trench warfare and submarine warfare. The helplessness of standing in a trench during a bombardment and the hostile environment of a submarine. Ever heard of a tv serie named 'The Expanse?' Perhaps you could look at that for some ideas. I've heard it's pretty realistic, at least compared to most space operas.
answered 1 hour ago
TheShadowOfZama
60925
1
"Realistic spacebattles will be a combination between trench warfare and submarine warfare. The helplessness of standing in a trench during a bombardment and the hostile environment of a submarine" - I really liked that :)
– adonies
1 hour ago
The tip about 'The Expanse' is actually really good. I've only read one book of the series, but it's space battles were definitely both very realistic and very intense. The crucial point that's missing from your answer which is used correctly in 'The Expanse' is the element of hiding: A spaceship that's painted black and powered down is next to impossible to detect, but it can be flying towards you at tremendous speeds. So the central theme of any space battle must be to surprise the enemy with superior numbers when attacking, and to flee into the black when overpowered.
– cmaster
8 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
Space battles, at least realistic ones will be done with computer targeting systems. Humans will not have a big task on the spaceship. I imagine repair and ensuring the AI/computer won't go rogue will be the main task of these crew members. Beyond that will be troop and logistical transport.
Realistic spacebattles can easily be incredbiy intense. Crew members put their fate into the hands of a targeting computer that can hopefully outperform the enemy's targeting computer. To give you an idea of the atmosphere look at movie scenes featuring submarines. Das boot, the hunt for red october,...
Maybe the ship gets hit and high velocity projectiles penetrate the hull. Rooms become decompressed, people get sucked out, critical systems might get destroyed or disabled.
My best guess is focus on the aftermath. Battles themselves will be brief, but brutal affairs where humans have little to no control over. Somebody get his head blown off by a passing projectile, another guy gets sucked out into space,... However crew have to deal wih the aftermath. They might have won, but are they going to be able to get home?
Realistic spacebattles will be a combination between trench warfare and submarine warfare. The helplessness of standing in a trench during a bombardment and the hostile environment of a submarine. Ever heard of a tv serie named 'The Expanse?' Perhaps you could look at that for some ideas. I've heard it's pretty realistic, at least compared to most space operas.
answered 1 hour ago
TheShadowOfZama
60925
1
"Realistic spacebattles will be a combination between trench warfare and submarine warfare. The helplessness of standing in a trench during a bombardment and the hostile environment of a submarine" - I really liked that :)
– adonies
1 hour ago
The tip about 'The Expanse' is actually really good. I've only read one book of the series, but it's space battles were definitely both very realistic and very intense. The crucial point that's missing from your answer which is used correctly in 'The Expanse' is the element of hiding: A spaceship that's painted black and powered down is next to impossible to detect, but it can be flying towards you at tremendous speeds. So the central theme of any space battle must be to surprise the enemy with superior numbers when attacking, and to flee into the black when overpowered.
– cmaster
8 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
Space battles, at least realistic ones will be done with computer targeting systems. Humans will not have a big task on the spaceship. I imagine repair and ensuring the AI/computer won't go rogue will be the main task of these crew members. Beyond that will be troop and logistical transport.
Realistic spacebattles can easily be incredbiy intense. Crew members put their fate into the hands of a targeting computer that can hopefully outperform the enemy's targeting computer. To give you an idea of the atmosphere look at movie scenes featuring submarines. Das boot, the hunt for red october,...
Maybe the ship gets hit and high velocity projectiles penetrate the hull. Rooms become decompressed, people get sucked out, critical systems might get destroyed or disabled.
My best guess is focus on the aftermath. Battles themselves will be brief, but brutal affairs where humans have little to no control over. Somebody get his head blown off by a passing projectile, another guy gets sucked out into space,... However crew have to deal wih the aftermath. They might have won, but are they going to be able to get home?
Realistic spacebattles will be a combination between trench warfare and submarine warfare. The helplessness of standing in a trench during a bombardment and the hostile environment of a submarine. Ever heard of a tv serie named 'The Expanse?' Perhaps you could look at that for some ideas. I've heard it's pretty realistic, at least compared to most space operas.
answered 1 hour ago
TheShadowOfZama
60925
Space battles, at least realistic ones will be done with computer targeting systems. Humans will not have a big task on the spaceship. I imagine repair and ensuring the AI/computer won't go rogue will be the main task of these crew members. Beyond that will be troop and logistical transport.
Realistic spacebattles can easily be incredbiy intense. Crew members put their fate into the hands of a targeting computer that can hopefully outperform the enemy's targeting computer. To give you an idea of the atmosphere look at movie scenes featuring submarines. Das boot, the hunt for red october,...
Maybe the ship gets hit and high velocity projectiles penetrate the hull. Rooms become decompressed, people get sucked out, critical systems might get destroyed or disabled.
My best guess is focus on the aftermath. Battles themselves will be brief, but brutal affairs where humans have little to no control over. Somebody get his head blown off by a passing projectile, another guy gets sucked out into space,... However crew have to deal wih the aftermath. They might have won, but are they going to be able to get home?
Realistic spacebattles will be a combination between trench warfare and submarine warfare. The helplessness of standing in a trench during a bombardment and the hostile environment of a submarine. Ever heard of a tv serie named 'The Expanse?' Perhaps you could look at that for some ideas. I've heard it's pretty realistic, at least compared to most space operas.
answered 1 hour ago
TheShadowOfZama
60925
answered 1 hour ago
TheShadowOfZama
60925
answered 1 hour ago
TheShadowOfZama
60925
answered 1 hour ago
TheShadowOfZama
60925
60925
1
"Realistic spacebattles will be a combination between trench warfare and submarine warfare. The helplessness of standing in a trench during a bombardment and the hostile environment of a submarine" - I really liked that :)
– adonies
1 hour ago
The tip about 'The Expanse' is actually really good. I've only read one book of the series, but it's space battles were definitely both very realistic and very intense. The crucial point that's missing from your answer which is used correctly in 'The Expanse' is the element of hiding: A spaceship that's painted black and powered down is next to impossible to detect, but it can be flying towards you at tremendous speeds. So the central theme of any space battle must be to surprise the enemy with superior numbers when attacking, and to flee into the black when overpowered.
– cmaster
8 mins ago
add a comment |Â
1
"Realistic spacebattles will be a combination between trench warfare and submarine warfare. The helplessness of standing in a trench during a bombardment and the hostile environment of a submarine" - I really liked that :)
– adonies
1 hour ago
The tip about 'The Expanse' is actually really good. I've only read one book of the series, but it's space battles were definitely both very realistic and very intense. The crucial point that's missing from your answer which is used correctly in 'The Expanse' is the element of hiding: A spaceship that's painted black and powered down is next to impossible to detect, but it can be flying towards you at tremendous speeds. So the central theme of any space battle must be to surprise the enemy with superior numbers when attacking, and to flee into the black when overpowered.
– cmaster
8 mins ago
1
1
"Realistic spacebattles will be a combination between trench warfare and submarine warfare. The helplessness of standing in a trench during a bombardment and the hostile environment of a submarine" - I really liked that :)
– adonies
1 hour ago
"Realistic spacebattles will be a combination between trench warfare and submarine warfare. The helplessness of standing in a trench during a bombardment and the hostile environment of a submarine" - I really liked that :)
– adonies
1 hour ago
The tip about 'The Expanse' is actually really good. I've only read one book of the series, but it's space battles were definitely both very realistic and very intense. The crucial point that's missing from your answer which is used correctly in 'The Expanse' is the element of hiding: A spaceship that's painted black and powered down is next to impossible to detect, but it can be flying towards you at tremendous speeds. So the central theme of any space battle must be to surprise the enemy with superior numbers when attacking, and to flee into the black when overpowered.
– cmaster
8 mins ago
The tip about 'The Expanse' is actually really good. I've only read one book of the series, but it's space battles were definitely both very realistic and very intense. The crucial point that's missing from your answer which is used correctly in 'The Expanse' is the element of hiding: A spaceship that's painted black and powered down is next to impossible to detect, but it can be flying towards you at tremendous speeds. So the central theme of any space battle must be to surprise the enemy with superior numbers when attacking, and to flee into the black when overpowered.
– cmaster
8 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
I'd like to respectfully disagree with @TheShadowOfZama's answer: there will be a lot more than just waiting for a computer to do its thing.
Generally, human+computer team will beat a pure computer: https://jods.mitpress.mit.edu/pub/issue3-case
Broadly, humans will try to find and exploit faults (or features) of enemy’s computers and hardware.
There could be evasive maneuvering to confuse the target-tracking system. There would be electronic counter-measures against the one type of targeting or guiding system, but exposing the ship to other system type.
There would be rock-paper-scissors choice of weapons and defensive systems.
There will be a choice of aligning the ship for best protection / best weapon coverage / easiest escape. You can have fighters or smaller ships hiding behind or inside larger ones.
There could be flanking the enemy, which gives you a chance to surround them, or strike vulnerable points, but it also disperses the force, and lets them be picked one by one if enemy has multiple weapons (or multiple ships).
I would recommend watching Battlestart Galactica; it has pretty realistic space combat, and tactics that goes with it.
answered 1 hour ago
Bald Bear
4,100516
I agree with most of this except for flanking. Effective ranges of weapons in space is measured in tens or hundreds of kilometers, depending on how well you can aim and how fast they can dodge. They see you hours before. And, you're in orbit, which means you're going FAST. You can either slowly creep up behind them if you know you have superior range, or have an opposed encounter where you're both going several kilometers per second relative to each other. In space there is no "up" so there is no flank, and there is no surprise.
– Ghedipunk
1 hour ago
"Smaller ships hiding behind or inside larger ones" -- This would be missiles or drones, depending on the sophistication of the guidance system. More guidance = more weight = less maneuverable = less range.
– Ghedipunk
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
I'd like to respectfully disagree with @TheShadowOfZama's answer: there will be a lot more than just waiting for a computer to do its thing.
Generally, human+computer team will beat a pure computer: https://jods.mitpress.mit.edu/pub/issue3-case
Broadly, humans will try to find and exploit faults (or features) of enemy’s computers and hardware.
There could be evasive maneuvering to confuse the target-tracking system. There would be electronic counter-measures against the one type of targeting or guiding system, but exposing the ship to other system type.
There would be rock-paper-scissors choice of weapons and defensive systems.
There will be a choice of aligning the ship for best protection / best weapon coverage / easiest escape. You can have fighters or smaller ships hiding behind or inside larger ones.
There could be flanking the enemy, which gives you a chance to surround them, or strike vulnerable points, but it also disperses the force, and lets them be picked one by one if enemy has multiple weapons (or multiple ships).
I would recommend watching Battlestart Galactica; it has pretty realistic space combat, and tactics that goes with it.
answered 1 hour ago
Bald Bear
4,100516
I agree with most of this except for flanking. Effective ranges of weapons in space is measured in tens or hundreds of kilometers, depending on how well you can aim and how fast they can dodge. They see you hours before. And, you're in orbit, which means you're going FAST. You can either slowly creep up behind them if you know you have superior range, or have an opposed encounter where you're both going several kilometers per second relative to each other. In space there is no "up" so there is no flank, and there is no surprise.
– Ghedipunk
1 hour ago
"Smaller ships hiding behind or inside larger ones" -- This would be missiles or drones, depending on the sophistication of the guidance system. More guidance = more weight = less maneuverable = less range.
– Ghedipunk
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
I'd like to respectfully disagree with @TheShadowOfZama's answer: there will be a lot more than just waiting for a computer to do its thing.
Generally, human+computer team will beat a pure computer: https://jods.mitpress.mit.edu/pub/issue3-case
Broadly, humans will try to find and exploit faults (or features) of enemy’s computers and hardware.
There could be evasive maneuvering to confuse the target-tracking system. There would be electronic counter-measures against the one type of targeting or guiding system, but exposing the ship to other system type.
There would be rock-paper-scissors choice of weapons and defensive systems.
There will be a choice of aligning the ship for best protection / best weapon coverage / easiest escape. You can have fighters or smaller ships hiding behind or inside larger ones.
There could be flanking the enemy, which gives you a chance to surround them, or strike vulnerable points, but it also disperses the force, and lets them be picked one by one if enemy has multiple weapons (or multiple ships).
I would recommend watching Battlestart Galactica; it has pretty realistic space combat, and tactics that goes with it.
answered 1 hour ago
Bald Bear
4,100516
I'd like to respectfully disagree with @TheShadowOfZama's answer: there will be a lot more than just waiting for a computer to do its thing.
Generally, human+computer team will beat a pure computer: https://jods.mitpress.mit.edu/pub/issue3-case
Broadly, humans will try to find and exploit faults (or features) of enemy’s computers and hardware.
There could be evasive maneuvering to confuse the target-tracking system. There would be electronic counter-measures against the one type of targeting or guiding system, but exposing the ship to other system type.
There would be rock-paper-scissors choice of weapons and defensive systems.
There will be a choice of aligning the ship for best protection / best weapon coverage / easiest escape. You can have fighters or smaller ships hiding behind or inside larger ones.
There could be flanking the enemy, which gives you a chance to surround them, or strike vulnerable points, but it also disperses the force, and lets them be picked one by one if enemy has multiple weapons (or multiple ships).
I would recommend watching Battlestart Galactica; it has pretty realistic space combat, and tactics that goes with it.
answered 1 hour ago
Bald Bear
4,100516
answered 1 hour ago
Bald Bear
4,100516
answered 1 hour ago
Bald Bear
4,100516
answered 1 hour ago
Bald Bear
4,100516
4,100516
I agree with most of this except for flanking. Effective ranges of weapons in space is measured in tens or hundreds of kilometers, depending on how well you can aim and how fast they can dodge. They see you hours before. And, you're in orbit, which means you're going FAST. You can either slowly creep up behind them if you know you have superior range, or have an opposed encounter where you're both going several kilometers per second relative to each other. In space there is no "up" so there is no flank, and there is no surprise.
– Ghedipunk
1 hour ago
"Smaller ships hiding behind or inside larger ones" -- This would be missiles or drones, depending on the sophistication of the guidance system. More guidance = more weight = less maneuverable = less range.
– Ghedipunk
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
I agree with most of this except for flanking. Effective ranges of weapons in space is measured in tens or hundreds of kilometers, depending on how well you can aim and how fast they can dodge. They see you hours before. And, you're in orbit, which means you're going FAST. You can either slowly creep up behind them if you know you have superior range, or have an opposed encounter where you're both going several kilometers per second relative to each other. In space there is no "up" so there is no flank, and there is no surprise.
– Ghedipunk
1 hour ago
"Smaller ships hiding behind or inside larger ones" -- This would be missiles or drones, depending on the sophistication of the guidance system. More guidance = more weight = less maneuverable = less range.
– Ghedipunk
1 hour ago
I agree with most of this except for flanking. Effective ranges of weapons in space is measured in tens or hundreds of kilometers, depending on how well you can aim and how fast they can dodge. They see you hours before. And, you're in orbit, which means you're going FAST. You can either slowly creep up behind them if you know you have superior range, or have an opposed encounter where you're both going several kilometers per second relative to each other. In space there is no "up" so there is no flank, and there is no surprise.
– Ghedipunk
1 hour ago
I agree with most of this except for flanking. Effective ranges of weapons in space is measured in tens or hundreds of kilometers, depending on how well you can aim and how fast they can dodge. They see you hours before. And, you're in orbit, which means you're going FAST. You can either slowly creep up behind them if you know you have superior range, or have an opposed encounter where you're both going several kilometers per second relative to each other. In space there is no "up" so there is no flank, and there is no surprise.
– Ghedipunk
1 hour ago
"Smaller ships hiding behind or inside larger ones" -- This would be missiles or drones, depending on the sophistication of the guidance system. More guidance = more weight = less maneuverable = less range.
– Ghedipunk
1 hour ago
"Smaller ships hiding behind or inside larger ones" -- This would be missiles or drones, depending on the sophistication of the guidance system. More guidance = more weight = less maneuverable = less range.
– Ghedipunk
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
By the time we get into space and do battle, we already have such advanced computers that humans barely have anything to do in the grand scheme of warfare. The only reason humans would still be anywhere near the attacks is when AI cant be trusted. Not because the AI goes rogue but because AI learn so fast we wont know what they'll do when, say, they have a choice between saving 101 murderers or 100 civilians, or decides to build somewhere and evicting the people there.
With self-replicating robotics it becomes a matter of mass and useable energy. Entire asteroidbelts if not planets would be transformed into space ships and launched at the enemy. Although at that tech level the question arises of why anyone would still wage war outside of pure disagreement on how to live.
answered 23 mins ago
Demigan
5,0171326
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
By the time we get into space and do battle, we already have such advanced computers that humans barely have anything to do in the grand scheme of warfare. The only reason humans would still be anywhere near the attacks is when AI cant be trusted. Not because the AI goes rogue but because AI learn so fast we wont know what they'll do when, say, they have a choice between saving 101 murderers or 100 civilians, or decides to build somewhere and evicting the people there.
With self-replicating robotics it becomes a matter of mass and useable energy. Entire asteroidbelts if not planets would be transformed into space ships and launched at the enemy. Although at that tech level the question arises of why anyone would still wage war outside of pure disagreement on how to live.
answered 23 mins ago
Demigan
5,0171326
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
By the time we get into space and do battle, we already have such advanced computers that humans barely have anything to do in the grand scheme of warfare. The only reason humans would still be anywhere near the attacks is when AI cant be trusted. Not because the AI goes rogue but because AI learn so fast we wont know what they'll do when, say, they have a choice between saving 101 murderers or 100 civilians, or decides to build somewhere and evicting the people there.
With self-replicating robotics it becomes a matter of mass and useable energy. Entire asteroidbelts if not planets would be transformed into space ships and launched at the enemy. Although at that tech level the question arises of why anyone would still wage war outside of pure disagreement on how to live.
answered 23 mins ago
Demigan
5,0171326
By the time we get into space and do battle, we already have such advanced computers that humans barely have anything to do in the grand scheme of warfare. The only reason humans would still be anywhere near the attacks is when AI cant be trusted. Not because the AI goes rogue but because AI learn so fast we wont know what they'll do when, say, they have a choice between saving 101 murderers or 100 civilians, or decides to build somewhere and evicting the people there.
With self-replicating robotics it becomes a matter of mass and useable energy. Entire asteroidbelts if not planets would be transformed into space ships and launched at the enemy. Although at that tech level the question arises of why anyone would still wage war outside of pure disagreement on how to live.
answered 23 mins ago
Demigan
5,0171326
answered 23 mins ago
Demigan
5,0171326
answered 23 mins ago
Demigan
5,0171326
answered 23 mins ago
Demigan
5,0171326
5,0171326
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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2
Use epic music and intense acting
– Bald Bear
1 hour ago
4
You might not be able to hear the other ship, but you can definitely hear your own... when it accelerates, when it fires, and when it's hit. -- It's also reasonable that pilots and gunners would have headphones and vests that would provide sound-based and haptic-based indications of other ships that are to the side or behind, not on a screen. (And since the hard-science tag is included, it's nearly impossible to hide a spaceship from any other spaceship. You'd have to do ALL of the thrust before the battle AND give a LOT of time for your ship to radiate away all heat.)
– Ghedipunk
1 hour ago
5
How do you want to present this? In writing? A role-playing game? Video?
– David Thornley
1 hour ago
2
Beyond sound, which the game doesn't express realistically, an existing video game that goes into very-hard sci-fi territory is Children of a Dead Earth. Generally most battles are fought over seconds-to-minutes over the course of a single orbit.
– Ghedipunk
1 hour ago
3
This is kind of like the challenge of writing a submarine story -- the torpedoes move so slowly -- or a 19th century navy story -- hours or days of waiting for just minutes of action. Great writers can make these weird forms of combat suspenseful and exciting. Go watch The Hunt for Red October and Master and Commander then report back.
– Joe
1 hour ago