Ask MongooseMatt ANYTHING!!!

[Terry Mixon]

Okay, not really anything, but when we post questions about the rules or potential typos in the feedback area, we often don't receive a response, so I'm creating this thread in the hopes of getting some response to questions we have, even if it is "we're looking at that" or some such.

I'll kick this off with a question I posted a few days ago. The emergency low berths in High Guard 2022 Update are listed at MC1 a pop. Seems real pricy since Mongoose 1e and all the previous versions of Traveller we checked had it being KCr100. In Mongoose 1e, it was listed as MCr.1 and we suspect a typo. Can we get some clartity on that so we can update the starship build sheet to reflect what we suspect if we're right? Thanks.

Also, allow me to suggest that adding KCr, BCr (or GCr to please @Geir), and TCr to your repertoire would be really helpful and would minimize the complaints about not having comma separation in your big numbers, too.

And sorry for all the wild AMA questions you're about to get @MongooseMatt.

 

[Sigtrygg]

Leave the format of JTAS as is, but a quarterly periodical with Third Imperium, generic Traveller, 2300AD, DC, and not to forget all the other IPs Mongoose now controls would be very welcome.

 

[Terry Mixon]

Leave the format of JTAS as is, but a quarterly periodical with Third Imperium, generic Traveller, 2300AD, DC, and not to forget all the other IPs Mongoose now controls would be very welcome.

Not sure if you are suggesting to add all into one or not, so I’ll say that would be a turn off.

 

[Sigtrygg]

No, it would be a new periodical, the kickstarter JTAS format would remain as is.

 

[Numbers0to1]

My hope is that Pioneer generates enough interest & community content creation that Mongoose will eventually roll out something JTAS-like that includes community content for it.

 

[ottarrus]

@MongooseMatt
So, I noticed that 'Novy Kyiev' has been kicked back to layout. Is 'Invasion 2' on schedule?

 

[MongooseMatt]

@MongooseMatt
So, I noticed that 'Novy Kyiev' has been kicked back to layout. Is 'Invasion 2' on schedule?

Invasion Part II comes out tomorrow, and Novy Kyiv will be following very soon after (maybe a couple of weeks, but will keep you updated).

 

[ottarrus]

Invasion Part II comes out tomorrow, and Novy Kyiv will be following very soon after (maybe a couple of weeks, but will keep you updated).

THANKS!

 

[MasterGwydion]

@MongooseMatt

Just out of curiosity, why do spinal mounts need so many gunners?

Push button. Charge gun.

Push button. Fire gun.

It is not like this is WWI and they are doing everything manually.

 

[shirgall]

@MongooseMatt

Just out of curiosity, why do spinal mounts need so many gunners?

Push button. Charge gun.

Push button. Fire gun.

It is not like this is WWI and they are doing everything manually.

My speculation is that while it may feel like operation of a "bigger gun" is simple, feeding power to the system, maintaining the appropriate levels of whatever terrible energy is about to be unleashed, making sure it is in balance for maximum effectiveness, monitoring and correcting any part of the system is trouble. Think about how a meson screen needs a gunner to focus the screen. A meson gun has screens within it to shape and direct its power...

Similarly observing the target and choosing the right signature for maximum effect on the target. Balancing that with the distance and what else is going on. Etc. etc.

 

[MasterGwydion]

My speculation is that while it may feel like operation of a "bigger gun" is simple, feeding power to the system, maintaining the appropriate levels of whatever terrible energy is about to be unleashed, making sure it is in balance for maximum effectiveness, monitoring and correcting any part of the system is trouble. Think about how a meson screen needs a gunner to focus the screen. A meson gun has screens within it to shape and direct its power...

Similarly observing the target and choosing the right signature for maximum effect on the target. Balancing that with the distance and what else is going on. Etc. etc.

That basically just seems like more advanced versions of what computers in weapon systems do now.

 

[shirgall]

That basically just seems like more advanced versions of what computers in weapon systems do now.

And the Imperium has some rightfully-earned distrust of autonomous systems. They should be at least monitored.

 

[MasterGwydion]

And the Imperium has some rightfully-earned distrust of autonomous systems. They should be at least monitored.

75 people per section of Spinal Meson Gun worth of monitoring though?

Plus, it's not autonomous. Gunner fires the gun.

 

[Sigtrygg]

I am not Matt but my answer is...

the spinal weapon crew are there to maintain and monitor the various sub-systems that make for a functional spinal mount. The actual firing is done by pressing the big red fire the spinal mount button.

 

[Condottiere]

In theory, a seventy five kilotonne spinal mount is likely installed in a hundred kilotonne plus platform.

Divide gun crew by three.

 

[MasterGwydion]

In theory, a seventy five kilotonne spinal mount is likely installed in a hundred kilotonne plus platform.

Divide gun crew by three.

Crap! I forgot about that!

 

[MasterGwydion]

I am not Matt but my answer is...

the spinal weapon crew are there to maintain and monitor the various sub-systems that make for a functional spinal mount. The actual firing is done by pressing the big red fire the spinal mount button.

Do Gunners do the maintaining or do the Engineers and Maintenance personnel?

 

[mavikfelna]

Do Gunners do the maintaining or do the Engineers and Maintenance personnel?

Gunners need something to do in the downtime between firing, so I would assume they service the gun and the maintenance people service the power systems that supply it.

 

[MasterGwydion]

Gunners need something to do in the downtime between firing, so I would assume they service the gun and the maintenance people service the power systems that supply it.

I know that is how it worked in the US Navy for years. No idea if they still do it that way, but probably.