Anthony replied to me:
> Possibly, but there's generally not a lot they can do in terms of
actual driving.
Not much steering right and left, agreed. gDecel and gSR might come into
play if you want to stop before some obstruction on the track.
Mike wrote:
> Possible but depends are you riding in/on the train or to bushwhack it?
> Ambush or attack it?
If you were the GM, would you want deck plans for that or vehicle stats?
Would vehicle stats be useful without a plan? It might help to know how
much DR the sides have, or if the armor is flammable wood or not.
Jay replied to Mike:
> Full, complete English sentences, please.
> What train do you mean?
I was talking about a generic, unspecified train. So was Mike.
One thing I was thinking about are little trains within a base. That would
also apply to science fiction "megastructures" like arcologies.
http://moodle.kkc.school.nz/pluginfile.php/9802/mod_scorm/content/0/images/pic008.jpg
http://www.tourisme-alsace.com/medias/Photos/patrimoine-histoire/galeries.jpg
Another thing might be railway guns. They feel more like a McGuffin -- the
players have to stop it from firing, or get it safely to the firing
position, but the actual gunner roll is off-stage.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:12-inch-railway-mortars.gif
Jay replied to Anthony:
> A steam engine requires a complicated arrangement of valves - driving
one isn't
> going to be easy if you're working on the default!
According to the 3E rules, the default for Driving (Locomotive) from the
other Driving skills is -5. A player character in a 100-point game could
have Driving (Automobile) at 15 or so.
> I suppose one of those levers might be the brakes - but there's only
one way to
> see for sure.
>
> and how do you stop the steam engine from driving the wheels you're
trying to
> stop?
Electric or diesel-electric engines have easier controls. A handle to
control power and assorted brakes and emergency brakes.
> So, in a game, the PCs are generally going to be fighting in the
passenger
> areas.
Unless they are, say, the crew of an armored train or part of the attack
force outside the train.
> But it would be a blind spot not to include the control cabin.
Ownership of that
> and the safety of the engineers is going to be important.
That calls for deck plans, not vehicle writeups, I think.
Anthony replied to Jay:
> Sure, but the point is, the job may be skilled, but it's still not
very gameable,
> as you can't turn and your ability to change speeds is heavily
limited by the
> power of the engine and the speed that the train can safely go (and
you can't
> really do anything to improve your ability to turn, or to recover if
the train
> starts tipping over).
Can you recover an overturning car? On a good skill roll, you take the curve
smoothly and you don't overturn ...
But your point is exactly why I don't have many trains, I think. And almost
by definition trains go into explored, civilized places -- places where you
can call the cops or the fire department if there is any adventure.
Regards,
Onno
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