Additional CPU programs for CT

[jawillroy]

Monsignor Burns Invoked:
>there's no way I can afford to throw money away >on single use Plots at Cr10,000 per while trying >to make ship payments. In a few years the >Generate program is paying for itself not even >factoring all the nuisance issues of the single >use Plots.

Well, that cr.10,000 a jump is really only going to last a few months anyhow, if you play your cards right: Generate's going to be one of the first programs you'll buy. Until then, the jumptapes are the only game in town, so the Space Port Authority or whoever it is IYTU can charge pretty much whatever they like. Of course, if someone wanted to get cheap, bootleg charts in my game, I'm sure they could find them (appropriate skills, roleplay it out) and use them (appropriate disadvantageous dms on the misjump roll) and they might not even get caught at it (one more reason to avoid close encounters with customs & inspection agents.)

If you can't afford generate, chances are you can't afford weaponry either, which means you'll be smart to stick to class A and B ports anyhow.

And if your ship loan provider's concerned about skipping, there's always "Xecutive JumpSuite(tm)"!

 

[jawillroy]

Monsignor Burns Invoked:
>there's no way I can afford to throw money away >on single use Plots at Cr10,000 per while trying >to make ship payments. In a few years the >Generate program is paying for itself not even >factoring all the nuisance issues of the single >use Plots.

Well, that cr.10,000 a jump is really only going to last a few months anyhow, if you play your cards right: Generate's going to be one of the first programs you'll buy. Until then, the jumptapes are the only game in town, so the Space Port Authority or whoever it is IYTU can charge pretty much whatever they like. Of course, if someone wanted to get cheap, bootleg charts in my game, I'm sure they could find them (appropriate skills, roleplay it out) and use them (appropriate disadvantageous dms on the misjump roll) and they might not even get caught at it (one more reason to avoid close encounters with customs & inspection agents.)

If you can't afford generate, chances are you can't afford weaponry either, which means you'll be smart to stick to class A and B ports anyhow.

And if your ship loan provider's concerned about skipping, there's always "Xecutive JumpSuite(tm)"!

 

[mike wightman]

In LBB2 the exact expression is "self-erasing cassettes"...

 

[mike wightman]

In LBB2 the exact expression is "self-erasing cassettes"...

 

[far-trader]

Originally posted by Sigg Oddra:
In LBB2 the exact expression is "self-erasing cassettes"...

Hmm, so it is

My mind was so hung up on the "tapes" rant that I guess I filled it in, correcting error...

 

[far-trader]

Originally posted by Sigg Oddra:
In LBB2 the exact expression is "self-erasing cassettes"...

Hmm, so it is

My mind was so hung up on the "tapes" rant that I guess I filled it in, correcting error...

 

[BillDowns]

IMTU I had additional storage as an add-on, and then expanded on GENERATE a bit. As an example, a Model 1 storage expansion kit was 1/3 the cost of the computer and doubled the storage. Then, I added the "requirement" for subsector maps for GENERATE to work. Each was $500K and took 1 storage but no CPU. The maps always had to be in storage when GENERATE runs, but could be off-loaded unless you lost the original distribution media.

In HG style battery controls, I also added the requirement that one copy of PREDICT (or equivalent) was required per battery.

 

[BillDowns]

IMTU I had additional storage as an add-on, and then expanded on GENERATE a bit. As an example, a Model 1 storage expansion kit was 1/3 the cost of the computer and doubled the storage. Then, I added the "requirement" for subsector maps for GENERATE to work. Each was $500K and took 1 storage but no CPU. The maps always had to be in storage when GENERATE runs, but could be off-loaded unless you lost the original distribution media.

In HG style battery controls, I also added the requirement that one copy of PREDICT (or equivalent) was required per battery.

 

[jawillroy]

The trouble I run into with extensive modifications to computer setups is consistency: If the party's got all these 1337 mods to their computer, why doesn't every ship of their class have 'em too? Might someone not have already thought this stuff up?

So there's a balance to be struck. I'd say that the computer's basic capabilities shouldn't be monkeyed with - otherwise why wouldn't every other free trader you run into be packing a Model/7, or every Model/1 you run into be using expanded memory?

You can apply some of the same argument to custom ship programs, but it's easier to maintain game balance with those.

 

[jawillroy]

The trouble I run into with extensive modifications to computer setups is consistency: If the party's got all these 1337 mods to their computer, why doesn't every ship of their class have 'em too? Might someone not have already thought this stuff up?

So there's a balance to be struck. I'd say that the computer's basic capabilities shouldn't be monkeyed with - otherwise why wouldn't every other free trader you run into be packing a Model/7, or every Model/1 you run into be using expanded memory?

You can apply some of the same argument to custom ship programs, but it's easier to maintain game balance with those.

 

[Black Globe Generator]

First, great thread. Lots of *YOINK!*-worthy material here.

Second, Maladominus, I couldn't agree more about the malfunctions article - one of my all-time JTAS favorites.

Third and last, in true early Eighties computing fashion, I give you Doubler.

Doubler
Doubler is a compression program which reduces the storage space required for starship computer programs. When loaded the effective storage capacity of the computer is doubled - for example, a computer with a storage capacity of four is treated as possessing a storage capacity of eight. Doubler does not affect the size of programs that are active in the CPU, only the number of programs that may be held in storage while not in use.

Doubler requires one unit of storage space and costs 2 MCr. Unlike other computer programs, it does not need to be loaded into the active CPU to function.

 

[Black Globe Generator]

First, great thread. Lots of *YOINK!*-worthy material here.

Second, Maladominus, I couldn't agree more about the malfunctions article - one of my all-time JTAS favorites.

Third and last, in true early Eighties computing fashion, I give you Doubler.

Doubler
Doubler is a compression program which reduces the storage space required for starship computer programs. When loaded the effective storage capacity of the computer is doubled - for example, a computer with a storage capacity of four is treated as possessing a storage capacity of eight. Doubler does not affect the size of programs that are active in the CPU, only the number of programs that may be held in storage while not in use.

Doubler requires one unit of storage space and costs 2 MCr. Unlike other computer programs, it does not need to be loaded into the active CPU to function.

 

[jawillroy]

I like Doubler. EXCEPT! That I'd put in a limitation.

I had RamDoubler, and IIRC, that extra RAM came at a cost: Speed.

Now, that's no problem when you're running Library, or if you're running Generate with oodles of time on your hands.

But target, predict, and all the evasion programs all would depend on speed to be useful. I wouldn't necessarily tell my intrepid adventurers what side effects the program had unless someone with computer skill were asking: but I'd tack a -1 on laser fire, and a +1 on all evasion while the program was running.

Because even in the Far Future, There Ain't No Such Thing as a Free Lunch.

 

[jawillroy]

I like Doubler. EXCEPT! That I'd put in a limitation.

I had RamDoubler, and IIRC, that extra RAM came at a cost: Speed.

Now, that's no problem when you're running Library, or if you're running Generate with oodles of time on your hands.

But target, predict, and all the evasion programs all would depend on speed to be useful. I wouldn't necessarily tell my intrepid adventurers what side effects the program had unless someone with computer skill were asking: but I'd tack a -1 on laser fire, and a +1 on all evasion while the program was running.

Because even in the Far Future, There Ain't No Such Thing as a Free Lunch.

 

[far-trader]

Thanks for the reminder to look at your "Xecutive JumpSuite(tm)" Imperium Festerium, that would work quite nicely too.

And the Doubler is an interesting idea too. I'd probably model it more like RamDoubler myself too, but instead of speed (since we can't model that too well easily in CT) I'd probably make it a 1 (or 2) slot application that allowed the storage side of the computer to be used as active. Kind of like a BIS model computer hack.

 

[far-trader]

Thanks for the reminder to look at your "Xecutive JumpSuite(tm)" Imperium Festerium, that would work quite nicely too.

And the Doubler is an interesting idea too. I'd probably model it more like RamDoubler myself too, but instead of speed (since we can't model that too well easily in CT) I'd probably make it a 1 (or 2) slot application that allowed the storage side of the computer to be used as active. Kind of like a BIS model computer hack.

 

[Black Globe Generator]

Originally posted by far-trader:
And the Doubler is an interesting idea too. I'd probably model it more like RamDoubler myself too, but instead of speed (since we can't model that too well easily in CT) I'd probably make it a 1 (or 2) slot application that allowed the storage side of the computer to be used as active. Kind of like a BIS model computer hack.

Ooooohhh, I hadn't thought of that - excellent! Call it space 2, cost 3 MCr - I wonder if it would be worthwhile to also give the computer an increased chance of malfunction while running RAMDoubler for pushing its capabilities...?

 

[Black Globe Generator]

Originally posted by far-trader:
And the Doubler is an interesting idea too. I'd probably model it more like RamDoubler myself too, but instead of speed (since we can't model that too well easily in CT) I'd probably make it a 1 (or 2) slot application that allowed the storage side of the computer to be used as active. Kind of like a BIS model computer hack.

Ooooohhh, I hadn't thought of that - excellent! Call it space 2, cost 3 MCr - I wonder if it would be worthwhile to also give the computer an increased chance of malfunction while running RAMDoubler for pushing its capabilities...?

 

[parmasson]

How about Naasirka’s Clean Log™ that ensures that your cargo manifest and ship’s log always match the way you need them to. Handy when the authorities have questions about your last port of call.
Highly customizable with lots of presets and it insures that deleted information is purged so that you don’t have “inaccurate” data in your logs.

.25 space.

 

[parmasson]

How about Naasirka’s Clean Log™ that ensures that your cargo manifest and ship’s log always match the way you need them to. Handy when the authorities have questions about your last port of call.
Highly customizable with lots of presets and it insures that deleted information is purged so that you don’t have “inaccurate” data in your logs.

.25 space.