Mongoose Traveller Computers
- Thread starter atpollard
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What do you actually mean by customizing/modifying?
Specialised computers, as Rust says, are in the main rulebook - essentially they count their rating as higher when running a specific programme or type of programme without costing you as much as a computer with a higher basic rating.
I'm not sure if that's what you meant, though. Things like higher-tech interfaces, etc, aren't so specifically laid out.
You can guess that holographic controls, example, certainly exist because they're an option for a ship's bridge. I imagine that the same sort of system, for a similar price increase, should be possible for (for example) a research lab's mainframe.
Specialised computers, as Rust says, are in the main rulebook - essentially they count their rating as higher when running a specific programme or type of programme without costing you as much as a computer with a higher basic rating.
I'm not sure if that's what you meant, though. Things like higher-tech interfaces, etc, aren't so specifically laid out.
You can guess that holographic controls, example, certainly exist because they're an option for a ship's bridge. I imagine that the same sort of system, for a similar price increase, should be possible for (for example) a research lab's mainframe.
Theres also retrotech and advanced computer options in the Core that most people just gloss over. You can get a super advanced hand computer on the cheap if a high enough TL world produces the lower TL one youre after.
Sure, its probably diddling the system, but if you want a nice cheap TL 9 hand comp (thats probably cheaper than standard lower TL comps as base price listed in the Core), best go to a TL 13 world to make it :wink:
Sure, its probably diddling the system, but if you want a nice cheap TL 9 hand comp (thats probably cheaper than standard lower TL comps as base price listed in the Core), best go to a TL 13 world to make it :wink:
I was helping someone with a project and don't think I was able to really do justice to the computer rules. To honor my NDA, let's create something completely different but technically similar in complexity.
Suppose that I wanted to design a floating taxi for a high TL urban environment (operate independently for 24 hours, maximum altitude of 10-20 meters). MgT Vehicles would get me most of the way there. But let's assume that I wanted the vehicle to be it's own driver. Now I need to design a computer that can function as a Automated Diver, a planetary GPS/map, a phone book and an ATM terminal.
Now what if I also wanted to create an 'Army Jeep' version to transport 4 soldiers and provide fire support?
Plugging in a starship computer seems like 'too much' and plugging in a handcomp seems like 'too little'. So what rules exist in MgT to modify the computers to create what I need?
Suppose that I wanted to design a floating taxi for a high TL urban environment (operate independently for 24 hours, maximum altitude of 10-20 meters). MgT Vehicles would get me most of the way there. But let's assume that I wanted the vehicle to be it's own driver. Now I need to design a computer that can function as a Automated Diver, a planetary GPS/map, a phone book and an ATM terminal.
Now what if I also wanted to create an 'Army Jeep' version to transport 4 soldiers and provide fire support?
Plugging in a starship computer seems like 'too much' and plugging in a handcomp seems like 'too little'. So what rules exist in MgT to modify the computers to create what I need?
The Computers section starting on pg 91 covers this to me...
TL 7 to TL 14 computers, their ratings, mass and cost are covered in the table on pg 91. Pg 92 adds specialization version (probably useful in your example for say Drive skill levels) and includes the Software table.
If you need more power (and who doesn't) just add more computers - like separate weapons computer(s) linked to drive computer.
TL 7 to TL 14 computers, their ratings, mass and cost are covered in the table on pg 91. Pg 92 adds specialization version (probably useful in your example for say Drive skill levels) and includes the Software table.
If you need more power (and who doesn't) just add more computers - like separate weapons computer(s) linked to drive computer.
Then, off the top of my head, you'd need to be running the following software simultaneously at a minimum:
Intelligent Interface/1
Translator/1 (depending on the variety of cultures one might encounter)
Expert Flyer (Grav)/2 (since you'd want a minimum effective skill of Drive/1 or I'm not getting in the bloody thing)
Expert Navigation/3 (because a taxi needs to be able to find the shortcuts)
Expert Comms/1 (to give you an effective Comms/0, enough to use a user-friendly commercial system)
Security/2 (Because you have both an expensive vehicle and a credit-handling computer and no-one nearby)
Along with enough Intellect programs to run the software - realistically you need one Intellect/2 because Expert Flyer (Grav) and Expert Navigation need to be the same 'person', whilst Expert Comms can be a seperate, independent computer (which will, however, therefore need a seperate intelligent interface).
That's not all going to run one one computer; you're going to need several, so you start to approach a several-kilogram-block of computers, which is what it sounds like you're after.
You also need to incorporate a TL9, maybe TL12 (if fast enough) radio transceiver if the taxi could theoretically be out of range to use a civilian comm (public broadcast failure, seriously derelict district, out-of-town journey), and a map box, or the comm and navigation skills have nothing to work with. That's another kilogram or so.
Alternatively, you could take your inspiration from the Small Craft drone command crew options in High Guard. Obviously, those are for starships, so ignore the 1.5 dTon space requirements (that's the same as a normal crewman, so assume one for a ground vehicle would take up the same as a normal driver). With a suitable swapping of skills and dropping of price they could work quite well.
That's logical. And therefore must be cheating.
For an auto-taxi, the *starting* point should be p.104 and the Autopilot option. That give a specialised computer/1 running Intellect/1 and <vehicle operation> /1 for Cr3000. TL11. Note that this *does* give an effective Flyer(grav) 1 as it's already specialised. Navigation is dealt with within its operating limits (otherwise such an autopilot could not work).
For the other functions, including in-flight entertainment, a TL10 Comm would be appropriate (which also counts as a computer/1), Cr500. The ATM function would not need to involve physical cash-out, just secure credit transfer. And if my current tech mobile phone can process these today, I see no reason why a TL11 comm would not either. Such an integral comm would cover security recording (in effect the webcam function); you could have a backup bug if needs be.
I'd think that installing both of those would suffice. This sort of vehicle is not designed to operate outside a network; navigation and traffic data is updated from the central server as needed. You don't need intelligent agents to reference maps, store phone books or validate credit transfers. If you wish, add security/1 and run that on the comm, though I'd have thought that the heavy duty security will be located at the base server.
To limit tampering is a design issue - normal comms and computers are stand-alone devices and can be physically accessed easily. On an autonomous vehicle it's easy to isolate the passenger compartment from the computers, limiting hacking to trying to fool the vehicle that you're traffic control or something. You can always add further security measures, but I'd assume any flyer and autopilot built at this tech level is going to have anti-tamper design built in.
For the other functions, including in-flight entertainment, a TL10 Comm would be appropriate (which also counts as a computer/1), Cr500. The ATM function would not need to involve physical cash-out, just secure credit transfer. And if my current tech mobile phone can process these today, I see no reason why a TL11 comm would not either. Such an integral comm would cover security recording (in effect the webcam function); you could have a backup bug if needs be.
I'd think that installing both of those would suffice. This sort of vehicle is not designed to operate outside a network; navigation and traffic data is updated from the central server as needed. You don't need intelligent agents to reference maps, store phone books or validate credit transfers. If you wish, add security/1 and run that on the comm, though I'd have thought that the heavy duty security will be located at the base server.
To limit tampering is a design issue - normal comms and computers are stand-alone devices and can be physically accessed easily. On an autonomous vehicle it's easy to isolate the passenger compartment from the computers, limiting hacking to trying to fool the vehicle that you're traffic control or something. You can always add further security measures, but I'd assume any flyer and autopilot built at this tech level is going to have anti-tamper design built in.
Lots of places to start looking, and a few options I might never have thought of.
With respect to the 'auto-pilot' and 'drone' analogies, I would think that the taxi is one notch above them. Autopilots don't generally land themselves, maneuver to the passenger gate and head to the maintenance hangar for the night without pilot intervention, but the taxi needs to negotiate traffic, locate the pick-up/drop-off point and return to the garage all on its own.
But 'auto-pilot' and 'drone' are clearly the ideal starting points.
One happy surprise was the suggestions all seem to come from the core book or High Guard (both of which I have). I was afraid that I was going to need to track down obscure data from a dozen different sources (a page from Belter, a section in the Equipment Catalogue, a paragraph in Vehicles, a line in Merchant Prince, etc.).
Thanks to all.
With respect to the 'auto-pilot' and 'drone' analogies, I would think that the taxi is one notch above them. Autopilots don't generally land themselves, maneuver to the passenger gate and head to the maintenance hangar for the night without pilot intervention, but the taxi needs to negotiate traffic, locate the pick-up/drop-off point and return to the garage all on its own.
But 'auto-pilot' and 'drone' are clearly the ideal starting points.
One happy surprise was the suggestions all seem to come from the core book or High Guard (both of which I have). I was afraid that I was going to need to track down obscure data from a dozen different sources (a page from Belter, a section in the Equipment Catalogue, a paragraph in Vehicles, a line in Merchant Prince, etc.).
Thanks to all.
