GT ISW Ship Design System [FAQ and Problems]

[nik1979]

Clarification

Fixed Equations (Fxd):
Small Craft Pilots and Crew
Small Craft Technicians
Flight Control Crewman
Engineering
Command Section
Ship Troops
Cargo Service Section
Gunnery Section


Non-Fixed Equations
Maintenance Section (Mnt)
Medical Section (Med)
Life Support Section (Lif)
Workshops (Wrk)
General Service Section (Gen)

My Problem with the non-fixed equations is that they are co-dependent on each other and I think its possible to calculate for their value BUT not with layman math.

Total Crew (Crw)

Fxd + (Mnt = (Crw/40)) + (Med = (Crw/40)) + (Lif = (Crw/80)) + (Wrk = (Crw/60)) + (Gen = (Crw/60)) = Crw

See My problem?, the variables are dependent in the final output variables.
Does the Errata or FAQ people have any answers to this.

If not, I recommend making Mnt like Engineering section but dependent on other elements (dtons of ?), Lif, Med, and Gen depend on Ship Quarters (and a way to generate recommended working ship quarters), and Wrk depend on Mnt.


(why is it that 3e has more stuff on this?)
ECM system rules
EW system rules
Convert the 3e Shipdesign Tables? At least an unofficial one, because there is no ISW plan in the future. I'm making a consolidated table set, combining 3e and 4e ship designs, but there is so much left to interpretation of doctrine I'm thinking of basing the TL10s on Honorverse-ish.

A few Other things..

• Since there are missile construction rules in 3e, how about and drone construction? The rules as is can actually created 10dTon EW/ECM drones.
• I've been reading the senor rules, it seems that it is either 1/0 when it comes to detecting something in range. I've scanned through the book and there seems to be no bonuses detecting anything closer or penalties at the edge of range (or any mention of Range modifiers to scanning)? My problem with the rules as is, is that it is a "save-or-die" situation for free-traders (vs missiles, fighters, enemy missile boats).

Scenario. Pirate warnings with idle or missile probe/Beacons. Instead of broadcasting, pirates can dictate their demands with the probe/beacon (using them as to relay tight beam messages) while maintain silent running. Worst case senario for the pirates, they use decoys to confuse the prey of thier actual vector and force a "detection" reroll for the Scan officer or the scan officer will fail to see the "switch" (if he makes it, he will see two opfors and will have to make a large enough margin of success to determine which is the enemy ship). This basically lets a 20dton assault craft sneak up on a free trader (like in somalia's coast) and board.

Even if probes will cost as much as 1M-3M its worth the cash win of a intact prize.