Jeff Hopper
Mongoose
A sidebar with a list of Task or Task Chains that would allow Players to write their own would be a welcome addition. The search to find the data to write their own programs can be an adventure in itself.
Computer Programs
- Thread starter Jeff Hopper
- Start date
Pg151 – Ship Software: This description seems circular. Software is software is software. If there is nothing special about ship software, this section is not needed. If there is something special, then it needs to be called out (the higher rating requirement doesn’t make a lot of sense from a software perspective).
Manoeuvre/0 – There’s only one type. It need not have a /0 added, it’s just Manoeuvre, like Intellect.
Intellect – The definition should be expanded upon. Is the ship as capable as say the ships computer on the Enterprise (which could do a great deal using verbal commands), able to interact with the person when the command needs more specifics and descriptives? So could I tell my ship to activate the turrets and fire control program to shoot the pirates on my tail?
Auto-Repair – By the description here there is never a reason to carry more than 2 repair drones because that is all the computer can do. Or you only need to carry the number of drones equal to the number of people who can simultaneous use repair drones per turn (and what is required to do so? Any system console? Any computer terminal?
Manoeuvre/0 – There’s only one type. It need not have a /0 added, it’s just Manoeuvre, like Intellect.
Intellect – The definition should be expanded upon. Is the ship as capable as say the ships computer on the Enterprise (which could do a great deal using verbal commands), able to interact with the person when the command needs more specifics and descriptives? So could I tell my ship to activate the turrets and fire control program to shoot the pirates on my tail?
Auto-Repair – By the description here there is never a reason to carry more than 2 repair drones because that is all the computer can do. Or you only need to carry the number of drones equal to the number of people who can simultaneous use repair drones per turn (and what is required to do so? Any system console? Any computer terminal?
Rikki Tikki Traveller
Cosmic Mongoose
Intellect also has a problem with the Rating.
Intellect on a personal computer (TL-11) is Rating/1
Intellect on a Ship's Computer (TL-11) is Rating/10
That makes no sense.
Also, there should be an advanced form of Intellect that controls Holographic Controls/Interfaces (detects motion and uses that to do things, not just words). We ALMOST have that now, but let's not go there.
Verbal Commands from a computer should be STANDARD by TL8, not requiring any kind of program (Siri Mark-2). Make Intellect actually worth something - give it the ability to visually read the operator and take directions that way (eye blinks, finger motions etc.) and have it needed for Holographic Controls (TL12 I think per MGT1).
Intellect on a personal computer (TL-11) is Rating/1
Intellect on a Ship's Computer (TL-11) is Rating/10
That makes no sense.
Also, there should be an advanced form of Intellect that controls Holographic Controls/Interfaces (detects motion and uses that to do things, not just words). We ALMOST have that now, but let's not go there.
Verbal Commands from a computer should be STANDARD by TL8, not requiring any kind of program (Siri Mark-2). Make Intellect actually worth something - give it the ability to visually read the operator and take directions that way (eye blinks, finger motions etc.) and have it needed for Holographic Controls (TL12 I think per MGT1).
Bense
Cosmic Mongoose
I've spotted a problem with the starship software rules.
What software can the Highndry run with its Model 1/BIS computer?
According to the Scout Ship listing it comes with "Manouvre/0, Jump Control/2, and Library."
The starship software table shows that Manouvre/0 and Library both have a rating of 0, but Jump Control/2 has a rating of 10.
Page 151 says "Ship software operates in exactly the same way as normal computer software but typically has a much higher rating."
The computers chapter on pg. 104 says "A system can run a number of programs up to its Rating."
So by that rule the Highndry's Model 1/BIS computer can run one Rating-1 program (there is no explanation of what "BIS" means in the rules). Manoevre/0 and Library work just fine then.
But by the table, Jump Control/2 has a rating of 10. It's ten times too complex for the Highndry's Model/1 computer to run.
If we ignore the ratings column on the software table and go by the program's rating of 2, it's still twice as complex a program as the Highndry's computer can run by the rules as written.
Oops.
What software can the Highndry run with its Model 1/BIS computer?
According to the Scout Ship listing it comes with "Manouvre/0, Jump Control/2, and Library."
The starship software table shows that Manouvre/0 and Library both have a rating of 0, but Jump Control/2 has a rating of 10.
Page 151 says "Ship software operates in exactly the same way as normal computer software but typically has a much higher rating."
The computers chapter on pg. 104 says "A system can run a number of programs up to its Rating."
So by that rule the Highndry's Model 1/BIS computer can run one Rating-1 program (there is no explanation of what "BIS" means in the rules). Manoevre/0 and Library work just fine then.
But by the table, Jump Control/2 has a rating of 10. It's ten times too complex for the Highndry's Model/1 computer to run.
If we ignore the ratings column on the software table and go by the program's rating of 2, it's still twice as complex a program as the Highndry's computer can run by the rules as written.
Oops.
Just a quick note - I am looking at computers and software in detail (or am due to...). Might be some tweaks in how they work overall - this is being driven by work in CSC, so you will see the results soon!
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Perhaps a separate fire control programme for each battery, if the capacity exists.
On pg 155 - Automated duties: A ship equipped with repair drones and Auto-Repair software can act as damage control. If it is running an Intellect program and Expert Engineer (J-drive, M-drive or power), it can act as an engineer.
There is no Engineer program listed for purchase.
And below that on the same page there it talks about a pilot program. That, too, is missing from the list of available software.
There is no Engineer program listed for purchase.
And below that on the same page there it talks about a pilot program. That, too, is missing from the list of available software.
Expert software on page 106.
msprange said:
There seems to be an equivalency problem here. The expert software table on page 106 implies personal computer programs (the 52nd century equivalent to a tablet PC). The software programs for starships are all much more massive resource wise as well as cost. The cheapest software program listed on the starship table is Cr100,000. The most expensive (Agent-4) is 250,000.
Also the rating required to run the program is MUCH smaller for the portable computer table (the highest is 4). The ship software table (excluding Maneuver, which at a 0 rating and 0 cost should be removed and simply assumed) has the lowest rating of 5. And the intellect program requires rating 10 while the Expert 3 program requires a rating of 3.
So if you are supposed to be able to swap between the two disparate tables they aren't equivalent in any way, shape or form, except in being computer programs.
