Advanced Engineering Skill Application

[Ning Leihrec]

Is there anything in the RAW governing the use of adv. eng. skills? Specifically starship engineering. Is there an actual game mechanic for determining the quality of the vessel designed?

[garhkal]

Not that i ever have seen. Heck other than the base engineering info in Hide outs and Strongholds, and the stuff on Bacta tanks, there has never to my knowledge been much ON (A) skills mentioned.
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Confucious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk!

[cynanbloodbane]

The way I see them they are left up to GM whim, and only exist to suck up PC cash reserves.
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"Yes because killing the guy you always planned on usurping and killing anyways in order to save your own kid, totally atones for murdering a roomful of innocent trusting children." The Brain

[garhkal]

Not really. IN sparks i see quite a few people take
(A) software design
(A) Encryption
(A) Armor engineering
(A) Blaster engineering
(A) Force resistance (A sparks made up advanced skill for willpower)
(A) Medicine.
_________________
Confucious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk!

[cynanbloodbane]

[garhkal]

It's actually called force deterrence.

K. Force Deterrence - Advanced (Knowledge)
Force Deterrence is an advanced skill under Knowledge with the base skill of Willpower. To learn ‘Force Deterrence’ the trainee must have a minimum Willpower of 5D. It will take the standard 2 sessions (2 Seminars or 1 Interactive) to learn and will cost 7,000 credits like any other advanced skill. In addition the player must schedule a personal initiative (PI) for the first session to find a trainer. This is because the trainer must have specialized knowledge or use of the Force. The advanced skill starts at 1D like other advanced skills. Unlike other advanced skills it is used ONLY for resisting Force powers and does NOT add to basic Willpower rolls unless the Willpower roll itself is used to resist Force powers. ‘Force Deterrence’ is used to resist Force powers of a mental nature that allow resistance with Control or Perception rolls (receptive telepathy, sense force potential, farseeing, projective telepathy, dim other’s senses, affect mind, control mind, illusion, memory wipe, and mind rape). This power does not help with Force powers manifesting a physical effect (force push, injure/kill, telekinesis, force lightning, inflict pain, and telekinetic kill).
Special Notes:
a) Keep in mind that the Force power ‘Force of Will’ uses Willpower to boost the protection number. With ‘Force Deterrence’ the target would make a Willpower plus Force Deterrence roll for the protection number.
b) There is a specialization under Willpower called ‘Force Resistance’ and this is only used on Force powers that allow Willpower rolls for resistance already.
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Confucious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk!

[cynanbloodbane]

Ok, that is interesting. I may have to borrow from that, I was thinking of creating a Willpower based (A) skill Dedicated Mental Discipline, to reflect meditation techniques that allow a greater degree of control over ones own mind and body, without Force sensitivity. A character could, to a limited extent, mimic some Control Powers. Burst of Speed, Concentration, Contort/Escape, Control Pain, Enhance Attribute, Force of Will, Remain Conscious, Remove Fatigue & Resist Stun. These would function at 1/3 the effectiveness (rounded down) of their Force Power counterparts.
A second idea I was playing with was to allow a character with this (A) skill access to the same Force Power IF Force sensitivity is purchased after character creation and Control is purchased.
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"Yes because killing the guy you always planned on usurping and killing anyways in order to save your own kid, totally atones for murdering a roomful of innocent trusting children." The Brain

[Whill]

To go the less crunchy path, I allow the regular non-advanced Willpower skill to resist Force powers.

[Ning Leihrec]

I've always thought willpower belonged in Perception. I use it for all manner of mental, Force, & even some physical checks. IMO it should be an advanced Per skill with no prerequisites, starting at base Per. So basically a special PER skill commonly held by all but improved at x2 the cp cost to reflect its importance and to keep the game balanced.

[Naaman]

There are a couple of ways I can see an (A) Engineering skill being used.

The first way would be to modify existing equipment beyond what a repair check can do. For example, changing which guns are on a starship or installing a hyperdrive on a ship which does not come with one.

For example, an engineer might be able to design and build a special X-Wing with a capitol scale weapon system for special, deep strike hit-and-run missions against star destroyers.

Another possibility might be designing armor which retains it's protective qualities and reduces the Dex penalty at the same time.

Other, more mundane benefits can be achieved as well, for example, doubling the fuel range on a speeder by re-engineering the fuel system(s) on the vehicle (sort of like how modern vehicles have cylinder management where they run on only half the cylinders during cruise, etc).

[Ning Leihrec]

Those are all cool examples, Naaman, and it makes sense to use Eng to modify existing gear beyond what repair allows. However, I'm interested in rules that cover the design and construction of ships and equipment from the ground up. Doesn't seem like they exist, so I've been working some up myself. I'll share them once they make some kind of sense. Any suggestions appreciated.

[garhkal]

That is an interesting thought Namman. Normally you can only use the repair skill to modify something 1d+2 above it's base listing. So perhaps to go beyond that, it needs engineering to redesign it for that higher level.
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Confucious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk!

[CRMcNeill]

[Naaman]

[Ning Leihrec]

Cost is definitely a major factor, if not access to proper factories, or comparable manufacturing equipment. Definitely need a Tony Stark type behind the scenes or shady access to construction resources.