G-force induced loss of consciousness (abbreviated as G-LOC, pronounced ‘GEE-lock’) is a term generally used in aerospace physiology to describe a loss of consciousness occurring from excessive and sustained g-forces draining blood away from the brain causing cerebral hypoxia. The condition is most likely to affect pilots of high performance fighter and aerobatic aircraft or astronauts but is possible on some extreme amusement park rides. G-LOC incidents have caused fatal accidents in high performance aircraft capable of sustaining high g for extended periods. High-G training for pilots of high performance aircraft or spacecraft often includes ground training for G-LOC in special centrifuges, with some profiles exposing pilots to 9 gs for a sustained period.
G-Load optional
The rules for G-load as well as mission and action Fatigue can be found on page 25 of the rulebook. G-Load is optional but quite fun, especially if you use Intercept to play out Traveller or other roleplaying situations. Don’t forget that aerobraking also cause Gs, simply count the number of squares from your gravity adjusted Drift and use that as GS below, regardless if the thrust come from actual thrusting or aerobrakes. Try making a space fighters with really high Gs by adding high strength Floorfield or a cheaper and less powrhungry alternativeis to use the Limited tank workstatios; submerged crew breathing oxegynated liquids can take 5 Gs without as much as flinch.
At the end of each ships’s movement phase calculate the G-Load and if 1+ roll for G-Loc and damage, calculate and roll separately for Crew and Repair
Crew. Sum up all Gs the ship is subjected to, basically the number of squares from the Drift after gravity position. Subtract 1 if the ship neither turned nor rolled, it is far easier to take a linear acceleration than the bucking-bronco variety.
G-Load is then reduced by crew stations and floorfield if applicable. We need to do separate calculations for Crew and Repair Crew as the Repair Crew don’t have stations and sometimes don’t even have a floorfield to protect them (when doing repairs on the outside of the ship, on the Hull or Surface locations).
Number of Gs thrusted or aerobraked
- -1 if neither turning nor rolling
- -2 for Limited, Full or Bridge station
- -5 for Limited tank station
- -Number of floorfield Gs if indoors*
*The Hull and Surface locations are considered outdoors and not helped by floorfield
G-Loc & damage roll
Roll for G-Loc and damage if G-Load is 1+
Roll separately for Crew and Repair Crew
Reduce Gs felt by 1 if ship neither turned nor rolled
If the modified G-Load is 1+ for Crew or Repair Crew roll 1D6 + G-Load on the table below. A result of a Scratch+ results in G-Loc, higher results also result in damage or even death, this is also true for robot only Repair Crew.
Crew cannot perform Scans, attacks, defense or control missiles. All launched
missiles are lost as are all Tracks.
Repair Crew cannot move from their current location, perform repairs or
power up powerplants. Note that Repair Crew on Hull or Surface suffer one level worse damage if the result was 7+, from falling off the hull under thrust. See the picture on top if you don’t understand why.
Vector movement 