Spacecraft Operations Questions

[CaptainOrs]

I was confused by this the first time I read the core book several months ago and when I came across it again today, I found I'm still confused. I guess it's time to ask the experts!

p.137 - Docking: "Docking with another vessel is a Routine (+2) Pilot task taking 1–6 minutes. If one ship is drifting or unpowered, the difficulty rises to Difficult (–2)."

p.137 - Boarding: "Hostile boarding actions are safest when the enemy ship is crippled" [I read this as drifting or unpowered] ", in which case it is a standard docking procedure." [Standard as in Difficult per above?] " If the enemy ship is still moving, then the prospective boarders must match the target’s velocity and dock with it (a Difficult (–2) Pilot task)" [The only way this makes any sense to me is if they need to make a Difficult pilot check to match speed, then another Difficult pilot check to dock. If it's just the 1 Difficult pilot check, that would be the same as docking with an unpowered friendly vessel, which should be much easier.] ", or else just land on the hull and either make their way to an airlock or cut through from outside. [What do they mean by just land on the hull? Land your ship on the enemy ship hull? People in vacc suits jump across to the enemy ship and land on the hull? Either way, what is the check??]"

Any help understanding this would be much appreciated!

 

[F33D]

I was confused by this the first time I read the core book several months ago and when I came across it again today, I found I'm still confused. I guess it's time to ask the experts!

p.137 - Docking: "Docking with another vessel is a Routine (+2) Pilot task taking 1–6 minutes. If one ship is drifting or unpowered, the difficulty rises to Difficult (–2)."

p.137 - Boarding: "Hostile boarding actions are safest when the enemy ship is crippled" [I read this as drifting or unpowered] ", in which case it is a standard docking procedure." [Standard as in Difficult per above?] " If the enemy ship is still moving, then the prospective boarders must match the target’s velocity and dock with it (a Difficult (–2) Pilot task)" [

Any help understanding this would be much appreciated!

Delete the parts in Red. That should help.

ADD: If the enemy ship can still manoeuvre and is trying to keep you from boarding you have to kill its M-drive before you attempt.

 

[GypsyComet]

An alternate edit, though it may require thinking on the part of the Ref.

p.137 - Docking: "Docking with another vessel is a Routine (+2) Pilot task taking 1–6 minutes. If one ship is drifting or unpowered, the difficulty rises to at least a Difficult (–2) Task, and may be much more difficult if the vessel is also spinning."

p.137 - Boarding: "Hostile boarding actions are safest when the enemy ship is crippled or unaware, in which case it is a standard docking procedure (as above, the equivalent of drifting). If the enemy ship is aware and still capable of maneuver, then the prospective boarders must be able to match the target’s velocity, prevent defensive manevers through threats or by crippling the maneuver drive, and dock with it as above. Boarding troops may also attempt to land on the hull (a Difficult or worse Zero-G task) and either make their way to an airlock or cut through from outside.

 

[CaptainOrs]

Good feedback. So based on this, it seems like the rules are just not well thought out (or explained) for this section. I will take what the two of you have said and come up with a way that makes sense to me. I really appreciate your feedback, this helps a lot!

 

[F33D]

Good feedback. So based on this, it seems like the rules are just not well thought out (or explained) for this section. I will take what the two of you have said and come up with a way that makes sense to me. I really appreciate your feedback, this helps a lot!

That correct. In many areas it is best to visualize what is happening then use logic and common sense as often those two commodities often get lost when an editor with a tough deadline starts hacking at the rules text to fit it into the book...