Ship Builder (Control Panels)

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I have some frustration around control panels in the T5 ship builder. The rules state that every mechanism requires one control panel per 35 tons (or part thereof) which implies that a 50 bay weapon would require two control panels and two total consoles (in order to avoid multitasking penalties).

However, the Kinunir example (pg. 49 book 2 T5.10) shows three panels total for two 50 ton bays with four tons of console. Going by the rest of the example this is probably two spacious consoles like with everything else in the ship. That would imply that bay weapon tonnage is aggregated for the purposes of "mechanism" and that one of the Kinunir's bays is used with multitasking when firing. Meanwhile, every turret has its own single control panel and console, which goes against that interpretation.

How have people squared this? Which rule is used? Does a single 100 ton bay require three control panels and three consoles or three controls panels and one console?

My inclination is to treat multitasking as per-mechanism rather than per control panel but for very large ships that might run into obvious staffing inconsistencies with, say, a 300 ton drive. Or not. Either way, I can't seem to find a good answer to the disconnect between the rules and the example.

 

[AnotherDilbert]

The system is a bit impressionistic...

The rule is clear:

T5.10, B2, p88:
CONTROL PANELS
Every mechanism and function has a Control Panel.
A mechanism is any of the drives, sensors, weapons, defenses, or installations that equip a ship. For any device greater than 35 tons, each 35 tons is treated as a separate mechanism.

Each bay should be a separate "mechanism". The Kinunir with two bays should have four Panels.


You don't need a Console for each Panel, see Ergonomics. E.g. you don't need a specific Console for the landing gear Panel. In general a bit more than one Spacious Console per two Panels is good enough.


To avoid multi-tasking penalties you need a Console for each concurrent task, e.g. one for each gunner and pilot. One Console per weapon device is probably a good idea. Extra computers can also resolve tasks.


Note that weapons can be formed into batteries to attack, so you might not need one task resolver, hence console, per device.

How have people squared this? Which rule is used? Does a single 100 ton bay require three control panels and three consoles or three controls panels and one console?

As far as I can see a 100 Dt bay requires three Panel and one Console to be operated effectively.

My inclination is to treat multitasking as per-mechanism rather than per control panel but for very large ships that might run into obvious staffing inconsistencies with, say, a 300 ton drive. Or not. Either way, I can't seem to find a good answer to the disconnect between the rules and the example.

Multitasking is per task resolved concurrently, rather than per Panel or per Console.

A 300 Dt drive would require 300 / 35 rounded up to 9 Panels, but still only one Task and one Console to operate. To get decent Ergonomics a few more Consoles might be advisable.

It would require 300 / 35 rounded up to 9 engineers to maintain, of course.

 

[regex]

The battery rule should have clued me in. I think what threw me off is the multi-tasking note:

Multi-Tasking. Any number of Control Panels, Mechanisms, or Functions can be assigned to one Console; a Console Multi-Tasks by dividing its available C+S.

which seems to imply that multiple Control Panels would require multiple consoles. Hence why I turned to the (wrong) Kinunir example.

Thanks for the help!

 

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It would require 300 / 35 rounded up to 9 engineers to maintain, of course.

Where is the mechanism maintenance rule?

 

[AnotherDilbert]

Where is the mechanism maintenance rule?

Only for drives:

T5.10, B2, p60-61:
24-25 CREW
___ A ship requires a crew to control its activities and operate its mechanisms. The naval architect reviews the installed controls, mechanisms, and ship mission and determines the number of crew required.
___ Crew are assigned to functions or mechanisms. A Steward is assigned to Passenger Services; an Astrogator is assigned to Astrogation. Particularly in the Drive Suite, Engineers are assigned one per 35 tons of Drive mechanism: if the total drives is less than 35 tons, one Engineer is probably sufficient; if the total is 45 tons, the ship more likely needs two Engineers.