Tech Ideas

[dazura]

"Hi, my name's Dazura, and I'd like to get into creative writing."

Anyway, I've created a Google doc for tech content I'd like to work on, get my feet wet and all that.

If you could take a look, give me some feedback, perhaps come in on Saturday... that'd be great.

Tech ideas:

Wave Drive (sublight drive)
Dragon Shielding (Ship and personal variant)
Plasma Lance (Ship weapon)
​

 

[runingman69]

Read this first https://forum.fenoxo.com/threads/how-to-submit-a-project.12689/ This will help you out greatly.

 

[dazura]

Read this first https://forum.fenoxo.com/threads/how-to-submit-a-project.12689/ This will help you out greatly.

I did, thank you!

 

[runingman69]

Ok good! Also Arial is the best choice for docs faunt.

 

[dazura]

Thanks for the tip! I was using the "How not to make Gedan hate you" doc as a template.

 

[TheShepard256]

Some points regarding the Dragon Shielding upgrade and associated comments:

• Shield Defense acts as damage reduction: each attack your ship's shields sustain has its damage reduced by your ship's Shield Defense, to a minimum of 1.
• There's already an upgrade that increases max Shields (Shield Upgrade: +1,000) and an upgrade that increases Shield Defense (Tuned Emitters: +20), but not one that increases both; I'd recommend you include both in the Dragon Shielding.
• I think the 'advanced systems' you're referring to is the Sensor Suite upgrade, which is run by a KihaCorp software suite and increases sensors, and doesn't seem like the kind of thing that would be required in order to install more effective shield systems.
  
• I don't think requiring another upgrade in order to install and use the Dragon Shielding is a good idea; it makes the Dragon Shielding less versatile in terms of how many playstyles it can fit into. I think a better option would be to make it have a penalty to systems due to the processing power it requires to function, which would encourage installing Hardened Systems to counteract the penalty but not make it necessary for those who are fine with lowered systems. Or do the same thing, but with sensors and the Sensor Suite instead. (Doing it with both is probably too much.)
• Even if the penalty to systems from the above point is implemented, I think it would still be possible for the Dragon Shielding to have some resistance to shield disrupting effects (assuming you mean the Shield Disruptor and Shield Vampire gadgets); you'd just get a bonus to systems checks vs an enemy's use of those gadgets while this upgrade is equipped but not to any other systems checks. So far, this would only be useful against Doctor Teyaal's MS-XI, since that's the only enemy ship with either of those gadgets installed (she actually has both), and she can only be fought three times, and only in the Sidewinder; unless/until more enemies with those gadgets are implemented, I think you're better off not sacrificing points in Shields or Shield Defense for an effect that's so situational.
  
• I thought shields were based off the same technology as hardlight stuff. Or was it holograms? I forgot, since my head-canon says they're all variations of the same tech.

 

[dazura]

TheShepard256, you bring up some good points!

• I was guessing that the "defense" stat was a damage reduction method so thanks for clarifying!

• The systems penalty is a good idea, I'll tack that in!

• As for the resistance bit, I was looking at it as a single point of failure(normal shield system) vs redundancy(this system). Disrupting a single "scale" of the shield wouldn't affect the overall integrity. I can't remember where I was going here but I do understand the value of not packing too many bonuses into a single 'item'.

• From my understanding of how things are presented in the TiTS bible, hardlight and hologram tech is similar or stems from the same tech but shields are a bit more nebulous. Halo and Star Wars are listed as references as to how they work.
  • In Halo, there are a few different shields; spartan armor shields/ elite shields, portable shields used by jackals, and the stationary shields the Covenant use on the battlefield. These shields are electromagnetic energy barriers and hold up well against projectiles. The Forerunners in Halo use hardlight for bridges and terminals.
  • In Star Wars you have the bubble type shields seen on destroyer droids and smaller craft, and deflector shields on larger ships.

• I was also thinking of a personnel version of the Dragon Shielding. Perhaps that would be more appropriate?

 

[TheShepard256]

As for the resistance bit, I was looking at it as a single point of failure(normal shield system) vs redundancy(this system). Disrupting a single "scale" of the shield wouldn't affect the overall integrity. I can't remember where I was going here but I do understand the value of not packing too many bonuses into a single 'item'.

That redundancy sounds like it would only protect against physical attacks, not cyberwarfare like the gadgets I mentioned. So, ignore the bit about bonus to systems checks vs those gadgets, maybe?

From my understanding of how things are presented in the TiTS bible, hardlight and hologram tech is similar or stems from the same tech but shields are a bit more nebulous. Halo and Star Wars are listed as references as to how they work.

I was thinking that hardlights were basically holograms one could physically touch, and that most shields operated by making a temporary physical hardlight shield that prevents incoming attacks from hitting the shielded individual. The latter is definitely my headcanon rather than established canon, unless it becomes canon in the future.

I was also thinking of a personnel version of the Dragon Shielding. Perhaps that would be more appropriate?

In-universe, KihaCorp scaled down some of their starship tech into equipment suitable for personal use while still also producing the starship-scaled versions, so I don't see why that couldn't also happen with the Dragon Shielding.

 

[dazura]

That redundancy sounds like it would only protect against physical attacks, not cyberwarfare like the gadgets I mentioned. So, ignore the bit about bonus to systems checks vs those gadgets, maybe?

Depends on if the attack is against the system in general or against the shield generators but I'll leave it out for now.

I was thinking that hardlights were basically holograms one could physically touch, and that most shields operated by making a temporary physical hardlight shield that prevents incoming attacks from hitting the shielded individual. The latter is definitely my headcanon rather than established canon, unless it becomes canon in the future.

Okay, rereading the tits:sb hardlight "Utiliz(es) the same kind of technology that power(s) shields...." Perhaps hardlight shielding is too inflexible and expensive for standard use?

In-universe, KihaCorp scaled down some of their starship tech into equipment suitable for personal use while still also producing the starship-scaled versions, so I don't see why that couldn't also happen with the Dragon Shielding.

Updated the doc with it included.

 

[TheShepard256]

The stats you've listed for the Dragon Shield make it much more powerful than other ship upgrades. To put it in line with the others, I'd recommend +750 Shields, +15 Shield Defense, -10 Systems (two bonuses, each equal to 75% of an already existing upgrade, with a penalty equal to 50% of another upgrade = 2x75%-50% = 100%).
Similarly for the Personal Dragon Shield, it's way too powerful compared to other shields:

• Most have a 50-55% weakness to electric damage (the others are -30% electric and -65% burning; one also has -20% burning in addition to its electric weakness).
• All have kinetic resistance of at least 10%, with most having 25-45% (but none above that).
• Most have a total resistance of -15% to 0%.
  
• Shield Defense is +3 or below for all that have it, except one that has +7 but also has a total resistance of -30%.
• The only shield belts that have freezing resistance are heat belts, which also have low shield bonuses and kinetic resistance of 10%. Similarly, only one has corrosive resistance. Enemies generally use kinetic, electric and/or burning damage for their physical attacks, so shields not having resistance to them is fine.

Stat-wise, I'm pretty sure you don't need to specify exact values; just specify what level the equipment piece is, which stats should be increased/decreased and by how much relative to each other (e.g. moderate +Shields, high +Shield Defense, equal kinetic and burning resist with twice that much electric weakness). Someone on the team will figure out the exact values based on the system they use for balancing equipment. (I'd balance it myself, but I don't know the details of that system.)
Also, did you know that the Moondast Gruss has no shields, making the -15% from the Wave Drive a non-issue? Though I don't know if anyone actually uses the Moondast Gruss, mainly because "why would someone use a ship that has no shields? Armour is expensive/time-consuming to repair!".
You'll also need to think of where each of these is going to be purchasable from.

Also, on grammar: it's 'personal', not 'personnel'. Personal = adjective, relating to a single person; personnel = noun, a more formal (or at least military-sounding) term for people/persons.

I'm sorry if I'm sounding antagonistic or something; I want to help, and it's better to catch this sort of stuff now rather than have it persist until it's submitted.

 

[dazura]

It's all good! Critique shows me where I need to improve. That said I am aware of the differences between personal and personnel, just a typing error on mobile. Yeah, easy errors are best to take care of immediately.

Updated doc.

I was thinking of these being mid to late game and I've got an inkling of how they'd be available.

 

[dazura]

Added ship weaponry, Plasma Lance to doc.