[spaceships] mini-question: robot arm cost?

[muduri]

Hi all, very quick q while I tweak some Spaceships prices for some interstellar arena combat. The robot arm component seems quite expensive - given it’s TL8 or so tech I was thinking it would be say like 1/5 that cost. Is it because of the massive dSTs of the larger ships? Or just more expensive for all those servos and fine-motor controls? Wanted to check for feedback before brashly tweaking. Thanks!

[Varyon]

It’s the fine motor control. I believe SS7 has a “grabber” option, which reduces the fine motor control but results in the 1/5th price you’re looking for, IIRC.

[muduri]

Aha thanks, will go reference SS7!

[Rupert]

Actually, SS7's 'grabber' is 10% cost. It has two levels of Bad Grip, so has -4 to all tasks involving gripping things. BTW, note that the robot arm has the spaceship's ST and can act as an 'external clamp' - it is a pretty solid arm, and by default also quite nimble.

A SM+5 (30-ton) vehicle's robot arm has a BL of 4 tons. It can lift a car without any trouble at all and throw it 160 yards (doing 21d-21 damage, or 15d, say 1d+2 decade damage).

If such arms are too big and powerful, the 'smaller systems' rules in SS7 may help.

Another random thought - such a vehicle could lift itself with no encumbrance on eight arms, and presumably scuttle around on them. So, how fast would an 8-armed 'spider tank' be able to move?

[AlexanderHowl]

A SM+12 arm is likewise quite a beast. With a dST of 300, it is capable of dealing 30d d-scale damage with a punch and, with a BL of 900 tons, it can throw a main battle tank nearly five miles.

[RyanW]

For something more like the service arm on the International Space Station, there is the Telescoping Robotic Arm in SS8.