Many of the example starships get a +2 bonus to Computers, but I can't figure out where it's coming from. How does one get that bonus?
Thank you! That section is easy to miss with its small table tucked away in the corner and all I guess. My brain kept taking me to the Computers section for answers that weren't there.
Many of the example starships get a +2 bonus to Computers, but I can't figure out where it's coming from. How does one get that bonus?
I think it comes from the Bonus on the computer table (pg 297). I.e a Mk2 Trinode gives a +2 bonus to up to 3 starship combat checks per round.
By my reading (and re-reading) the Modifier on the sensor (+2 for basic short range), (pg 301) is added only to the Scan and Target System Science Officer Action.
Nope, check out the ship statblocks, like the "Norikama Dropship" on page 315. It has, "Modifiers: +3 any two checks per round, +2 Computers, –1 Piloting" and in it's statblock it has "mk 3 duonode computer"(+3 to two checks), "basic long-range sensors"(+2 to computer checks), and M12 thrusters(-1 to piloting checks). The reason it's not "to science officer actions" is so the captain would get it when trying to "encourage" the science officers action. I agree it could be clearer though.
I think it comes from the Bonus on the computer table (pg 297). I.e a Mk2 Trinode gives a +2 bonus to up to 3 starship combat checks per round.By my reading (and re-reading) the Modifier on the sensor (+2 for basic short range), (pg 301) is added only to the Scan and Target System Science Officer Action.
Ok that example does make it a bit fuzzy - but i do believe it is the sensors that it is reffering to. I'd say the block should say Modifiers: +3 any two checks per round, +2 Sensors.
it does get confusing since the Science officer is making a check vs computer skill to use sensors. I see nowhere that the Captain can use the sensor bonus to help encourage the science officer. She can use her skill at computers to do so. By that, the captain should also get the piloting modifier to encourage the pilot. Though the sentence in the sensor rule (pg 301) "All sensors have a skill modifier that applies to any skill used in conjunction with them" doesn't help much. I'd argue that the Captain encouraging the science offer is not actually 'using' the sensors. Note also that only the 2 Science officer skills explicitly call for the use of this bonus (Scan and Target System). I'd argue that Lock on should also. If I were making things completely consistent I'd say your ship's countermeasures mod should be a bonus for improved countermeasures and the DC should include the other ships sensor mod.