This section describes several standard sensor arrays. Each sensor array includes a list of functions; each function requires a move action and a successful Computer Use check (DC 15).
To build a sensor system from scratch, a character must succeed at a Craft (electronic) check (DC 30) after investing 60 hours in its assembly. A character without an electrical tool kit takes a –4 penalty on the skill check. The character must also make a Wealth check against the sensor system’s purchase DC.
Installing a sensor system requires a successful Craft (electrical) check (DC 30) after investing 30 hours. A character without an electrical tool kit takes a –4 penalty on the skill check.
Different types of sensor systems are detailed below.
Purchase DC: The purchase DC of the system.
Restriction: The level of license required to purchase the system legally.
[h=6]CLASS I SENSOR ARRAY (PL 5)[/h] This array includes radar, hi-res video, and infrared heat sensor units. As a move action, a Class I sensor array can perform either of the following functions with a successful Computer Use check (DC 15):
- Ascertain the location and type (ultralight, light, and so on) of all visible ships on the battlefield.
- Identify and ascertain the location of all visible hazards on the battlefield (such as asteroids and mines).
- Analyze the chemical composition of a planet’s atmosphere (the ship must be orbiting the planet).
Restriction: None
[h=6]CLASS II SENSOR ARRAY (PL 6)[/h] This array incorporates hi-res video, infrared and electromagnetic sensors, and ladar detection units. (The ladar uses low-powered laser beams to locate targets.) As a move action, a Class II sensor array can perform any one of the following functions with a successful Computer Use check (DC 15):
- Ascertain the location, type (ultralight, light, and so on), and subtype (fighter, destroyer, and so on) of all visible ships on the battlefield.
- Identify and ascertain the location of all visible hazards on the battlefield (such as asteroids and mines).
- Identify all PL 5 or PL 6 weapons on a specific ship (number and type of weapons present), including their organization into batteries (but not fire links).
- Ascertain the presence of any or all of the following systems on a specific ship: grapplers, magnetic field, point-defense system.
- Identify a specific ship’s armor type (PL 5 and PL 6 armor types only).
- Analyze the chemical composition of a planet’s atmosphere (the ship must be orbiting the planet).
Restriction: None
[h=6]CLASS III SENSOR ARRAY (PL 6)[/h] As the Class II sensor array, except that the ship also gains a +2 equipment bonus on all initiative checks. This array is normally installed on ships built for combat.
Purchase DC: 30
Restriction: None
[h=6]TARGETING SYSTEM (PL 6)[/h] A computerized targeting system helps starship gunners aim weapons and track enemy ships. A targeting system provides an equipment bonus on attack rolls depending on the ship’s size: Huge +1, Gargantuan +2, Colossal +3.
The purchase DC of the targeting system depends on the size of the ship.
Purchase DC: 18 (Huge), 23 (Gargantuan), or 28 (Colossal).
Restriction: Licensed (+1)
[h=6]CLASS IV SENSOR ARRAY (PL 7)[/h] This array includes hi-res video, electromagnetic sensors, multiband radar, spectroanalyzers, and mass detectors. (A mass detector locates objects via their gravitational signatures.)
As a move action, a Class IV sensor array can perform any one of the following functions with a successful Computer Use check (DC 15):
- Ascertain the location, type (ultralight, light, and so on), subtype (fighter, destroyer, and so on), and mass of all visible ships on the battlefield.
- Identify and ascertain the location of all visible hazards on the battlefield (such as asteroids and mines).
- Identify all of the PL 5, PL 6, and PL 7 weapons on a specific ship (number and type of weapons present), including their organization as fire-linked weapons and batteries.
- Ascertain the presence of any or all of the following systems on a specific ship: grapplers, magnetic field, particle field, point-defense system, tractor beam.
- Identify a specific ship’s armor type (PL 5, PL 6, or PL 7 armor types only).
- Identify the type of engines a ship has.
- Determine the number of life forms aboard a specific ship.
- Analyze the chemical composition of a planet’s atmosphere (the ship must be orbiting the planet).
- Analyze and chart the topography of a 1,000-square-mile area on a planet’s surface (the ship must be orbiting the planet).
- Determine a planet’s prevailing meteorological conditions and weather patterns (the ship must be orbiting the planet).
Restriction: None
[h=6]CLASS V SENSOR ARRAY (PL 7)[/h] As the Class IV sensor array, except that the ship also gains a +2 equipment bonus on all initiative checks. This array is normally installed on ships built for combat.
Purchase DC: 36
Restriction: None
[h=6]TARGETING SYSTEM, IMPROVED (PL 7)[/h] A starship equipped with an improved targeting system gains an equipment bonus on attack rolls depending on the ship’s size: Huge +3, Gargantuan +4, Colossal +5. This system replaces the PL 6 targeting system.
The purchase DC of the improved targeting system depends on the size of the ship.
Purchase DC: 22 (Huge), 27 (Gargantuan), or 32 (Colossal)
Restriction: Licensed (+1)
[h=6]CLASS VI SENSOR ARRAY (PL 8)[/h] This array includes hi-res video, electromagnetic sensors, spectroanalyzers, multiphase radar, and mass detectors.
As a move action, a Class VI sensor array can perform any one of the following functions with a successful Computer Use check (DC 15):
- Ascertain the location, type (ultralight, light, and so on), subtype (fighter, destroyer, and so on), and mass of all ships on the battlefield.
- Identify and ascertain the location of all hazards on the battlefield (such as asteroids and mines).
- Determine a specific ship’s PL 5, PL 6, PL 7, and PL 8 design specs (engines, defensive systems, sensor systems, communication systems, and weapons, including fire-linked weapons and batteries).
- Detect the presence and location of ships and mines using active cloaking screens (targets still gain the benefits of total concealment).
- Determine the number and type of life forms aboard a specific ship (“type” refers to the creature type).
- Analyze the chemical composition of a planet’s atmosphere (the ship must be orbiting the planet).
- Determine the number and type of life forms within a 4,000-square mile region on a planet’s surface (the ship must be orbiting the planet, and “type” refers to the creature type).
- Analyze and chart the topography of a 4,000-square-mile area on a planet’s surface (the ship must be orbiting the planet).
- Determine a planet’s prevailing meteorological conditions and weather patterns (the ship must be orbiting the planet).
Restriction: None
[h=6]CLASS VII SENSOR ARRAY (PL 8)[/h] As the Class VI sensor array, except that the ship also gains a +2 equipment bonus on all initiative checks. This array is normally installed on ships built for combat.
Purchase DC: 42
Restriction: None
[h=6]ACHILLES TARGETING SOFTWARE (PL 8)[/h] Any starship with a targeting system can have Achilles targeting software; the software does not take up one o f the starship’s sensor system slots.
Achilles targeting software enables the ship to better train its weapons on an enemy’s critical systems. Achilles targeting software increases the critical threat ranges of the ship’s beam, projectile, and missile weapons by 1. This effect stacks with other systems that expand a weapon’s critical threat range, such as weapon batteries.
The purchase DC of Achilles targeting software depends on the size of the ship.
Purchase DC: 26 (Huge), 31 (Gargantuan), or 36 (Colossal).
Restriction: Restricted (+2)
[h=6]CLASS VIII SENSOR ARRAY (PL 9)[/h] This array is an amplified version of the Class VI sensor array.
As a move action, a Class VIII sensor array can perform any one of the following functions with a successful Computer Use check (DC 15):
- Ascertain the location, type (ultralight, light, and so on), subtype (fighter, destroyer, and so on), and mass of all ships in the star system.
- Identify and ascertain the location and trajectories of all hazards in the star system (such as asteroids and mines).
- Determine a specific ship’s design specs (engines, defensive systems, sensor systems, communication systems, and weapons, including fire-linked weapons and batteries).
- Detect the presence and exact location of ships and mines equipped with cloaking screens, and negate the effects of stealth screens, displacers, and cloaking screens.
- Determine the number, type, and species of life forms aboard a specific ship (“type” refers to the creature type).
- Analyze the chemical composition of a planet’s atmosphere (the ship must be in the same system as the planet).
- Determine the number, type, and species of life forms on a planet’s surface (the ship must be orbiting the planet, and “type” refers to the creature type).
- Analyze and chart the topography of a planet’s surface (the ship must be orbiting the planet).
- Determine a planet’s prevailing meteorological conditions and weather patterns (the ship must be in the same system as the planet).
Restriction: None
[h=6]CLASS IX SENSOR ARRAY (PL 9)[/h] As the Class VIII sensor array, except that the ship also gains a +2 equipment bonus on all initiative checks. This array is normally installed on ships built for combat.
Purchase DC: 48
Restriction: None
[h=5]STARSHIP COMM SYSTEMS[/h] The ability to communicate with other ships and bases is vital to starships. The more advanced a ship’s communications capabilities, the better informed its crew is, and the better they can coordinate with other ships in the same fleet.
To build a communication system from scratch, a character must succeed at a Craft (electrical) check (DC 30) after investing a number of hours equal to the ship’s Hit Dice. A character without an electrical tool kit takes a –4 penalty on the skill check. The character must also make a Wealth check against the system’s purchase DC.
Installing a comm system requires a successful Craft (mechanical) check (DC 30) and a successful Craft (electrical) check (DC 30) after investing 30 hours. A character without a mechanical or electrical tool kit takes a –4 penalty on the appropriate skill check.
The following section describes various ship-to-ship comm. systems.
Purchase DC: The cost of the comm system.
[h=4]Internal Comm Systems[/h] Internal comm systems, though as vital as ship-to-ship communications, are not covered in depth here. Obviously, the larger a ship’s crew complement, the greater its need for internal communications. The crew must stay in contact to do their jobs properly. Smaller ships can often get by with headsets jacked into the ship’s network, or short-range two-way radios, or even just shouting to each other from nearby crew stations. Larger ships require a more sophisticated system.
A standard internal communication system allows twoway audio communication from any comm station to any other comm station on the same ship. An internal comm system has a purchase DC based on the ship’s type: ultralight 13, light 16, mediumweight 19, heavy 22, superheavy 25. Increase the purchase DC by +2 if the comm stations include video screen displays as well.
[h=6]RADIO TRANSCEIVER (PL 5)[/h] The radio transceiver can transmit on multiple frequencies in either LOS (line of sight) or omnidirectional mode, sending messages at the speed of light. A radio transceiver can handle up to ten simultaneous two-way conversations.
Purchase DC: 21
[h=6]LASER TRANSCEIVER (PL 6)[/h] This system uses a beam of coherent light to transmit messages. The laser is unidirectional; the signal cannot be intercepted or jammed unless it’s beamed directly at a hostile ship or station. However, if the comm officer doesn’t know exactly where the receiving station is, the laser transceiver is a waste of effort. This has some hidden drawbacks; a character cannot use the laser transceiver for a general distress call to all stations in the area, for example. A ship can’t receive laser communications unless it is equipped with the transceiver.
Lasers are limited to the speed of light (8 AU/hour), meaning it can take hours or days to get a response within a system, or even weeks to get a response at interstellar distances.
Purchase DC: 23
[h=6]DRIVESAT COMM ARRAY (PL 7)[/h] This massive comm array provides rapid interstellar communications. The array consists of a constellation of dozens of small transmitters that transmit and receive messages through space at faster-thanlight speeds, enabling communications with a range of 50 light-years.
The signals travel at a rate of 5 light-years per hour. Because of the need for steady signal, the ship must remain stationary to transmit and receive messages. If the ship moves while its drivesat array is transmitting or receiving, the ship’s communication officer must make a Computer Use check (DC 30) to avoid losing the signal.
Only mediumweight, heavy, and superheavy ships can be equipped with a drivesat comm array.
Purchase DC: 53
[h=6]MASS TRANSCEIVER (PL 7)[/h] This device can transmit instantaneously to any point in the same star system, with no “lag” due to FTL limitations.
However, its range is limited to about 1,000 AU, so the signal can’t cross interstellar space.
Purchase DC: 25
[h=6]DRIVE TRANSCEIVER (PL 8)[/h] The drive transceiver is the first interstellar comm system that’s truly practical for small ships or second-rate colonies. It operates like the much larger PL 7 drivesat comm array, sending a signal up to 50 lightyears distant. The signal travels at a rate of 5 light-years per hour. The target station must also be equipped with a drive transceiver.
Purchase DC: 28
[h=6]ANSIBLE (PL 9)[/h] The ansible is a device that induces precise changes in the energy states of atomic nuclei, without regard to distance or time. In effect, it permits instantaneous interstellar communications—voice, video, or data transfer—to any other ship or station equipped with an ansible. Much like a radio, the receiving station has to be attentive to a particular “frequency,” so two ansible-equipped stations must have some prearranged communications protocols; an ansible cannot pick up any transmissions not intended for that specific frequency.
Purchase DC: 33
