Re: Campaign rules?

On Fri, 6 Dec 1996, Hal Carmer wrote:

 
> Regards to Maiden Voyage: regardless of why the ship is in action, the
> maiden voyage should have a chance for problems.  Instead of making a
> threshold check in the major way, why not make just two "checks"
total.
> The first during the maiden voyage itself.  The second immediately
upon
> the first combat the ship suffers.  Treat the first combat check as
being
> one threshold check worse than it really is (ie the first check fails
on a
> 5 or 6, the second on a 4,5, or 6 etc...) this simulates the potential
for
> a crew not knowing it's ship very well.  Once a crew has been on a
ship
> for a set time (don't know what to specifiy as the time limit) said
crew
> now checks thresholds in the first combat normally. 

Hey, I really like this idea.  I like the idea of using an extra (or
worse) threshold check to simulate the problems of a maiden voyage.  You
could expand upon the idea to show the crew quality as well.  Maybe a
green crew (never seen combat) will have a one worse threshold check
roll
when first entering combat.  Perhaps an "elite" crew could have a one
improved threshold check.  I have been trying to think of ways to show
crew status (under various conditions) for some time.  I haven't liked
the
idea of modifying the rolls of damage dice (all weapon systems don't
work
the same game-mechanic wise) and hadn't thought of just using threshold
checks.  You could argue that in a reality where most targeting is done
by
computer the best way to show crew impact is to show how well the crew
"knows" its ship.

Chad Taylor