Re: Vehicle Computers

> What does this have to do with computers, you ask?  Well, I won't get in to
> any discussion of why Traveller treats computers the way it does, _but_
> given that it does, it seems reasonable that a computer of starship class
> aboard your tank (say a model 2 or a model 3) ought to give you some sort
> of bonus vis-a-vis similar tanks without the computer power. Given the
> magnitude of the numbers involved in some of these cases, I'd say that two
> or three times the computer size (with a +1 for a model 0) would be an
> appropriate modification.  After all, you get a plus for starship combat,
> which has to be a more difficult proposition that shooting at a moving
> tank 20km away.
>
> Any comments?

  Practically all surface or air combat takes place at ranges far below 'visual'
distance in space combat (50km, I think it is) with the exception of the various
forms of missile combat. And since the DM at visual range in starship combat is:

  own computer level - enemy computer level - enemy agility

  It would make perfect sense if the DM at shorter range would be:

  (own comp * A)-(enemy comp * B) - enemy agility

  where B probably would be smaller than A, because the weapons used are often
speed of light weapons, and the time delay won't be large enough to cause
problems at those ranges, ie the nonpredictability of the target won't be as
high. ('Nonpredictability'?:)

  Exactly how this should be modified by range is another matter, but I say as
I've found that I'll say more and more after reading Striker: "When MegaT
don't work, try Striker" :)

> Rob Dean

- - -bertil-
- - --
"Some people almost never think. They just reshuffle their prejudices."