2300AD Sensors Issues

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

Sounds like it might have been a goof. In the original 2300AD, the long range sensors only told you that a ship was there, not a lot of detail. I remember the images from the book showing ping-pong balls being used as "ship here" but no again no details. Once you got closer and got a sensor lock, then you found out more info about the ship.

Also, using the table on page 144, Densitometers have Full Detail only at Close range. Full Detail is Fine Details - that would be the "deckplans" level of detail IMO.

At Short Range, they have Limited Detail, which is internal detail - I would say that you could figure out Engineering size and maybe large weapon systems - GENERAL internal information. At Medium Range, there is only Minimal Detail, which would correspond to "External Structure" which I would treat as "Its There and it's This Big" for MGT2300.

 

[Captain Jonah]

Hey I put a smiley after the comment about LBH hunting down people who bump posts. Should I have put a /startjoke and /endjoke as well :lol:

Re the two light hours.

I was using a general example and not intending to use any fixed star. Sorry for any confusion.

As to the densitometer and Grav scanner.

Page 143:
SENSORS.
The kind of sensors a ship has are dependent on the sensor package installed (see page 108). Compare the range that something is to the sensing ship with the sensors being used and look up the result on the Detail By Sensors table (overleaf ).
Visual. Visual sensors are electronically-enhanced telescopes.
Thermal. Thermal sensors pick up heat emissions.
EM. EM sensors detect power flows and transmissions.
Radar/Lidar. Radar/Lidar detects physical objects. It can be active or passive. If a ship is using active sensors, it is easier to detect (+2 DM to Sensors checks) but detects more about its surroundings.NAS. NAS detects neural activity and intelligence.
Densitometers. Densitometers can determine the internal structure and makeup of an object.

Page 144. The sensor range chart shows Densitometers to have a maximum range of Medium.

So the 2300 deep scanner that replaces densitometers is of relatively short range and functions much like a penetrating radar. It’s not going to detect planets.

The Grav scanner on page 205 of the 2300 rule book is described as:
Grav Sensors: (TL 11, 4 tons, MLv 4) A grav sensor can detect an operating stutterwarp drive at several light minutes and planets or asteroids at system-wide ranges, although without sufficient
accuracy to get any information or provide a targeting solution.
Targets of this nature are known as ‘Black Globes’ (no relation to the Travellerdefensive technology of the same name.

So the Traveller Densitometer with its medium range in MongT becomes a Deep scanner in 2300 but still has a very short range. It is the Grav sensor which is a separate unit that detects the gravity wells system wide.

Unless you are exploring new systems you should have charts of where the planets are anyway but any warship should have a grav scanner because that ability to detect enemies at range well beyond radar is vital. The densitometer that comes with advanced military sensors is for when you need an internal map of that ship you are about to board.

 

[rgrove0172]

Thats a pretty major goof, equating a (according to the Director's Guide, Classic 2300) primarily optically-driven Deep System Scanner with a Densitometer, which sounds like a form of penetrating radar or something, using gravitic technology (not even present in 2300)

I believe there is room for both in the setting - using a short ranged densitometer like device for purposes of scanning enteriors of nearby vessels and the Deep System Scan for plotting celestial bodies, no real need for it to even be on the table really. Except, there is that pesky mention that Deep Scans detect operating power plants out to an AU or so. Most of commented this hints of Neutrino detection as part of the Deep Scan's suite of instruments. Or is it just infrared optics, surveying and picking up heat signatures telescopically. Uggh.

doesnt really matter, its very clear they arent the same thing, as eluded to in MT2300, not even close.

Oh and if you choose to use the Densitometer, you almost have to change the name. We have them now and they measure the degree of darkness in semi-transparent material or a reflective surface. Not of much use if your preparing to board.

Any suggestions on a new name?