Just to note, This is John Bogan, piggybacking on Curtis' account
I've done some work on the TNE crew level problem (how much it differs
from previous levels).
My solution was to use something Wildstar outlined, but with some modifications.
(obligatory dopey acronym:)
HAIS (High Automation Integrated Systems)
volume= vol of (powerplant+J-drive+M-drive+sensors+weapons)*0.01
(maybe change to something less, this needs design testing)
mass = volume (in tonnes)
cost = 1 MCr/14kl
power = (still needs testing, figure something between a flight computer
and the basic controls requirements. Ie: something token
[thanks joe])
Minimum Size: TL9-: 5 (displacement) tons. TL10-12: 2tons, 13+: 1ton
Engineering Crew: FFS formula * 0.25 (round fractions up)
Electronics Crew: FFS* 0.25 (round down)
Maneuver Crew: no change
Gunnery Crew: see below
Maintainence : FFS * 0.25 (round down)
Ship's troops: no change
command : no change (FFS based on modified numbers above)
stewards (no Change)
medical (no change)
HAIS ships divide their maintainence points by 4, after all other
MP calculations are done (round fractions up)
Gunnery Crew: on ships with HAIS, weapons fire can be conducted
completely from MFD's, and due to the combat advantages of
doing so, it usually is. Many (if not all) local weapons
crewstations are left unmanned, serving as emergency backup
only. When the ship is designed, the designers figure "usual"
battery arrangements, install MFD`s to suit, and base gunnery
crew levels on that.
Specific requirements:
Black Globes: BG's are always fully manned
Meson Screens: Meson screens are always fully manned
Damper turrets and screens: Always fully manned
Turret weapons: May be left unmanned, and controlled by MFD, within
MFD limits (only like weapons at one time, etc)
Larger weapons: any weapon with a crew greater than 2 may not be left
unmanned.(ie: crew of 3+ means no leaving it alone)
Note that larger weapons, like a spinal mount with a crew of one,
may be left unmanned locally, but likely will have an MFD unofficially
dedicated to its exclusive use.
Crew is the number of MFD's, plus the number of local weapons crews
the designers feel necesary to include.
I tried this with the Midu Agaaaawhatever 3000 ton destroyer,
and got the crew down to 46, with the ability to lose a few more,
depending on how many gun crew I want. CT crew was 33, MT was 47.
Pre- Virus:
HAIS is common in all Vilani, Zhodani, and Solomani-influenced regions.
Among aliens:
Aslan do not commonly use HAIS in ship designs.
K'Kree never leave home without it.
Hivers use it
Vargr usage varies widely (did you expect any different?)
Droyne: ? maybe yes, maybe no, ref's discretion.
HAIS ships are highly vulnerable to becoming Vampire ships in the
event of Virus infection, due to the high level if connectivity
and automation.
When non-HAIS ships are infected, the Virus is limited to only the
infected sub-system.
The Imperial Navy and Zhodani Navy designs presented in Brilliant Lances
are actually the post-Virus refits of those designs, eliminating the
HAIS systems. The volume gained using HAIS is mostly devoted to
extra fuel. Weapons load remains unchanged
Thoughts?
John H Bogan
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