On Sat, 10/25/14, xxxxxx@comcast.net <xxxxxx@comcast.net> wrote:

 Personally, I think
 requiring the power plant to have the same rating as the
 jump
 drive if it had the
 highest letter or largest rating in the upgrade from LBB
 2 First
 edition to the Second
 edition didn't happen. Another question that I never
 was
 able to ask back then.

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Once I became aware of the various discrepancies, I started looking at it from the perspective of one of my side-jobs at work.
(I assisted in formulating RFP's (request-for-proposal) & evaluating the resultant vendor submissions)
So I began to consider the rules 'requirements' as more like a 'best practices' manual.
(At work a vendor *could* submit a proposal that varied from the RFP but would incur a penalty when his proposal was 'graded out')

I looked at HG 2ed (I didn't see the 1st ed for quite some years as I came into Trav right after the 2nd ed came out & the 1st ed was superseded after only one year) as similar to the mil-spec requirements of the US DoD, so I felt that those rules should be followed slavishly.
(I still wonder how the original 'Plankwell' BB design. with that wimpy meson screen, was danced past the Procurement folks. Maybe someone connected to it had high-level contacts/influence? "Hey we'll just use them against foes with only low-level meson guns, or none at all! Right?)

With LBB2, & esp after the 'Annic Nova' adventure indicated that 'non-standard' designs *could* get an Imperial Registry, I tended to allow a reasonable amount of 'fudging' (post-commision non-standard refits?), esp since I became aware of the diffs tween the LBB2's when I bought that hardbound Traveller Book, started using it, & noticed right away some diffs w/ the original LBB's 1-3. (and even some minor diffs w/ the 2nd ed LBB's 1-3)

Still, one thing that remains 'hard & fast' is the large volume of fuel required for jumping. (60% for J6!)
But, there is also the 'Annic Nova' example where large solar 'sails' were used to charge the jump capacitors.
(Still can't see how that could actually work though, It's such a large energy requirement)
Now there's a thought, maybe the Scout Ship could have a J4 engine but carry only enough fuel for J3.
If J4 was wanted then drop tanks could be used if  avail (note: I've always thought that the IN Tank-Rons also performed the function of 'drop-tank' tenders) or a 'sail' like the 'Annic Nova' used could be deployed.

[Note: As I recall the 'Nova had enough storage capacity to allow for TWO jumps. (one J3 & one J2, I think)]