Post by Catsmate on Mar 5, 2023 13:48:38 GMT
An interesting interview with the theoretical physicist Ronald Mallett.
Now, frankly, it's rather overblown; certainly the acceptance Mallett's claims that his ring-laser concept allows time travel is rather unquestioning. There is no independent verification for frame-dragging within the ring-laser system (and it has been looked for) plus even if it did happen that's alone is insufficient for time travel to the past.
But the story has got some interesting potential for a scenario.
In fact it has many classic elements; obsessed scientist (if not actually 'Mad'), a novel and moderately plausible method for time travel and an objective. So, how do the PCs get involved?
There could be 'echoes' from experiments that attract time traveller (such as the PCs) to investigate experimentation based on Mallett's ideas; either to stop them or ensure they are successful (bonus points if there are at least two different groups from the future timeline where the experiments succeed, with different objectives).
Or, for an Earthbound campaign, it's up to the PCs to investigate such experiments
And then there's the matter of who exactly is funding and resourcing Malletts work, and why; industrialist with an agenda, corporation who wants to exploit the past, political group who don't like the present and want to 'fix' matters for their adherents, religious group who want to meet their founder, government who plans to rewrite the present.
Or is it Mallett himself, from the further future?
Comments? Suggestions? Ideas?
Now, frankly, it's rather overblown; certainly the acceptance Mallett's claims that his ring-laser concept allows time travel is rather unquestioning. There is no independent verification for frame-dragging within the ring-laser system (and it has been looked for) plus even if it did happen that's alone is insufficient for time travel to the past.
But the story has got some interesting potential for a scenario.
In fact it has many classic elements; obsessed scientist (if not actually 'Mad'), a novel and moderately plausible method for time travel and an objective. So, how do the PCs get involved?
There could be 'echoes' from experiments that attract time traveller (such as the PCs) to investigate experimentation based on Mallett's ideas; either to stop them or ensure they are successful (bonus points if there are at least two different groups from the future timeline where the experiments succeed, with different objectives).
Or, for an Earthbound campaign, it's up to the PCs to investigate such experiments
And then there's the matter of who exactly is funding and resourcing Malletts work, and why; industrialist with an agenda, corporation who wants to exploit the past, political group who don't like the present and want to 'fix' matters for their adherents, religious group who want to meet their founder, government who plans to rewrite the present.
Or is it Mallett himself, from the further future?
Comments? Suggestions? Ideas?
