| From: | Martin Steffens <chimerae@***.IE> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re: Yet another Rigger 2 question |
| Date: | Mon, 1 Feb 1999 23:31:33 +0000 |
reply options change when you're on digest.
and thus did Jon Szeto speak on 30 Jan 99 at 1:18:
> If you're referring to the floatation package on p. 144, I would say
> that one should remember that it is a modification. In many ways, a
> modification, unlike a design option, is something of an add-on. As
> such, it would mess with the delicate balance of performance in a
> way that a design option, which is smoothly integrated into the
> structure, would not. I think your ideas are fine, but with the
> proviso that they would be DESIGN OPTIONS, not modifications. (I
> think that was the point you were making anyway.)
It was indeed, plus that I figured that if you would go for a flying
boat that option would have to be design because AFAIK it's impossible
to change the plane afterwards. I think that most planes with floats
are designed by their producer as an option or as a stand alone
version. I can see people having problems along the lines of the rules
in R2 if they just grab a plane and weld two floats under it.
Personally the only thing I leave for customization are the weapon
mounts since they up the cost too much during design (that security
markup factor can really ruin you day :).
> However, the main reason that they weigh so much is because of the
> power/performance requirement. Remember that ECM and such have a
> base Flux equal to Rating x 1.5. IMHO the rate of miniaturization
> for power-producing devices (batteries, generators, and such) and
> signal-amplification units nowhere near approaches the
> miniaturization curve for electronics.
I see your point, but with the new ED rules it means that if a
fighter jet want to have a solid allround electronics set (including
sensors) you're looking at over a ton of electronics, plus the fighter
plane template only has two CF's left after installing that. I can
imagine that most military craft run with a set of military
electronics, but the way it is now they can't even fit them in the
vehicle.
> (And don't ask me about the lighter values for power amplifiers of
> street electronics in SR3. If it was me, I would have made all
> hand-held electronics have a fixed Flux of 1, maybe 2 if characters
> paid extra. But that wasn't pointed out to me until after
> publication, so it was too late for me to explain myself to FASA
> editorial.)
I was going to ask you, but I guess that clears that up :). I agree
with you in that respect and think it's going to be one of the first
house rules I implement.
> > Call me paranoid, but I hate to see my 750K plane go boom because of
> > one lousy missile.
> You're paranoid. :-)
After losing a 500K Westwind to a bunch of goons with Assault
Cannons, I am, but they are after me and my Cloud Nine, I can proof
it! :)
> As far as lighter armor goes, I'd suggest something that reduces
> weight at the expense of bulk. The weight would be reduced to
> Body^2*2.5, but it also consumes about 1 to 3 CF per point of armor.
> (Kind of similar in concept to the technology of ferro-fibrous armor
> in BattleTech, where armor tonnage is reduced, but at the cost of
> eating up precious critical slots.)
*Scribblescribble* noted, that should do the trick nicely indeed.
> Oh yeah, and it also costs more. Gotta pay for that tech curve, ya
> know. :-)
Of course :)
> I had thought about it, but I just couldn't find a satisfactorily
> neat way of expressing it in game terms (before the writing
> deadline, within word count, and in layman's terms, that is.) The
> problem is that, when Shadowrun was originally designed in '89, the
> creators used a single Signature Rating to express a number of
> multiple detection variables (including sound). It was easy to focus
> on the two majors (radar and thermographics), but beyond that it
> just got messy.
The way we solved that in RBB was by giving a vehicle three signature
values: Visual, Sensor and Aural. So the Aural Dampers where great if
you're up against a bunch of soft bodies at night; hide behind the
trees, warm up the minigun(s) and party on dudes! :)
> My $0.02 (USD).
Thanks and add to that IR£ 0.02
Martin Steffens
chimerae@***.ie
