OK. The thinking here was that the drive can distort space MORE because the mass of the ship isn't getting in the way (naturally distorting spacetime). Thus the gradient can be steeper to give more acceleration and a greater top speed.
I should probably have put it "The smaller the difference between the induced mass and the actual mass of the object, the shallower the maximum gradient can be."
You way works too, as the sharper gradient means it can't accelerate as long before hitting it's limits.
Basically, I was trying to cover the following:
a) More mass means less speed.
b) The limit (by being in the Solar System's gravity well).
and c) http://www.fenspace.net/index.php5?titl ... #Rule_.235]Rule 5c.
I'm more than willing to change it, given a sufficiently convincing technobable explaination.
I should probably have put it "The smaller the difference between the induced mass and the actual mass of the object, the shallower the maximum gradient can be."
You way works too, as the sharper gradient means it can't accelerate as long before hitting it's limits.
Basically, I was trying to cover the following:
a) More mass means less speed.
b) The limit (by being in the Solar System's gravity well).
and c) http://www.fenspace.net/index.php5?titl ... #Rule_.235]Rule 5c.
I'm more than willing to change it, given a sufficiently convincing technobable explaination.