Sundog Shakedown Cruise

[N.I.C.E. Labs]

Hello my friends. Some of you may have been following the debate and development of my vehicular scout design posts. ( Sundog thread ) Well, the design phase is done and now it's time to evaluate.

To help evaluate the design I'm going to have the players in my game take it on a shakedown cruise. For the next six months of game time they will use it as their ship as normal, but check in to receive special 'evaluation missions' to test the vehicle's performance in certain situations. What I would like is for anyone interested to suggest some missions that would put the Sundog through it's paces. I thought if I pulled those from outside sources the tests would not only be unbiased but be things that as GM and designer wouldn't inadvertantly skew one way or the other.

If anyone takes up the challenge I look forward to what you come up with, and I'll post the results of the tests here. Thanks for your help!!

 

[N.I.C.E. Labs]

I wanted to mention it turns out I won't be running my game until next week or the week after so luckily I'll have plenty of time to get my plans made for the shakedown cruise. I'd still like to get people's input, however, so if anyone has some thoughts on test-missions to put the new ship through I'd love to hear them.

Thanks again!

 

[aoehler]

I would have them travel to a planet with a corrosive atmosphere to check the ships systems in that condition. Perhaps an airlock is faulty... maybe the connection between the atv and the rest of the ship get fouled. Maybe there's some sensor suite that needs to be calibrated against the known atmospheric conditions as well...

 

[N.I.C.E. Labs]

Originally posted by AndyO:
I would have them travel to a planet with a corrosive atmosphere to check the ships systems in that condition. Perhaps an airlock is faulty... maybe the connection between the atv and the rest of the ship get fouled. Maybe there's some sensor suite that needs to be calibrated against the known atmospheric conditions as well...

Neat idea

Thanks! Anyone have more?

 

[Ellros]

Underwater. Either exploration or maybe Search and Rescue.

 

[Liam Devlin]

Well, heck try all the above:
Heavy world(hi Gee); Corrosive atmosphere(B)/ Underwater)...

(grid XXXX) X-ABA000-0, ????, 011.

That way, you can negotiate 1 planetoid belt/ knock out the GG refuelling, do the UW adventure/ plus deal with nasty atmosphere, and try to lift from a Hi Gee world as well!).

 

[BigBadRon]

All while stellar flare activity is mucking about with the sensors and electronics...

 

[Father Fletch]

How about trying to park the beast while in a civilized system? THERE is a real test of the utility of the ATV!

Seriously though I remember the game having a subplot being that where you parked mattered. You could also test the anti-theft systems/anti-personnel systems.
Try a Damnation Alley type scenario with the characters having to cross a radioactive wasteland, fighting off giant cockroaches and rescuing maidens in distress. See how well the ATV works for looooong road trips across hostile territory. Throw in some car-wars type nomad mutant bikers for fun

 

[N.I.C.E. Labs]

Excellent

VERY good ideas...hi-g world 'acid test', the Road Warrior/Landmaster impersonation....flare activity...very good.

Now...for the SECOND test... :

 

[Liam Devlin]

Originally posted by N.I.C.E. Labs:

Now...for the SECOND test... :

------------------------------------------------
Bureacratic adventure/liaison skill + Admin/Legal needed)..Trying to find out if the warranty on the paint job is really what they say it is(return to manufacturer, and try to get new paint job!)

 

[Liam Devlin]

(Who said I couldnae design an adventure where nobody died, huh?! HAH! Take that!)

Liam,
evil GM at large

 

[N.I.C.E. Labs]

hehe indeed Liam

Btw, did you find your birthday present I left for you here in the forums yet?