Bacta and Bacta Tanks and such things

By RebelDave, in Star Wars: Edge of the Empire RPG

So.. my players just bought a bacta tank for the ship.

I envisaged a tall upright standing tank, much like we see Luke recovering in on Hoth.

My players then asked an interesting question: "Does Bacta go off?"

I had no idea. But assuming it does, and needs replacing (Since Bacta has a cost per litre in the CRB), I did some sums.

Assuming I have my sums right, and assuming a cylindrical tank of 1 metre wide, and 2 metres tall, thats 1.57 cubic metres of volume... which is 1570 litres.

At 20 creds a Litre, thats 31,400 Credits!!!!!!!!

A NEW TANK IS ONLY 4000!!!

Now, is this simply a case of bad writing on the books part, or does the tank not include Bacta? (In which case, you are looking at 35k for the equipment.... which seems very expensive, and I know my players would NEVER drop that kind of cash).

Granted, this is assuming a full immersion tank like we see Luke in... but how does everyone else see this? It also occurred to me that the YT-1300 they have wouldn't have the head clearance to fit a tank AND be able to get into it. Which led me to think more of a Bacta Bath Tub type kit. Not a full immersion tank.

What are your thoughts?

Summary:

Do Bacta Tanks come WITH Bacta?

Is the Price of Bacta realistic?

How do you visualise Bacta Tanks?

Does Bacta go 'off' and need replacing after a time?

Aaaand... Go! ;)

Cheers

RD

Maybe you only need to add a liter to distilled water and you're good for X number of liters?

Maybe you only need to add a liter to distilled water and you're good for X number of liters?

.......................... This is why I love these forums.

Sir! Let me buy you a Corellian Whiskey! Absolutely GENIUS answer!

I doff my cap to you!

And/or buying it bulk comes with significant savings. I buy a lot of rice and let me tell you, 1lb vs. 50lbs is a huge difference in per unit cost :)!

And/or buying it bulk comes with significant savings. I buy a lot of rice and let me tell you, 1lb vs. 50lbs is a huge difference in per unit cost :)!

Granted, this is a factor.

But still... would buying in bulk really get you a nearly 80% discount? (I have no idea).

But I really do like 2P51s idea.

I do not believe the tank included the Bacta, it's just the apparatus for supporting/working with Bacta in an immersion setting. However, I could easily see a horizontal emersion tank for areas with lower ceilings, though I'd probably reduce the bonus (it's harder to work on someone you can't get all the way around).

Given the constant demand for Bacta that's presented, I'd assume there's some kind of degradation over time/use. Probably one of those things where a GM throws a replacement cost at them if it gets excessive use or they roll threat/despair, otherwise it's assumed to be covered by their 'hand-wave' income.

I also like 2P51's idea that the tank doesn't have to be 100% bacta to be effective. Of course, in Saga a Full Bacta Tank was, like, 100,000 credits, so 31,000 doesn't seem that bad...

I do not believe the tank included the Bacta, it's just the apparatus for supporting/working with Bacta in an immersion setting. However, I could easily see a horizontal emersion tank for areas with lower ceilings, though I'd probably reduce the bonus (it's harder to work on someone you can't get all the way around).

Given the constant demand for Bacta that's presented, I'd assume there's some kind of degradation over time/use. Probably one of those things where a GM throws a replacement cost at them if it gets excessive use or they roll threat/despair, otherwise it's assumed to be covered by their 'hand-wave' income.

I also like 2P51's idea that the tank doesn't have to be 100% bacta to be effective. Of course, in Saga a Full Bacta Tank was, like, 100,000 credits, so 31,000 doesn't seem that bad...

See pg 182 Table 5-8 EotE, Bacta tank is 4000 full.

On page 177 same book it states a full sized bacta tank is rare outside of major installations but there are portable ones installed on ships. With that being said, I believe that the poretable ones might be around 110 gallons (416 liters), for a total of 8320 credits. Now the question is, how often do you have to change the bacta out? I would say it can be used multiple times before it needs to be. My current party currently has 3 people with crits, 2 of those people with 2 crits a piece. That would come out to around 2000 credits a crit and is not a guarantee the crits are healed (6000 credits total). In the long run, dilution with water and multiple uses (bacta is the wonder cure for everything including bacteria and viruses unless you read the Vong novels) are the intent of the tank installed on your ship to save money. The tank being what it is, probably has a filtration system to it also.

BTW, nothing says you can't figure out away to just add an amount to keep it topped of instead of changing the full amount. You don't run your car empty of gas to the point it wont work right? Also, gas goes bad if it is not used but you keep adding gas to it and the unused portion keeps running the vehicle fine. So the top off of a couple of liters keeps the bacta fresh.

Edited by Osprey

You could just set a default number of wounds a Bacta Tank heals before you gotta throw in X number of liters to freshen up the soup.

I do not believe the tank included the Bacta, it's just the apparatus for supporting/working with Bacta in an immersion setting. However, I could easily see a horizontal emersion tank for areas with lower ceilings, though I'd probably reduce the bonus (it's harder to work on someone you can't get all the way around).

Given the constant demand for Bacta that's presented, I'd assume there's some kind of degradation over time/use. Probably one of those things where a GM throws a replacement cost at them if it gets excessive use or they roll threat/despair, otherwise it's assumed to be covered by their 'hand-wave' income.

I also like 2P51's idea that the tank doesn't have to be 100% bacta to be effective. Of course, in Saga a Full Bacta Tank was, like, 100,000 credits, so 31,000 doesn't seem that bad...

See pg 182 Table 5-8 EotE, Bacta tank is 4000 full

I have misread then.. indeed, on reading it now, it suggests the two entries are just for Bacta... a litre and a tanks worth.

But then there is no listing for the equipment to actually use the Bacta. Hmmm....

Well, I cant go back and change things for my group, I assumed the 4k was for a Bacta Tank itself (Equipment) and last night it appears they got the tank filled at the same time... seems reasonable. So I am running with that.

Well, that's what I get for not having the book with me.

That means, it's about 200 liters of bacta to make a tank operational. :) New special, free tank with purchase of 200 liters of bacta!

Personally, I'd base the Bacta use on criticals rather than wounds. Using bacta on wound damage just seems overkill. Like getting a penicillin shot for a papercut.

You could just set a default number of wounds a Bacta Tank heals before you gotta throw in X number of liters to freshen up the soup.

That would go against the RAW.

Natural healing is 1 wound per day.

With a Bacta tank its 1 wound per 2 hours. (Dependent on how hurt they are), and boosted by things like Bacta Specialist (Assuming the medic is attending them... and without a dice roll I presume).

Applying a Fixed number of wounds would disjoint alot of skills and talents my medic is using. Plus it could make it overly powerful. Right now, my Doc has 2 ranks in Bacta Specialist, meaning a crewman can recover 3 wounds per 2 hours in a Bacta Tank. (Incapacitated recovers 3 per 6 hours)

If I added a basic boost for "fresh" bacta, the numbers could get as high as 5 or 6 wounds per 2 hours. Does that seem over the top?

@Quicksilver.

As I said in my OP, a full immersion tank of 2 metres tall by 1 metre diameter, is 1570 litres. Not 200. Unless of course you dilute it as 2P said.

Edited by RebelDave

No I don't mean how much it heals per use, I mean total. After you have used the rules and healed 100 wounds to various PCs the tank needs X liters added to it to freshen it.

Suggestion for a maintenance rule for the tank, not how it heals.

No I don't mean how much it heals per use, I mean total. After you have used the rules and healed 100 wounds to various PCs the tank needs X liters added to it to freshen it.

Suggestion for a maintenance rule for the tank, not how it heals.

Oh! I see... yes, thats quite good, I do like that.... very clever.... my bar tabs gonna get out of hand isnt it? ;)

No I don't mean how much it heals per use, I mean total. After you have used the rules and healed 100 wounds to various PCs the tank needs X liters added to it to freshen it.

Suggestion for a maintenance rule for the tank, not how it heals.

Quicksilver was probably talking in gallons, and the table 5-8 says Bacta (full tank) which tells me you are buying the tank and it's full.

OOPS I did read it wrong, Bacta by it's self would be 4000 for a refill, but you could say it came in a tank as you would need it delivered in a container.

Edited by Osprey

No I don't mean how much it heals per use, I mean total. After you have used the rules and healed 100 wounds to various PCs the tank needs X liters added to it to freshen it.

Suggestion for a maintenance rule for the tank, not how it heals.

Quicksilver was probably talking in gallons, and the table 5-8 says Bacta Tank (full) which tells me you are buying the tank and it's full.

I guess you can read it both ways. But since the CRB mentions Bacta Tanks under healing, I read it that you are buying a tank, that happens to be filled... and thats what I went with my group last night. So Im not going to retcon it, otherwise Ill have my own rebellion on my hands!!

Assuming I have my sums right, and assuming a cylindrical tank of 1 metre wide, and 2 metres tall, thats 1.57 cubic metres of volume... which is 1570 litres.

At 20 creds a Litre, thats 31,400 Credits!!!!!!!!

A NEW TANK IS ONLY 4000!!!

A regular bathtub takes up to 180 litres of water, but only about 120 litres with a person inside

No I don't mean how much it heals per use, I mean total. After you have used the rules and healed 100 wounds to various PCs the tank needs X liters added to it to freshen it.

Suggestion for a maintenance rule for the tank, not how it heals.

Quicksilver was probably talking in gallons, and the table 5-8 says Bacta (full tank) which tells me you are buying the tank and it's full.

OOPS I did read it wrong, Bacta by it's self would be 4000 for a refill, but you could say it came in a tank as you would need it delivered in a container.

Na, I just simply divided 4000 credit fill by 20 credit liters - with the intention to reference back to the "dilution" idea.

just found this
https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/index.php?/topic/108101-ffg-developer-answered-questions/

Bacta Tank

Question asked by Yepesnopes:

The item "Bacta (full tank) listed under the Medical label of table 5-8 in the Edge of the Empire core rulebook. Is it the bacta tank (recipient) plus electronics plus the bacta liquid? or is it only the amount bacta liquid you need fill one of those tanks?

Answered by Sam Stewart:

The "tank" is just the fluid needed to fill a tank.

just found this

https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/index.php?/topic/108101-ffg-developer-answered-questions/

Bacta Tank

Question asked by Yepesnopes:

The item "Bacta (full tank) listed under the Medical label of table 5-8 in the Edge of the Empire core rulebook. Is it the bacta tank (recipient) plus electronics plus the bacta liquid? or is it only the amount bacta liquid you need fill one of those tanks?

Answered by Sam Stewart:

The "tank" is just the fluid needed to fill a tank.

Huh.

Seems odd then they dont list the actual tank itself in the book, since they reference it in Healing, and provide listing for the contents.. again, not that it matters, since my players have bought it already. No biggie. But seems like a huge oversight on the devs part.

just found this

https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/index.php?/topic/108101-ffg-developer-answered-questions/

Bacta Tank

Question asked by Yepesnopes:

The item "Bacta (full tank) listed under the Medical label of table 5-8 in the Edge of the Empire core rulebook. Is it the bacta tank (recipient) plus electronics plus the bacta liquid? or is it only the amount bacta liquid you need fill one of those tanks?

Answered by Sam Stewart:

The "tank" is just the fluid needed to fill a tank.

NIce find Greyxi, reading through that forum I don't see a price on the tank it's self, I emailed Sam once on here but don't remember how I did it, or I would email him about the price of the tank. It can't be that expensive.

srysly, i would do a cheap price for the tank itself. it not something realy fancy, it shut not be price, cause its not even mechanical, and if it is, its quite simple, like a turning ventilator (bactalator?) to keep the bacta in movement or smth like this. so in the galaxy, maybe... 300 for a simple "glas" tank should be ok.

Or, if u order the "full tank" it comes in this tank, because they wont send it to u in small paperbags. and maybe its less fancy then,just has a window and is not full transparent

I delete my post. I see you have already seen the answer from Sam

Edited by Yepesnopes

What would be the difference between Bacta and Kolta or whatever its called in KOTOR?

I think that, according to fluff, Bacta was discovered/engineered thousand of years later than Kolto, and is much more effective.

Also Kolto was only produced on Manaan so it's supposedly harder to get. In OT setting if it's even still used kolto considered a poor substitute to bacta.

Mechanically i would treat it just like bacta but reduce it's effectiveness (maybe halve it?).