[Spaceships 5] Will I need Labs to perform Remote Survey Procedures?

[Pectus Solentis]

(These rules are written on GURPS Spaceships #5, page 31)

When I had been trying to design my survey vessel to do Remote Survey missions, I wondered whether Lab is needed on my survey vessel or just having Scientific Sensors Array is sufficient.
On the book there was no clues for that...

(Sorry for my poor grammar... I'm korean and I have no experience of going abroad.)

[Agemegos]

Originally Posted by Pectus Solentis

(These rules are written on GURPS Spaceships #5, page 31)

When I had been trying to design my survey vessel to do Remote Survey missions, I wondered whether Lab is needed on my survey vessel or just having Scientific Sensors Array is sufficient.
On the book there was no clues for that...

On page 31 the rules say (about remote survey procedures" "[t]hey require a vessel's comm/sensor array, and specialists using it must have access to a control station." That suggests to me that the characters doing those tasks work in a control station, not in a lab. Control stations are described in the basic Spaceships rulebook, on page 14, under the heading "Control Room".

As for laboratories, the rules for those are in the basic Spaceships rulebook, on page 18, under the heading "Specialised Rooms for Habitats", and the rules there say that a laboratory gives a +1 bonus (or +2 for a ten-room "large lab") to a scientific skill. It doesn't say that a lab is necessary for any skill. Electronic operation, which is the skill that you use for most remote survey tasks, is not a scientific skill. An Electronic Operation laboratory is not possible and therefore it cannot be necessary.

Finally, if we look at page 34 of Spaceships 5 under the descriptions of "geological survey" and "biological survey" we see that when labs are required the rules state explicitly what lab are required. If laboratories were required for remote survey tasks the rules would have specified exactly what types were needed.

(Sorry for my poor grammar... I'm korean and I have no experience of going abroad.)

No worries. You wrote "when I had been trying" where "when I tried" would have been more natural, but your meaning was clear.

[Pectus Solentis]

Originally Posted by Agemegos

On page 31 the rules say (about remote survey procedures" "[t]hey require a vessel's comm/sensor array, and specialists using it must have access to a control station." That suggests to me that the characters doing those tasks work in a control station, not in a lab. Control stations are described in the basic Spaceships rulebook, on page 14, under the heading "Control Room".

As for laboratories, the rules for those are in the basic Spaceships rulebook, on page 18, under the heading "Specialised Rooms for Habitats", and the rules there say that a laboratory gives a +1 bonus (or +2 for a ten-room "large lab") to a scientific skill. It doesn't say that a lab is necessary for any skill. Electronic operation, which is the skill that you use for most remote survey tasks, is not a scientific skill. An Electronic Operation laboratory is not possible and therefore it cannot be necessary.

Finally, if we look at page 34 of Spaceships 5 under the descriptions of "geological survey" and "biological survey" we see that when labs are required the rules state explicitly what lab are required. If laboratories were required for remote survey tasks the rules would have specified exactly what types were needed.

Well, I saw 5 scientific skills (Chemistry, Geography(Physical), Geology, Meteorology, Physics) are needed to do In-System Survey to determine the planet's habitability. I saw there are no equipment modifier for them, but there was no explicit mentions whether that tasks need Labs or not.

[Agemegos]

Originally Posted by Pectus Solentis

Well, I saw 5 scientific skills (Chemistry, Geography(Physical), Geology, Meteorology, Physics) are needed to do In-System Survey to determine the planet's habitability. I saw there are no equipment modifier for them, but there was no explicit mentions whether that tasks need Labs or not.

There is no statement that they need labs. But in another place, where labs are needed the rules say so. I think that if laboratories were needed here the rules would say so.

The general rules for labs say that labs give a bonus, not that labs are necessary.

[Pectus Solentis]

Originally Posted by Agemegos

There is no statement that they need labs. But in another place, where labs are needed the rules say so. I think that if laboratories were needed here the rules would say so.

The general rules for labs say that labs give a bonus, not that labs are necessary.

Well, you think that Lab is not needed for that scientific tasks? Thanks for your opinion.

[Agemegos]

Originally Posted by Pectus Solentis

Well, you think that Lab is not needed for that scientific tasks? Thanks for your opinion.

It is my pleasure to advise you.

[Pectus Solentis]

What is the official opinion for this topic?

[Ulzgoroth]

Originally Posted by Pectus Solentis

Well, you think that Lab is not needed for that scientific tasks? Thanks for your opinion.

I'd definitely agree. The rules don't say that you need one, and you're doing strictly observational work in that type of survey so there's no logical reason you'd need an experimental workspace.

Originally Posted by Agemegos

No worries. You wrote "when I had been trying" where "when I tried" would have been more natural, but your meaning was clear.

Personally I'd go with with "when I was trying" there.

Originally Posted by Pectus Solentis

What is the official opinion for this topic?

I wouldn't have a strong expectation that someone will deliver one.

[Pectus Solentis]

Originally Posted by Ulzgoroth

I'd definitely agree. The rules don't say that you need one, and you're doing strictly observational work in that type of survey so there's no logical reason you'd need an experimental workspace.

Well, I thought there's no specimen to analyze when doing observational work too and I thought when there is no specimen where's the need for the Lab to be operated too.
but I doubt that a Lab has computing powers and when analysing Sensor's image there will be a need to use a Lab's computing devices...

[Ulzgoroth]

Originally Posted by Pectus Solentis

Well, I thought there's no specimen to analyze when doing observational work too and I thought when there is no specimen where's the need for the Lab to be operated too.
but I doubt that a Lab has computing powers and when analysing Sensor's image there will be a need to use a Lab's computing devices...

Computers are general purpose unless you make very unusual setting assumptions. And the ship has lots of computers whether it has labs or not. Also there aren't actually any rules indicating labs provide additional computing power.

You would have a problem if you don't have the right software for the job, but you could run that software from a bridge control station or an office just as well as from a lab. (Probably even a cabin really.)