Firefly (and it's movie, Serenity). I just didn't enjoy them, just didn't click with me.
Day After Tomorrow - the real, inverted (Hot not Cold) version.
I tried a Creality Ender 3 a couple of years ago. Struggled a lot, for me, it required a lot of aftermarket replacements to make it work well. I sold it about 6 mo later.
In Mar, I bought an Anycubic Kobra. Out of the box, worked like a champ and has continued to. None of the struggles I had with the Ender. Only add on was a sensor to let me know when I'm out of filament.
You'll probably hear from folks who bought an Ender and had great success, and folks who struggled w/a Kobra, though. It's like an automobile... you're going to hear good and bad stories for each model.
Honestly, I read a lot of articles and just found what fit my use case, expectations and budget. Your first one will definitely be a learning experience.
Good luck!
If it's dimensions are suitable, it will assume a sedentary position.
So many good ones named, but I'm going to go with
The Hammerhead from "Space: Above & Beyond"
Any/all of the fighter ships from the video game series "Wing Commander"
How come nobody's mentioned the fantastic Eagle Transporter System from Space-1999??????
Funny enough, I've gone in the reverse direction.
But I think if I were to do that, I would: be up front with players, try to mask a lot of the mechanics (unless the switch was to bring crunch to the players), be patient and willing to backtrack, have some after-game-discussions on how things went.
Mostly re-reading Classic Traveller 3 little black books from 1977. Amazing how much of a complete game is there and yet an open framework for implementing just about any sci-fi setting you can imagine. That is, if you're willing to do the work that 1977 RPGs expected from referees. Definitely not an "open and just run table procedures" type of game!
Space: Above & Beyond. I thought it had some interesting ideas that were never given a chance to be fully explored.
Babylon 5. It's probably up there as #5 in your top 4, tbh.
Planet of the Apes. 1970s movies and TV series.
As someone who has to write RPG settings and scenarios, if I can't be consistent with the tech or magic, then I think of what would be the easiest way to do something.
In this case? If I had to do this and didn't want to throw in crazy tech? Easiest way to stop the Heroes? The Villains bribe/blackmail someone to interrupt the jump, or they've planted a device to sabotage the engines at a certain time. They're waiting at that point.
Nothing like a good ambush AND some intrigue ("how did they do that?")
My players hate when I interrupt their journey. We're on month 3 of adventures due to an interrupted journey... and now they trust NOBODY!
Going to be interested in how they make that work with the intended recoverability of the booster. Excitement guaranteed, for sure!
I think Soyuz boosters currently do hot staging, the interstage is open IIRC.
I've got 3 of them...
The reverse is probably going to be true, unfortunately. The F16s weaponry is still based on 70s/80s engagement envelopes, more modern Russian a/c use missiles/radar that have much further range. The F16s will be most effective where UKR has additional anti-air assets to keep the more modern a/c away.
A very good breakdown of this by someone who's studied military aircraft for a living...
https://xxtomcooperxx.substack.com/p/its-the-range-stupid-part-1
https://xxtomcooperxx.substack.com/p/its-the-range-stupid-part-2
https://xxtomcooperxx.substack.com/p/q-and-a-regarding-f-16s-for-ukraine
https://xxtomcooperxx.substack.com/p/q-and-a-regarding-f-16s-for-ukraine-51d
https://xxtomcooperxx.substack.com/p/q-and-a-regarding-f-16-for-ukraine