RogerD
SOC-12
Thanks for that reference! Very interesting - I would not have thought to look there!
Surveying a system from a hex away.
- Thread starter RogerD
- Start date
RogerD
SOC-12
Found an interesting reference on this: Grand Survey has densitometer rules that make it possible to detect a LGG )or larger) from 1-2pc away with a Megatraveller task description of ROUTINE, sensor op, edu, 2 min. You would know it is there, within 500AU, so that's not exactly a precision instrument. It appears these details were dropped from the World Builder's Handbook. Maybe they made it into the main Megatraveller rules?
mike wightman
SOC-14 10K
There will be rules for this somewhere in Mongoose Traveller, I'll see if I can track it down then at least you can have an informed stab at making the T5 rules work.
RogerD
SOC-12
FWIW, I'm designing for adventures based on the first exploration of systems soon after the invention of jump drive. Getting this check wrong could mean difficulties jumping back out of the system once you've arrived.
Here's my latest attempt.
To detect gas giants in another system (1 week)
nD ≤ Edu+Astrogator+Mods (uncertain (2D))
n = 5 + log2(distance in hexes): 6 at 1pc, 7 at 2pc, 8 at 4pc, 9 at 8pc, etc.
Mods:
+ Sensor type Mod: Scanner: 2, Grav Sensor: 1, EMS: 1, Holovisor: 0, Visor: -1, Scope: -2
+ Sensor range Mod: DS: +0, LR: -3, AR: -5, SR: -8, FR: -10. BR: -12
+ Sensor mod
Notes:
If using a Grav Sensor, change task duration to 1 hour.
Discussion
This attempts to cut down on the number of dice compared with the earlier attempt, make it a bit harder and generalize it for other distances. I increased the uncertainty since there are still a fair number of dice. I considered a TL mod of TL-10, but ended up eliminating it instead - it is covered in the TL stage mod. I reduced some of the other ideas to a table (and centered around 0 so I don't need more dice to make the chances how we want them.) I ended up deciding you had better have a Deep Space range sensor for this and made that the 0-point for that mod. I had to invent an interstellar range idea, and I used it in the number of dice only. That's similar to a -3.5/doubling mod without all the dice.
Examples
A standard TL 15 sensor suite comes with a sensor that would give a +2 Mod, with a total target using the console of 17 (50%).
Ult DS Surf-Mt Scope-15 Mod=+4. MCr8. S=12.
The standard TL 12 sensor gives a net -4 Mod, with a total target using the console of 8 (<1%).
Adv AR Surf-Mt Scope-12 Mod=+3. MCr3. S=07.
If you are an Imperial specialized survey ship, canon says you probably have a densitometer (Grav Sensor). Maybe something like
Std DS Surf-Mt Grav Sensor-15 Mod=+0. MCr5.5. S=12.
With that, you would have a +1 mod and a total target of 16 (40%), but you'd also be done in an hour instead of a week.
For my case, the ship would likely devote some extra space for this kind of detection, getting a mod from increased mount size. Being low tech, you'd want scientists to get a decent interpretation of the data rather than relying on the console. I can imagine a scout fleet with specialized vessels for different tasks, including this one. This rule informs the scout ship/fleet design. That may ultimately be more important than actually rolling these dice in an adventure.
Here's my latest attempt.
To detect gas giants in another system (1 week)
nD ≤ Edu+Astrogator+Mods (uncertain (2D))
n = 5 + log2(distance in hexes): 6 at 1pc, 7 at 2pc, 8 at 4pc, 9 at 8pc, etc.
Mods:
+ Sensor type Mod: Scanner: 2, Grav Sensor: 1, EMS: 1, Holovisor: 0, Visor: -1, Scope: -2
+ Sensor range Mod: DS: +0, LR: -3, AR: -5, SR: -8, FR: -10. BR: -12
+ Sensor mod
Notes:
If using a Grav Sensor, change task duration to 1 hour.
Discussion
This attempts to cut down on the number of dice compared with the earlier attempt, make it a bit harder and generalize it for other distances. I increased the uncertainty since there are still a fair number of dice. I considered a TL mod of TL-10, but ended up eliminating it instead - it is covered in the TL stage mod. I reduced some of the other ideas to a table (and centered around 0 so I don't need more dice to make the chances how we want them.) I ended up deciding you had better have a Deep Space range sensor for this and made that the 0-point for that mod. I had to invent an interstellar range idea, and I used it in the number of dice only. That's similar to a -3.5/doubling mod without all the dice.
Examples
A standard TL 15 sensor suite comes with a sensor that would give a +2 Mod, with a total target using the console of 17 (50%).
Ult DS Surf-Mt Scope-15 Mod=+4. MCr8. S=12.
The standard TL 12 sensor gives a net -4 Mod, with a total target using the console of 8 (<1%).
Adv AR Surf-Mt Scope-12 Mod=+3. MCr3. S=07.
If you are an Imperial specialized survey ship, canon says you probably have a densitometer (Grav Sensor). Maybe something like
Std DS Surf-Mt Grav Sensor-15 Mod=+0. MCr5.5. S=12.
With that, you would have a +1 mod and a total target of 16 (40%), but you'd also be done in an hour instead of a week.
For my case, the ship would likely devote some extra space for this kind of detection, getting a mod from increased mount size. Being low tech, you'd want scientists to get a decent interpretation of the data rather than relying on the console. I can imagine a scout fleet with specialized vessels for different tasks, including this one. This rule informs the scout ship/fleet design. That may ultimately be more important than actually rolling these dice in an adventure.
mike wightman
SOC-14 10K
Both Imperium and Dark nebula have this to say:
Condottiere
SOC-14 5K
There is that option, now, in Mongoose.
mike wightman
SOC-14 10K
Do you have a reference for it?
Condottiere
SOC-14 5K
Ramscoops are passive hydrogen collectors that operate automatically whenever a starship is manoeuvring in normal (non-jump) space. Ramscoops require several weeks of continuous operation to obtain enough hydrogen to fill the tanks of a typical ship. The ship must be actively manoeuvring during this time, enabling the ramscoops to extract hydrogen from the interstellar medium. Ramscoop ships do not need fuel scoops, nor do they need fuel processors since the hydrogen is processed and purified as it is collected. The advantage of this technology is that it enables a starship to make as many jumps as desired without ever visiting a starport or gas giant for refuelling.
High Guard updated, page fifty
High Guard updated, page fifty
mike wightman
SOC-14 10K
Not the same as skimming the outer atmosphere of a star though.
That said they should work to do just that, what with magic heat sinks and all. They could go looking for coronal mass ejections...
That said they should work to do just that, what with magic heat sinks and all. They could go looking for coronal mass ejections...
Last edited:
kilemall
SOC-14 5K
Which means said tankers need the special armoring and radiation shielding and supercharged plasma capture to handle the environment.
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