Probe Drones ...

[Fluffy Bunny Feet]

TL 9 - Probe Drones, 5/ton, .5 MCr/ton
TL 12 - Advanced Probe Drones, 5/ton, .8 MCr/ton

Each of these probe drone types performs as sensors of the same TL, so where are the TL 8, 10 and 15 drone types?

Proposed extensions
TL 8 - Basic Probe Drones, 3/ton, .4 MCr/ton, DM -4
TL 9 - Civilian Probe Drones, 5/ton, .5 MCr/ton, DM -2
TL 10 - Military Grade Probe Drones, 5/ton, .5 MCr/ton .7 MCr/ton, DM 0
TL 12 - Improved Probe Drones, 5/ton, .8 MCr/ton, DM +1
TL 15 - Advanced Probe Drones, 5/ton, 1.1 MCr/ton, DM +2

Note TL 12 is changed from Advanced to Improved to match the Sensor level names.

Any thoughts?

 

[Sigtrygg]

I like your proposal.

Spaceship tech should all start at TL7, there should be TL 7 sensor system and drones too, but you have to go to Vehicles to find them - for now at least.

 

[Fluffy Bunny Feet]

How about:

TL 5 - Primitive Probe Drones, 1/ton, .3 MCr/ton, DM -5
TL 6 - Simple Probe Drones, 2/ton, .2/ MCr/ton, DM -4

I've been working on early ships and these match the sensors I added. Their range would be limited by the simpler propulsion of the TL era.

 

[Condottiere]

Ship sensors tend to get fatter, up the technological tree.

 

[Fluffy Bunny Feet]

I assume (though haven't seen it written) that the range of the drones sensors are limited. Otherwise why would you drop them on a planet (which is mentioned) if you could just do the same scanning from a low orbit? How short? Hopefully something that discussion can reveal.

 

[Sigtrygg]

According to Vehicles basic TL5 sensors can have a range of 1 km to 1,000 km, TL7 sensors have a range of 5 km to 5,000 km.

 

[Fluffy Bunny Feet]

Thanks

 

[rinku]

Normally you'd track the TL of manufacture as well as the introduction one. So the point of difference between advanced probe drones made at TL12 and ones made at TL15 wouldn't be the mass or cost, but any time that TL difference comes up in the rules (which happens a bit for sensors). And also the Retrotech rules.

And... prototech can be used to make TL8 and TL7 ones. Probably bigger and more expensive.

TL7 Probe Drone:

 

[Fluffy Bunny Feet]

Nice image but I am thinking shorter ranged and remote controlled as well as shorter duration. So likely a little smaller.

 

[rinku]

But the fact remains that at lower techs the electronics, fuel and propulsion are likely to be bulkier and pricier. Making them just a cheaper version of TL9 ones doesn't sit quite right with me, though the incremental approach for the higher tech ones is fine.

In particular, the TL9 and upwards ones are likely to be using gravitics and reactionless thrust, so there's a propulsion phase change there. TL8 or less probe drones probably need to account for fuel endurance, since at best they have null G modules at TL8 and are still using reaction thrusters to actually move in space.

 

[Fluffy Bunny Feet]

Making them just a cheaper version of TL9 ones doesn't sit quite right with me, though the incremental approach for the higher tech ones is fine.

You seem to have missed that the TL 5 and TL 6 also were reduced in the number / ton (to 1 and 2 respectively). So 5 probes at TL 5 would take 5 tons and cost 1.5 MCr. For 5 probes at TL 6 it would take 2.5 tons and 1.0 MCr. So they are more expensive in both tonnage and price per unit.

 

[rinku]

Yeah, I missed the follow up post. I still think the TL8 ones need to be included in that bracket.

 

[Fluffy Bunny Feet]

Yeah, I missed the follow up post. I still think the TL8 ones need to be included in that bracket.

I changed them from 5/ton to 3/ton and increased the per ton cost to .4. So they now are a little pricier than the TL 9 originals and use more tonnage. I made TL 5 and TL 6 also .4 MCr/ton.

All models now in the updated list below with the price for 5 probes and tonnage added for TL 5, 6 and 8 for clarity of pricing and total tonnage.

Proposed extensions
TL 5 - Primitive Probe Drones, 1/ton, .4 MCr/ton, DM -5 - Price for 5, 2.0 MCr and 5 tons
TL 6 - Simple Probe Drones, 2/ton, .4/ MCr/ton, DM -4 - Price for 5, 1.0 MCr and 2.5 tons
TL 8 - Basic Probe Drones, 3/ton, .4 MCr/ton, DM -4 - Price for 5, .67 MCr and 1.67 tons
TL 9 - Civilian Probe Drones, 5/ton, .5 MCr/ton, DM -2
TL 10 - Military Grade Probe Drones, 5/ton, .5 MCr/ton .7 MCr/ton, DM 0
TL 12 - Improved Probe Drones, 5/ton, .8 MCr/ton, DM +1
TL 15 - Advanced Probe Drones, 5/ton, 1.1 MCr/ton, DM +2

Better?