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Expansion Technical Systems for Starfire
Version 2.01

created by David Ternes

This page contains suggestions for new technical systems, and changes to or expansions of existing systems.

 

General Systems

A concept which will be seen throughout both the General Systems and the Weapon Systems here is "miniaturization". This assumes that as a race advances in technical knowledge, it will develop the ability to reduce the size of existing equipment, fitting the same capabilities into smaller spaces. This will be especially true for weapon systems.

Accomodations
Code   System Name Cost Spaces Dev. Cost Tech Level
Qh   Crew Quarters, Half Size 3 1/2 100 2
  A half sized version of the standard Crew Quarters (Q). It is the same as a Crew Quarters, except only supports 25 hull spaces of crew instead of 50. No more than one Qh may be mounted on a ship, station, or PDC.
Qc   Compact Crew Quarters 10 1/2 400 3
  Advances in life support technology allow the creation of smaller crew quarters. A Compact Crew Quarters is similar to a Small Crew Quarters (Qs) except it will support a maximum of 10 hull spaces. Other rules for Qs apply.
Qb   Combined Crew Quarters 20 1 400 6
  Someone finally figured out that most non-warships ships didn't need both large crew quarters and large holds for a ship's own supplies. The Combined Crew Quarters provides a ship with both capabilities in one system. A Combined Crew Quarters has all of the attributes of a Small Crew Quarters (Qs) and a Small Hold (Hs).
 
Qbc   Compact Combined Crew Quarters 15 1 400 8
  An obvious combination of the systems above.

Sensors
Code     System Name Cost Spaces Dev. Cost Tech Level
Xp   Probe Instruments 40 1/2 3,000 6
  Probe Instruments are a subset of Science Instruments. They allow a ship to gather information on the gravitational eddies around a warp point as with Science Instruments, but cannot be used for general surveys. These instruments are useful when transiting unknown warp points.
Xrm   Long Range Sensors, Miniaturized 60 1 5,000 9
  Improvements in electronics allow the components of Long Range Sensors to be significantly reduced in total size.
Xm   Science Instruments, Miniaturized 60 1/2 4,000 9
  Improvements in electronics allow the components of Science Instruments to be significantly reduced in total size.
Xa   Active Sensors 80 1 8,000 6
  These are sensors which emit various forms of electromagnetic radiation and rely on the return to detect objects (similar to modern radar). Active Sensors are able to detect vessels and objects regardless of whether or not their engines are active. In open space (i.e., other than in asteroid belts), Active Sensors have the detection capabilities listed in the following table. In asteroid belts, Active Sensors will have the indicated detection ranges only if the asteroid belt has been surveyed. Otherwise, the sensors are unable to determine a ship from an asteroid. Active Sensors are detectable beyond the range at which they are able to detect. Long Range Sensors (Xr) are able to detect the presence and number of Active Sensors at a range of 3 System Hexes. Active Sensors may be turned on or off during the Tractor Beam Phase.
Detection of  Presence   Quantity 
Ships, Gunboats, Bases, SS, AF 1 SysHex 20 IntHex
Small Craft, Fighters 5 IntHex 2 IntHex
Courier Drones, DSB, IDEW, Mines  - -
Xaa   Advanced Active Sensors 100 1 8,000 10
  This is an improved version of Active Sensors. The greater power of their transmitter permits it to detect smaller objects. It also allows the Advanced Active Sensors to be detected by Long Range Sensors at a range of 4 System Hexes.
Detection of  Presence   Quantity 
Ships, Gunboats, Bases, SS, AF   2 SysHex 1 SysHex
Small Craft, Fighters 10 IntHex 4 IntHex
Courier Drones 40 TacHex 20 TacHex
DSBs, IDEW 6 TacHex 4 TacHex
Mines 4 TacHex 2 TacHex
fXa   Fighter Active Sensors 20 - 3,000 11
  This is a fighter version of Xa. It has the same characteristics relative to the Xa as the fXr has to the Xr and half of the range of a standard Xa.

Command And Communicstions
Code   System Name Cost Spaces Dev. Cost Tech Level
(CDL)   Courier Drone Launcher 10 1/2 500 4
  Someone realized that it might be a good idea to be able to fit additional, ready to launch, Courier Drones to ships. A Courier Drone Launcher provides two additional Courier Drone launch tubes. The initial installation is assumed to include two Courier Drones. Rules for replacing the CDs are the same as for the Courier Drones normally carried by ships.
(CICc)   Compact Combat Information Center 70 3 7,000 7
  Improvements in electronics allow the components of the Combat Information Center to be reduced in total size.
(CCc)   Compact Communications Module 130 4 6,000 7
  Improvements in electronics allow the components of the Communications Module to be reduced in total size.
(FCC)   Flag Command Center 250 6 9,000 8
  Improvements in command organizations and supporting electronics allow for the reduction and combination of tasks, thus decreasing the amount of space required for the traditional command functions. The Flag Command Center is a combined Combat Information Center (CIC) and Communications Module (CC). This system is capable of performing both functions (i.e., an FCC is the equivalent of mounting both a CIC and a CC). Two hits are required to destroy a Flag Command Center, although it ceases operation on the first hit.
(CICs)   Ship Combat Information Center 30 2 3,500 7
  A Ship Combat Information Center is similar to the standard CIC, but is intended for use by the ship itself. A (CICs) allows a ship to respond quicker to the combat situation around it. During the Combat Phase (02.03, IV.C) two individual ships or datalinked groups may fire during one Combat Impulse, provided all of the vessels are equipped with Ship Combat Information Centers.

Small Craft
Code   System Name Cost Spaces Dev. Cost Tech Level
(BbC)   Boat Bay, Cutter (Cutter Bay) 5 1/2 200 3
  A boat bay which holds 1 boat bay point of small craft.
sts   Survey Shuttle 45 Small Craft 6,000 7
  Based on the frame of the Assault Shuttle (ast), the Survey Shuttle is equipped with a subset of Science Instruments. A Survey Shuttle may work with a mother ship to gather any type of survey data at the rate of 1 point per StMP. As they are packed with installed instrumentation, they have no other capabilities beyond that of their designed mission. Also, the lack of space limits their range, so Survey Shuttles never stray far from their mother ship. Due to data processing rates, and their reliance on the mother ship for computer support, the number of survey shuttles which may be controlled by any one ship is limited by the mother ship's technology (maximum of TL/2, FRD). To support Survey Shuttles, a mother ship must be equipped with Science Instruments (X) and actually carry the Survey Shuttles which the ship controls. Survey Shuttles do not fulfill the requirement for ships which must have small craft (because a Survey Shuttle is incapable of transporting cargo or personnel).
Type Code "Bb"
Pts		 Tac
Speed		 Inter/
Syst.
Speed		 Crew
Only
Days		 Full
Load
Days		 Per-
sonnel
Load		 Cargo
Points		 PCF-a
Air
Drop		 Warp
Cap-
able		 Pt Def-
ense
Equiv.		 fXO
rack
Pts		 Sensor
Range		 Mc
Cost
Survey Shuttle  sts 2 8 4 3 3 0 Q 0 no no none 0 20 30

Shields
Code   System Name Cost Spaces Dev. Cost Tech Level
Si1   Interior Shields, Type 1 10 1 6,000 7
  The Interior Shield is a derivative of the standard shield. The shield generators set up protective force fields within the bulkheads of a ship. In addition to absorbing damage, Interior Shields prevent sensors from observing the five systems which immediately follow the Interior Shield (just as the ship's standard shields block sensors).
Si2   Interior Shields, Type 2 20 1/2 7,000 9
  The same as Interior Shield, Type 1, but requiring half the space.
Si3   Interior Shields, Type 3 30 1/2 8,000 11
  The same as Interior Shield, Type 2, but prevents sensors from observing the eight systems which immediately follow the Interior Shield.

Miscellaneous
Code   System Name Cost Spaces Dev. Cost Tech Level
Mgs   Small Magazine 7 1/2 900 5
  A Small Magazine takes up half the space of a standard Magazine (Mg) and has one-half the capacity of a standard Magazine. No more than one Mgs may be mounted on a ship, station, or PDC.
(DDSx)   Data Destruction System 50 0 6,000 5
  A highly reliable package designed to both erase and destroy all computer data on a ship, base, station, or PDC. The Data Destruction System is activated at the start of a battle. If it is not periodically reset, it will automatically cause a localized electro-magnetic pulse in each computer system which will erase all data. This will be followed by an explosion to physically destroy each data storage device. If a DDSx equipped unit is captured or salvaged, then before making any rolls to recover data, roll a D10 for the DDS. If the roll is less than or equal to half of the race's Tech Level (FRU), the DDS successfully destroyed all data, and nothing can be recovered. The Open Dice System (Starfire 3rd Edition Revised, page 20) applies to this roll.
(FCS)   Dedicated Fire Control System 40 2 4,000 9
  A Dedicated Fire Control System provides additional targeting sensors and computers for the specific and sole purpose of improving the accuracy of a single type of beam weapon on a vessel. When designed, the (FCS) is assigned to control one type of beam weapon (excludes kinetic weaponry and point defense). The (FCS) provides a +1 to the To Hit value for the controlled weapons. The (FCS) has four limitations. First, a vessel may mount only one (FCS). Second, all controlled beam weapons must be fired at a single target, although not all of that type of weapon must be under the control of the (FCS) at the time. Third, only a single weapon type may be controlled by a (FCS), and that must be specified as part of the original design. Fourth, the benefit of an (FCS) is not cumulative with any other form of fire control (notably Mi-x).
(MAS)   Mass Abatement System 200 2 20,000 10
  A system of small gravitic field generators spread throughout a ship. When activated, the effective mass of a ship is reduced by one ship type for purposes of warp point transit (and only warp point transit). This system stresses the structure of a ship and so may only be mounted on warship hulls. The system has absolutely no effect on any other aspect of the ship's size and mass. Example: A SD with an operational (MAS) is treated as having a hull size of 100 (equivalent to a maximum size BB) when passing through a warp point.
(PD)   Probe Drone 20 1 5,000 10
  The Probe Drone is a highly modified Courier Drone and is used to probe unexplored warp points. The Probe Drone launcher is carried as for a Courier Drone Launcher (CDL). Reloads for the (PD) launcher follow the rules for Courier Drone reloads. A Probe Drone may be launched through a known warp point by a ship from a range of up to 10 tactical hexes. Each Probe Drone may be used only once. A Probe Drone will penetrate a warp point, reverse direction, return through the warp point, and then report to the launching ship. The chance of detecting and reacting to a transiting Probe Drone is half that of a Pinnace. The Probe Drone will indicate whether the warp point is open or closed, and, by its return show that there is not a black hole on the other side.
    The development of the Probe Drone is limited. Regardless of technical or economic level, a race may only develop and use the Probe Drone if the following conditions are met.
  • The race is economic / technical level 10 or above,
  • The race has developed Courier Drones,
  • The race has either;
    • Every reason to believe that it has encountered a Black Hole, or
    • Has developed the Spatial Disruption Suppressor (SDS).

Special Items
Code   System Name Cost Spaces Dev. Cost Tech Level
SDS-1   Spatial Disturbance Suppressor, Type 1 30,000 500 20,000 20
  The Spatial Disturbance Suppressor is not a system, but rather a space construct, somewhat similar to a station. The Type 1 Spatial Disturbance Suppressor is built similar to a station, in stationary orbit, 1/2 light second above the surface of the star.     A SDS is either active or inactive for an entire strategic turn (month). When in operation, a SDS generates a gravity field which prevents the use of closed warp points within 120 light minutes (10 system hexes) of the SDS. Vessels in the system with the SDS cannot use the warp point to exit the system. Vessels transiting to the warp point from outside the system are destroyed without a trace. The destruction of such a vessel is not detectable on either side of the warp point.     A SDS-1 cannot be built as part of a space station or vessel, this is a stand alone construct. No other systems may be built with or as part of a SDS. If attacked, a SDS-1 is treated as a weak hull and as having no drive field.
SDS-2   Spatial Disturbance Suppressor, Type 2 50,000 700 30,000 24
  The Spatial Disturbance Suppressor, Type 2 is similar to a SDS-1, but may be built anywhere within a star system. A SDS-2 includes "engines" similar to those on space and base stations, which allow it to remain stationary. All SDS--2 are stationary within a system (i.e., they do not orbit a star).     A SDS-2 cannot be built as part of a space station or vessel, this is a stand alone construct. No other systems may be built with or as part of a SDS-2. If attacked, a SDS-2 is treated as a weak hull but, like a stations, does have a drive field.

Weapon Systems

One of my greatest complaints regarding Starfire weaponry is its standardization. Why does every race use exactly the same weapon, requiring exactly the same hull space, with exactly the same capabilities? While, obviously, it is easier for tactical play, it just isn't consistent with how weaponry is created today or existed in the past. It would be as though all warships, regardless of size, carried the same single size of gun, only varying the number (which would have made for some rather silly looking battleships).

The following tables list various beam weapons with varying capabilities and sizes. If this weaponry is used, the equivalent standard Starfire weapon should not be part of the tech tree.

Beam Weapons

Lasers
Code   System Name Cost Spaces Dev. Cost Tech Level
L1 *   Laser, Type 1 15 1 4,000 Ind-2
   
L2 *   Laser, Type 2 20 2 L1 Ind-2
   
L3 *   Laser, Type 3 25 3 L1 Ind-2
   
L4 *   Laser, Type 4 30 4 L1 Ind-2
  This is equivalent to the Starfire 3rd Edition Laser (L).
L1m   Laser, Type 1, Miniaturized 20 1/2 3,000 3
  L1m may only be developed if L1 has already been developed.
L2m   Laser, Type 2, Miniaturized 25 1 L1m 3
   
L3m   Laser, Type 3, Miniaturized 30 2 L1m 3
   
L4m   Laser, Type 4, Miniaturized 35 3 L1m 3
   
L5m   Laser, Type 5, Miniaturized 30 4 1,000 5
  L5m may only be developed if L1m has already been developed.
  * When using these designations, the system designation for the X-Ray Laser Emitter is changed from "Lx" to "(Lx)".

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Back To Systems Index Starfire Updated 17 October 2000.