Remote Control and Dolphineering Skills ?

[rust]

Working on the modification of the BRP system for my Varun water world set-

ting, I encountered two little problems where I would welcome your advice:

Much of the actual work in the water world colony on Varun will be done by

remotely controlled AUVs, drones, robots and thelike.

Since BRP does not have a Remote Control skill (or I missed it), I think about

introducing such a skill, with specialties like Aquaculture, Construction, Mining

and Survey.

The alternatives I see would be to make it a Craft skill or a Technical skill,

but the ability to remotely control a machine is not really a craft, and it is

more in the Manipulation category than in the Technical skills' Mental catego-

ry, I think.

One of the professions on Varun is the Dolphineer, someone who trains and

"commands and controls" dolphins, and therefore needs a very specific set

of skills, from veterinary medicine to diving and diver sign language (which is

also used to command dolphins).

Since I have not found any Animal Training or Animal Handling skill, I think I

will make the training and animal care part of Dolphineering a Craft skill to

avoid the introduction of several subskills (Animal Handling, Animal Training,

Knowledge / Dolphins, etc.)

Well, what do you think ? - Thank you.

[Atgxtg]

Some suggestions:

Remote Control: I would say rather than making this a separate skill, you could simply use the skill that would other wise be used if someone were doing it live.

Reason being is that a skilled pilot is a skilled pilot, and an unskilled pilot is an unskilled pilot. So if they were to fly an F-22 or 747 by remote, who do you think would do a better job?

Now consider a similar situation using demolitions, or first aid. It tis the primary task being performed that is more important. Not the facility to use a remote.

You might want to apply a modifier for the quality of the remote, and or adjust the difficulty based on how much feedback the remote operate gets.

If you want to factor in for experience with remote, I'd say make a remote familiarity skill, and allow a character to use it as a complementary skill for the piloting task. In the end, the skill for the task being attempted is far more important than the ability to work a remote.

Animal Handling: Craft seems to be for skills that produce a physical object,not for interaction.

I'd suggest making it a Perform skill or Command skill. Both are COMM based and are more appropriate for interaction.

You could consider adding a Knowledge: Zoology skill to for a complimentary skill bonus.

One question: If they have remotes, what do they need the dolphins for? Why not just make a remote controlled "fish" to replace the dolphin?

[rust]

Thank you very much for your suggestions.

One question: If they have remotes, what do they need the dolphins for? Why not just make a remote controlled "fish" to replace the dolphin?

There are three main reasons:

a) Dolphins work independently, for example while herding a swarm of fish or

protecting it from predators, they do not need the permanent attention of a

colonist for such routine tasks.

Underwater communications are very limited in range, dolphins can work

outside of the range of communicators.

c) It is nice to have another mammal from Earth around as a "fellow colonist".

[Atgxtg]

Thank you very much for your suggestions.

There are three main reasons:

a) Dolphins work independently, for example while herding a swarm of fish or

protecting it from predators, they do not need the permanent attention of a

colonist for such routine tasks.

How 'bout a robot fish with AI? I think I'll write up a mechanical dolphin.

Or maybe that dolphin submarine from Martin Caiden's Cyborg?

Underwater communications are very limited in range, dolphins can work

outside of the range of communicators.

How limited? I think that a radio that can broadcast 1000km can still have a better range than a dolphin.

c) It is nice to have another mammal from Earth around as a "fellow colonist".

Oh, pets. At least for dump (fixed INT) dolphins. Smart ones could actually be some sort of partners.

[rust]

How 'bout a robot fish with AI? I think I'll write up a mechanical dolphin.

There are no AI systems in this setting, the closest thing are advanced ex-

pert programs that can simulate intelligence without being creative, but re-

quire a rather big and expensive computer.

How limited? I think that a radio that can broadcast 1000km can still have a better range than a dolphin.

The only radio systems that have any range under water are VLF and ELF,

which require truly huge transceivers and have a terribly low data transfer

rate (think slow morse code).

Laser works over short distances only, and is interrupted when the water is

not perfectly clear, and sonarcom only has a short range and is very "noisy"

for all marine creatures.

[Thalaba]

I would probably handle the 'Dolphineering' skills with a 'knowledge' skill that would either be 'Dolphin Training' or 'Marine Biology'.

I would handle the remote control with a Fine Manipulation skill, limited by the Dolphin Training' skill.

Thalaba

[Atgxtg]

There are no AI systems in this setting, the closest thing are advanced ex-

pert programs that can simulate intelligence without being creative, but re-

quire a rather big and expensive computer.

Sounds like <insert target here>

The only radio systems that have any range under water are VLF and ELF,

which require truly huge transceivers and have a terribly low data transfer

rate (think slow morse code).

This is very interesting. It would also have strong repercussions on a water world like Varun. It would seem the fastest form of communication would probably be some sort of message drone (shaped like a dolphin? ). Basically the same problem that exists with standard Traveller communications between star systems. Perhaps the best option would be small, floating transceivers that float over a underwater base and transmit to other surface bases or to a satellite.

I'm going to look over microwaves a bit and see if digital transmissions piggybacked on a microwave carrier is feasible.

Laser works over short distances only, and is interrupted when the water is

not perfectly clear, and sonarcom only has a short range and is very "noisy"

for all marine creatures.

Interesting. So the PCs on Varun are going to fell very isolated. Scary. Makes me want to go hug a dolphin.

This could vary though based on the conductivity of Varun's ocean. It might even be possible for colonists to "dope" the water with something to raise the conductivity. Perhaps a (dophin-shaped ) torpedo filled with a conductive material that could be launched towards another base/ship, etc. that could "dope" the path and allow communications for a short term.

This would certainly make an airdock or even orbital space station very important for coordinating things. Ships could be in contact with the "high station" and even underwater bases could run a lit to the surface, or even use a "radio' ship loaded with data for burst transmissions.

[Atgxtg]

rust,

you might want to investigate the SOFAR channel. I might be a possible method for long range underwater communications on Varun.

[USAFguy]

A series of dirigible/blimb radio relays could get things across the planet fast...assuming you could send/receive the signal to them some way from under water. Rust is exactly right about VLF/ELF...additionally, I believe some environmentalists insisted ELF disturbed marine life (plot device? Evil marine mind control? You didn't read it here...)

But your dolphin shape drone sounds cool....

[rust]

rust,

you might want to investigate the SOFAR channel. I might be a possible method for long range underwater communications on Varun.

Unfortunately the SOFAR channel is a bit deep down for most purposes, and

it only works when both parties are within the channel at the time of the in-

tended communication.

I think the standard procedure for long range communication on Varun will be

to send a message drone (dolphin shaped ) to the surface, from where it

transmits the message to a communication satellite, where it is stored and /

or immediately transmitted to another (again, dolphin shaped ) drone over

the target (if it is a stationary one), and that drone then dives down and

delivers the message. Mobile targets, like submarines, would have to surface

occasionally and to contact the "server satellite" for any new messages.

By the way, to build an "artificial dolphin" is not difficult with GURPS Robots,

but the flexibody drivetrain it requires is quite expensive.

[rust]

I would probably handle the 'Dolphineering' skills with a 'knowledge' skill that would either be 'Dolphin Training' or 'Marine Biology'.

I would handle the remote control with a Fine Manipulation skill, limited by the Dolphin Training' skill.

Thank you very much.

With two good options to choose from now, I think I will have to discuss this

with the players to decide which one (or a combination of both) to use.