Yenaldlooshi
Cosmic Mongoose
G-LOC Clarifications and Changes (HG46-47)
I wrote this and wonder how it might sit with the forum:Why?:
G-LOC can be overcome and avoided… till it can’t, then things can get deadly in a space of time shorter than the standard starship combat round. They can also get better or at least survivable just as quick. The RAW seems to have been written to be vague after 4G’s. Recovery from G-LOC is in 6 second rounds, G-LOC checks at 5G+ are per minute, while starship combat rounds are in 6 min intervals. Also, there is no description in the RAW for what to do if after G-LOC, the G force is maintained. It also does not address lateral G (+Gx) positioning which is a remedy to excessive G since Apollo. In addition, pilot skill is allowed as an additional GM but no mention of how technology that enhances pilot skill may or may not be added to the checks. This HR is to clarify and fix these issues.
Clarifications:
All references to G in this really mean “felt” G. Which can be different than actual G acceleration after compensation methods.
In Starship Combat, G-LOC Checks are done at the start of the moment phase after the move has been plotted.
If the chart on HG47 states they must be performed once per minute, then 6 checks must succeed. If on any one of those checks, a roll is failed, then the results must be applied and changes to G and plot determined before moving to the next minutes check. Note that this can result in thrust being cut automatically by the ship’s computer. Thrusts/6 rounded up = thrust per minute used for all previous turn minutes where thrust was maintained when this is the case. Same formula for minutes under reduced thrust. Movement will need to be replotted if this is the case.
Adding Pilot skill to the checks on HG47 can include the skill bonuses from an Expert/Pilot Skill Software, and also Cockpit Sensory Suite Augmentation.
The END check can also use bonuses from Athletics(END) including Expert/Athletics (END) software but this software in turn needs a Neural Jack
Changes:
If you fail a roll on the G-LOC table, you get the results listed, however, you cannot roll to retain consciousness (the D3 mentioned on p46) until you drop to 5G (felt) or lower AND succeed at avoiding G-LOC at that new level after you do. YOU CANNOT USE YOUR PILOT SKILL OR ITS DMS FOR THIS ROLL, HOWEVER, AS YOU ARE OUT COLD.
- If you do reduce G to 5 felt G or less and roll to avoid G-LOC at the new level, THEN you can roll the D3 to determine how many 6 second rounds you are out for. In Starship Combat, you suffer a -1 per second round you are out for (-3 max) on all skill checks. This penalty ends after this turn of Starship Combat though.
- If you do NOT reduce G to 5 felt G or less AND ALSO roll to avoid G-LOC at the new level, then you are still completely unconscious for an entire minute and will suffer damage as mentioned below.
Most spacecraft can detect if the pilot and/or other crew sustain G-LOC. The ship can also be set to automatically cut thrust to a specified level if G if this happens. This takes only 6 seconds to occur and adds a -1 to all skill checks during the starship combat round it occurs on.
If a character fails to achieve a successful roll to come back out of G-LOC after reducing felt G to 5 or less or continues to be subjected to 6+ felt G’s:
- After 1 min of G-LOC: 1D stun damage
- Every minute after the first in G-LOC= 2D damage (Armor does not apply) till dead or recovered from G-LOC.
