Technology Rule Clarifications

[Loco]

Hey Everyone! Loco here, your new resident Tech Admin.


As many of you may have noticed, there have been some significant overhauls to the way Tech works in the new Time Line. Detailing all of those changes is beyond the scope of this announcement, but I highly recommend you browse all of the stickies in the Technology Sub-forum before posting there or using items posted in it. This announcement will focus on a few bugs and inconsistencies that are to be expected from this sort of overhaul, and will ensure that we are all on the same page moving forward. Without further adeiu:


Armor Coverage: This is a new set of rules that is not being used as intended by everyone. I have tweaked some ambiguous wording in the tech rules and in the official armor template that should eliminate any further confusion. To summarize, protective coverage in each defined region still needs to be described, and can vary from armor to armor. For example- a full faced helmet and an open faced helmet may provide the same damage protection when they are hit, but the open faced version will not protect you from getting punched in the mouth. "Breastplates", itself an ambigious word, should also describe the specific area it protects (chest, or the whole torso?). These coverages need to be as consistent as possible with both the armor description and the chosen photo, so as to minimize any potential confusion.


Armor Functions and Force Users: This has come up a number of times lately in discussion. It's a rule that actually came into effect last timeline, but managed to avoid too much attention until now. Currently, Force Users cannot make use of armor functions. This leaves them exposed when it comes to things such as being ejected into a vacuum, and prevents them from going on things like underwater adventures. This was not the intent, so to correct the problem I'll be doing two things;

• 1) We've added a new armor category called "Special". These are items that are worn and may contain tech functions, but do not offer damage protection or otherwise do not fit into a standard armor category. Some of these, like the EVA Suit submitted by @Andrewza , will be allowed to be used by Force User characters. This will be determined on a case by case basis by myself.

• 2) We will be adding some "carried" tech items to fill the gaps for things like simple underwater rebreathers and life support boxes (in case you get blown out of your fighter). This will cover the gaps for functions that should reasonably be useable by Force Users, but have been limited because of the current rules. You can submit your own ideas for tech like this as well using the "Other" tech template, but it's worth noting that this will never cover things like wrist weapons or helmet HUDs.

As always, thank you to everyone for your patience and cooperation. We are ecstatic at the amount of activity everyone has generated over the last week, and we hope it continues well into the future. This could well become the best Time Line ever, thanks to everyone's participation! I, personally, am very happy to see the new tech rules being used to their fullest extent so that everyone has a good time with their favorite gadgets without getting bogged down in a tedious submission and approval process, even if we do have a few kinks to work out here and there. Please feel free to post any lingering questions you have regarding the new Tech Rules here.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Andrewza]

I did something good. Yeah.

 

[Loco]

I did something good. Yeah.

 

[Darasuum]

@Loco not only has you moding and now admining attention been great but now your GIF usage is outstanding. #Loco4President

 

[Kyria]

Awesome! This clarifies a lot, thank you! I had a few questions (mostly) about coverage.

1. When you say "These coverages need to be as consistent as possible with both the armor description and the chosen photo, so as to minimize any potential confusion," how close does it have to be? For example, if the photo has bracers that have slats in them, would that only count as partial coverage?

2. How would partial coverage work when it comes to PvP RPing (helmets without faceplates, half chestplates, etc)? Granted, I have yet to PvP so maybe I'm missing something obvious (if so, I apologize).

3. Can we include more than one reference image for an armor suit? For example, I submitted an armor suit with head coverage, but no helmet in the image. Could I add a separate image for the helmet (assuming it matches the style of the rest of the armor)?

Edit: 4. Would it be possible to add "Special" slots on armor? So, functions that only protect against environmental damage e.g. rebreathers?
Thanks!

 

[Loco]

1. When you say "These coverages need to be as consistent as possible with both the armor description and the chosen photo, so as to minimize any potential confusion," how close does it have to be? For example, if the photo has bracers that have slats in them, would that only count as partial coverage?

Something like that is probably fine. I'm more concerned with people saying they have full torso protection when they clearly just have their upper chest covered.

2. How would partial coverage work when it comes to PvP RPing (helmets without faceplates, half chestplates, etc)? Granted, I have yet to PvP so maybe I'm missing something obvious (if so, I apologize).

That's a sort of complex question to answer. If you're going to take a hit in PvP, you can always try to take it where you have armor protection. If you're wearing an open faced helmet for example, and you're getting shot at to the point where it's unreasonable to dodge it, you could write that a bolt zinged off the side of your helmet, but if you write (or your opponent corners you and they write) that you get shot straight in the face, then you're probably gonna die.

3. Can we include more than one reference image for an armor suit? For example, I submitted an armor suit with head coverage, but no helmet in the image. Could I add a separate image for the helmet (assuming it matches the style of the rest of the armor)?

That's fine. Just make sure you're descriptive in your threads about what all you're wearing at any given time, if it's likely to change.

Edit: 4. Would it be possible to add "Special" slots on armor? So, functions that only protect against environmental damage e.g. rebreathers?
Thanks!

That seems like more work than it's worth. I'm trying to add the minimum number of exceptions to existing rules, so one new class of armor along with the new carried tech I'll be rolling out should be more than enough to cover you through most situations.