Subject: Ship's computers
Bob Mahoney ([email removed]) writes:
Scott ([email removed]) writes:
> As I said above, TL 15 starports are FAR to busy making mailitary and large
>craft to make many free traders, thus the average free trader is about TL 12 or
>so. One can still run a free trader off a 1/bis, but it is not as tempting.
Computer questions! First off, what does 'bis' mean? I remember that 'fib'
meant something like 'fiber backup', but 'bis' escapes me. "Big Information
System"?
Also, what actual effect does differing computer models have on ship's
functions, aside from the DM's to the various tasks? For example, the 200-ton
trader detailed in the Starship Operator's Guide: Is it doing all of this crew
recognition, entertainment holograms, etc. on a model 1 computer? If it is
powerful enough to do all this, is there any reason to have a better (more $)
model? And if it's not, why waste processing on 'frills' at the expense of the
DM's for combat, etc.?
My reply:
The big difference in computer types is how *good* a program you can run
(as well as how many you can run at once.)
The programs for navigation and maneuvering in system seem to be fairly
standardized and comparatively brief. However, the combat programs come
in all ranges of sophistication. This is evident in the High Guard combat
system, as well as it's direct descendent MegaTraveller.
At first one might think that computers don't do enough. I think that
since relative computer size is the *only* modifier that effects *every*
to hit and to penetrate die roll. One can also imagine a large number
of things the computer has to monitor as well. Think about how much junk
the Space Shuttle's computer system keeps track of! And that's just for
an in-system ship that can't keep a timetable! For a free trader to be
profitable it has to be reliable which means on board diagnostic and
automated correction systems have to be excellent, taking up lots of
CPU time. This is my interperetation as to why a ship of a given size
has a minimum computer requirement.
Obviously the people at GDW have simplified things considerably and
more or less reasonably.
I think Book 2 says what BIS stands for but I don't have it handy. Volume
one of High Guard (anyone besides me remember this?) says a bis computer
is "enhanced." That's all I could come up with.
Enjoy,
Nick Christenson
[email removed]