NationStates Jolt Archive


Standard Formats ?

Dessarr
17-11-2007, 18:07
there have been several occasions when i've asked for a good format for X-piece of equipment/vehicle/craft in the #d chat, and i have an idea.

standard or semi standard formats.

now before you go shouting me down, im sure that some wouldn't mind having something fairly universal when going to war, that way when 2 or more nations go to war, theres at least some recognisable stat formats between the various equivalent craft, so that while nation A's starfighters are more like laser-drones the size of baseballs, and nation B's starfighters are more like small missile frigates with a crew of less than 5, they would still be in the same relative category; and thus not much arguing over who got pwned with what and due to why.

granted i'm intending this more for sci-fantasy/space opera and PMT mostly, i'm sure it can be adapted for other categories like MT, fantasytech, specialized eras, and even lo-tech tribal nations.

now to discuss, formats, pro's and cons, ect ect....
Dalnijrus
17-11-2007, 20:06
Standardized statblocks already exist. I'm not sure how it would significantly change for FT warfare.
Dessarr
17-11-2007, 21:37
really?

i was under the impression that there weren't any.

well, if you wouldn't mind showing me a link, or copy-pasting the stat-blocks here themselves, that would be nice.
Questers
17-11-2007, 21:47
Whats the point in standardising formats? Why can't you make up your own?

Besides, different classifications of units have been important in military intelligence. Cruiser gap, Alaska class CB, etc. It happens in RL too.
Dessarr
17-11-2007, 22:36
because im new here and haven't got a clue as to how much of anything works around here, and so ide like atleast one example of everything essential before i go and start 'rolling my own', as the phrase would go.

thats why. o __ o
Questers
17-11-2007, 22:48
So because you don't know what you're doing, you want to standardise the entire stat blocks of all existing player's designs...?

You could like, you know, make one up yourself? I can't imagine its hard:

Length:
Width (Median):
Width (Average):
Width (Tallest):
Height (Median):
Height (Average):
Height (Tallest):

Weight (Empty):
Weight (Maximum):

Propulsion:
Speed:

Complement:
Marines:

Armament:

Sensors:

Armour:

Price:

That's what I can think of for a starship off the top of my head.
Questers
17-11-2007, 22:54
well, standardizing would be nice in that everybody would know abit more about everyone else's stuff

Um... how?

and there'd be less confusion.

I wasn't aware there was any confusion.
Dessarr
17-11-2007, 22:56
well, standardizing would be nice in that everybody would know abit more about everyone else's stuff, and there'd be less confusion.

anyway, thanks
Dalnijrus
17-11-2007, 23:14
really?

i was under the impression that there weren't any.

well, if you wouldn't mind showing me a link, or copy-pasting the stat-blocks here themselves, that would be nice.

They all basically follow Wikipedia statblocks (Infobox Weapon/Vehicle, Infobox Ship and Infobox Aircraft), with some additions for added data (when I designed the Type 97, I included a bunch of things that weren't on the WP lists, like maximum tilt/gradient, vertical obstacle, traverse rate, etc., but those don't get played much in NS, so they're not really necessary). I know Hogsweat/Questers fills out cargo load on some of his ships, as well, along with some other dimensions and ratios, etc.

For FT, I wrote out a statblock for Honorverse-esque ships here (http://www.freewebs.com/blast_archives/sst.htm) a while back. As you can tell, it didn't change much from the ship infoboxes, except that now it has slots for more detail.

Then again, I haven't been in FT for...a long time. I imagine people are still using the basic l x w x h x weight + armament + armor things.
Frisbeeteria
17-11-2007, 23:16
Folks, "Gameplay" is not a place to bring [OOC] roleplay discussions. It's about the game, not roleplaying.

Moving to II.