Ship Computers and Control Modules

[Brandon Tomlinson]

Hey folks,

I'm taking a look at computers and modules to see what all they can do for players, and also looking at the mechanic class. My main question is what can a control module do autonomously.

Quote:

One buys a Control module for a starship and install it on the ship's computer (ship computer modules can be bought with BP as per pg 297), then have a personal watch computer with range III and control for the ship computer (10% the price of a computer of that tier)

Core 215:

When in charge of a device that can already
operate autonomously (such as a robot or another computer),
the controlling computer can give orders to that device. When
operating a device that requires a skill check or attack roll (such
as a computer hooked to a med-bed or weapon), the controlling
computer can either allow a creature with authorized access to
attempt a skill check or attack roll, or attempt the skill check
or attack roll itself. When making its own check, the computer
is assumed to have an attack bonus equal to its tier, proficiency
with any weapon it controls, and a total skill bonus equal to
2-1/2 × its tier.

Core page 215 explicitly mentions starships as being an example complex device.

Can you:

• Use the ship's transponder
  
• Move the ship to emergency power
  
• Start the engines
  
• Have the ship move somewhere
  

Can you do what the mechanic abilities "expert rig", "advanced rig", and "superior rig" do for starship access by just paying the computer upgrade costs?

[CactusUnicorn]

Um, I'm pretty sure that Paizo Staff said not to quote large sections of the book.
;-)

[Ithnaar]

Also :

Owen K. C. Stephens wrote:

The Starfinder Team won't be addressing rules clarifications until after Gen Con at the earliest. The reason for this is twofold. First, we don't want to begin to focus on details before most people have the book (we still have previews planned, even). Second, we just don't have time. Combining the release and preview info with our regular workload and con prep means we just can't realistically get to it.

Most likely, it's best to hold onto questions until a week or so after release.

[Brandon Tomlinson]

Where is that, why isn't it stickied :/

[Fardragon]

As a GM, I would probably rule that the control module could do most of those things if it where preprogramed to do so. It's not an AI. Thus, it could be pre-instructed to use the transponder to send a message to the players if the ship where tampered with whilst they were away, but it couldn't use it to have a conversation with the ship parked next door.

An auto-pilot would be required to actually fly the ship to a destination, but the control module could activate the autopilot if it had a pre-programmed destination.

I'm sure Paizo will be very busy compiling a list of things for clarification and correction. I don't think it's a big enough organisation to come out with a "launch day patch".