Re: FT3 DEVELOPMENT QUESTION: FTL & Core

In message <5536FFEF-1BB6-4103-A9E3-4982F017D84E@gzg.com>
	  Jon Tuffley <jon@gzg.com> wrote:

> Roger and Hugh, you both make very valid points here, and I'd be
> interested in everyone else's opinions on it too.

> It is entirely true that FTL has no game effect in the majority of
> situations - I don't know how many players have ever used the "arrival
> out of FTL" rules in a game….anyone here? The only other real effect
> that you get in game terms by having FTL drives as a separate ship
> system is that loss of them will strand the damaged ship in-system by
> making escape to FTL impossible, but again that is quite a minor
> factor and more of use in campaign terms than a one-off game.

> As a completely off-the-cuff suggestion, that I haven't thought
> through at all, how about doing away with the FTL drive as a "paid
> for" system and making it into a fourth Core System alongside the
> Command (Bridge), Life Support and Power Core icons?

> Feel free to discuss the ramifications of this, or indeed any other
> ideas on the matter…….

> Jon (GZG)

I had a number of thoughts on FTL & Core system today;

1) Get rid of the core systems as they are now, but if a ship looses 
all main drives & FTL systems it loses its power systems until at 
least one is repaired. If the ship loses all fire control systems, 
then its bridge is considered knocked out until at least one FC is 
repaired.

1a) as above, but loosing all the indicated systems (drives or FCs) 
means that a core system threshold for the indicated system (power or 
bridge) must also be made.

I'm not sure how to do life support with either of the above schemes.

2) Core systems exist as in FB1 (but maybe the effects of loosing them 
could be adjusted), but backups can be purchased as additional systems 
(with appropriate costs).

Another idea would to be to incorporate a 'morale' check system as 
core - something like the 'strike the colours' rules, but maybe the 
ship can try and escape if possible.

-- 
Charles Taylor