Orbit Race

Orbit races are contests where spaceships maximize the use of gravity assist techniques/maneuvers to speed up, slow down or change direction as part of a racing circuit. All crafts are equipped with engines and thrusters to make corrections or for emergencies but their use will result in a loss of points.
The first ship to cross the finish line usually wins, but bonus are also rewarded for the ship that uses the least amount of fuel.

History

Time Trials

Solo races against the clock.

Head-to-Head

Two ships race side by side.

Endurance Races

Longer courses with multiple slingshots.

A race is divided into 6-second rounds, and initiative rolls are unnecessary. Each ship can cover roughly 40-60 ft per round by itself.

Execution

1. Pilots can improve their performance once per round via a WIS (Insight) check to sense the quickest path and handle the ship effectively.
   
   

   Maneuver	Initial Speed	DC
   Blue Nose	40ft for 1 round	10
   Bumblebee	45ft for 1 round	10
   Navigator	50ft for 1 round	12
   Monarch	55ft for 1 round	15
   Cyclone	60ft for 1 round	16
   Silver Arrow	60ft for 1 round	14
   Specter	65ft for 1 round	18

   • Success if DC passes by 5 or more; whereby the ship also moves away from the gravity well
   • Fails if DC is under 5 or more; whereby the ship slows down and fall deeper into the gravity well
2. Pilots can burn their engines hard during close passes near planets (using the Oberth Effect) to maximize the final speed. On a successful DC 18 Piloting, Navigation or Engineering check:
   • For 1d4 rounds, the ship gains a bonus to its speed or acceleration for evasive maneuvers, escaping pursuit or catching up to another vessel.
     
     

     Option to Roll	Zone	Speed Boost
     Instant	Outer	+5ft speed
     1-3	Middle	+10ft speed
     4-6	Inner	+20ft speed

   • After the speed boost, the character must make a DC 12 CON saving throw. On a fail, they suffer 1d6 bludgeoning damage from the intense acceleration.
   • If the player decides to expend fuel, then they take 2x the boost plus their current velocity
3. On a fail, roll on Complications:
   
   

   d20	Name	Description
   1-5	Crowded	Forced to take a slower path due to opponents (15ft of difficult terrain)
   6-10	Visual Obstruction	DC 10 WIS (Perception) check to navigate an obscured area (10ft of difficult terrain)
   11-15	Swarm	Cloud of micro-meteorites ( 4d4 piercing damage)
   16-20	Impediment	DC10 STR (Athletics) or DEX (Acrobatics) check to singular obstacles like asteroids or other ships or stations

Alternative Name

Oberth Racing

Slingshotting

Primary Related Location

Nataraja System

Important Locations

• Arguen Dos
• Flashlights
• Peraure Pair
• Seid Stars
• Þeodcwéne

Related Organizations

• Bidirectional Entertainment

Related Ethnicities

• Alphi
• Betans
• Gammians