 May 18, 2016 - 10:47am | Robotic Hand Controller Some things were left out of the module: Weight: since module didn't say I guess we can go with N/A Range? Description says it has a radio so use range of the radiophone from AD which is 1000km? Or reduce that as I think the radiophone has some weight? Note radio phone weighs 4kg so 1000km seems too much. Chronocom has 5kn by comparison Cost? Radiophone costs 500 CR. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
 May 19, 2016 - 6:11am | Yes, you raise some good points. Looking at the illustration of the hand controller in the module, it looks like a hefty device. How about 1 kg? Yes, the radio range of 1,000 km is too much and 5 km is probably too short. Maybe it should be somewhere in the range of 100-250 km. Of course the type of terrain could severely affect range -- i.e. a mountain range between the controller and the robot would probably completely block communication. Radioactive deposits could degrade the signal, etc. Cost... 250 Credits? Joe Cabadas |
May 19, 2016 - 6:37am | Terrain degrading signal is the responsibility of the referee IMO, but I agree. Language could be inserted into the description say 100-250 km depending on terrain. In truth terrain is more likely to come into play if a robot is not airborne. I was actually thinking 1/4 of the radio phone's range would be good. I was for no wt but 1kg is isn't bad and cost is in keeping with chronocom. Note enterprising players could use this unit as a long range com ordering a robot to put the voice signal on external speaker for the benefit of PCs standing near by. Or negotiation with a bad guy could be accomplished by sending a robot and chatting over the com channel. Bad guy keeps or destroys the bot it's no big deal. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
May 19, 2016 - 6:46am | Rule mod: rule book says PCs attempting to perform a skill without that skill suffer -20% to skill check. Use of the hand controller by a non roboticist negates or reduces this penalty. The controller allows for 3 modes of control two are verbal and one is direct. If a robot had a chronocom installed (or worn on a high level anthropomorphic bot) then I don't see why the verbal modes of control couldn't be done by chronocom. In fact smart phones are used in real world to control drones. So I'd be for applying the non skilled penalty to control attempts via chronocom (if a skill check is required) but not for the hand controller with the explanation being it has all the bells and whistles. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
 May 21, 2016 - 10:19am | Also the range thing is based on the assumption that the signal is direct to the unit and not through a network as cell phones and internet are today. This reflects the 1980's thinking. The unit could have 100-250km range direct limit for use where networks are not present and then could be upgraded to use the planetary communication network to go anywhere on the planet. -iggy |
May 21, 2016 - 10:29am | Also the range thing is based on the assumption that the signal is direct to the unit and not through a network as cell phones and internet are today. This reflects the 1980's thinking. The unit could have 100-250km range direct limit for use where networks are not present and then could be upgraded to use the planetary communication network to go anywhere on the planet. Good point Joe Cabadas |
 May 22, 2016 - 9:34am | According to the media, President Bush utilized a similar unit to send Hurricane Katrina into New Orleans...as such where specifications are concerned, anything is possible.  |
May 22, 2016 - 11:59am | According to the media, President Bush utilized a similar unit to send Hurricane Katrina into New Orleans...as such where specifications are concerned, anything is possible. Don't forget that Fidel Castro once went out on a beach and commanded a hurricane to bypass Cuba. He must have been using the same device... or at least the old Soviet version. Joe Cabadas |
