In message <2050) [email removed] (Mark F. Cook) writes:
>We were talking about the campaign and he said (paraphrased) ,"As soon as
> ------------------------------
>I get some more cash, I'm going to have the ship's computer upgraded so
>that just one person can operate the whole thing." This stopped me cold.
>This ship currently requires a minimum crew of three: pilot, navigator,
>and engineer. The Ref. rules say that's the MINIMUM. There are no
>additional rules for anything like what my player wants to do. Now,
>I can wing it and allow him to do what he wants, but I'm concerned on
>two points.
Most things I have seen lets the Pilot double as Navigator. So that is one
position that can be easily removed. If you wanted to (its not in the rules)
but you could make each skill operate at a -1 penelty since one person is
trying to do two jobs. The ship could survive without a pilot more than it can
an engineer. You have to have some one fix problems when they come up.
Traveller robots simply do not have the reasoning and intuition to figure out
where problems are. An Engineer with good computing skills and a large
computer could probably handle a 200 ton free trader. But I would do things
like have the ship constantly attacked by pirates and see just how long he
wants to be crewless. Get him to carry passengers, they need Steward service.
Hey, let him have his one computer and one crew member, make him carry a real
problem passenger who just happens to make it to the bridge while he is in
engineering and turn the ship into deep space.
>First, what would be the most logical/least-rule-bending way to do what
>he wants?
Remember, the rules are just guidelines. If you don't have a problem with him
doing that then by all means let him. You can charge him a fortune for some of
the software and robots, and since some of it is 'custom' there may be "Hidden
Features" that can lead to all sorts of adventures.
>Second, assuming that I do allow him to succeed, what effect will it
>have on game balance?
I don't think game balance is at threat. What is in trouble is the "Party
Cohesion". When you say "Its my ship, I don't need a crew, you are just
passangers so give me 10000cr per jump" The rest of the party isn't going to
tolerate that long and will either take the ship from him forcefully or leave
to find their own way. If he is your only player then it isn't a problem. The
crew positions are there to give players something to do and give them a sense
of purpose.
Ask yourself how the rest of the party react to not having anything to do
during space flight? and during the week in jump space?
What would I do?
I would force him to have two members of the crew, a Pilot/Nav and an Engineer.
The larger the ship the more crew and thats that is needed.
Rob