Build:Flight Control Systems

8.11 Flight Control Systems

Ultimately, starships are vehicles—a way physically to get from one part of the galaxy to another. That means they have many systems for steering or maneuvering them, or to assist with related tasks such as navigation.

8.11.1 Autopilot

Cost: 3 SUs per level of skill (Level 4 maximum), plus 1 SU per level of Coordination (Level 3 maximum)

In situations when a ship’s pilot or pilots are disabled or cannot fly the ship, the autopilot can be activated. Using sophisticated computer subroutines, the autopilot flies the ship. The most advanced autopilot systems are as good as, or better than, the average humanoid pilot.

In game terms, an autopilot system is simulated with a Shipboard Systems (Flight Control) skill and Coordination level. The SU cost is 3 SUs per level of skill (minimum of 1, maximum of 4) plus 1 SU per point of Coordination (minimum of 1, maximum of 3). An autopilot’s Flight Control skill may only be used to pilot the ship; it does not count as a Specialization or allow the autopilot to operate other ship systems.

TOS-era ships’ autopilots cannot have a rating higher than Shipboard Systems (Flight Control) 2 and Coordination 2.

8.11.2 Navigational Computers

(Required)

Cost: Varies

Because flight control is such an important aspect of ship operations, it has its own dedicated computer system, the navigation computer, to assist the Flight Control officer. The standard nav computer does not provide any benefits. But some ships, due to their engines or main computers or assigned missions, need better navigational computers to improve the Flight Control officer’s ability to fly the ship. This means uprating the nav computer. The accompanying table lists the SU cost and benefits of uprating packages. The bonus provided improves the Flight Control officer’s Shipboard Systems (Flight Control) Test Results by +1 for a Class 2 and +2 for a Class 3, while a downgrade reduces by 1. Navigational computers are not cumulative; a ship can only have one in effect, and cannot have both an uprating and a downgrade.

Most ships have at least one backup navigational computer as well, to take over for the main nav computer if it’s damaged or malfunctions. A backup nav computer occupies 1 SU (or 0 SU if the basic computer is a Class 1) and provides no Test bonuses.

Table

Table 8.11.2:
Navigational Computers

Strength Package	SU	Strength Rating	Year
Class 1	1	0	-
Class 2	2	1	2158
Class 3	4	2	2326
Downgrade	-1	0	-

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