Naval Campaign Book questions

[arcador]

The book looks good. There are some things I would consider otherwise, but I have 0 experience with any military organisation, thus will abstain from speaking.

My questions are regarding little details, with mostly minor complications:

To see, if I understand it right, I will reiterate some of the rules.

ECI is the general efficiency of the ship's crew.
ECEI is the same, but modifier by the mission fatigue and events which can alter it. Changing ECEI does not modify the individual average crew skill (they don't learn or forget skills just because Cheif Engi got spaced).

- On page 12, there are 2 traits (6 and 8 ) which modify the CEI. Does this affect the crew's individual skills (Since it's not ECEI)?

- On page 14, Using ECEI in a sacrificial manner reduces it. It is stated this is a permanent change. Yet, we have an event which can trigger ECEI +1 on generous resupply before mission start. My interpretation is that only such resupply - a very rare one - can get the extra +1 opportunity, but unless the ship docks, the crew gets replacements, the lost ECEI (in sacrifice) can't be improved via Improved Cohesion event like mission solid success, training excellence, or similar.

- On page 17, if we form a Detachment since we pick top guns, the remaining crew may suffer. In the check modifiers, I see: if an "A" team detachment was formed +2 DM. I assume this is -2 DM, since removing the top-guns from the crew woud decrease the overall efficiency. Basically, lower result, bigger hit to ECEI.

- On page 17, the example has wrong numbers, but the correct end result. The total penalty to the final roll is -5, not -3.

I assume Morale is more of a free-form indicator to use. There is a possible hit to ECEI on rapid Morale drop, but no further specific rules to apply on certain change; just tips for the Reff.

Anyway, for me it's a good book. Abstract enough, fit enough, detailed enough. It introduces interesting mechanics, which can be used if needed, similar to the Encounters section in the Corebook.

 

[M J Dougherty]

The overall concept is that CEI changes little unless there is some big event like a sacrifice to get out of a major situation or heavy casualties. It represents the overall competence and cohesion of the crew.

ECEI is essentially CEI modified by whatever is affecting it at the time.

 

[arcador]

Thanks for the response!

 

[arcador]

Check this one though, it is again the same in the Deepnight Revelation Referee book:

- On page 17 (Naval book), if we form a Detachment since we pick top guns, the remaining crew may suffer. In the check modifiers, I see: if an "A" team detachment was formed +2 DM. I assume this is -2 DM, since removing the top-guns from the crew would decrease the overall efficiency. Basically, lower result, bigger hit to ECEI.

Is this an error or is it something else I am missing?

 

[Condottiere]

I'll speculate that the efficiency and performance of the remaining crew, or subset thereof, is effected by the averaged ability of it's left behind personnel; since you just removed the most productive members of it, it has to be lowered.

You could always send an expendable force.

 

[Annatar Giftbringer]

I don’t have the book available right now, but could it be that the DM +2 for picking an A-team refers to the team and their checks rather than those of the ship?

 

[arcador]

There are two rules.

One is creating a detachment/team. There, picking only A-team people makes the detachment/team better (gives positive DM to the check).

The 2nd is what happens to the crew/detachment when you take parts of it off. This rule is invoked only if you make permanent changes, or if the detached team is lost. There is a similar check with listed modifiers. The listed modifier for an "A team" is +2, which mechanically, makes it less likely to suffer a drop in efficiency. I.e. taking the best people from a team leaves it in a better place. That is why I assume the modifiers are reversed.