Question: communication from the vast to absalom station

[Peg'giz]

Since it stated that messages travel like ships using the drift, I would say that messages to Absalom Station also only take the 1d6 days (the answer on the other hand will take longer^^).
There is nothing in the rules which indicates that messages behave different.

[BigNorseWolf]

Absolom station broadcasts "The Plank constants of our lives" Swamp Planet 4 picks it up in 5d6 days via courier ship.

Swamp Planet 4 broadcasts its live action "Space Swamp thing: the love story" Absolom station gets to see it 1d6 days later.

[Senko]

BigNorseWolf wrote:

Absolom station broadcasts "The Plank constants of our lives" Swamp Planet 4 picks it up in 5d6 days via courier ship.

Swamp Planet 4 broadcasts its live action "Space Swamp thing: the love story" Absolom station gets to see it 1d6 days later.

Sounds like films in Asutralia. In ome case overseas audiences even got to see a film filmed here before we did and people wonder why Australia has such a problem with film piracy. The number of films ive not seen because they didnt come to my local cinema...

[LBHills]

Sorry to come in on this late, but I was having trouble determining how fast Starfinder tech could send signals as well. Eventually I found the reference on pg. 234 of the core book: it's possible to rent the use of an interstellar comm for 10 credits a minute. It's apparently instantaneous, no matter where you're calling: there's no mention of a lag time.

[Metaphysician]

LBHills wrote:

Sorry to come in on this late, but I was having trouble determining how fast Starfinder tech could send signals as well. Eventually I found the reference on pg. 234 of the core book: it's possible to rent the use of an interstellar comm for 10 credits a minute. It's apparently instantaneous, no matter where you're calling: there's no mention of a lag time.

Yeah, though there are probably a ton of interstellar communications that are handled via courier ship, anyway. Even in the space fantasy future, the fastest way to transfer data in bulk is still "Load a cargo bay full of crates of hard drives". Sure, the ping is bad, but the bandwidth can't be beat. ;)

[Pantshandshake]

A lone imperial staffer runs into the throne room, breathless from exertion.

“Sire!” he cries. “Two urgent missives await your attention! They come from the science outpost monitoring the stellar degradation beyond Point Lambda! They’re important enough that the couriers spent 5d6 days in the black to get them here!”

*opens sealed courier pouch to reveal two pieces of very expensive space vellum, upon which the most delicate calligraphy has been imprinted*

“This one says it’s from a certain prince on Akiton, who humbly begs that you loan him 1,000 credits, with which he’ll free his family’s ancient treasure from the vaults and repay you a hundredfold. This second one appears to be from the scientist in charge of the mission, and simply says ‘Do you like me?’ I presume he wants you to circle this ‘yes’ or ‘no’ and return it.”

[Styrofoam]

In my head cannon there are networks of Mystics with telepathic bond class feature who can instantly communicate over vast distances. This used by military/government and corporations that can afford to keep many level 11 Mystics happy. This would be good for basic info and orders, but obviously not for data. So much more potable than an Unlimited Comm unit.

Then for lower level communications any time a ship is in touch with an infosphere, it becomes a node for drift info packets. That's how the info travels at drift speeds.

There might even be a market for ships with high drift ratings for information courier service. Advertisers might pay to get the latest news and tri-vid soap operas out to near-space quicker then their competition.

[Garretmander]

Information sent via the drift travels as fast as a starship, there's no reason to think there aren't tier 5 drift broadcasters that can send messages as fast as a quick courier. They're probably very expensive, but they probably exist.

Of course, if you don't want people listening in, you'll need the courier after all.