| From: | Josh Higham <jhigham@******.STUDENT.CWRU.EDU> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re: Tactical Computer |
| Date: | Fri, 11 Jul 1997 01:22:43 -0400 |
> On Sun, 29 Jun 1997 12:30:13 +0000 (GMT), you wrote:
>
>
> >Hm. This is rather difficult to rule, though. None of us has
> >experienced how much you would gain by a better smell, so the ruling
> >would be kinda difficult. PLUS I think this "one die per additional
> >sense" is just basically a kind of average. Even if smell doesn't help
> >you in one situation it would add three dice in another... this would
> >create a rather complicated ruleset of calculating the rating new for
> >every encounter (if you're lucky and environmentall conditions do not
> >change in between). So they just ruled this kind of an average,
> >because it is easier to handle.
>
> I think smell is a very bad example, of a situation adjuster for the Tactical
> computer. The description seems to make the key function allowing someone to
> keep track on numerous individuals in a three dimensional space. Scent is one of
> the least three dimensional of the senses. Hearing an sight are naturally the
> most 3-d of the senses and are the main way we perceive the world, but scent
> (even if it is boosted) cannot really help a computer track an opponents
> movements. Smells permeate an area becoming diffuse, a dog needs to move around
> and go back just to pick up a trail for a common scent. It is simply not viable
> for use with a tactical computer.
I think that you underestimate the power of a good nose. Look at
animals with poor sense of sight (at least compared to scent) - they can
keep just as close track of targets as you. The main significance of
vision is in the details...seeing if a person is aiming a gun at you, or
just standing there.
A "fine-tuned" nose is probably just about as good as hearing for
locating people. I personally like the tactical computer, but feel
somewhat munchy if I just go and grab as many sensory boosts as
possible, and most chars can deal with increases in hearing/seeing
ability better than smelling ability. Taste and Touch are the only I
think shouldn't add to the level, because they provide very little
information about location, and then only when in direct contact with the
mark.
I hope I make sense.
*-**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**-*
Josh Higham jxh25@**.cwru.edu
11904 Carlton Rd. 410A http://129.22.241.146/~jhigham/
Cleveland OH 44106 Anon ftp available at the same site
