FIB vs Hardened

[Jak Nazryth]

This is mostly a question for MgT1 but it could also be asked of MgT2 as well.

Another disagreement I'm having with one of the players (who's played Traveller since the late 70's)
If you have a hardened bridge, doesn't that protect all the ships computer systems from EMP?

He is saying "no" that you still have to have a "fib" computer, because the ships main computer isn't on the bridge, no including all the other terminals spread out around a ship.

The "hardened" bridge option in High Guard pretty much says it all, but he still says "no" because it doesn't cover any computers off the bridge, so the computer "systems" will still be damaged unless you also select "fib" as a computer option.

That's what he's having us do with our ship in his game.

Not sure if this is an accurate interpretation of high guard.

Anyone?

 

[AndrewW]

Not an official answer but:

Covers what needs to be covered. Other computers off the bridge would just be terminals, you may not be able to use those but the main computer is still functional. So you might not be able to access information on engine performance from engineering, but the information is still in the computer for example.

 

[AnotherDilbert]

While I hesitate to disagree with AndrewW, I would say that the Bridge and Computer is two separate components that can be protected separately, even-though they may be mounted close to each other.

In MgT1 the computer is "usually installed adjacent to the bridge", so maybe adjacent, but not inside the bridge, hence needing separate protection.

In MgT2 the computer system is distributed throughout the ship and not a part of the bridge.

 

[Jak Nazryth]

Ok, I can agree with those.
I do know that the Core book came first, and and the option to have a hardened bridge wasn't available until High Guard.
I had always assumed hardening the bridge covered all the computers.
But that's ok.. the wording based on aotherdilbert clearly states "adjacent to the bridge' which is probably what my friend says "The main computer is not on the bridge"
So in reality, the best thing about a hardened bridge is protection the flight crew from radiation attacks.
Thanks for the input.

 

[AndrewW]

While I hesitate to disagree with AndrewW, I would say that the Bridge and Computer is two separate components that can be protected separately, even-though they may be mounted close to each other.

In MgT1 the computer is "usually installed adjacent to the bridge", so maybe adjacent, but not inside the bridge, hence needing separate protection.

But:

Hardened Bridge: A hardened bridge is shielded against radiation attacks. The ship’s computer systems are immune to EMP and the number of rads absorbed by the bridge crew is reduced by 1,000. Hardening a bridge adds 25% to the cost of the bridge. If a ship has radiation shielding installed, it is assumed to be hardened.

 

[AnotherDilbert]

I even checked that reference, but apparently I skimmed it too quickly.

At least my first instinct was correct: I should not disagree with AndrewW...

 

[Condottiere]

What about the rest of the electronics, like fire control, sensors, engineering, and so on?

 

[phavoc]

What about the rest of the electronics, like fire control, sensors, engineering, and so on?

hey-hey-hey! No going throwing around good logic when a question has already been answered! Get thee back to they asteroid hole sir!

 

[Condottiere]

Then you better harden engineering, because that and flight controls are critical.

 

[vladthemad]

Sadly, this is Mongoose, so when you start adding books past the Core Rules you also start adding contradictions!

I'd go as far as to say that the hardened bridge includes a FIB upgrade to the computer if you want to make sense of the contradiction. If it isn't a FIB system, the computer really wouldn't be protected, but the rules in High Guard state that with a hardened bridge it is. My reasoning is that if the computer system is copper connected, an EMP will just travel up the cable and fry everything no matter how much lead the bridge is encased in. On top of that, if the terminals throughout the ship are copper based, they are still going to fry. The computer on the bridge won't be much use if you can't operate anything else on the ship. If everything is FIBer optic, you don't have that problem.

Does your GM require radiation shielding on everything too? I'd think solar flares are a much larger danger than EMP missiles!