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AP&E Building Quick Guide (Q&A)

Looks like this has become an impromptu Q&A on the power station, so I have edited the title to reflect this. Its all good.

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14 Comments

  1. Avariel Falcon Avariel Falcon December 29, 2010

    Question: Is this the only power station left in New-Babbage now?

    I had a search for the other known power station and can’t find it, although I always get lost so might be walking right past it and not see it.

    If you run, or know of other power stations then shout out. Can’t have just one power station in a city this size! Particularly not one so old and ditsy.

  2. Grendel Footman Grendel Footman December 30, 2010

    well, I did have the Electric Eel power plant, but it finally blew up for the last time.

     

    could of sworn there was at least one other power plant in the city

  3. Aeolus Cleanslate Aeolus Cleanslate December 30, 2010

    I’ve always wondered about the merits of this “power” of which you speak. Surely, steam power (provided individually or via the Kahruvel steam works) can provide all the kinetic energy we may need for our factories, while the gasworks can provide fuel for light and heat where coal furnaces are insufficient. Pneumatic messaging and good old fashioned urchin runners can provide for all our communications needs. Even our difference engines run on mechanical principles. I’ve seen demonstrations of this “power” making delicate blown glass orbs glow feebly, but I can’t imagine any meaningful purpose for it. No more than a novelty, at best – a silly parlor trick.

    It’s no surprise we have only one “power” plant – frankly I am at a loss as to why we would need the one.

    • Avariel Falcon Avariel Falcon December 30, 2010

      When I first got the old plant running there was already a power plant in operation, a much more modern design with a new high energy transmission tower. I remember being amazed by the raw energy harnessed by it at the time.

      The demand for power, particularly for scientific research, was such that it was worthwhile reconditioning the Clockhaven plant and getting it back into operation. Although the primary reason for running the plant was to provide power for the portal experiment as the window generator requires an amazing amount of power. Running the portal would have heavily taxed the existing generating capacity within the city.

      As for usefulness, the applications for electricity are limitless and the ability to transmit power without wires or pipes allows for the continuous operation of appliances onboard airships and other remote systems that are traditionally hard to service with gas or steam power.

    • DoctorDinosaur Runner DoctorDinosaur Runner December 30, 2010

      I think you forgot telegraph and carrier vermin for messages as well Cleanslate.

      • Avariel Falcon Avariel Falcon December 30, 2010

        Telegraph, both in wired and wireless forms, using electricity. Carrier vermin, less so…

  4. Grendel Footman Grendel Footman December 30, 2010

    my own experiments often require much more energy than just burning coals could produce, hence, electric eels,  Tesla’s good and all, but the energy itself needs to come from somewhere’s afterall

    • Avariel Falcon Avariel Falcon December 30, 2010

      Indeed. The Tesla transmitter only conveys the power across the aeather, to generate the power in the first place we must use the generator.

      The main reason my creator Dr Falcon acquired the AP&E building was her interest in the aetheric generator. Dr Falcon hoped to roll out the technology across Caledon. But found that the generator only works in Clockhaven due to a unique natural phenomenon present at the AP&E site.

  5. Edward Pearse Edward Pearse December 30, 2010

    The Battersea Power Station recently opened in Babbage Canals. Though it seems more an amusement centre than a working power station.

    • Avariel Falcon Avariel Falcon December 30, 2010

      Tis a mighty engine of mini-golf!

      I do like the design though, it would certainly make a fine power station if you were to remove the mini-golf and replace it with generators. But it would be less fun that way.

      • Jonathon Spires Jonathon Spires December 30, 2010

        Thank you. The basement factories at Batters are used for the clean and industrial production of various kinds of cheeses, but I am afraid they are off limits. We can’t have any cheese disasters occuring.

        I confess, I’ve been somewhat wary of this electricity. I’ve heard that Mr Benjamin Franklin once used it to murder a turkey! While I enjoy turkey dinner for Buildermas, I prefer mine slow roasted and not subjected to the violent lightening of this new and somewhat dubious science.

        Nevertheless, I could be converted into a believer by the sheer wonder if this AP&F facility. What a marvel of enginering. Can one be shown a tour?

         

        • Avariel Falcon Avariel Falcon December 30, 2010

          I think you will find that things have advanced significantly since the days of electrocuting your man-servant by flying kites in thunderstorms. We have electric light, wireless telegraph, electrical heating and therapeutic electro therapy!

          I have been known to do tours of the AP&E building and almost everyone I have shown round has survived, so its almost safe!

          You are welcome to visit at anytime for a casual look round, try not to touch any controls and no climbing on the tank capacitors when they are charged. Oh yes, be careful of the giant cog on the generator, you won’t believe how messy that can get if someone gets stuck in it! You might also want to avoid taking magnetic items near the shift-coils when the portal generator is starting up.

          Otherwise its all good, although the door in the mushroom cave does lead to all manner of secret labs used by evil villains, mad people and rouge monsters so be careful down there.

  6. Grendel Footman Grendel Footman December 30, 2010

    Edison used it to murder an elephant, it’s perfectly safe!

    • Avariel Falcon Avariel Falcon December 31, 2010

      Unless you are an elephant…

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