Hello and surprise R_Kane,
While looking for all of my own unanswered questions I stumbled across this one. The following answers are what I have uncovered while trying to get a handle on the Computer Design Sequence (CDS), the Spacecraft and Starship Design Sequence (SSDS) systems and the Standard Design chapter in the THB. The anwers given are my own conclusions and may be OTL, but they appear to be accurate.
Thanks for the CDS, the system does work with a little tweaking and patience.
Originally posted by R_Kane:
I had posted this elsewhere, before this forumexisted and it never got answered....jsut got buried in about a million other posts...so here goes again...
First off, does the cost for a computer listed in the Starship design section include any software? ie Jump Drive software, Astrogation, etc If so, what logic and/or command programs and software are included?
In the completed ship designs, there are no annotaions for purchasing ship software, so I am guessing that basic software IS included, but I would like to verify that.
Neither of the Ship's Computer Tables (pp. 263 and 282) have any programs (CDS Logic p. 225, Command p. 226, or any software listed on pp. 229-232) included as determined by the cost figure given in the respective table. However, the text for the Ship's Computer Table on p. 282 does state that the cost is multiplied by 10 to include software and interfaces for use on a starship. Unfortunately, this method appears to really jack the cost up since using the CDS I haven't gotten close to pushing the price up into the millions. In the Standard Designs chapter there are only 2 computers (auto-pilot p. 282 and targeting pp. 282-283), and the Robot Brain that appear to have followed a majority of the steps found in the CDS pp. 223-233. However, there appear to be issues with the application of the miniaturization option and the cost of the brain, which is material for a new post.
The computers listed on p. 281, as best as I can determine, stopped the CDS on p. 224 with the data from the Computer Type and Model Table. Every other item logic programs p. 225, command programs p. 226, Experience Data Storage p. 227, Hardwiring/Dedicated Programs pp. 227-228, Advanced Technology options - miniaturization p. 228 and standardization pp. 228-229, Education Score p. 228, Computer software (the core of your question) pp. 229-232, control panels and terminals p.233 are not included. For the auto-pilot and targeting computers the only thing I noticed that was missing were the control panel and terminal costs.
The computers listed in the Ship's Computer Tables (p. 263 and p. 282) appear to be the same computer cores. The volume on p. 282 appears to have been divided by 1,400 (found on p. 223 under the displacement tons text) and rounded up (p. 282 volume 135, displacement volume 1,400) 135/1400 = 0.0964 = 0.1 for the Size on p. 263. EP is determined as per text on p. 282 9/10 = 0.9.
Second, the Free CPU output listed for each Ship's Computer (page 263)...what exactly is this?
This is among the questions still unanswered, or at least as far as I can tell, about the CDS and SSDS. I've tried to make a correlation between Core units, CPU Output, and Free CPU Output, but I haven't liked my answers. Hopefully Hunter or Martin may be able to shed some light on this item.
Can this extra CPU be used as a computer for passengers/crew? For example, a Model/3 has 300 Free CPU Output. Does this mean the crew/passengers can utilize this as an A3 model computer (page 224)?
-Roger
Again, this is my opinion, based on my experience as a member of a college's IT Department. When the excess output is not being used for ship functions, then passengers and crew are using the computer and installed software for just about anything and everything we can do today on a computer network. However, as per rules on p. 230 Master program and/or p. 231 Server there can only be so many processes being run through the network.
I hope the above helps, even if the answer is a couple of minths behind. Also this might just catch the attention of the right personnel.
