STARSHIP SENSORS

A starship would be lost in the blackness of outer space without a sophisticated sensor array enabling it to perceive its surroundings. Sensor arrays allow a starship's crew to plot safe courses through unexplored star systems, avoid comets and electromagnetic storms, navigate asteroid belts, analyze planetary surface conditions, detect other starships nearby, and analyze damage to the ship's outer hull. Without a functional sensor array, a ship and its crew are virtually paralyzed.

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.

CLASS I SENSOR ARRAY (PL 5)

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).

Purchase DC: 21.

Restriction: None.

CLASS II SENSOR ARRAY (PL 6)

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).

Purchase DC: 27.

Restriction: None.

CLASS III SENSOR ARRAY (PL 6)

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.

TARGETING SYSTEM (PL 6)

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).

CLASS IV SENSOR ARRAY (PL 7)

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).

Purchase DC: 33.

Restriction: None.

CLASS V SENSOR ARRAY (PL 7)

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.

TARGETING SYSTEM, IMPROVED (PL 7)

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).

CLASS VI SENSOR ARRAY (PL 8)

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).

Purchase DC: 39.

Restriction: None.

CLASS VII SENSOR ARRAY (PL 8)

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.

ACHILLES TARGETING SOFTWARE (PL 8)

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).

CLASS VIII SENSOR ARRAY (PL 9)

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).

Purchase DC: 45.

Restriction: None.

CLASS IX SENSOR ARRAY (PL 9)

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.