Vanguard
January 25th, 2005, 05:50 PM
I'm thinking about assigning "quirks" to old ships, maybe one quirk per 5 years of age if the ship was properly maintained...more if it was neglected.
I'm looking for some ideas for quirks. Game mechanics for what the quirk does would be helpful too.
Examples:
Heinous Odor -
Description: Some areas of the ship stink. Some possible aromas include "Old Gym Socks", "What died in there?" and "Reversed Polarity Septic Tank".
Penalty: If the passenger areas stink, cut the number of available passengers in half or reduce middle and high passage fees by 1000 credits. If crew areas stink, add 50% to base crew salaries.
Reallocated Space -
Description: On the Empress Marava, the port and/or aft cargo ramps are unusable (sealed shut and mechanical parts gutted).
Change: Each cargo lock results in 5 dT of space that can be used for other purposes.
Smugglers Holds -
Description: 5 dT of cargo space has been carefully hidden from detection.
Benefit: Anyone searching the ship must beat a DC 25 search check to find the hidden hold. (change as appropriate for your version of traveller)
Anyone else have some?
I'm looking for some ideas for quirks. Game mechanics for what the quirk does would be helpful too.
Examples:
Heinous Odor -
Description: Some areas of the ship stink. Some possible aromas include "Old Gym Socks", "What died in there?" and "Reversed Polarity Septic Tank".
Penalty: If the passenger areas stink, cut the number of available passengers in half or reduce middle and high passage fees by 1000 credits. If crew areas stink, add 50% to base crew salaries.
Reallocated Space -
Description: On the Empress Marava, the port and/or aft cargo ramps are unusable (sealed shut and mechanical parts gutted).
Change: Each cargo lock results in 5 dT of space that can be used for other purposes.
Smugglers Holds -
Description: 5 dT of cargo space has been carefully hidden from detection.
Benefit: Anyone searching the ship must beat a DC 25 search check to find the hidden hold. (change as appropriate for your version of traveller)
Anyone else have some?
flykiller
January 25th, 2005, 06:09 PM
lost articles. jewelry, cell phones, PDA's, tools, wallets, weapons, passports, memory chips. great leads to adventures, clues for old crimes, or introductions to mysteries.
recall the TNG episode where they find traces of a body in a power conduit, sealed since the ship was constructed.
recall the TNG episode where they find traces of a body in a power conduit, sealed since the ship was constructed.
chrisr
January 25th, 2005, 06:27 PM
I incorporated a wear value system for starships and used it to adjust the price of the ship. Every 10 years of age gives an extra wear point, so much damage causes another and missing annual maintenance yields more. Every time the ship does something that causes stress, emergence from jump, skimming fuel etc. Roll d20 vs wear points for a breakdown. This can give all sorts of colour to an old wreck.
vutpakdi
January 25th, 2005, 06:35 PM
I have a Citizens of the Imperium article in the "accepted, not published" pile which has many Starship Quirks. Don't know if it'll be published anytime soon though.
I had some good quirks, some odditities, and some negative quirks.
A good quirk would be something like one of the energy weapons is slightly overpowered (safely) and does an extra point of damage.
An oddity would be something like the drink dispenser dispenses the wrong drink about 20% of the time or there is one 1.5x1.5m area where the grav plates slowly switches polarity from 1G to -1G over the course of the day.
A negative quirk would be something like the power plant uses fuel 5% faster than normal.
Ron
I had some good quirks, some odditities, and some negative quirks.
A good quirk would be something like one of the energy weapons is slightly overpowered (safely) and does an extra point of damage.
An oddity would be something like the drink dispenser dispenses the wrong drink about 20% of the time or there is one 1.5x1.5m area where the grav plates slowly switches polarity from 1G to -1G over the course of the day.
A negative quirk would be something like the power plant uses fuel 5% faster than normal.
Ron
Vanguard
January 25th, 2005, 06:54 PM
Ron, those kinds of things are exactly what I have in mind.
So this article will be in the Moot section when it gets published?
So this article will be in the Moot section when it gets published?
kaladorn
January 25th, 2005, 07:55 PM
From the net, an older article by Russell Bornshlegel:
77 Starship Quirks (http://www.estarcion.com/kaleja/77quirks.html)
77 Starship Quirks (http://www.estarcion.com/kaleja/77quirks.html)
vutpakdi
January 25th, 2005, 08:14 PM
Originally posted by Vanguard:
Ron, those kinds of things are exactly what I have in mind.
So this article will be in the Moot section when it gets published? Yep, but I don't know when it'll be published. Could be quite some time.
Btw, the quirks are more along the lines of things that develop in old ships as opposed to changes the ship (modifications and such).
Ron
Ron, those kinds of things are exactly what I have in mind.
So this article will be in the Moot section when it gets published? Yep, but I don't know when it'll be published. Could be quite some time.
Btw, the quirks are more along the lines of things that develop in old ships as opposed to changes the ship (modifications and such).
Ron
Fritz_Brown
January 26th, 2005, 08:16 PM
That 77 Quirks site is very interesting!
How about allowing for Quirks to be added if the engineer makes a certain roll?
A PC computer geek tweaks the ship's computers so they work faster.
A Chief Engineer eeks another 5% efficiency out of the warp... er, jump drives.
Of course, this might provide a balancing quirk....
How about allowing for Quirks to be added if the engineer makes a certain roll?
A PC computer geek tweaks the ship's computers so they work faster.
A Chief Engineer eeks another 5% efficiency out of the warp... er, jump drives.
Of course, this might provide a balancing quirk....
Fritz_Brown
January 26th, 2005, 08:31 PM
Although I really don't know what this is about:
"Inappropriate Computers: The warp drive is being controlled by a hand computer in the engine room, or the captain uses an abacus for bookkeeping, or a Linux box in the galley is running the security system, or some such."
I would think a Linux box would be the only appropriate choice for security....
"Inappropriate Computers: The warp drive is being controlled by a hand computer in the engine room, or the captain uses an abacus for bookkeeping, or a Linux box in the galley is running the security system, or some such."
I would think a Linux box would be the only appropriate choice for security....
Vanguard
January 26th, 2005, 10:06 PM
For security, I'd want either a secure os or a custom-built proprietary machine.
In any case, I definitely want the security computer sitting in the galley.
In any case, I definitely want the security computer sitting in the galley.
kaladorn
January 26th, 2005, 10:26 PM
Secure OS? One of the great oxymorons of all time. Proprietary? Utilizing security through obscurity?
Lesson 1: There is no such thing as electronic security for a computer. [1]
Putting the security manager in the galley would be kind of neat, if it was disguised as the coffee maker or an air recirculator or microwave or something. Probably the last place and invader would look for it. But it would be unfortunate when half the security sensors went offline because someone put a metal-foil packet inside of it, set on HIGH.
Lesson 1: There is no such thing as electronic security for a computer. [1]
Putting the security manager in the galley would be kind of neat, if it was disguised as the coffee maker or an air recirculator or microwave or something. Probably the last place and invader would look for it. But it would be unfortunate when half the security sensors went offline because someone put a metal-foil packet inside of it, set on HIGH.
kaladorn
January 26th, 2005, 10:29 PM
Originally posted by kaladorn:
Lesson 1: There is no such thing as electronic security for a computer. [1]
[1]: There is actually one moderately secure computer. It is stored in a room with ten meter thick aligned superdense walls, with a large set of locks imposing a horrendous penalty on rogues attempting to use Intrusion skill, defended by lasers, claymore mines, microwave barriers, and hordes of angry Zho-Aslan crossbreed Telepath-Assassins. The room is filled with ferroconcrete and the computer is spacially coincident with a point singularity. But other than this particular single case, there is no such thing as a secure computer. ;)
Lesson 1: There is no such thing as electronic security for a computer. [1]
[1]: There is actually one moderately secure computer. It is stored in a room with ten meter thick aligned superdense walls, with a large set of locks imposing a horrendous penalty on rogues attempting to use Intrusion skill, defended by lasers, claymore mines, microwave barriers, and hordes of angry Zho-Aslan crossbreed Telepath-Assassins. The room is filled with ferroconcrete and the computer is spacially coincident with a point singularity. But other than this particular single case, there is no such thing as a secure computer. ;)
Vanguard
January 27th, 2005, 01:18 PM
Ah, I used the wrong word. I meant Trusted OS:
http://www.nwfusion.com/news/2002/0501trustedsolaris.html
like that.
Yes, there's no such thing as a "secure computer" if you take "secure" to mean "unable to be beaten." You can have a computer that is secure in the sense that the resources required to break in aren't worth the effort, or that a break-in would take too long to be done without detection.
Physical security (Safes and vaults) are actually rated by how long they would take to defeat, depending on whether the break-in is detectable or not (an undetectable break-in should take longer than a detectable one in a well-built safe). Some day we'll be able to do the same with computer security (Maybe they already can in the 3I).
We're getting off-topic. If we're going to continue this discussion, we should start a new thread (in RS if it's about computer security in general, or here in LS if it's about computer security in Traveller.)
http://www.nwfusion.com/news/2002/0501trustedsolaris.html
like that.
Yes, there's no such thing as a "secure computer" if you take "secure" to mean "unable to be beaten." You can have a computer that is secure in the sense that the resources required to break in aren't worth the effort, or that a break-in would take too long to be done without detection.
Physical security (Safes and vaults) are actually rated by how long they would take to defeat, depending on whether the break-in is detectable or not (an undetectable break-in should take longer than a detectable one in a well-built safe). Some day we'll be able to do the same with computer security (Maybe they already can in the 3I).
We're getting off-topic. If we're going to continue this discussion, we should start a new thread (in RS if it's about computer security in general, or here in LS if it's about computer security in Traveller.)
Fritz_Brown
January 27th, 2005, 03:25 PM
Ya know, though, that is a pretty good quirk. We assume "computer" skill is homogenous.
Player: "What is all this text on my screen? Where are my icons? And, what the h- is DOS?"
Referee: "Heh-heh-heh."
Player: "What is all this text on my screen? Where are my icons? And, what the h- is DOS?"
Referee: "Heh-heh-heh."
Chuck Anumia
January 27th, 2005, 03:37 PM
Originally posted by Fritz88:
That 77 Quirks site is very interesting!
How about allowing for Quirks to be added if the engineer makes a certain roll?
A PC computer geek tweaks the ship's computers so they work faster.
A Chief Engineer eeks another 5% efficiency out of the warp... er, jump drives.
Of course, this might provide a balancing quirk.... How about having the quirks modified by a skill roll with negative modifiers for positive quirks and positive modifiers for negative quirks?
That 77 Quirks site is very interesting!
How about allowing for Quirks to be added if the engineer makes a certain roll?
A PC computer geek tweaks the ship's computers so they work faster.
A Chief Engineer eeks another 5% efficiency out of the warp... er, jump drives.
Of course, this might provide a balancing quirk.... How about having the quirks modified by a skill roll with negative modifiers for positive quirks and positive modifiers for negative quirks?
kaladorn
January 27th, 2005, 05:34 PM
MT went some way towards dealing with the unfamiliarity issue by penalizing you for TL differences. You come from a TL9 world, go to use a TL13 computer terminal. Your skill isn't treated as being as good. Similarly, alien systems might impose a penalty.
But even the idea that all TL-9 systems are in any way interchangeable (even if all created by humans) is rather silly.
But even the idea that all TL-9 systems are in any way interchangeable (even if all created by humans) is rather silly.
aramis
January 27th, 2005, 10:11 PM
"ImperiVOS Version 142.3.4.1A12 Online. Please step forward for voice verification and physio-parameter scan." brief pause..."Not bad for a semi-retired old coot. You computer wishes she had a bod to molest you, captain-sweetie..."
(somewhere along the line, someone installed the wrong kind of emotion simulation and Autonomy software.... and the computer has a crush on one or more PC's.... or worse, an NPC...)
(somewhere along the line, someone installed the wrong kind of emotion simulation and Autonomy software.... and the computer has a crush on one or more PC's.... or worse, an NPC...)
kaladorn
January 27th, 2005, 11:19 PM
Or the opposite, it has installed an antithetical personality.
"Arright, you slacker. Whadya want now? Can' cha see sum of us iz bizzy? Like you'd know real work, if it bit you... Cap'n...Sir.. Yessir. I liv fer to do yer biddin'. As if."
"Arright, you slacker. Whadya want now? Can' cha see sum of us iz bizzy? Like you'd know real work, if it bit you... Cap'n...Sir.. Yessir. I liv fer to do yer biddin'. As if."
Fritz_Brown
January 28th, 2005, 09:45 AM
Much like the fighter's computer in the "Star of the Guardians" trilogy by Margaret Weis. Smart-aleck computer with a heart of gold. Foul-mouthed, to boot.
Chuck Anumia
January 28th, 2005, 01:32 PM
Originally posted by Aramis:
"ImperiVOS Version 142.3.4.1A12 Online. Please step forward for voice verification and physio-parameter scan." brief pause..."Not bad for a semi-retired old coot. You computer wishes she had a bod to molest you, captain-sweetie..."
OOOOOH, sounds kind of like a Virus infected computer or self aware AI that has taken over the ships computer with a benevolent personality. Nice computer quirk. (Your port or mine, wink, wink). graemlins/file_21.gif
"ImperiVOS Version 142.3.4.1A12 Online. Please step forward for voice verification and physio-parameter scan." brief pause..."Not bad for a semi-retired old coot. You computer wishes she had a bod to molest you, captain-sweetie..."
OOOOOH, sounds kind of like a Virus infected computer or self aware AI that has taken over the ships computer with a benevolent personality. Nice computer quirk. (Your port or mine, wink, wink). graemlins/file_21.gif
kaladorn
January 28th, 2005, 02:52 PM
Of course, being a MacroSoft piece of software, over time it suffers from the phenomena known as 'bit rot'. Initially, it starts out pleasant, if a bit saucy. Then it moves into occasionally petulant and moody, some parts of the month. Then on to actively hostile. And finally into coldly dismissive, eventually ignoring all control inputs.
<No, not bitter... Me?! Never!> ;)
<No, not bitter... Me?! Never!> ;)
Chuck Anumia
January 28th, 2005, 03:48 PM
Primary
MacroSoft
Susceptibility graemlins/file_23.gif
MacroSoft
Susceptibility graemlins/file_23.gif
aramis
January 28th, 2005, 09:52 PM
Yet another one...
infested by undoctored Cymbeline chips. Worse than virus, as they can be PC's....
infested by undoctored Cymbeline chips. Worse than virus, as they can be PC's....
Chuck Anumia
February 1st, 2005, 06:00 PM
How about a Frankenstein ship made from the fusion of a Fat trader with a subsidised liner?
Total computer compartmentalization?
Total computer compartmentalization?
kaladorn
February 1st, 2005, 06:04 PM
You can certainly see all sorts of issues with ships that are salvaged (refit) from other ships, like the conversion of old military ships into civilian ones or vice versa in TNE. The Admiral Bertil (Assignment Vigilante) might well be a good candidate as a refurbed liner... it may well have some quirks after having been rebuilt into a military ship.
Spiderfish
February 2nd, 2005, 01:23 PM
An oddity would be something like the drink dispenser dispenses the wrong drink about 20% of the time
Reminds me of something from Red Dwarf.
Reminds me of something from Red Dwarf.
Antony
February 2nd, 2005, 01:41 PM
Playing with galley equipment is always a worry in my games. Players know to panic whenever the galleys microwave is on the fritz.
Then how about everytime a particular person on the bridge touches a console all the displays roll and flicker, or no matter how well the maintenance goes or what parts are replaced a particular light always flickers.
Then how about everytime a particular person on the bridge touches a console all the displays roll and flicker, or no matter how well the maintenance goes or what parts are replaced a particular light always flickers.
Andrew Boulton
February 2nd, 2005, 01:47 PM
We once got stuck with a ship whose computer randomly switched into combat simulation mode. We were pretty worried until we worked out that the attacking ships didn't actually exist.
Fritz_Brown
February 2nd, 2005, 02:20 PM
Hey, careful with the discombobulation euphemisms, there!!
graemlins/file_21.gif
graemlins/file_21.gif
Chuck Anumia
February 2nd, 2005, 03:28 PM
Originally posted by Andrew Boulton:
We once got stuck with a ship whose computer randomly switched into combat simulation mode. We were pretty worried until we worked out that the attacking ships didn't actually exist. __________________________________________________
Reminds me of the movie "Wargames" where when the computer was asked if it was playing a game or if this was real life it answered "what is the difference".
We once got stuck with a ship whose computer randomly switched into combat simulation mode. We were pretty worried until we worked out that the attacking ships didn't actually exist. __________________________________________________
Reminds me of the movie "Wargames" where when the computer was asked if it was playing a game or if this was real life it answered "what is the difference".
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