Experiencing Null Space...
So, this is an interesting subject (at least for me) since Null Space appears to be a commonly used hybrid (tech/magic) technology in Starfinder. What interests me in particular is what the interaction with the Null Space is like. There are many items using this technology but none of them are clear on how it actually presents itself.
Starfinder Core Rules states:
A null-space chamber is a circular device often designed to be strapped to an arm or backpack. When you press a button on the side, the device creates a circular extra-dimensional rift to a pocket space, the size of which is determined by the null-space chamber’s model. You can close it by pressing the button again, causing the entrance to the space to disappear. Anything stored within the space remains, however, travelling with the item. The null-space chamber can be opened and closed only from the outside.
The only air within the pocket space is that which enters when you open the entrance. The device does not accumulate bulk even as its pocket space is filled. Each null-space chamber is associated with its own particular extra-dimensional space. Each null-space chamber can carry a set amount of bulk, after which it can no longer be closed (even if it has room left for more material). Spells and items that contain or create extra-dimensional spaces, such as other null-space chambers, do not function within a null-space chamber’s pocket dimension. A readout on a null-space chamber automatically catalogues all items within it, and if the chamber is open, you can call up any such item and have it placed in your hand as a full action.
The above suggest the following:
- there are controls of some sort,
- there is circular extra-dimensional rift,
- there is exchange of particles (the air enters the extra-dimension),
- there is a readout that catalogues what is inside,
- you can "call out" items from it,
It is also assumed that:
- you can enter it,
- you can exit it, as long as it is open,
- the process of entering/exiting does not kill you,
- you can survive inside as long as the conditions support it,
Naturally this raises some questions:
- how does the rift looks like? Stargate like event horizon or black hole like black space?,
- air enters on its own, but does not seem to exit on its own, does it mean the pressure inside builds up? or is it equalised?
- if the air enters, is the process of interaction similar to Stargate, that is once you touch the surface you are "sucked in"?,
- is there a gravity inside?
- are objects inside visible to an observer located inside?
- are objects inside visible to an outside observer (this would depend on what the rift looks like)?
- if you use Null Space somewhere where atmosphere is corrosive or contaminated do you need to purge it afterwards?
- the readout catalogues what is inside, to what extend? particles count? objects? objects known to it? objects by bulk/dimensions?
- you can "call out" object from it, so is this where "magic" kicks and ejects it?, why can you not simply reach inside and take it out yourself?
I am interested in people's opinions on this :)
I know one can assume that it "simply works" because of "magic" but I am one of those game masters who likes to take those things at least one step further and in this particular case tries to imagine what the experience of using Null Space technology would be like...
Kind Regards
Ebon Hawk
- how does the rift looks like? Stargate like event horizon or black hole like black space?,
- air enters on its own, but does not seem to exit on its own, does it mean the pressure inside builds up? or is it equalised?
- if the air enters, is the process of interaction similar to Stargate, that is once you touch the surface you are "sucked in"?,
- if you use Null Space somewhere where atmosphere is corrosive or contaminated do you need to purge it afterwards?
- the readout catalogues what is inside, to what extend? particles count? objects? objects known to it? objects by bulk/dimensions?
- you can "call out" object from it, so is this where "magic" kicks and ejects it?, why can you not simply reach inside and take it out yourself?
My thoughts:
1)I would think it looks like a cooler full of dry ice, opaque, swirling fog, just not spilling out.
2)Air probably also exits, opening one in a situation of bad air might give you a bit more oxygen to work with. Opening one after opening it in vacuum might create a loud noise and sudden gust of air as it fills up.
3)Proabably like a bag of holding, things slide in and out of the portal like any normal opening.
4)Since (I'm assuming) air goes in an out, probably yes.
5)Likely when you hit 'store object' on the controls, it records what is going in, and the display shows a picture of the scan, you can probably name it too if you have the time.
6)I assume this can be a setting, either it's teleported to your hand, or an easily grabbed section appears at the edge of the portal.
Greetings,
I have added some additional comments and observations to the original post in order to extend the scope of the matter.
It also occurred to me that you could explain the technology by using the analogy of Pym Particle from the Ant-Man. The equipment placed inside is super compressed per say to a smaller size (within limit) and can be stored accordingly. All other physical properties are maintained as per original environment. However that would mean you need a mechanism to interact with objects inside, otherwise having your hand compressed while it is attached to the rest of the body that is on the outside, would not be healthy.
Kind Regards
The following is my take on this. I don't think I can cite any rules to support anything I say below. Some of it is logical (like not making the portal two-way, or how gasses work), the rest is just assumption.
- how does the rift looks like? Stargate like event horizon or black hole like black space?
I don't know that this is mandated by the rules. So it's up to you. Me, I assume it's like looking through a door at lightless space. So dark, that stuff floating in space won't be illuminated. If you're holding a light, you might see some stuff near the door illuminated by your light, but other stuff may not be.
- air enters on its own, but does not seem to exit on its own, does it mean the pressure inside builds up? or is it equalised?
No. Air is a gas. As such, it only expands to fill an area if that area has lower pressure. Therefore pressure cannot build up unless you're forcing air into it with some kind of pump. Therefore, opening the portal allows air from your side to enter the null space only if the null-space has lower pressure.
If you're asking whether the portal is a one-way opening so that stuff, even air, can ONLY flow one way, that's another point that is not clarified. I assume it is a two-way portal, kind-of like opening a refrigerator. If you tip it upside down while it's open, stuff can fall out. If you put a living creature in there and leave the portal open, they can step out whenever they want. Gasses like air can flow both ways, from high pressure to low.
That is clearly an assumption, but if you assume the opposite point, that it's a one-way portal with limited air, you get shenanigans where PCs try to win encounters by trapping enemies in the null-space and letting them suffocate - either by trickery or by forcing them into it. I prefer to nip that in the bud by assuming the portal is two-way and it cannot be closed while any part of the creature (or object) is sticking out of it, or while you're sticking your arms into it to hold that creature down, which makes it hard to put conscious unwilling enemies fully into the null space.
- if the air enters, is the process of interaction similar to Stargate, that is once you touch the surface you are "sucked in"?,
Probably not. I still think of it like a dark refrigerator, except with no shelves and no gravity - everything is just jumbled in there, floating around. You can reach in and reach out, step in and step out.
- is there a gravity inside?
No. Null-space must be null-gravity or else the space would need to contain a source of gravity (which would mean the space is not actually NULL after all).
- are objects inside visible to an observer located inside?
Only if the observer brings a light source. If he did, then he can see the stuff. He can even interact with that stuff to use it or take it. If somebody outside opens the portal and shines a light into it then stuff will be visible.
It's logical to assume light works in null-space because air works in null-space (the rules account for living creatures being able to breathe the limited air inside it). If air molecules work, then photon particles should too. Probably. Also, if a creature can interact with air, then he can interact with the other stuff in there.
- are objects inside visible to an outside observer (this would depend on what the rift looks like)?
Assuming you have available light, but like any other pile of stuff, you might not see everything at once. This pile is mostly floating in zero-G but still, only the front floaters are visible. Stuff in the back might be hard to see through all the floating clutter.
- if you use Null Space somewhere where atmosphere is corrosive or contaminated do you need to purge it afterwards?
Probably. If you open it in a vacuum, all gas inside comes out. (Probably - see above about two-way portal). Then if you open it in an acidic atmosphere, that acidic gas flows in. Now if you store stuff in it, yeah, that acid is still there and it might corrode the stuff.
Arguably, one property of null-space might be that things in it don't interact with other things, but if that's true, then a creature put into it can't breathe any air and would suffocate immediately. The rules contradict this, so that means stuff inside interacts with the atmosphere inside so an acidic atmosphere can corrode stuff in the null-space.
- the readout catalogues what is inside, to what extend? particles count? objects? objects known to it? objects by bulk/dimensions?
Up to you. I would assume it's not a readout of particles because that would make the readout inconceivably long and useless. I assume the readout is meaningful or there is no point in providing one, so listing "23 bulk 1 items, 7 bulk 2 items, etc." is useless.
But it might list things like:
1 tactical knife
2 fragmentation grenades
1 Dalmatian dog
17 cubic feet of breathable air
etc.
- you can "call out" object from it, so is this where "magic" kicks and ejects it?, why can you not simply reach inside and take it out yourself?
I think you can do both. But larger null-spaces might require you to have very long arms or you would need to walk into it. You could reach in and get things near the open portal but you cannot easily see what's floating at the back of the space unless the space is nearly empty, and you might not be able to easily reach that stuff anyway.
Using the magic to call anything that is listed, or even known to you so you don't need to read the list, is much more convenient.
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It's basically a technological bag of holding.
Pretty much all your questions could be answered by know the answer to the bag of holding questions.
However, I don't know what those answers are.
I mean, you can get rid of the need to breath with an ioun stone pretty cheaply.
Heck, your armor can allow you to break for days at time without needing to recharge. If you can find a method to recharge your armor (while wearing it) you don't ever need to leave the bag (for air).
It's basically a technological bag of holding.
Pretty much all your questions could be answered by know the answer to the bag of holding questions.
However, I don't know what those answers are.
You are technically correct but there are some differences there, for example null space device in null space device simply does not function, so there is a technological mechanism of activating the access to it (and possibly serving as a safety mechanism) while a bag of holdings is always "on" and if you put one into another, well...
This bag has an interior space considerably larger than its outside dimensions, roughly 2 feet in diameter at the mouth and 4 feet deep. The bag can hold up to 500 pounds, not exceeding a volume of 64 cubic feet. The bag weighs 15 pounds, regardless of its contents. Retrieving an item from the bag requires an action.
If the bag is overloaded, pierced, or torn, it ruptures and is destroyed, and its contents are scattered in the Astral Plane. If the bag is turned inside out, its contents spill forth, unharmed, but the bag must be put right before it can be used again. Breathing creatures inside the bag can survive up to a number of minutes equal to 10 divided by the number of creatures (minimum 1 minute), after which time they begin to suffocate.
Placing a bag of holding inside an extra-dimensional space created by a Handy Haversack, Portable Hole, or similar item instantly destroys both items and opens a gate to the Astral Plane. The gate originates where the one item was placed inside the other. Any creature within 10 feet of the gate is sucked through it to a random location on the Astral Plane. The gate then closes. The gate is one-way only and can't be reopened.