Computer usage

[GrayPennell]

I have been thinking about software and hardware in T5 and reading over the rules. Am I right that only thing that matters is the tech level of the equipment. That if your C+S+K is less than the tech level the computer makes all the decisions? For example a tech 14 gunner control means the basic task level is 14 roll under that its mods and something goes boom?

To me this gets annoying when you consider tech 15 is standard tech in 1105. 15 is beyond almost all characters C+S+K.

Where does skills and software come in?

What am I missing?

 

[pendragonman]

I have been thinking about software and hardware in T5 and reading over the rules. Am I right that only thing that matters is the tech level of the equipment. That if your C+S+K is less than the tech level the computer makes all the decisions? For example a tech 14 gunner control means the basic task level is 14 roll under that its mods and something goes boom?

To me this gets annoying when you consider tech 15 is standard tech in 1105. 15 is beyond almost all characters C+S+K.

Where does skills and software come in?

What am I missing?

Actually, What is the TL of Regina in 1105? C, not F.

The IN standard is F. Private vessels will want maintenance at lesser TL ports, hence standard TL will be lower than F.

 

[Murdoc]

Yeah, 15 is called Max Imperial, with around 12 being "Average". Still, to me it's almost not enough automation. I know the idea is to give the characters something to do on a ship and all, and they still can given combat situations where you want the best possible, but it seems unrealistic to me that 3600 years in the future our level of automation is still so low. I mean, we've had fully automated factories since 1956, and that was before computers! I know I plan to use the T5 rules to build in a lot more automation into ships, like ones that don't even have any crew controls or stations, except for data ports that can be hooked up to portable controllers for backup and emergencies.

And the computer doesn't make all the decisions, you still decide what you want it to do (where to go, what to shoot at), it just does it better than you could in this case. If you want more dependence on PC skills, use a lower tech ship. Gives things a bit of a Battlestar Galactica (revised) feel to it.

 

[SpaceBadger]

Traveller has always been behind the curve on electronics and computers. How much you want to "fix" that IYTU is personal choice.

IMTU, I want more character input and less automation for two reasons:

1) this is a game, and I want players to have more effect on results; and

2) too much automation goes beyond my personal "Singularity" to a world that would be too alien for me to enjoy playing or running a game there.

If your personal perception of the future requires more automation for verisimilitude and comfort, by all means you can feel free to houserule that IYTU. But that isn't the OTU, and many of us are glad of that.

 

[Murdoc]

Oh I realize that it's entirely a YMMV thing. For me it doesn't really impact what the players can or will do much though. Most of the time my players don't make enough crew for their ship anyway, even if they have a ship, so they end up having to hire NPCs to do things anyway, so that it functionally the same as automation. That way they make up what they want and aren't limited by the requirements of ship operations. If they want to make a soldier, they can. If they want to be a ship pilot, they still can, put it on manual control and off you go. Or have a lazy day and let the console do it. To me it's just more options are available now, including the option to force the players to need to operate the ship like old-style Traveller, by using lower tech ships and equipment, if that's what you want.

 

[GrayPennell]

Since we are talking about playability now I take it I didnt misunderstand what I read.

My original idea was adding software back into the game but I want to make sure I understand the rules as they are before MTY it up

 

[Murdoc]

Yeah I miss the days of CT software rules too, enough I imported them into my MT games. Since I haven't really seen them since (I forget if MgT had them?), I assume most people prefer the simpler model with software performance subsumed into general computer stats.

 

[aramis]

Yeah I miss the days of CT software rules too, enough I imported them into my MT games. Since I haven't really seen them since (I forget if MgT had them?), I assume most people prefer the simpler model with software performance subsumed into general computer stats.

Yes, MGT has them.