Re: tech code blues

[email removed] writes:

> Adrian Hurt writes:
>> [email removed] writes:
>>> But if this character wants to use a FGMP-15 he will get -3 on his
>>> skill-level (minimum skill-0) since he is trying to use equippment that
>>> is above the TL he got tought to use.
>>
>> I don't like this.  The main differences between the FGMP-15 and the PGMP-12
>> are (a) power and (b) the gravitic device which overcomes weight and recoil
>> problems.
>
>   There is several things that might be different on a PPMP-12 and a FGMP-15.
> For starters, the recoil is not present on a FGMP-14.

Minor quibble - it is present on the FGMP-14, but not on the FGMP-15.  Which
is what I also said - and which would make the weapon easier to use, not
harder.

>						There might also be quite
> large differences in user interface. I'd expect that a FGMP-15 has a flashy
> 3D-scope/sight with rangefinder and lot's of features, after all, it ought to
> have that for *that* price :-)

Therefore the FGMP-15 ought to have some beneficial DM on its to-hit roll,
which the TL 12 user wouldn't get as all he'd be looking for is the cross-hair.
If he really is confused by the display, he takes a -2 DM, ignores the sights
entirely, and fires without proper aiming.

>   It's quite clear that I'd impose a penalty for first use, but for how
> long it would remain is another question.

Until he'd read the manual, or until someone had shown him how to use the new
neato features.  And the penalty would be at most -1.

>   Also, in some cases it might have been more realistic to make it harder to
> go *down* in techlevels than go *up* in techlevels. Just because the character
> will do a *worse* job when he is bereft of all hightech features.

Only because the lower-tech weapon is less capable.  I imagine that anyone who
could fire a TL7 assault rifle could equally well fire a TL4 bolt-action rifle,
but would not get the +2 DM for automatic fire.

- --
 "Keyboard?  How quaint!" - M. Scott

 Adrian Hurt			     |	JANET:  [email removed]
 UUCP: ..!ukc!cs.hw.ac.uk!adrian     |  ARPA:   [email removed]