I tend to agree with Dartz for the reasons we have the population distribution we do. I dug up the http://drunkardswalkforums.yuku.com/topic/1665]old Gazetteer thread to look at the travel times table you did. In my opinion, the fencar speed limit of 0.1c makes it more likely for Fen to get up and go to the various places.
OK, now for some specific comments.
Part the first: In principle I see nothing wrong with going all acceleration, but it does limit some options (I mentioned 'side-slip' dodging as part of the capabilities of things like KKVs, for example). I like the Space Friction idea Proginoskes' pointed to for this however.
Part the second: Like I said above, the 0.1c fencar limit makes it more likely for Fen to launch and thus have a reason to stay up. That also plays a part in why the 'Danelaw is so paranoid about the stuff, given its capabilities. Being able to move some larger items quickly also helps from a dramatic standpoint in my opinion.
Sorry, but as it stands I'd vote against it.
That said, being a bit more firm with the speed limits may be a better way to deal with it. Dartz's suggestion about weight-to-speed values got me thinking.
As a suggestion how about flattening the curve out at both ends, with a fairly sharp drop in the middle?
Essentially, without Dramatic Necessity in the way (see below), between about 10 and 200 tonnes mass there is a steep drop in speed from about 0.1c to to about 0.001c. Less than 10 tonnes can get up to 0.2c, but its very hard to do. Over 200 tonnes and the max speed lowers at about 0.00001c per 100 tones.
Dramatic Necessity in this case can be on the positive side things like the craft being specifically built for high speed like a fighter or supercar/bike or speedboat, the engine being specially made for extra power, or some story reason like overloading the engine. Or on the negative side be things like ill repaired or inadequate systems, undersized engines, too much cargo, quirks that are tricky to fulfil limiting the speed, etc...
All the above is my opinion.
OK, now for some specific comments.
Part the first: In principle I see nothing wrong with going all acceleration, but it does limit some options (I mentioned 'side-slip' dodging as part of the capabilities of things like KKVs, for example). I like the Space Friction idea Proginoskes' pointed to for this however.
Part the second: Like I said above, the 0.1c fencar limit makes it more likely for Fen to launch and thus have a reason to stay up. That also plays a part in why the 'Danelaw is so paranoid about the stuff, given its capabilities. Being able to move some larger items quickly also helps from a dramatic standpoint in my opinion.
Sorry, but as it stands I'd vote against it.
That said, being a bit more firm with the speed limits may be a better way to deal with it. Dartz's suggestion about weight-to-speed values got me thinking.
As a suggestion how about flattening the curve out at both ends, with a fairly sharp drop in the middle?
Essentially, without Dramatic Necessity in the way (see below), between about 10 and 200 tonnes mass there is a steep drop in speed from about 0.1c to to about 0.001c. Less than 10 tonnes can get up to 0.2c, but its very hard to do. Over 200 tonnes and the max speed lowers at about 0.00001c per 100 tones.
Dramatic Necessity in this case can be on the positive side things like the craft being specifically built for high speed like a fighter or supercar/bike or speedboat, the engine being specially made for extra power, or some story reason like overloading the engine. Or on the negative side be things like ill repaired or inadequate systems, undersized engines, too much cargo, quirks that are tricky to fulfil limiting the speed, etc...
All the above is my opinion.