[IMTU] Compact Bridges
- Thread starter pasuuli
- Start date
Rikki Tikki Traveller
Cosmic Mongoose
Not when the crew (what there are of them), extend the time of the skill check - taking hours to do what a "normal" crew would do in minutes....
Rikki Tikki Traveller said:
Man, that's almost a plot complication *waiting* to happen.
me: "You're on the bridge of the derelict starship. Control stations line a single wall, galley-style. Physical displays, input panels, and yes, even toggle switches march from the floor to the ceiling. There are no chairs."
val: "Wow, man."
fred: "What the * is this?"
jon: "OK, let's boot this thing up. Where's the startup sequence?"
me: "After (roll roll) 35 minutes of interfacing with the ship's computer, you have identified where the four key elements are located. It will require three of you working in a synchronized fashion to start the ship. Everybody roll."
me: "looks like jon's Imperial Quality E-Quill Pen can activate a number of controls, including switches 10 thru 23, powercell connection C, and the Spark Gap generator for comms."
val: "ooh! I need that pen for the powercell connector!"
fred: "no you don't, that's mine for the Oscillating Filter Toggle, whatever the * THAT is."
jon: "well, who gets it first, 'cause you can't BOTH have it at the same time. where'd that manual go??"
val: "I've got it, I'm still looking for the frickin' Main Bus Undervolt thing."
val: "ooh! I need that pen for the powercell connector!"
fred: "no you don't, that's mine for the Oscillating Filter Toggle, whatever the * THAT is."
jon: "well, who gets it first, 'cause you can't BOTH have it at the same time. where'd that manual go??"
val: "I've got it, I'm still looking for the frickin' Main Bus Undervolt thing."
Unless you are suspending safety regulations in your game settings, that sort of thing should not be allowed. Keep in mind Traveller "bridges" encompass more than just the actual physical location. Computers used to take up space but now are considered part of the bridge. And then there are additional sensors, instruments, power couplings, etc, etc, that make up the control systems of your ship.
A lot of people have made the mistake of taking the d-tonnage of components literally.
The other issue is that the authorities would hardly be likely to allow large freighters to be piloted by someone sitting in a closet. It's just an accident waiting to happen (and even WITH adequately sized bridges and control stations it's still possible for a crew to run into rocks close to an island...).
A lot of people have made the mistake of taking the d-tonnage of components literally.
The other issue is that the authorities would hardly be likely to allow large freighters to be piloted by someone sitting in a closet. It's just an accident waiting to happen (and even WITH adequately sized bridges and control stations it's still possible for a crew to run into rocks close to an island...).
Too much chianti be drunk by the ensign on the bridge?? 
Though I still cannot understand why they could not simply have run the Concordia up on the rocks instead of just letting it slowly capsize.
And still no trial of the captain. The wheels of justice go round and round veerryyy slowly in Italy.
Though I still cannot understand why they could not simply have run the Concordia up on the rocks instead of just letting it slowly capsize.
And still no trial of the captain. The wheels of justice go round and round veerryyy slowly in Italy.
I'd have thought the only way to make the bridge compact would be to increase automation. Perhaps higher computer ratings should allow for smaller bridges?
An alternative might be hard-coding certain functions, so the ship is simpler to operate but less flexible. For example the ship could be specifically designed only to run between two particular systems, or some small group of systems, and has other limitations such as unable to transfer into orbits below a certain altitude, unable to accelerate above a certain cruise velocity, unable to perform docking maneuvers without slave control from another ship or space station, etc. It might still be possible to perform those operations, but at a significant penalty not because the controls are overly complicated, but because they are overly simplified.
Simon Hibbs
An alternative might be hard-coding certain functions, so the ship is simpler to operate but less flexible. For example the ship could be specifically designed only to run between two particular systems, or some small group of systems, and has other limitations such as unable to transfer into orbits below a certain altitude, unable to accelerate above a certain cruise velocity, unable to perform docking maneuvers without slave control from another ship or space station, etc. It might still be possible to perform those operations, but at a significant penalty not because the controls are overly complicated, but because they are overly simplified.
Simon Hibbs
sideranautae
Mongoose
pasuuli said:
I ignore the rules about compact bridge and skill degradation. Look at the bridges on subs... I just change it to shorter shift requirements. Except for arriving/leaving port and jump points, the bridge is very quiet and there is no actual "flying" going on. Just a ship running on a set course in the middle of nothingness. The pilot can be sitting in the crew mess drinking coffee and keep track of everything using his ships "smart phone". Unless of course your star ship is a pre-TL 7 model. :lol:
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
In theory, you could run everything off a touchscreen attached to the Captain's chair.
In practice, maintenance and repair must be a nightmare, possibly requiring access through an external hatch.
Not really an ideal proposition, while you're playing Schrödinger's Cat.
In practice, maintenance and repair must be a nightmare, possibly requiring access through an external hatch.
Not really an ideal proposition, while you're playing Schrödinger's Cat.
pasuuli said:
I used a smaller (10t vs. 20t) bridge rule for civilian ships - but kept the 20t bridge for a Type-S*. There were a couple of reasons behind this. The first was the notion of an EMP hardened avionics system on a naval ship (although any spacegoing electronics would be redundant and rad-hardened). The second was to make smaller ships that carried a payload.
* If you use pretty much any system other than CT Book 2, you can make something the size and performance of a Type-S that actually carries a useful payload, typically around 20t of cargo. I tend to do this IMTU as the concept of a ship that has barely enough room to carry a bunch of adventurers (and not much else) is a bit silly.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
I've gotten the impression that for starships, ten tons is the minimum size for a bridge.
You can't make the equipment smaller, all you can do is crowd the crewspace. I would make a bridge with higher TL equipment an exception.
You can't make the equipment smaller, all you can do is crowd the crewspace. I would make a bridge with higher TL equipment an exception.
Remember Guys the Bridge in MgT stands in for the entirety of the control spaces of the ship including AirLocks. Also add in a certain amount of basic Avionics, mimual sensors for operation, comms in probably several flavors etc. etc...
If I had my way I would call it a flat 5% of the total hull volume with a minimum tonnage of 5 dTons before modifications. Then add Bridge (Multi function) Workstations as needed with a minimum of 2 for a Starship.
If I had my way I would call it a flat 5% of the total hull volume with a minimum tonnage of 5 dTons before modifications. Then add Bridge (Multi function) Workstations as needed with a minimum of 2 for a Starship.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
I'd be the first in line trying to figure out the component parts of the bridge and what you can discard.
I can't think it's worth the performance penalties trying to cramp it, though an emergency or stand by bridge would.
I can't think it's worth the performance penalties trying to cramp it, though an emergency or stand by bridge would.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
10 ton Bridge
4 workstations at 1 ton each
- Flight controls
- Astrogation
- Communications/transponder
- Engineering
- Environmental Systems/Life Support
- Internal Security/Operations Management/Resource Allocation
- Ship's Computer
- Sensors/Lidar/Radar/Infra red/Optical/Geiger Counter/Gyroscope
1.5 tons avionics
1.5 tons corridor
1 ton ship's locker
1 ton air-lock
So there's one ton leftover to be distributed
4 workstations at 1 ton each
- Flight controls
- Astrogation
- Communications/transponder
- Engineering
- Environmental Systems/Life Support
- Internal Security/Operations Management/Resource Allocation
- Ship's Computer
- Sensors/Lidar/Radar/Infra red/Optical/Geiger Counter/Gyroscope
1.5 tons avionics
1.5 tons corridor
1 ton ship's locker
1 ton air-lock
So there's one ton leftover to be distributed
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