Visual Sensors - I Can't See Them

[MattL]

Okay, the Core Rulebook mentions a visual sensor type (electronically-enhances telescopes), but none of the Core or HG sensor suites include it. My use of Ctrl+F for "visual" and "telescope" tells me there's no mention of how to acquire these rare creatures, and even a scan of the errata leaves me emptyhanded.

Does anyone use the visual sensor type in your game and, if so, do you include it in a sensor suite or perhaps have it as a separate item (spyglass anyone)?

Just looking for rules or even suggestions here....

 

[Sigtrygg]

They are automatically included in even the basic sensor package:

"Visual (all): Electronically-enhanced telescopes.
Thermal (all): Picking up heat emissions.
EM (all): Sensors detecting emissions across the
electromagnetic spectrum from low-frequency radio
waves to gamma rays.
Radar/Lidar (all): Detects physical objects. Active use
bounces beams off a target and thus makes it easier to
be seen (DM+2 to Electronics (sensors) checks to be
detected in return)."

page 160 core rule book

 

[MattL]

Thanks!

I think my confusion stemmed from the fact that in HG the sensor suites explicitly state they include radar and lidar, which are "all" in the Core Rulebook, but they don't explicitly state they include visual, thermal, and EM, which are also "all". That inconsistency led me to believe that "all" might not mean "present on all sensor packages", but rather that the description after the colon applied to "all" visual sensors, thermal, etc.

 

[rinku]

It could do with an edit. There's really no reason p.21 couldn't mention visual, EM, and Thermal in the text, even if there was no room in the table.

 

[Sigtrygg]

I reiterate and quote myself

"the sensor rules are in need of a complete re-write"

 

[rinku]

Well, as a somewhat lame defense, High Guard is not a stand alone product, and does not reiterate a few things that are in CRB, especially in regards to normal space combat. It adds ship systems, fleet combat and a more detailed version of boarding.

Having said that, there are places where it should repeat what is in CRB.