Escaped gaming meme: interstellar chase scenes?

[mithriltabby]

Normally, the escape-to-hyperspace is a point at which a chase scene breaks off in a science fiction game. NASA has found that neutron stars that are in a close binary with a regular sun can slurp down hydrogen and helium and then explode the surface layer like a pipsqueak Type Ia supernova. And they do it at a regular interval. I can just see the light freighter full of player characters, pissed-off capital ship in hot pursuit, taking advantage of their knowledge of the local astrography to drop out of hyperspace and dive toward a neutron star, with the intention of making the capital ship take the brunt of the next upcoming explosion... (Discovered via io9.)

Comments

[devonapple.livejournal.com]

"Trick pursuer into running afoul of environmental hazards" is an option that belongs on any chase scene conflict resolution flowchart. It would also be something easily accommodated in a narrative gaming system.

[mithriltabby]

And this particular environmental hazard doesn’t even require a Hollywood-style asteroid belt!

[baronlaw.livejournal.com]

"We'll pop out of hyperspace right on top of that pulsar and let it take care of our foe!"

*pops out fo hyperspace too close to a black hole*

"Whoops Captain, I was holding the chart upside down...."