Questions about SUs

[Lonoto]

Has anyone thought of a way to reflect how in the future, systems become smaller and take up less space yet remain at the same dificulty to destroy?

[Steve Long]

Since an SU doesn't represent any defined amount of volume -- it's a game balance calculation, generally -- the factors you're talking about don't really matter in setting an SU value. What really matters is how important a system is in game play. That's why huge cargo areas are cheap, whereas relatively tiny weapons are costly.

[Capt. K. Vaughn]

In my Challenger campaign, the PCs eventually were able to acquire and install an advanced coaxial warp drive.

It ended up costing the same in SU's, the reduction in size due to technological advancement being balanced by the reduced TN to prevent breakdown and the time period over which it occurred.

The reduced size essentially became balanced by redundant interlocks to increase safety.

Off the top of my head though, for a simple system reduce the SU cost to one grade lower in each step every decade and introduce an advancement that costs what the most advanced technology did but with a slightly better performance bracket.

Regards,
CKV.

[Phoenix]

You could also just make the ship a larger size. Example Galaxy class vs. Soverign class, yes the Soverign is longer, but the Galaxy is wider, taller, and displaces a greater area.

[Lonoto]

Well, what I really meant was a way that ships didn't have to get bigger and bigger and bigger so that they can use advanced systems, and I need a way to make smaller ships that are more advanced able to take more hits. I was just wondering how a ship from ay, 2600 that was like 200 metres long, would be able to have more advanced technology and the ability to withstand more than the 680 metre long Sovereign...

Lonoto

[Capt. K. Vaughn]

You will have to work out your own jury-rigged numbers then to get such an advantage. You could go a couple different ways but the easiest would probably be in an increase in ablative armor protection for x number of SU's.

Don't have the time this morning to go into detailed suggestion. I will try later though.

Regards,
CKV.

[Trinity Zeldis]

Since SU's also represent "hit points" for a ship and its systems, it is logical to assume that advances, making items smaller, would make them with fewer "hit points."

Now here is a spot that gets sticky. What you want to do with it is up to you.

Check your timetables. A good idea is a 10% reduction for old tech per stage.

[Lonoto]

What I meant to address with this topic is how small ships with extremely advanced technology can take more hits than others. Their systems have been advanced and made smaller, yet they can take the same if not bigger poundings than bigger ships.

Anyways, I guess improved armor would probably sort this out. Could someone give an example of improved armor?

[Lonoto]

To make sure people understand what I mean by smaller, I mean that a size 4 or so ship could fit the same stuff as a Soveriegn in it becuase it takes less SUs or the size 4 ship has more SUs in the future due to technological advances.

[Capt. K. Vaughn]

I'll have to do it tomorrow as I am about to leave to head out of town for a funeral but another thought then instead of shrinking things...every x number of years have the SU's per ship size increase by a set amount and just make a chart based around year, ship size and available SU's.

Regards,
CKV.

[Trinity Zeldis]

OOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooo

I like it Vaughn.

[Lonoto]

There we have it!

Thank you so much, I will definately use this, but probably per decade there is a change, and the beginning of the changes happens in 2380.

Thanks so much!

[Capt. K. Vaughn]

You're welcome.

Anybody, got a weather control system handy...

Regards,
CKV.

[Lonoto]

Would it be reasonable to say that about every decade, Federation and other contending empires (such as Romulans and Klingons) SUs go up by 100xsize or so, and governments with poorer resources or less ingenuity (a la Cardassians and Borg) only gain 50xsize or even 25xsize?

[Capt. K. Vaughn]

I would make it one size fits all for tracking purposes, after all Cardassians could steal such advances and the Borg would easily assimilate and incorporate improvements.

As for 100 x size category, on paper that really does not sound bad but for a reason I cannot at this time qualify, it makes me hesitant.

Regards,
CKV.