S3M Setting Notes - Revision history

Gigermann: /* Social Status & Cost of Living: */

2017-02-14T04:24:06Z

‎Social Status & Cost of Living:

Gigermann at 21:57, 18 January 2017

2017-01-18T21:57:08Z

Gigermann: /* Social Status & Cost of Living: */

2017-01-18T21:55:48Z

‎Social Status & Cost of Living:

Gigermann: /* Stardrives */

2017-01-18T15:55:33Z

‎Stardrives

Gigermann: /* Holographics */

2017-01-17T22:29:27Z

‎Holographics

Gigermann: /* Gravity Manipulation */

2017-01-17T22:28:13Z

‎Gravity Manipulation

Gigermann: /* Stardrives */

2017-01-17T22:27:18Z

‎Stardrives

Gigermann: /* Astrogation */

2017-01-17T22:24:38Z

‎Astrogation

Gigermann: /* Maneuver Drives */

2017-01-17T22:22:58Z

‎Maneuver Drives

Gigermann: /* Social Status & Cost of Living: */

2017-01-17T22:15:41Z

‎Social Status & Cost of Living:

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 *Mandatory 1-Kyr military service, can be easily avoided.
 *Kyahnt have been organizing the GPO to avoid being attacked by other nations. The wealth of the Kyahnt people is a prime target. The government is afraid of Ozrahdi lust for riches and conquest and and expects the Pax Præxi to break down at any time. Leaders have been repeatedly accused of selling their souls to the Terrans in exchange for protection. Most Kyahnt believe that the Terrans will not hold up their end when the time comes.
 [[Category:S3M]]

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-Everything here is currently subject to occasional GM adjustment.
+Everything here is currently subject to occasional GM adjustment, and will probably get moved elsewhere as pages are added to the wiki.
 =Science & Technology Notes:=
 ===Tech Level===

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   -1  Poor                                                   $600
   Joe Average                                            $1,200
-  Research Engineer, Corp Staffer, Gov't Worker, Miner  $6,000
+Research Engineer, Corp Staffer, Gov't Worker, Miner   $6,000
   City Mayor, Multinat Official, Mine Colony Director    $24,000
   Planetary Baron, System Governor                       $120,000

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 ===Stardrives===
 FTL is universally enabled by what Terrans refer to as a Correspondence Drive, which uses Holtzmann-wave principles to "fold space" into a single relative point and then unfold it, leaving the vessel in a new location. The drive consists of a "core" (that includes a significant amount of Elerium at its heart), specialized sensors to acquire the destination, and a focusing device to lock it in (referred to as the "aperture"). Travel is basically instantaneous, and requires a huge amount of power.
 <br /><br />
-=====Astrogation=====
+See also: [[Astrogation]]
 ===Gravity Manipulation===

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 ===Holographics===
-Holograms require a glass or clear plastic "screen" (generally curved) to project onto.
+<del>Holograms require a glass or clear plastic "screen" (generally curved) to project onto.</del> [GM] Thinking of dropping this
 ===Nanotechnology===

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 ===Gravity Manipulation===
 TL12 type (TL13, OKU). Gravity manipulation technologies and the secrets of Silima were "given" to all the races by unknown sources. At less than TL11 this technology is still not fully understood, but by TL11 some of the concepts are beginning to be grasped, allowing some modifications.
-  TL12 Countergrav (CG) tech works by "screening" the countergrav unit from part or all gravity affecting it, needing other methods to actually propel the craft (usually A-Mat pulse drives). The ship itself still feels the effects of gravity, but it is suspended by the CG units. These are usually placed on the bottom or sides of then craft in a landing gear-type configuration. TL13 (Repulsorlift) actually change "gravitic polarity", causing the craft to repel the gravity source like a like-poled magnet. At TL9, countergravity is primarily available for Capital-scale and Fighter-scale, and is available at Vehicle-scale at TL10
+<br /><br/>
-  Anti-Gravity Generator (AG) coils are usually placed on or near left and right sides with overlapping fields so as to equal out the pull and avoid things drifting toward the center of the craft. A more expensive method is Grav-Gen plates producing an evenly distributed field.
+TL12 Countergrav (CG) tech works by "screening" the countergrav unit from part or all gravity affecting it, needing other methods to actually propel the craft (usually A-Mat pulse drives). The ship itself still feels the effects of gravity, but it is suspended by the CG units. These are usually placed on the bottom or sides of then craft in a landing gear-type configuration. TL13 (Repulsorlift) actually change "gravitic polarity", causing the craft to repel the gravity source like a like-poled magnet. At TL9, countergravity is primarily available for Capital-scale and Fighter-scale, and is available at Vehicle-scale at TL10
-  Lateral Gravity Compensators (G-Comp) are usually set with a split-second delay so the movement of the ship can be felt slightly. Axial G-Comps are usually set to screen all but a fraction of acceleration so movement can be felt slightly.
+<br /><br/>
-  Standard Combination Components: Ships almost always use the following combination components: Stardrive serves as axial G-Comp; CG/AG unit serves as AG or CG (selective), and lateral G-Comp (constant).
+Anti-Gravity Generator (AG) coils are usually placed on or near left and right sides with overlapping fields so as to equal out the pull and avoid things drifting toward the center of the craft. A more expensive method is Grav-Gen plates producing an evenly distributed field.
-  Force-Fields: All shield technology is 2x cost, including force swords. All Force Fields and Deflectors are semi-transparent, gold-colored (Ref: Dune), and distort visibility somewhat into and out of the field.
+<br /><br/>
 *OKU have omni-directional vehicle-scale shields/deflectors. Deflectors are velocity-limited, giving no PD vs. melee weapons (except force swords). Force swords are available at TL11. Uni-directional vehicular shields/deflectors are generally used in pairs, one on either side, and may be angled to protect either the front or the rear.
 *Kazha ships use older uni-directional shields/deflectors. Personal-scale uni-directional deflectors are available.
 *RPI have uni-directional vehicle-scale deflectors only, although personal-scale deflectors are just becoming available.
 ===FTL Communication===

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 Any of these conditions can be made into a Technique.
 *Insystem Navigation: To reach a particular in-system destination, Chk:Navigation(Space)+3 (in-system Navigation checks are easy) and Piloting/Shiphandling (both at -4 if performed by the same person on a "capital" vessel); (worst)Result=±2% to trip time per point (Crit=±1d Result). Average travel time between in-system destinations can be assumed to be the distance from the star to the farther destination, in AUs. For more detail: the minimum separation is the difference between the two orbit radii, and the maximum separation will be the sum of the two orbit radii. The two planets (or whatever) will reach the shortest and longest point once each within the faster planet's year-cycle -one will be at half the year from the other. At any other point in the cycle, actual distance can be adjusted accordingly. The GM can roll a d% to randomly determine the current separation percentage, and a d2 to determine whether it is increasing or decreasing. Compute travel time by distance (in AU) using the chart/formula on S132. As a Technique, this can be improved to a maximum of Default+2.
+*Jump Windows: The location of optimal jump windows for a given destination depends on distortion caused by local gravities and stellar activity along the line of sight. Minimum distance for a jump window is 3 AU+(Stellar Radius(AU)x2). Actual distance to the window can shift radically over a relatively short time for many natural reasons (check per week, for changes). To find the actual distance (in AU), roll 1d6; 1=2d4+1, 2=2d6+1, 3=2d8+1, 4=2d10+1, 5=2d12+1, 6=2d20+1
 *Fix Position: Assumes a guild-standard blackbox and guild training. Chk:Astrogation; Succ=position is fixed within close enough tolerance to plot a course; Fail=-1 to course per -2 result. Modifiers include +1 for a familar (or home) system. As a Technique, this can be improved to Default+2.
 *Existing Course: Assumes a guild-standard blackbox and guild training, and the vessel is at the recommended jump-off point. The attempt takes a base of 30min to lay-in the course. Each course description includes a difficulty modifier (how tricky it is to lock-in the system) and a "Malf" number (the presence of LOS obstructions). Chk:Astrogation ±[mods]; must designate a destination (planet, station, jump-off point, etc.) within the target system. Modifiers include +1 @&gt;¼ Reach, -1 @½-¾ Reach, -3 @¾-full Reach, -5 @full-1¼ reach (max); if the vessel is not at the recommended jump-off point but is still in-system, -1 for 1hr, and a further -1 per doubling (-2 @2hr, -3 @4hr, etc.); standard Risk, Equipment and Time modifiers. Result(abstract)=final position in-system (relative distance (Pc)) x .001 AU from destination ±(result x10% (10% min)); cSucc=10%, regardless of actual result (other effects @GMD); cFail=see Astrogational Errors. If needed (@GMD), a single/double-clock check (1d12 (x2)) may be used to determine direction from destination. If the die roll equals or exceeds the "Malf" number, the vessel is diverted, regardless of skill. This is the basic skill, and cannot be improved as a Technique, although individual penalties may be reduced as individual Techniques, up to Default level.

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 =====Astrogation=====
 FTL travel is a complex four-dimensional process, and despite the best efforts of modern theorists, is still more "art" than "science", requiring a great deal of intuition on the part of the astrogator (not unlike using "Kentucky windage" for a long-range rifle shot). The vessel's current location must be accurately fixed, the destination must be acquired visually using specialized sensors, and a complex galaxy model program is used to aid acquisition and to predict needed adjustments based on distance and movement. To date, scientists have not been able to devise a computer that can astrogate automatically.
-  The size of the drive's aperture and the available power determines the reach of the drive. The farther away the destination is, and the more the star's light is obstructed or distorted by gravity, magnetics, uncharted stellar objects, etc., the greater the margin of error on arrival (the slightest inaccuracy can set the vessel days, weeks or even months away from the destination within the destination system). Correspondence drives can be difficult to control, and frequently will inexplicably lock-on obstructions near the LOS (especially nebulae and, more often, dark nebulae, for some unknown reason). This is always inconvenient, and can be dangerous. As a result of the inherent danger of miscalculation, most spacers will only use proven, well-checked, guild-certified courses. Spacer legends abound about careless spacers using unproven courses and never being seen again. A reliable from-scratch course may only be computed if the Astrogator has complete up-to-date charts of the region. Often-used and user-modified courses are kept on the astrogator's blackbox, which experienced astrogators keep a closely guarded secret. Astrogation skill is M/VH, and only taught to an elite few. Some accomplished astrogators sell their work for a high price, making some of them quite wealthy and famous.
+<br /><br/>
-  Natural jump gates, or wormholes, are spatial anomalies that act like a magnifying lens, allowing much longer jumps at safer margins of error. Oftentimes, a course will incorporate several wormholes in a chain, to further increase the effect. Wormholes are relatively common, although rarely useful, and new useful wormholes are an exciting find.
+The size of the drive's aperture and the available power determines the reach of the drive. The farther away the destination is, and the more the star's light is obstructed or distorted by gravity, magnetics, uncharted stellar objects, etc., the greater the margin of error on arrival (the slightest inaccuracy can set the vessel days, weeks or even months away from the destination within the destination system). Correspondence drives can be difficult to control, and frequently will inexplicably lock-on obstructions near the LOS (especially nebulae and, more often, dark nebulae, for some unknown reason). This is always inconvenient, and can be dangerous. As a result of the inherent danger of miscalculation, most spacers will only use proven, well-checked, guild-certified courses. Spacer legends abound about careless spacers using unproven courses and never being seen again. A reliable from-scratch course may only be computed if the Astrogator has complete up-to-date charts of the region. Often-used and user-modified courses are kept on the astrogator's blackbox, which experienced astrogators keep a closely guarded secret. Astrogation skill is M/VH, and only taught to an elite few. Some accomplished astrogators sell their work for a high price, making some of them quite wealthy and famous.
-  It is possible for a single vessel to create a Holtzmann wave large enough to encompass other vessels along with it, for towing purposes and such, but power requirements tend to make it more efficient for each vessel to have its own stardrive (except in the case of some small or fighter-craft). A tandem-jump is generally only attempted when the vehicle being towed either has no stardrive, or its stardrive is non-functional; otherwise, the operation is performed as a parallel jump. Gearing up for a tandem-jump requires a Chk:Engineer(Stardrive)-1(±size mod difference); Fail=stardrive burnout.
+<br /><br/>
 =====Map Obstacles=====

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 *UKT: TL+0 Reactionless (Force Propeller)
 *Others: TL+1 Reactionless (Force Sail)
-  UKT Force Propeller units are fixed-power unidirectional, having many units facing along different axes, sometimes swivel-mounted
+UKT Force Propeller units are fixed-power unidirectional, having many units facing along different axes, sometimes swivel-mounted. RPI Force Sails are fixed-power omnidirectional, and use many smaller units that are opened as necessary to control amount of thrust. OKU/TCC Force Sails are variable-power multidirectional; TCC uses flippers (Ref:Vorlons), OKU uses “wings.”
 ===Stardrives===