Re: Arms Race

>Certainly an arms race is realistic, if you're portraying the passing
of 
>time in a game world. If you want that, you can assign existing
equipment 
>tech levels or something. 

Quoting from my conversion rules for my campaign system below. Maybe
this
can be used as a starting point for the above:


All listed Systems are available to players at start (assuming a
starting TL of 
one): 
·	Class A, B, and C Batteries 
·	 Level One Screens 
·	Fighters (basic rules) 
·	PDAF 
·	ADAF 
·	FireCon 
·	Submunition Packs 
·	Mines/Minesweepers 
·	Passive/Active Sensors (basic rules) 
·	Normal Missiles 
·	DCP 
·	Individual ECM systems 
·	Orbital Bombardment 

 Each FT weapon not listed 
here counts as 1/2 of a TL benefit except as detailed below (in other
words, if 
you decide to upgrade only tactical weapon systems, you could choose
four non-
listed systems instead of just two upon reaching TL 2). 
 
Other Restrictions 
A. Screens 
Player must have/choose level Two Screens before choosing Level 3
Screens. 
B. Reflex Field 
Counts as a full TL benefit and may not be chosen unless the player has
Level 3 
Screen Technology available. 
C. Sensors 
Players must have/choose Enhanced Sensors before choosing Superior
Sensors.   
D. Cloaking 
Counts as a full TL benefit. Players must have Superior Sensors before
choosing 
Cloaking. 
E. Nova Cannon 
Counts as a full TL benefit and may only be chosen if the Wave Gun was
chosen 
previously. 
F. Fighters 
Each type of Advanced/Specialized fighter is chosen separately - they do
not 
come as a package. 

Depending on the time scale of your campaign setting, you could assign a
cumulative % chance of increasing Tech Levels by turn (for a 1 week/turn
game, I'd suggest a 3% chance per turn, percentage die roll equal to or
less
than current % chance).

Provisions could also be made for using only vanilla ships for the first
'x'
number of turns, introducing player designs at randomized intervals.

KJ
"War is too important to be left to the politicians."
   - Col. Jack D. Ripper, Dr. Strangelove