Nexus Linkage Device?

[WHULorigan]

It is likely worth noting that the wiki uses T5.00 rules, the monolith edition. If I get the time I will check how it changes from 5 to 5.09 to 5.1...

In general we try to keep the Wiki updated to T5.10 (or at least use T5.10 standard with allusion to T5.09/T5.00/T5 Beta when there is a detail worth preserving). Material from and allusions to other/older Traveller versions is also fine - but conflicts are generally resolved in favor of T5.10, unless there is a good reason otherwise.

The Wiki is huge, with lots of articles and stubs created by many hands over a long span of time. If you see something egregiously out of date or just flat out discordant (and there are plenty - it is just a matter of tracking them down) feel free to edit or bring them to our attention. Just be mindful of the Manual of Style if you do edit - Wiki Articles are supposed to be written from an in-Universe perspective as if they were an impartial encyclopedia entry by a professional Imperial author. Game mechanics generally do not belong in the Wiki, and metadata (as well as in-Universe "Secrets") should go on a separate designated hyperlinked subpage, if necessary.

If possible, add sources as a Ludography item at the bottom of the page in the references section if it is not already there, and use in-line cites for particular details in the text if possible (especially if you add a detail or interpretation of you own - identify yourself as the source of the info using the <ref></ref> tags).

 

[Sigtrygg]

I was referring to the wiki entry for the nexus, it is listed as T5 so I assumed original edition. Upon checking it looks like the page reference is for 5.09.

 

[WHULorigan]

I was referring to the wiki entry for the nexus, it is listed as T5 so I assumed original edition. Upon checking it looks like the page reference is for 5.09.

I updated the article text and reference to T5.10.

At this point any T5 references should be to a T5.10 source (unless it is to something specific to an older edition), though obviously not all are.

 

[rinku]

The (fairly minor) issue wasn't the main part, but that it didn't specifically mention the usual TL cap on jump number.

Since, in every edition except technically LBB Book2* that is a Rule, it's only a small point.

(*LBB Book 2 construction, with standard hulls and standard drive units allows up to rating 6, but doesn't mention shipyard TL explicitly. It's an easy assumption that those standard units are often manufactured elsewhere, but it's also reasonable to rule that higher jump ratings need to be built at an appropriate TL shipyard.)

 

[Sigtrygg]

LBB:2 and 3 did not have the jump number by TL paradigm of High Guard.

You could build a TL9 jump 4 ship in 77 edition, using the xboat fudge you could get a 199t jump 6 xboat at TL9.

The changes to the computer rules in 81 edition limited you to jump 3 at TL9, you had to have TL10 to build jump 4 ships.

 

[WHULorigan]

LBB:2 and 3 did not have the jump number by TL paradigm of High Guard.

You could build a TL9 jump 4 ship in 77 edition, using the xboat fudge you could get a 199t jump 6 xboat at TL9.

The changes to the computer rules in 81 edition limited you to jump 3 at TL9, you had to have TL10 to build jump 4 ships.

It would be interesting to lay out in a chart what was possible based on the permutations of what rulebooks were available and when.


1977:
1977 LBB2/3 (Only)

1979/80:
1977 LBB2/3 (+ HG79/80)
1979/80 HG (Only)

1981:
1981 LBB2/3 (Only)
1981 LBB2/3 (+ HG79/80)

 

[Sigtrygg]

The first thing to note is hull size in LBB:2 is limited by the drives that will fit, and those drives are limited by TL.

77 has the fudge that a power plant an m-drive can be omitted for xboats, and also the computer model doesn't limit jump number.

81 requires a power plant equal to maneuver or jump drive rating, whichever is higher, and because of the power plant fuel formula this has a massive knock on effect for the smaller ship sizes. The computer model number limiting the maximum jump is another limiting factor.

HG80 despite being superficially similar and supposedly compatible is really a completely different paradigm in nearly every measure.

 

[rinku]

Generally, LLBB2 77 didn't care about TL for ship construction at all. Weapons and Model/4 computers were all available by TL10, which is the first TL with standard drives; "Starships" are listed at TL9, but can't technically be build with 77 Book 2 standard drives. Book 3 81 made drives A-D TL9 ones.

The computer model limit on Jump still barely matters in 1981; TL9 has Model/3. All of the standard ships in Book 2 can be built at TL9 except the Mercenary Cruiser, which need TL11 for its Model/5... but a budget TL9 one could still be built using a Model/3.

Since both editions of High Guard explicitly say that the Book 2 rules are still valid, it's probably best to just assume the standard drives are built with some higher tech assistance when you end up with a ship that seems to break the rules. You generally can't get high Jump numbers out of the standard hulls anyway, because the engineering compartments are too small. So that means a custom hull and extra cost - it's not unreasonable that part of the cost would involve whatever high tech gear is needed to make a standard drive work at higher jumps. Or alternatively require a drive imported from a higher tech world.

Edit: correction. MOST of the standard ships can be built at TL9, but I forgot some have drives higher than D. The Liner need TL11 for J drives, the Merc cruiser needs TL12 for its M drives (so its computer/5 is fine). The Patrol Cruiser needs H drives, so has a minimum TL of 10.

If you go with the later idea that it's all a big cloud of standard TL12 parts and components, all the standard designs work out.

 

[rinku]

Something else that just occurred to me looking over the 77 books. Almost all the tech is TL9 or less, and the highest tech weapon is the laser rifle at TL9.

The only high tech armours are Ablat at TL9, Reflec at TL10 and Battledress at TL13.

Grav Belts are TL12, but everything other form of transport is TL8 (air/raft) or less.

 

[Sigtrygg]

Generally, LLBB2 77 didn't care about TL for ship construction at all. Weapons and Model/4 computers were all available by TL10, which is the first TL with standard drives; "Starships" are listed at TL9, but can't technically be build with 77 Book 2 standard drives. Book 3 81 made drives A-D TL9 ones.

77 LBB:3 TL table has standard drives H or less at TL10 but starships at TL9, so which drives are you putting in your Starship?
81 claridied this.
The CT scout is TL9, jump 2, the far trader is TL9, jump 2. The xboat however is TL10 and jump 4, and not due to its 1bis computer. You have to admire Traveller ship designs over the years...

The computer model limit on Jump still barely matters in 1981; TL9 has Model/3. All of the standard ships in Book 2 can be built at TL9 except the Mercenary Cruiser, which need TL11 for its Model/5... but a budget TL9 one could still be built using a Model/3.

I suppose as a paramilitary ship they wanted the larger computer capacity for combat purposes.

Since both editions of High Guard explicitly say that the Book 2 rules are still valid,

They say it, but in practice once you dig into it for HG80 they are not very compatible at all. HG79 is more compatible with LBB:2.
Leaving aside the odd decision to switch sizes for the m-drive and jump-drive the EP economy makes LBB:2 ships a marvel of efficiency, being able to power more lasers than the power plant can supply

it's probably best to just assume the standard drives are built with some higher tech assistance when you end up with a ship that seems to break the rules.

That has been the consensus for a while, but then MT dropped letter drives. Notice that MgT1e resurrected letter drives (as does T5) but then dropped them for 2e.

You generally can't get high Jump numbers out of the standard hulls anyway, because the engineering compartments are too small.

Use custom hulls, you don't have to stick with the standard hull table.

So that means a custom hull and extra cost - it's not unreasonable that part of the cost would involve whatever high tech gear is needed to make a standard drive work at higher jumps.

Except the cost is in hull form, not jump drive. Not to mention the paradigm of LBB:2 and 5 doesn't require it, it is the shohorning of two different jump paradigms that causes the issue.

Or alternatively require a drive imported from a higher tech world.

That's another can of worms. Any type A starport, regardless of world TL, can build any ship. So the drives must be imported from the worlds that can manufacture them, or every starport is a TL15 manufacturing hub, I prefer the former.

Edit: correction. MOST of the standard ships can be built at TL9, but I forgot some have drives higher than D. The Liner need TL11 for J drives, the Merc cruiser needs TL12 for its M drives (so its computer/5 is fine). The Patrol Cruiser needs H drives, so has a minimum TL of 10.

I assumed you meant the scouts and traders anyway

If you go with the later idea that it's all a big cloud of standard TL12 parts and components, all the standard designs work out.

Except that you need TL15 parts for the bigger ships, I did a ship size by TL chart once...

LBB'77

Tech Level	9	10	11	12	13	14	15
Max. hull		1000	2000	2000	3000	3000	5000

LBB 81

Tech Level	9	10	11	12	13	14	15
Max. hull	800	1000	2000	2000	3000	3000	5000

 

[Sigtrygg]

Something else that just occurred to me looking over the 77 books. Almost all the tech is TL9 or less, and the highest tech weapon is the laser rifle at TL9.

The only high tech armours are Ablat at TL9, Reflec at TL10 and Battledress at TL13.

Grav Belts are TL12, but everything other form of transport is TL8 (air/raft) or less.

Which is why frontiers settings for adventures were so common, what was life really like at TL12 to 15...

 

[Condottiere]

I'm going to guess sanitation, and the internet.

 

[MasterGwydion]

That's another can of worms. Any type A starport, regardless of world TL, can build any ship. So the drives must be imported from the worlds that can manufacture them, or every starport is a TL15 manufacturing hub, I prefer the former.

It has been stated that all Imperial Starports are TL-12 unless they are orbiting a world with a higher TL. This is enforced by the SPA. I doubt jump drives can be imported. Where are the spec trading rates and rules for a full jump drive? As far as I am aware, you can build a TL-15 J-6 drive at TL-10 if all you need is an Advanced Manufacturing Plant, the raw materials to feed into it, as well as the blueprint. Same way you don't need a starport anymore to do your ships maintenance. You can maintain your new, shiny Vincennes-made TL-16 ship in a field on a TL-0 planet. So, none of it makes sense.

I doubt this is the way the rules are meant to work, but here We are.

 

[WHULorigan]

It has been stated that all Imperial Starports are TL-12 unless they are orbiting a world with a higher TL. This is enforced by the SPA.

Is that from a specified Mongoose source?

Would that mean an Imperially-designated E-Starport (Frontier Installation) is TL-12 minimum by virtue of the TL of the Beacon? Or that all Imperial D-Starports (Poor Quality) are also TL-12 minimum facilities? I would think a D-Port could be a lot worse than TL12.

I think I would go with an Imperial C-Starport (Routine Quality) being TL-12 minimum (Average TL) as the baseline. Imperial B-Starport (Good Quality) and Imperial A-Starport (Excellent Quality) would have to earn that somehow relative to the Routine C-Port (beyond the usual specified additional amenities), especially since that is where annual maintenance needs to be performed.