Specialized Systems Expansion

Or: Why should only science ships get specialized systems.

This is an idea I came up with while looking at the Specialized Science Rules. I thought: "Why should only Science skills get special treatment?" So I went through the skills list and picked some skills which could be applied as specialized systems that could be fitted to a Starship.
Note: The rules and limitations for specialized systems apply to these new systems as well.

Skill: Administration (Starship)
SU: 3
Description: Represents improvements to a ship's operations systems.

Skill: Diplomacy
SU: 5
Description: Represents upgraded diplomatic facilities (conference rooms, quarters etc.)

Skill: Engineering Skill (any)
SU: 5 (3 for a specialization)
Description: Represents upgraded repair and maintainence facilities. Useful for repair ships and tenders.

Skill:Espionage (Covert Communications)
SU: 3
Description: Represents specialized comm gear for stealth communications. Appropriate for scouts and intelligence ships.

Skill:Espionage (Traffic Analysis)
SU: 3
Description: Represents specialized sensor gear for tracing fleet and ship movements. Also appropriate for scouts and intelligence ships.

Skill: Shipboard Systems
SU: 5 (3 for a specialization)
Description: Represents overall upgrades to a ship's control systems. Specializations represent improvements for specific sub-systems.

Skill: Starship Tactics
SU: 5
Description: Represents a Combat Information Center or an upgrade to a ship's control systems for improved tactical performance.

Skill: Strategic Operations
SU: 5
Description: Represents a Flag Bridge for an Admiral and his staff. Useful for a fleet flagship.

Any and all feedback welcome!

Honestly? No. Spacedock gives me a migraine (in a good way), so after I've made the ship, I tend to convert it back to Icon, keeping notations on the otherstuff(tm) like science labs and the like that I want to know, but I don't want to add more steps. ;)

The Doc

Got to go with MB on this one. I love some of the stuff in Spacedock , but I prefer the quicker ICON system.

But having specialty systems for ships other than science makes sense to me.

I already use a similar idea with Starship Tactics and Stratigic Operations to represent Fleet Command Starships.

But I also convert back down to LUG, speed being the operitive word.

All in all, you do bring out more ideas here. Good work, and good ideas.

I would have to go with a Yes.

I think it could better define vessels that have a specific mission role.

I agree with the idea of more specialized systems, in fact I suggested something like your "Specialized Engineering Systems" in the thread on Fleet Tenders we had a while back.
Everything that lends a bit more variety and mission-role specifics to a ship is a good thing IMHO.

Only thing is, I wouldn't go with so many different specialized systems as you did. In fact some of them are more or less covered by the Spacedock rules:

Covert Communications: That's what the Security Rating for communications systems is for IMO. Just buy an upgrade to Sec Rating and give someone on the crew a good rating in the relevant skills.

Diplomacy: Quarters for high-ranking guests can be bought as luxury-type crew quarters and a high recreation rating would cover conference rooms if you define some of the lounges included with the rec rating as such.

Traffic Analysis: If you take that to mean specialized sensors you could just jazz up the standard sensors with upgrades and a high strength rating. No specialized system needed IMHO.


What I really like are the Engineering, Tactics and Strategic Operations Systems. I am not sure about Administration, as I don't see this system put to much use or installed on many starships, but OTOH I see no reason why not to use it.


The Shipboard Systems bonus is something I would only allow to be bought for one or two specializations in my game, since a flat bonus to all Shipboard System skill checks can make a very big difference in a game. From my experience it's one of the most frequently used skills during shipbound adventures and so it seems to me that you get one heck of a big advantage here for just 5 SU.
And besides, this would give a bonus to sensor and tactical skill checks as well, since these are specializations of the Shipboard Systems skill. Nobody would buy a sensor gain upgrade or better TA/T/TS system if you can get the same bonus (and more) for less SU.

But as I said, the idea itself isn't bad, it might just need a little more refinement. :)
(That's why I voted 'not sure'.)

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Originally posted by Lancer: ...The Shipboard Systems bonus is something I would only allow to be bought for one or two specializations in my game, since a flat bonus to all Shipboard System skill checks can make a very big difference in a game. From my experience it's one of the most frequently used skills during shipbound adventures and so it seems to me that you get one heck of a big advantage here for just 5 SU.
And besides, this would give a bonus to sensor and tactical skill checks as well, since these are specializations of the Shipboard Systems skill. Nobody would buy a sensor gain upgrade or better TA/T/TS system if you can get the same bonus (and more) for less SU.
But as I said, the idea itself isn't bad, it might just need a little more refinement.

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Good point,Lancer. Maybe Shipboard Systems should be limited to certain specializations that aren't covered by the existing Spacedock rules. Basically, they can represent upgrades to certain systems. One possible idea is multiple levels for a single system to represent various upgrade levels (probably similar to communications).
BTW Thanks for the feedback, Lancer. When I get a chance, I'll see about refining these systems.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Highway Hoss
BTW Thanks for the feedback, Lancer. When I get a chance, I'll see about refining these systems.

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You are welcome. :)

Another thing you might want to consider:
As I made up the specialized engineering system for the 'Fleet Tender' thread I rated that one at 8 SU AFAIR (too lazy at the moment to search for that thread).
My reasoning was, that this system not only would represent the maintenance/repair facilities themselves, but in addition some cargo bays for spare parts or an additional industrial replicator as well. If you include this in the SU costs for the engineering systems you save yourself the trouble of going back to another stage of the construction process and jazzing up these facilities as well for a tender/repair ship.

And you might want to think about different costs for the different specialized systems in terms of power use, but that's just something that crossed my mind this second. At the moment I have no detailed ideas on how to do this power-cost thing.

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Originally posted by Michael Barratt
Honestly? No. Spacedock gives me a migraine (in a good way), so after I've made the ship, I tend to convert it back to Icon, keeping notations on the otherstuff(tm) like science labs and the like that I want to know, but I don't want to add more steps. ;)

The Doc

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I voted "not sure" for similar reasons. Spacedock makes my stomach hurt & my head spin (and it's WAY over my head).

I voted yes. I prefer to use Spacedock to the ICON system. I tend to find the ICON system to vague. I think it gives starship operations and combat a realism edge over ICON.
I would welcome more rules to increase the complexity :)

OK, after some serious thought on the matter and reading Lancer's ideas, I decided to do the following:[list=1][*]Drop Diplomacy and Espinoage. As Lancer pointed out, these can be represented by installing the appropriate systems.[*]Drop Shipboard Systems. This is already covered by Spacedock rules and is unnecessary[/list=1] I also decided to keep the following:[list=1][*]Skill: Administration (Starship)
SU: 3
Description: Represents specialized personnel and equipment to handle supply and paperwork. I figure that ships like Starliners and transports would find such a system useful for improved handling of freight and passengers.[*]Skill: Administration (Space Station)
SU: 3
Description: Same as Administration (Starship), but for Space Stations.[*]Skill: Engineering Skill (any)
SU: 10 (8 for a specialization) .
Description: Represents upgraded repair and maintainence facilities. Useful for repair ships and tenders or Explorers.
Note: Lancer, I work on the assumption that the SU would represent workshops carrying the appropriate tools plus a dedicated industrial replicator and materials for fabricating parts. Use the power cost of an industrial replicator plus 1.[*]Skill: Starship Tactics
SU: 5
Description: Represents a Combat Information Center or an upgrade to a ship's control systems for improved tactical performance.[*]Skill: Strategic Operations
SU: 5
Description: Represents a Flag Bridge for an Admiral and his staff. Useful for a fleet flagship.[/list=1]
If anyone else has ideas for more specialized systems, please post. Feedback and input appreciated.