MgT HG 2e Jump Filters

[snrdg121408]

Hello all,

The Jump Filter, MgT HG 2e p. 70, is a system that is inserted between a ship's sensor suite and computer.

When filling in the Ship Record Sheet I think that the clearest entry might be Computer 5 (Jump Filter).

Is my entry annotation on the right track?

 

[DivineWrath]

I would keep it with the sensor stuff. I think its a sensor thing and should be kept with other sensor stuff.

Synchronised Jumps (HG 2e p. 14) says you can do synchronized jumps, but it requires another +5 bandwidth. I don't see that written down for the details of any ship, so I don't think you have to write it down for jump filters. If you must, you could make a note in software that you have jump filters and it requires 5 bandwidth when in use.

 

[snrdg121408]

Hello DivineWrath,

I would keep it with the sensor stuff. I think its a sensor thing and should be kept with other sensor stuff.

Synchronised Jumps (HG 2e p. 14) says you can do synchronized jumps, but it requires another +5 bandwidth. I don't see that written down for the details of any ship, so I don't think you have to write it down for jump filters. If you must, you could make a note in software that you have jump filters and it requires 5 bandwidth when in use.

"MgT HG 2e p. 70 Jump Filters (TL14)
An advanced modification inserted between a ship’s computer and its sensor suite, jump filters search for very specific traces created by expended fuel and broken jump envelopes in order to track the direction and location of a ship’s jump. With detailed analysis, this allows a prediction of which star system a ship has jumped to.

In order to use a jump filter, a ship must be previously detected and its jump witnessed. A Very Difficult (10+) Electronics (sensors) check (1D rounds, INT) will allow the operator to determine where the ship has jumped to.

Jump filters consume no tonnage but require +5 Bandwidth from the ship’s computer, 1 point of Power, and cost MCr5."

If the description had used something like "extremely specialized computers and software to improve the quality and likelihood of detection of the sensor suite" I would agree that the jump filter would be part of the sensor suite. The present description reminds me of adding a new component to a computer to improve some capability that requires external input.

Jump Synchronization is, at least I think so, is similar to the Roman style of Riding with the rider standing on top of two horses with one foot on each horse. In Traveller terms both ship's computers have to agree when to discharge the jump capacitors.

 

[DivineWrath]

I still stand by my argument. I've read the whole thing before posting here. The device itself may include other stuff, but its role is a sensor augment. I think it is more sensible to keep it with the sensors and other sensor augments.

To be blunt, if I thought it didn't belong with the other sensors stuff, I would put it under systems. Systems seems to catch all the miscellaneous stuff that don't belong to anywhere else.

 

[Condottiere]

It's an add on, like a discrete GPU card.

This assumes the sensors don't need an upgrade.

Or, the ship has to move within range of the sensors.

 

[snrdg121408]

Hello DivineWrath,

I still stand by my argument. I've read the whole thing before posting here. The device itself may include other stuff, but its role is a sensor augment. I think it is more sensible to keep it with the sensors and other sensor augments.

To be blunt, if I thought it didn't belong with the other sensors stuff, I would put it under systems. Systems seems to catch all the miscellaneous stuff that don't belong to anywhere else.

The enhanced and improved signal processing features, described on MgT HG 2e pp. 41-42 are augments since they improve the sensor's detection capability.

The jump filter's purpose is to process and search for the specific signatures related to a target ship that has been detected and is being tracked while it is making a jump gathered by the ship's sensors. The inclusion of improved/enhanced signal processing would, in my opinion, increase the odds of the jump filter using the ship's computer to correctly predict the target ship's destination.

To be equally blunt If I had thought that jump filters belonged with the sensor block I would not have made my post after reading the same material with experience in operating, maintaining, repairing, and upgrading sonar systems while serving in the USN.

As mentioned in the post from Mon Feb 20, 2017 9:15 pm the jump filter requires a Bandwidth of 5 from the ship's computer to search, process, and then hopefully predict the target ship's destination as was the suggestion of listing jump filters in the list of software.

The details that the jump filter is inserted between the sensors and computer plus using bandwidth is why I feel the jump filter would be listed in the Ship's Computer block of the record sheet rather than with Sensors or in the software list.

I'm not a big fan of some of the items listed in the Systems block, but then again I have how components are listed in a number of game rule sets that are cluttering up my mind that are not like the MgT format.

Thank you for your help.

 

[snrdg121408]

Hello Condottiere,

It's an add on, like a discrete GPU card.

This assumes the sensors don't need an upgrade.

Or, the ship has to move within range of the sensors.

From Jump Filters (TL14) p. 70 "In order to use a jump filter, a ship must be previously detected and its jump witnessed."

I think that the target ship has been within the range of the tracking ship's sensors long enough to gather the signals before and at the time the target jumps for the jump filters to predict the destination. Of course poor sensors will increase the odds that the prediction fails or if my character was on duty the prediction would fail no matter how good the sensors are.

 

[phavoc]

So would anyone, as the referee, assume that using jump filters would guarantee the destination? Or would you allow for players to do shorter jumps, say to the edge of the system, in order to throw off their pursuers?

I can see being able to detect the specific vector the players are jumping. But since jump acts the same whether you are doing 1 or 9, all the pursuing ship could do is plot the most likely system it would arrive in on the straight line.

Thoughts?

 

[snrdg121408]

Morning PST phavoc,

So would anyone, as the referee, assume that using jump filters would guarantee the destination? Or would you allow for players to do shorter jumps, say to the edge of the system, in order to throw off their pursuers?

I can see being able to detect the specific vector the players are jumping. But since jump acts the same whether you are doing 1 or 9, all the pursuing ship could do is plot the most likely system it would arrive in on the straight line.

Thoughts?

Jump Filters (TL14) MgT HG 2e p. 70

"In order to use a jump filter, a ship must be previously detected and its jump witnessed. A Very Difficult (10+) Electronics (sensors) check (1D rounds, INT) will allow the operator to determine where the ship has jumped to."

Based on the requirements using jump filters would not guarantee predicting the target ship's destination whether the target makes a micro-jump or jumping out to 9 parsecs. I also agree that the prediction would calculate the general location of target's destination.

 

[Condottiere]

Energy discharge divided by hull volume, if detectable.

Stealth may arrange to take most of that with the ship into the rabbit hole.