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T20 Ship's Computer and Electronics options

far-trader

SOC-14 10K
OK, here's one idea I'm playing around with to 'fix' some of my issues with this small part of the design system. I'm opting for something simple, that won't overly affect current published designs (at least not in a way that bothers me). I have provided some notes on why I am thinking of doing it this way. This is all very much MTU and in development, yada yada...

btw if anyone currently working on some of those new ships for upcoming TA's wants to chime in with how they are doing it, IF they are doing any maser or meson or such ships, by all means lend me your thoughts.

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Lets start with the observation that none of the published designs, not even the military ones, list anything except a basic communications model. I would think at least the SDB would have at least a maser for secure comms though perhaps not a meson given the extreme cost.

Handwave number one: There was no oversight, the ships do in fact have such secure comms by default. Pro: No need to change any designs. Con: Ignores the fact that possible meson cost is not factored.

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Next the observation that as written (p264 "Communications" table) Maser comms are available at TL7, one full TL earlier than all previous canon. Not a huge problem, however, Meson comms ARE a bigger problem. As written they are available at TL9, thats SIX full TL before the previous canon introduction of TL15, and even two TL earlier than the soonest weapon application. Granted the weapon application may come later for any number of reasons but even just based on the scale of it I think it came first.

Handwave number two: Change the Model number offset to +2 for Maser comms and +4 for Meson comms Pro: Brings both closer to the canon mark. Con: Doesn't quite hit the mark, makes Maser later and Meson still earlier, but not so much.

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Finally, as written, even the lowly Free-Trader with its minimal required by law Model 1 electronics has a close range sensor jammer? Why?

Handwave number three: It shouldn't so it doesn't, so the system below takes this into account.

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My proposal, similar to the electronics design system for T4 QSDS, is that the entry for sensors and communications represent a suite of electronics, as follows...

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The Ship Sensors suite may include, in addition to the active sensor, a passive sensor and jammer. There is no additional cost or volume for these extra systems. They are included as the TL increase allows smaller and cheaper components. The suite may be used for both types of sensor tasks and jamming tasks in the same turn if sufficiently crewed and so equipped. The active sensor has a base range equal to the Sensor Model Number. The passive sensor base range is equal to two Model Numbers lower and the jammer base range is four Model Numbers lower.

eg. 1) Model 4 Sensor Suite: Active Sensor = Long range (4), Passive Sensor = Short range (2), Jammer = Visual range (0)

eg. 2) Model 2 Sensor Suite: Active Sensor = Short range (2), Passive Sensor = Visual range (0), Jammer = n/a

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The Communications suite may include in addition to the radio transceiver and radio jammer, a tight beam maser transceiver and a tight point meson tranceiver. There is no additional cost or volume for these extra systems. They are included as the TL increase allows smaller and cheaper components. The suite may be used for any supported tasks in the same turn if sufficiently crewed and so equipped. The radio transceiver and jammer each have a base range equal to the Communications Model Number. The tight beam maser transceiver base range is equal to two Model Numbers lower and the tight point meson tranceiver base range is four Model Numbers lower.

eg. 1) Model 7 Communications Suite: Radio Comm = System Wide range (7), Radio Jammer = System Wide range (7), Maser Comm = Very Long range (5), Meson Comm = Medium range (3)

eg. 2) Model 2 Communications Suite: Radio Comm = Short range (2), Radio Jammer = Short range (2), Maser Comm = Visual range (0), Meson Comm = n/a

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Sooo, thoughts?
 
Evening far-trader,


I like what I see overall. One suggestion is that you might want to look at the individual systems from MT and/or TNE design sequences. I appear to be blind, but I cannot seem to find any references to electronic countermeasure systems. Is this listed anywhere in the book?
 
Originally posted by Thomas Rux:
Evening far-trader,


I like what I see overall. One suggestion is that you might want to look at the individual systems from MT and/or TNE design sequences. I appear to be blind, but I cannot seem to find any references to electronic countermeasure systems. Is this listed anywhere in the book?
Hi, sorry for taking so long to answer this, you even asked real nice elsewhere. I had been thinking of going back to pick some hard numbers for comparison rather than just rely on my gut and memory, thanks for the nudge. I'm in the middle of digesting what I've pulled together and will post what I come up with soonish.

As for T20 THB ECM all I'm going with in the above is, perhpas loosely, implied by the Combat Rules (p162) and the descriptions of the different crew Actions there. As far as I know, much like CT/HG there are no specified or obvious ECM/ECCM, its all a function of the relative computer size (model).
 
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