Two questions about spaceships and aliens culture

Hi all,

I keep asking questions, since you always have the answers :D


Yesterday my players asked me something I couldn't really answer.

If a ship has a C sensors system, and it takes a hit, it suffers from the C line penalty (-2 tactical maneuvers). Hit it again and it gets the B penalty (Cannot execute lock on). Two hits, two penalties.

If a ship has a BB sensors system, and it takes a hit, no penalty, second hit and "Cannot execute lock on". Two hits , one penalty.

So BB is better than C ?


My second question is different. Let's say that my players visit a planet where some not-so-different species is living (let say Rigel VII). Which skill to use to understand local habits , and basic social stuff as "this society has women as leaders" for instance ?

In the old StarWars RPG (not D20) there was a skill called Aliens species to get those informations. One skill for all species you meet.

I realise that Culture: Orion should do the trick, but they cannot have one skill for every species.
I can use Culture alone (but is it authorised, I thought that Culture *had* to be specialised ?) but if I do that, they all have a good level in culture , language etc etc because they all have a decent intelligence.

Thanks

So BB is better than C?

No. Since, as written on page 8 of "Starships", systems with two letter reliability ratings ignore the first box of damage dealt to it, both will be able to withstand the same amount of damage, and damage to the C system will immediately result in maneuver modifiers, however the C system will still have a higher reliabilty modifier. Besides, you are looking at the problem from the wrong perspective. You don't built a ship based on the systems' reliabilty ratings, but based on the systems' output. At least that's the way I see it.

Yes, Culture has to be specialized, but only to reflect your superior knowledge about the place you grew up, compared to other cultures. I believe you are still allowed to use your general skill level for rolls concerning knowledge about alien cultures. I am not perfectly happy with this arrangement either, but it makes more sense (from the game mechanic viewpoint) than having to buy a new culture skill all the time. Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong.

You do not have one Culture skill per species. It is one skill that, though it doesn't have to be specialized, usually is due to the Species skills gained during character creation (and usually in your native species). It serves much the same purpose as the old D6SW Aliens skill.

There's no right answer to your question. Technically, in terms of number of hits and penalties that a system can take prior to being non-functional you are correct; a BB is better than a C. However, another aspect of the reliability ratings are the reliability modifiers ("Starships" pg 9, "NG" pg 137) which are used as bonuses to fix systems. A C has a larger bonus to BB, reflecting that system's inherent design superiority.

Double (ie. "BB") systems are reinforced to take more damage but aren't as advanced (lower modifers).

Single (ie. "C") systems are not reinforced but are inherently better designed and are easier to repair (higher modifiers).

Yes, this was an intentional design consideration and is part of the system tradeoffs between different types of systems. You see more "brute force" double systems on, say, Klingon ships and more finesse single systems on Federation vessels.