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Re: Sci-fi writers have no sense of scale.
Posted By: Stephen L. (SoundEffect) <soundeffect@hotmail.com>	Date: 1/4/12 10:21 p.m.
In Response To: Sci-fi writers have no sense of scale. (Gravemind) : They really don't. : Reach has a diameter of 15,273 km. Assuming each defense platform is 500 km : above the surface, their defending a space that is an imaginary sphere : with an area of about 781,589,000 km². That's one platform for every : 41,600,000 km² approximately. A square with that area is about 6450 km per : edge, which gives you a good idea of the average separation between each : platform, assuming they are evenly distributed above the planet. Earth is : not quite as bad since it's a noticeably smaller planet guarded by 15 : times as many Super MACs, but it's still problematic. Assuming the same : 500 km altitude, each of Earth's 300 platforms defends an average area of : about 1,977,554 km². A square of that area is 1406 km per edge, which : still results in a large amount of average separation. If Cairo, Athens, : and Malta stations were really above their namesake locales, that number : would make sense, but what we see in Halo 2 shows that they are well : within visual distance (I don't have the time or ability to figure out how : far away they actually were). : Every depiction of an orbital defense grid has the stations bunched up : together, but that leaves a lot more space undefended. Realistically, the : number of ODPs presented in both the novels and games are likely : insufficient to defend an entire planet. Planets are big objects, and I : would think that you'd probably need at least a couple of thousand ODPs to : form a good defense grid. Truth could have simply flew his whole fleet : through one of many obvious gaping holes in Earth's defense grid, and the : fleet that attacked Reach could have simply flown around to the other side : of the planet away from its orbital defenses are started bombardment and : deployment of ground troops from there. I think in the case of MAC since they fire a very rapid projectile even by space standards, if they can detect an enemy early on enough they can reorient a station and still take out a distant target. We find out however that on October 20, 2552 that an assault carrier can pass by two destroyed stations and make it to the ground, yet one day later on the 21st, an assault carrier can exit Slipspace right above a wildlife park entrance in a coastal city bypassing an orbital defense grid entirely. :)

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Message Index

As much as I enjoyed Reach . . .	Seraph XXVII	1/3/12 4:55 a.m.
Re: As much as I enjoyed Reach . . .	FyreWulff	1/3/12 5:08 a.m.
^like face book we need a dislike button. :)	Bryan Newman	1/3/12 5:55 a.m.
Re: ^like face book we need a dislike button. :)	FyreWulff	1/3/12 10:08 a.m.
Re: ^like face book we need a dislike button. :)	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/3/12 2:31 p.m.
Re: ^like face book we need a dislike button. :)	FyreWulff	1/3/12 3:01 p.m.
Re: ^like face book we need a dislike button. :)	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/3/12 4:08 p.m.
I know the answer *img*	Revenant1988	1/3/12 4:11 p.m.
Re: I know the answer *img*	LostSpartan987	1/3/12 5:45 p.m.
Trololol *NM*	stabbim	1/3/12 9:04 p.m.
Re: ^like face book we need a dislike button. :)	FyreWulff	1/3/12 5:32 p.m.
Re: ^like face book we need a dislike button. :)	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/3/12 7:14 p.m.
Re: didn't like the post title, oddly enough	General Vagueness	1/3/12 5:10 p.m.
Re: didn't like the post title, oddly enough	FyreWulff	1/3/12 5:25 p.m.
Re: didn't like the post title, oddly enough	General Vagueness	1/3/12 6:53 p.m.
Re: didn't like the post title, oddly enough	davidfuchs	1/3/12 7:41 p.m.
Re: didn't like the post title, oddly enough	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/3/12 8:01 p.m.
Re: didn't like the post title, oddly enough	Quirel	1/3/12 10:06 p.m.
Re: As much as I enjoyed Reach . . .	Gravemind	1/3/12 7:22 a.m.
Re: As much as I enjoy HBO . . .	Hedgemony	1/3/12 9:27 a.m.
Re: As much as I enjoy HBO . . .	DEEP NNN	1/3/12 12:25 p.m.
Re: As much as I enjoy HBO . . .	FyreWulff	1/3/12 12:31 p.m.
Re: As much as I enjoy HBO . . .	DEEP NNN	1/3/12 12:59 p.m.
Re: As much as I enjoyed Reach . . .	FyreWulff	1/3/12 10:03 a.m.
Re: As much as I enjoyed Reach . . .	FyreWulff	1/3/12 10:07 a.m.
Re: As much as I enjoyed Reach . . .	davidfuchs	1/3/12 1:42 p.m.
Re: As much as I enjoyed Reach . . .	General Vagueness	1/3/12 4:15 p.m.
Re: As much as I enjoyed Reach . . .	pete_the_duck	1/3/12 5:25 p.m.
Re: As much as I enjoyed Reach . . .	Gravemind	1/3/12 7:50 p.m.
Re: As much as I enjoyed Reach . . .	pete_the_duck	1/3/12 9:57 p.m.
Re: As much as I enjoyed Reach . . .	FyreWulff	1/4/12 12:58 a.m.
Re: As much as I enjoyed Reach . . .	Gravemind	1/3/12 7:58 p.m.
Yes! This is how I've always felt! ^	Jillybean	1/3/12 6:52 p.m.
Re: Yes! This is how I've always felt! ^	General Vagueness	1/3/12 7:17 p.m.
Re: Yes! This is how I've always felt! ^	uberfoop	1/3/12 7:25 p.m.
Re: Yes! This is how I've always felt! ^	General Vagueness	1/3/12 7:52 p.m.
Re: Yes! This is how I've always felt! ^	Vandle Valsher	1/3/12 7:57 p.m.
Re: Yes! This is how I've always felt! ^	uberfoop	1/3/12 8:23 p.m.
Re: Yes! This is how I've always felt! ^	Quirel	1/3/12 10:12 p.m.
Re: Yes! This is how I've always felt! ^	uberfoop	1/3/12 11:01 p.m.
Oh, unless...	uberfoop	1/3/12 11:09 p.m.
Re: Yes! This is how I've always felt! ^	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/3/12 7:26 p.m.
My two Cents	crzymnky069	1/4/12 5:43 a.m.
Re: My two Cents	Devil Mingy	1/4/12 6:24 a.m.
Re: My two Cents	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/4/12 11:44 a.m.
Sci-fi writers have no sense of scale.	Gravemind	1/4/12 10:11 p.m.
Re: Sci-fi writers have no sense of scale.	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/4/12 10:21 p.m.
Re: Sci-fi writers have no sense of scale.	Quirel	1/4/12 11:10 p.m.
Re: Sci-fi writers have no sense of scale.	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/5/12 12:03 a.m.
Re: Sci-fi writers have no sense of scale.	Gravemind	1/4/12 11:16 p.m.
Re: Sci-fi writers have no sense of scale.	Quirel	1/4/12 11:47 p.m.
Re: Sci-fi writers have no sense of scale.	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/5/12 12:11 a.m.
Re: Sci-fi writers have no sense of scale.	Gravemind	1/5/12 12:24 a.m.
Re: Sci-fi writers have no sense of scale.	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/5/12 2:19 a.m.
Re: Sci-fi writers have no sense of scale.	DHalo	1/5/12 2:36 a.m.
Re: Sci-fi writers have no sense of scale.	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/5/12 2:45 a.m.
Re: Sci-fi writers have no sense of scale.	Quirel	1/5/12 4:18 a.m.
Re: Sci-fi writers have no sense of scale.	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/5/12 12:29 p.m.
Re: Sci-fi writers have no sense of scale.	Gravemind	1/5/12 4:07 a.m.
Re: Sci-fi writers have no sense of scale.	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/5/12 12:42 p.m.
Re: Sci-fi writers have no sense of scale.	DHalo	1/5/12 11:08 p.m.
Re: Sci-fi writers have no sense of scale.	DEEP NNN	1/5/12 2:41 a.m.
Re: Sci-fi writers have no sense of scale.	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/5/12 2:50 a.m.
Re: Sci-fi writers have no sense of scale.	General Vagueness	1/5/12 5:02 a.m.
Except for Douglas Adams *NM*	scarab	1/4/12 11:10 p.m.
Well, yes, obviously. :) *NM*	Gravemind	1/4/12 11:46 p.m.
Re: Sci-fi writers have no sense of scale.	General Vagueness	1/5/12 4:43 a.m.
Re: In this economy?	Hedgemony	1/4/12 10:25 a.m.
Re: As much as I enjoyed Reach . . .	kanbo	1/3/12 5:25 a.m.
Agreed	Flynn J Taggart	1/3/12 9:21 a.m.
Re: As much as I enjoyed Reach . . .	DEEP NNN	1/3/12 12:22 p.m.
Forget canon, what about the story itself	davidfuchs	1/3/12 1:49 p.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/3/12 2:28 p.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	davidfuchs	1/3/12 3:13 p.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	FyreWulff	1/3/12 3:22 p.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	Beckx	1/3/12 3:23 p.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	stabbim	1/3/12 9:53 p.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	Revenant1988	1/3/12 3:25 p.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	Leisandir	1/3/12 3:34 p.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	FyreWulff	1/3/12 4:04 p.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	Leisandir	1/3/12 4:25 p.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	NsU Soldier	1/4/12 12:04 a.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	General Vagueness	1/3/12 6:20 p.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	General Vagueness	1/3/12 6:11 p.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	stabbim	1/3/12 10:48 p.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	davidfuchs	1/3/12 11:15 p.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	Beckx	1/3/12 11:28 p.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	davidfuchs	1/4/12 12:03 a.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	FyreWulff	1/3/12 3:11 p.m.
No, and yes.	Revenant1988	1/3/12 3:20 p.m.
Re: No, and yes.	General Vagueness	1/3/12 6:07 p.m.
Re: No, and yes.	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/3/12 7:18 p.m.
Re: No, and yes.	General Vagueness	1/3/12 7:42 p.m.
Re: No, and yes.	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/3/12 8:03 p.m.
What happened to Carter.	NsU Soldier	1/4/12 12:46 a.m.
Re: What happened to Carter.	stabbim	1/4/12 7:28 a.m.
Also...	stabbim	1/4/12 7:29 a.m.
Re: No, and yes.	General Vagueness	1/4/12 6:01 a.m.
Re: No, and yes.	GrimBrother IV	1/3/12 8:28 p.m.
Re: No, and yes.	General Vagueness	1/4/12 6:29 a.m.
Re: No, and yes.	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/4/12 11:47 a.m.
Re: No, and yes.	stabbim	1/4/12 4:16 p.m.
Re: No, and yes.	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/4/12 5:03 p.m.
Re: No, and yes.	Leisandir	1/4/12 10:16 p.m.
Re: No, and yes.	General Vagueness	1/5/12 4:05 a.m.
Re: No, and yes.	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/5/12 12:38 p.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	General Vagueness	1/3/12 5:29 p.m.
Rightish, and wrong.	Quirel	1/3/12 5:50 p.m.
Re: Rightish, and wrong.	7he grunt w/a plasma pistol	1/3/12 6:04 p.m.
Re: Rightish, and wrong.	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/3/12 7:16 p.m.
Re: Rightish, and wrong.	Quirel	1/3/12 10:06 p.m.
Re: Rightish, and wrong.	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/3/12 11:28 p.m.
What about Harvest?	BlueNinja	1/6/12 10:09 a.m.
Re: What about Harvest?	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/6/12 11:47 a.m.
Re: What about Harvest?	BlueNinja	1/6/12 12:04 p.m.
Re: What about Harvest?	The Loot	1/6/12 1:55 p.m.
Re: What about Harvest?	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/6/12 3:47 p.m.
Re: What about Harvest?	Leviathan	1/6/12 6:54 p.m.
Re: What about Harvest?	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/6/12 7:06 p.m.
Re: What about Harvest?	Bry	1/6/12 11:36 p.m.
Re: What about Harvest?	General Vagueness	1/6/12 6:58 p.m.
Re: What about Harvest?	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/6/12 7:07 p.m.
Re: What about Harvest?	Urban Reflex	1/6/12 2:19 p.m.
Re: What about Harvest?	7he grunt w/a plasma pistol	1/6/12 2:26 p.m.
Re: What about Harvest?	SonofMacPhisto	1/6/12 4:25 p.m.
Re: What about Harvest?	davidfuchs	1/6/12 5:38 p.m.
Re: What about Harvest?	Beckx	1/6/12 5:55 p.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	Revenant1988	1/3/12 3:15 p.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/3/12 4:19 p.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	Flynn J Taggart	1/4/12 12:11 a.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/4/12 12:41 a.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	Flynn J Taggart	1/4/12 1:01 a.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	Quirel	1/4/12 2:35 a.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	Flynn J Taggart	1/4/12 4:39 a.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	General Vagueness	1/3/12 6:04 p.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	General Vagueness	1/3/12 4:27 p.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	davidfuchs	1/3/12 8:23 p.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	GrimBrother IV	1/3/12 8:21 p.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	davidfuchs	1/3/12 8:25 p.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	GrimBrother IV	1/3/12 8:33 p.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	davidfuchs	1/3/12 9:27 p.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	GrimBrother IV	1/3/12 9:41 p.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	uberfoop	1/3/12 9:43 p.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	Beckx	1/3/12 9:51 p.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	davidfuchs	1/3/12 10:03 p.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/3/12 11:24 p.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	davidfuchs	1/4/12 12:18 a.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/4/12 12:43 a.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	General Vagueness	1/5/12 3:32 a.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/5/12 12:33 p.m.
Also agreed and a note on Spartan deaths	Flynn J Taggart	1/4/12 12:52 a.m.
Re: Forget canon, what about the story itself	General Vagueness	1/4/12 6:24 a.m.
Suspension of Disbelief: Why Canon is Important.	Leviathan	1/3/12 9:04 p.m.
Hear Hear	davidfuchs	1/3/12 9:30 p.m.
Re: Suspension of Disbelief: Why Canon is Importan	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/3/12 11:20 p.m.
Re: Suspension of Disbelief: Why Canon is Importan	uberfoop	1/4/12 12:29 a.m.
Re: Suspension of Disbelief: Why Canon is Importan	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/4/12 12:45 a.m.
Re: Suspension of Disbelief: Why Canon is Importan	davidfuchs	1/4/12 1:03 a.m.
Re: Suspension of Disbelief: Why Canon is Importan	uberfoop	1/4/12 1:23 a.m.
Re: Suspension of Disbelief: Why Canon is Importan	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/4/12 2:16 a.m.
Coincidentally	Beckx	1/4/12 11:20 p.m.
Re: As much as I enjoyed Reach . . .	Beckx	1/3/12 3:20 p.m.
Re: As much as I enjoyed Reach . . .	SonofMacPhisto	1/5/12 6:35 p.m.
I like Reach.	Postmortem	1/3/12 5:24 p.m.
Re: I like Reach.	General Vagueness	1/3/12 6:49 p.m.
Re: I like Reach.	stabbim	1/3/12 8:59 p.m.
Just gonna leave this here:	Dervish	1/4/12 12:32 a.m.
Re: Just gonna leave this here:	JDQuackers	1/5/12 4:39 p.m.
Re: Just gonna leave this here:	Dervish	1/6/12 3:50 a.m.
Re: Just gonna leave this here:	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/6/12 3:59 a.m.
Re: Just gonna leave this here:	JDQuackers	1/6/12 1:38 p.m.
Re: Just gonna leave this here:	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/6/12 3:54 p.m.
Hmmm I guess Glasslands *Spoilers*	JDQuackers	1/6/12 4:04 p.m.
I concur	Revenant1988	1/6/12 4:20 p.m.
Re: Hmmm I guess Glasslands *Spoilers*	Stephen L. (SoundEffect)	1/6/12 4:49 p.m.
Re: Hmmm I guess Glasslands *Spoilers*	JDQuackers	1/6/12 6:31 p.m.
Re: Hmmm I guess Glasslands *Spoilers*	Bry	1/6/12 11:49 p.m.
Re: Just gonna leave this here:	Dervish	1/6/12 4:39 p.m.
Regardless of canonity	C.W. Miller	1/4/12 7:04 a.m.
Re: Regardless of canonity	DEEP NNN	1/4/12 12:22 p.m.
Re: Regardless of canonity	C.W. Miller	1/4/12 3:24 p.m.