Navigation
This broad skill provides a character with training in navigating on a planetary surface or in space. Charting a course for a ground vehicle or spacecraft requires a simple skill check. The optimum time for a Navigation attempt is 5 minutes. Every minute less than 5 spent on the attempt is a +1 penalty; every minute more than 5 (to 10) is a -1 bonus.
Navigation Situation Modifiers
| Condition | Modifier |
|---|---|
| Combat conditions | +4 steps |
| Hostile conditions | +2 steps |
| Calm conditions | 0 |
| Unexplored territory | +4 steps |
| Partially explored territory | +2 steps |
| Explored territory | 0 |
| Familiar territory | -2 steps |
| No equipment | +4 steps |
| Damaged or unreliable equipment | +2 steps |
| Dependable equipment | 0 |
| Superior equipment | -2 steps |
| Less than 5 minutes | +1 step / min. |
| More than 5 minutes (max 10) | -1 step / min. |
For surface navigation only:
- Darkness: +3 steps
- Inclement weather: +2 steps
- Rough terrain/turbulence: +2 steps
Astrogation—drivespace
This specialty skill involves the study and performance of navigation through drivespace, usually involving movement from one star system to another within the galaxy.
Drivespace, in settings with faster-than-light space travel, is a parallel dimension tied to the gravity plane of the galaxy.
A character with this skill can plot courses for stardrive-equipped starships of all kinds. Any stardrive-equipped ship has a maximum distance, in light-years, that it can travel every time it drops out of normal space and into drivespace. This process is known as making a starfall.
Larger ships have a greater maximum distance per starfall than smaller ones. For long trips, several starfalls—each requiring the use of the drivespace astrogation skill—must be accomplished before reaching the final destination.
Note: This skill may also be used to handle any other faster-than-light astrogation system (involving hyperspace, wormholes, jump gates, and so forth) that may exist in the Gamemaster’s campaign.
Starfall Results
- Critical Failure: make another check with a +2 penalty and consult the Drivespace Off Course Results table
- Failure: make another check and consult the Drivespace Off Course Results table
- Ordinary: arrive at the edge of the destination star system
- Good: arrive inside destination star system, d12+2 AUs from target
- Amazing: arrive inside destination system, d4 AUs from target
Drivespace Off Course Results
| Result | Effect |
|---|---|
| Critical Failure | Travel ship’s maximum distance in drivespace in a random wrong direction. |
| Failure | Travel 50% of the ship’s maximum distance in the intended direction, then 50% in a random wrong direction. |
| Ordinary | Travel 75% of the ship’s maximum distance in the intended direction, then 25% in a random wrong direction. |
| Good | Travel 90% of the ship’s maximum distance in the intended direction, then 10% in a random wrong direction. |
| Amazing | Arrive at the edge of the destination star system. |
Astrogation—system
This specialty skill encompasses the study and performance of astrogation through normal space, usually involving movement from one place to another within a star system. A character with this skill (or the Navigation broad skill) can plot a course for a starship that doesn’t have or isn’t using drivespace technology.
Travel through normal space is usually measured in time units—how long it takes to get from one location to another. At Progress Level 7, starships can move through normal space at rates of up to 40% of light speed, but may not always be able to maintain that velocity for the full duration of a journey. The result of the astrogator’s skill check determines how efficient the course is—getting the ship to its destination without running into any obstacles, physical or otherwise, along the way.
In-System Navigation Result
- Critical Failure: make another check with a +2 penalty and consult the System/Surface Off Course Results table.
- Failure: make another check and consult the System/Surface Off Course Results table.
- Ordinary: course is plotted at normal travel time plus d4 time units.
- Good: course is plotted at normal travel time.
- Amazing: course cuts travel time by 1 time unit.
System/Surface Off Course Results
| Result | Effect |
|---|---|
| Critical Failure | Travel for d12+3 hours in random wrong direction. The next Navigation check made by a member of the traveling group carries a +2 penalty. |
| Marginal Success | Travel for d6+2 hours in random wrong direction. Identifying traveling group’s precise position requires d4 hours of observation and mapping. Any Navigation check made before this time limit expires carries a +2 penalty. |
| Ordinary Success | Travel for d4 hours in random wrong direction. Identifying traveling group’s precise position requires d20+10 minutes. |
| Good Success | Travel for d20+3 minutes in random wrong direction. Identifying traveling group’s precise position requires d6+5 minutes. |
| Amazing Success | Travel for d12 minutes in random wrong direction, with traveling group’s precise position known as soon as that travel is over. |
Navigation—surface
This specialty skill is the study and performance of navigation on a planetary surface, using stars, landmarks, and specialized equipment to plot courses and determine location. A character with this skill (or with the Navigation broad skill) can plot courses for air, water, and land vehicles of all kinds, provided he’s familiar with the planet in question.
Travel across the surface of a planet (or through its atmosphere) is measured in time units—how long it takes to get from one location to another. Different types of vehicles have different speeds at which they operate; faster vehicles use smaller time units to measure how quickly they can traverse a certain distance. The result of the navigator’s skill check determines how efficient the course is—getting the vehicle being navigated to its destination by means of the smoothest or most direct route.
Surface Navigation Result
- Critical Failure: make another check with a +2 penalty and consult the System/Surface Off Course Results table.
- Failure: make another check and consult the System/Surface Off Course Results table.
- Ordinary: course is plotted at normal travel time plus d4 time units.
- Good: course is plotted at normal travel time.
- Amazing: course is plotted that cuts travel time by 1 time unit.