Date: Tue, 17 May 1994 00:26:18 EDT
Sender: Mythus Fantasy Roleplaying Game List <[MYTHUS L] at [BROWNVM.brown.edu]>
From: "Rodney W. Morris" <[c s c 3 r w m] at [CABELL.VCU.EDU]>
Subject: ABYSS: Starship Operation
Starship Operation Procedures
Starship Descriptions
Sample Ship:
Kris Class Interplanetary Interceptor
Craft Designation: Kris Class Interplanetary Interceptor; 20 tons;
TL 15; Yr: 7115; 2,500,000 BUCs.
Computer: Basertronics Combat CPU; Control: dynamic holographic
display, touchkeys; TL 15; 6/5/5
Skills: Astronavigation: 20; Meterology: 5; Pilot: 30
Hull: Bonded Superdense hull and superstructure, G-resist: 32, Dmg
Points: 50
Power: Single Engine 8; Man 5; Fuel:
Environment: Inertial Comp.: 45; basic life support: 120 h;
Armor:
Pierce Blunt Elect Plasma Heat
Ultra-Vital 35 0 50
Super-Vital 35 10 50
Vital 35 20 50
Non-Vital 35 30 50
Weapons:
2xTL 15 Laser Cannon
WP: 2
E: 5
S: 3
DT: Las
Pos: f*
Dam: 10D6
Reliab: 5
ROF: 1
PB/S/M/L/E: 1(x4)/3(x3)/6(x2)/12(x1)/2
4 Shot Missile Launcher
WP: 0
E: 1
S:7
DT: Heat
Pos: p/f/s
Dam: 20D6
Reliab: 10
ROF: 1
PB/S/M/L/E: 3/5/7/9
*This weapon can only fire in a direct line in the immediate
front of the ship.
Craft Designation describes the class of the ship, which is
often the name of the prototype or first issue of that style of
ship, the vessel type (explained in detail in the Technologies
book), the amount of liquid hydrogen displaced by the vessel, the
Technology Level of the majority of the ships systems, the date that
the ship was first issued, and the base cost (in BUCs) of the vessel.
Computer describes just that, the capabilities of the
computer system installed in the ship. Any vehicle meant for space
travel must be outfitted with at least a rudimentary computer system
to control ship's functions. The type of computer describes its
creator and designation, the technology level of the computer is the
level of technology at which it was manufactured. All computer
systems have MMCap, MMPow and MMSpd ATTRIBUTES. However, only
artificially intelligent or cybernetic computer systems have the MR
CATEGORY and its corresponding ATTRIBUTES. The MMCap of the computer
system is the most power a computer can output without a replacement
of its CPU (much like upgrading a 386 to a 486 of today's
computers....you can only go so far with a 386 before you need to
replace the motherboard). The MMPow of the computer tells how much
information a computer can optimally hold. A computer can hold ten
times the MegaPulses of information in its databases as its MMPow. A
computer's MMPow can be greater than its MMCap, but it sacrifices
MMSpd (see the section on Vehicle Creation in the Technologies
book). MMSpd is how quickly the computer system can call up
information. This usually comes into play only when very obscure
information is being searched for or the computer is put under a
great deal of stress. See the section describing computer systems
in the Technologies book for more information).
Hull describes the armor and outside composition of the
starship. It describes the material used in construction of its
outer hull as well as superstructure. G-resist is how many Gs of
force a ship's superstructure can withstand before it risks taking
internal damage from stress. Damage points are how many points of
physical damage a ship can take before it shuts down. Armor
describes the resistance of the ship's armor to various sorts of attacks.
Power: Describes the amount of power and from where a ship
can issue it. The greatest amount of sheer power often comes from
the drive engines, which work in bursts of energy. Most ships are
also outfitted with maneuvering thrusters or drives, which act to
maneuver the ship between bursts. Overusage of these drives can
result in damage to the vessel. The number given is half the amount
of movement points a ship has. The amount of thrust a ship can
utilize is based upon the ship's mass, and power; in an atmosphere,
streamlining and air resistance also come into play.
Environment: Inertial Compensation is the compensation for
excessive G's that most ships with human inhabitants must have in
order to fuction without damage to the inhabitants. This
compensation is given in terms of a number, which is the STEEP of the ship's
intertial compensation. Depending upon how difficult it is to
compensate for the actions (whether intended or not) of the pilot,
the DR will change accordingly.
Weapons of a ship are important in hostile areas. They
follow the format of typical weapons of their type. Remember, this
is ship damage; damage of this type done to vehicles is multiplied
by two, damage done to individuals is multiplied by ten.
Launch and Landing Procedures
The launching of a ship usually takes place in three
different environments: the atmospheric launch, the vaccuum lauch,
and the ejected lauch. The atmospheric launch is a launch that
takes place from the surface of a large planet with an atmosphere.
Some of the difficulties that arrive include wind strength and
direction, storm conditions, solidity of the surface, gravity, etc.
The vaccuum launch is, as the name suggests, a take off from a
rather small planet with low gravity. This seems easy at first, but
taking off from a near weightless environment is often more
difficult than it sounds, especially if attempted by a pilot
accustomed to an atmospheric launch. The ejected launch usually
takes place when a ship is thrown from a larger spacecraft as
auxiliary support. This is one of the most difficult types of
launches, not only because of the weightlessness, but of the
uncontrolled movement from the ship upon exit...making the craft
very vulnerable.
Atmospheric Launch: Launch in an atmosphere requires space,
unless it has VTOL or maneuvering thrusters installed (which most
spaceworthy vessels do). A field of about 500 yards should be
sufficient, though smaller craft can launch from as few as 100
yards. A ship with VTOL capabilities needs a space about twice as
wide as its longest measurement. A ship with maneuvering thrusters
needs a space about half again its longest measurement. Of course,
these are minimum safe conditions. Anything else will worsen the
Piloting check DR by one step.
Launch under optimum conditions includes no air circulation,
100% visibility, and a 1G planet. Of course, things are rarely this
easy to accomplish. The modifiers for a successful launch are given
below.
Winds (determines base DR)
0 to 20 KPH Moderate DR
21 to 40 KPH Moderate DR - 10%
41 to 80 KPH Complex DR
81 to 100 KPH Complex DR -10%
101 to 120 KPH Hard DR
121 to 140 KPH Hard DR - 10%
141 to 160 KPH Very Hard D
161 to 180 KPH Difficult DR
181 to 220 KPH Very Difficult DR
221 to 250 KPH Extremely Difficult DR
For each 50 KPH over 250: -10%
Visibility
100% to 91% No modifier
90% to 81% - 5%
80% to 71% - 10%
70% to 61% - 15%
60% to 51% - 25%
50% to 41% - 40%
40% to 31% - 50%
30% to 21% - 60%
20% to 11% - 70%
10% to 1% - 80%
0% - 90%
Unaccustomed to gravity of planet - 5% to -50 %
Under fire -10%
Failure of a piloting check in an atmosphere usually means
that a problem was noticed during launch and the launch was aborted
in time to prevent any dangerous problems. A special failure means
that the ship reached the velocity it was attempting to reach and
control was lost (a serious control problem).
Vaccuum Launch: A vaccuum launch, usually from a capital
ship or orbital station, is, by far, the easiest type of launch to
perform. The Piloting check DR is Complex, unless the lauch is
completely controlled by a computer. Many launches are computer
controlled, though these sorts of launches tend to be slow. If the
launch is computer controlled, the computer must make a check
against its piloting with a Very Easy DR. If a problem occurs, the
pilot of the vessel will usually be able to notice with a moderate
DR perception check and correct the problem, though it is a Very
Hard DR Computer Ops check to wrestle control of the vessel from the
computer system. Failure during launch results in a successful
launch from the facility, but the engines overheated and need to
spend a battle turn cooling (movement is restricted to maneuver
drives only). A special failure means that the craft has moved far
off course and struck the launching facility and damage has been
taken by both the launching vessel and the carrier from which it was
launching. The launching craft takes 3D6 points of damage from the
collision, rolling once on the Strike Location Tables for each D6 of
damage (thus, three rolls are made). The capital ship takes
2D6 points of damage in their Launching Facilities. Roll on the
Strike Location table for the damage multiple. Such an accident may
well shut down a launching facility for quite some time.
Ejected Launch: Some capital ships and stations are supplied
with quick-strike craft. Most are outfitted with Evac Ships for
quick evacuation. Both of these types of ships are outfitted to be
forcibly ejected from the launching facilities. This sort of launch
is one of the most difficult to perform, in that the original
momentum is in no way controlled by the vessel. A ship that is
ejected is considered to have minor control problems. A pilot need
not roll until the ship is clear of the lauching facility, where he
will have to correct the control problem. A special failure is as
described under minor control problems, but the vessel is travelling
in a randomly determined direction. If that direction is directly
back into the ship from which it launched, it is considered to have
crashed into the side of the ship from which it launched, with the
commensurate damage to both.
Flight Procedures
Once a vessel is under its own power, it is considered to be
"in flight."
Control Problems
Minor Control Problems: A ship that is experiencing minor
control problems is in no real danger of crashing, though the
situation can worsen if not rectified quickly. The pilot of a craft
undergoing Minor Control Problems must make a Moderate DR check
against his Piloting K/S area. If he is succesful, the craft is
considered to be under control. If he fails, the situation worsens
and the craft undergoes Moderate Control Problems.
A craft under minor control problems rolls its movement
direction on the table below. Its speed in that direction is equal
to its speed before the control problems occured. (Note: These
diagrams look a lot better in WordPerfect 6.0...)
-------
/---\ | 1 |
/ 2-5 \ | |
/---\ /---\ -------------
/ 1 \ / 6 \ | -> | 2-5 |
\ /---\ / | | |
\---/ ^ \---/ -------------
\ | / | 6 |
\---/ | |
-------
^
| : The vessel, overhead view
->: The vessel, side view
If the craft in question is near a gravity well (in orbit),
use the following table.
-------
/---\ | 1 |
/ 2-5 \ | |
/---\ /---\ -------------
/ 1 \ / 6 \ | -> | 2-4 |
\ /---\ / | | |
\---/ ^ \---/ -------------
\ | / | 5-6 |
\---/ | |
-------
If the craft is near the surface of a strong gravity well
(over .5 Gs), use the following diagram:
/---\
/ 2-5 \
/---\ /---\ -------------
/ 1 \ / 6 \ | -> | 1-2 |
\ /---\ / | | |
\---/ ^ \---/ -------------
\ | / | 3-6 |
\---/ | |
-------
The direction of the craft in all diagrams is the direction
in which the pilot is either moving or attempting to move.
Moderate Control Problems: A ship that is experiencing
Moderate Control Problems is in a great deal of trouble, if the
problem isn't soon corrected. A Hard DR Piloting check will move the
problem down one category, to a Minor Control Problem; the direction
of the craft will need to be re-rolled on those charts. If a
special success is rolled, the control problem will be corrected.
If the Piloting check fails, roll on the following diagram to
determine direction of the craft.
/---\ /---\ -------
/ 7-8 \ /13-14\ | 4-5 |
\ /---\ / | |
\ / 9-12\ / -------------
/---\ /---\ | 3 | 6-8 |
/ 5-6 \ /15-16\ | | |
/---\ /---\ /---\ -------------
/ 4 \ / ^ \ / 17 \ | -> | 9-12|
\ /---\ | /---\ / | | |
\---/ 3 \---/ 18 \---/ -------------
\ / \ / | 18 |13-15|
\---/ \---/ | | |
-------------
|17-16|
| |
-------
If the craft is in the gravity well of a planet, use the
following diagram.
/---\ /---\ -------
/ 7-8 \ /13-14\ | 4 |
\ /---\ / | |
\ / 9-12\ / -------------
/---\ /---\ | 3 | 5-6 |
/ 5-6 \ /15-16\ | | |
/---\ /---\ /---\ -------------
/ 4 \ / ^ \ / 17 \ | -> | 7-9 |
\ /---\ | /---\ / | | |
\---/ 3 \---/ 18 \---/ -------------
\ / \ / |16-18|10-12|
\---/ \---/ | | |
-------------
|13-15|
| |
-------
If the craft is near the surface of a high gravity planet
(.5 Gs or more), then use the following diagram:
/---\ /---\ -------
/ 7-8 \ /13-14\ | 3 |
\ /---\ / | |
\ / 9-12\ / -------------
/---\ /---\ | | 4 |
/ 5-6 \ /15-16\ | | |
/---\ /---\ /---\ -------------
/ 4 \ / ^ \ / 17 \ | -> | 5-6 |
\ /---\ | /---\ / | | |
\---/ 3 \---/ 18 \---/ -------------
\ / \ / |15-18| 7-10|
\---/ \---/ | | |
-------------
|11-14|
| |
-------
Serious Control Problems: A craft undergoing serious control
problems is in a dangerous situation, though it is not yet
hopeless. A pilot who succeeds in his Piloting roll with a
Difficult DR will be able to correct the problem one category, to a
Moderate Control Problem. A special success will result in a total
correction of the problem. A special failure will result in the
total loss of control of the vehicle.
To determine direction of a craft undergoing Serious Control
Problems, roll on the following diagram.
/---\ /---\ ------- -------
/ 8-9 \ /12-13\ | 4 | | 6 |
\ /---\ / | | | |
\ /10-11\ / -------------------
/---\ /---\ | 3 | 5 | 7-8 |
/ 6-7 \ /14-15\ | | | |
/---\ /---\ /---\ -------------------
/ 5 \ / ^ \ / 16 \ | -> | 9-12|
\ /---\ | /---\ / | | |
\---/ 4 \---/ 17 \---/ -------------------
\ / \ / | 18 | 16 |13-14|
\---/ \---/ | | | |
/ \ / \ -------------------
/ 3 \ / 18 \ | 17 | | 15 |
\ / \ / | | | |
\---/ \---/ ------- -------
If the problem occurs in the gravity well of a planet, use
the following diagram:
/---\ /---\ ------- -------
/ 8-9 \ /12-13\ | | | 4 |
\ /---\ / | | | |
\ /10-11\ / -------------------
/---\ /---\ | | 3 | 5 |
/ 6-7 \ /14-15\ | | | |
/---\ /---\ /---\ -------------------
/ 5 \ / ^ \ / 16 \ | -> | 6-7 |
\ /---\ | /---\ / | | |
\---/ 4 \---/ 17 \---/ -------------------
\ / \ / |17-18|12-14| 8-9 |
\---/ \---/ | | | |
/ \ / \ -------------------
/ 3 \ / 18 \ |15-16| |10-11|
\ / \ / | | | |
\---/ \---/ ------- -------
If the craft is near the surface of a high gravity planet
(.5 Gs or more), then use the following diagram.
/---\ /---\ ------- -------
/ 8-9 \ /12-13\ | | | |
\ /---\ / | | | |
\ /10-11\ / -------------------
/---\ /---\ | | | 3 |
/ 6-7 \ /14-15\ | | | |
/---\ /---\ /---\ -------------------
/ 5 \ / ^ \ / 16 \ | -> | 4-5 |
\ /---\ | /---\ / | | |
\---/ 4 \---/ 17 \---/ -------------------
\ / \ / |17-18|11-13| 6-7 |
\---/ \---/ | | | |
/ \ / \ -------------------
/ 3 \ / 18 \ |14-16| | 8-10|
\ / \ / | | | |
\---/ \---/ ------- -------
Major Control Problems: Chances are a vessel that is
undergoing Major Control Problems will not last long, unless an
experienced pilot is at the wheel.
<charts not yet finished...sorry, I hit a snag here...>
Combat Procedures
Combat between ships is deadly, to say the least, but it is
sometimes necessary to meet one's aims (like escaping the wrath of
the Corporate Navy or disabling a rogue smuggler).
Repair Procedures
<needless to say, those last two are unfinished...I'll be
posting a separate write-up on the initial stages of combat>
Lucifer >:}
this stuff is mine, all mine, don't print it unless you ask,
got it? Good!