But, imagine a player's joy at detecting a message coming from the imperial base, but failing at the next "interception" check?

I can certainly see detection and interception being a single check, and then decoding/decrypting being a second check. And I could see good reasons why those should actually be handled by separate skills, or at least optionally handled by separate skills.

I've been using Computers to Detect/Intercept then Computers again for decoding an encoded/encrypted message. What other skills would be appropriate? I did add Vigilance for Detect/Intercept if the PC is sitting around all day at a comms station monitoring traffic versus Computers when making a single, active attempt.

Thanks Brad I've just completed going over what I'm working on and made several tweaks to my notes on RAW Gear/Attachments that allows nearly all of them to remain as written, just with added explanation (not a house rule).

I’d love to see that, if you’re going to post it somewhere. Thanks!

Still in rough form. Hoping to have something up soon that will I'm sure need more help. On vacation this week with no trips planned so I should be able to deliver.

I've been using Computers to Detect/Intercept then Computers again for decoding an encoded/encrypted message. What other skills would be appropriate? I did add Vigilance for Detect/Intercept if the PC is sitting around all day at a comms station monitoring traffic versus Computers when making a single, active attempt.

I was thinking that Perception — possibly Perception (Int) instead of Perception (Cun) — would be a good choice if you were actively scanning.

I like your idea of using Vigilance if you’re just sitting at the comms station the whole time.

If there were a separate cryptology skill, then that would be best for the decoding/decryption, but there isn’t. So, in that case, I could see a case being made for either an appropriate Knowledge skill (maybe Knowledge Education), or Computers, and leave the choice up to the players. Obviously, they’d choose the skill they’re best at.

For Sensors (related, part of what I'm working on), RAW used Computers. If you read RAW description of Perception, it seems like it is also fitting, but not mentioned in RAW. Coincidentally my notes on spending results of a Computer check for Sensors is very similar to the description of Perception spending results. But, Perception only seems to be about using a being's senses even if they are amplified (binos), I have notes on Vigilance when not actively scanning (just like with comms). I would personally not wish to replace Computers with Perception (another house rule) unless it was only used for a specific situation (as with adding Vigilance). Computers is the default skill for me since it is what was mentioned in RAW.

For decoding of messages, RAW also has used Computers. The decoding spoken of in RAW seems to be computer code manipulation and one instance even mentions a requirement of a computer. If you were instead deciphering a written code or code language, I would use what you suggested (Knowledge), but for computer decoding only Computers makes sense.

For operating a comms station, RAW also mentions Computers. I suppose Perception could be swapped in certain situations such as, "you have received a very weak signal, it's hard to hear, make a Perception check". But, for the usual manipulation of a comms station controls/computer to pick up signals I'm going with Computers as the default skill.

EDIT: Lead by Example just arrived in the mail. Glancing through lots of new gear and thus new rules regarding comms and sensors. Computers, Perception, and Vigilance are mentioned in some descriptions! New examples in RAW means more work on my project.

One last question. There are two "Encryption" devices in RAW - the Encryption Module from Suns of Fortune and the Encryption Array (an attachment) from Desperate Allies. I'm leaving out Com Scrambler here since by its title its a scrambler, not a true encryption device.

Thus far I've been able to reconcile the Com Scrambler and Encryption Array by using the rules-as-written. I've got notes on someone with a computer being able to use the Computers skill to make an encoded message. This isn't something done instantly, takes at least a few minutes or more depending on the size of the message or data. The Com Scrambler is separate from that. It simply adds setback when trying to understand a message whether it's been encoded or not. The Encryption Array by RAW upgrades any attempt to decode a message. For me, that would be on top of the initial difficulty to decode an encoded message. I hope that makes sense. The RAW descriptions of Com Scrambler and Encryption Array work together with just a little explanation.

Manual Encoding: Using a computer to encode a message. Difficulty is based upon the difficulty to decode desired. A.i. Hard Computers to encode a message that needs Hard Computers to decode without a code key. A short message will take only a few minutes, but larger messages or data may take hours or even days (Death Star plans) to encode.

Then along comes the Encryption Module. It simply states any message sent through it is decoded at Formidable difficulty. For 1,250 credits you can instantly encode every message to the utmost difficulty. That pretty much defeats the purpose of using a computer with Computers skill to do it yourself. No fun for the slicing PC once one of these modules is noticed when a piece of gear can do it probably better and instantly.

I like to leave things as RAW if possible, but this device is almost too good. EDIT: My only idea so far is to give into changing the RAW and make the Encryption Module have a similar affect as the Encryption Array. It's not as powerful (perhaps adds setback instead of upgrading), but is portable.

On the other hand, right now, with the right software installed, almost any smartphone can use had encryption on email, etc.

On the other hand, right now, with the right software installed, almost any smartphone can use had encryption on email, etc.

And wirelessly connect to nearly a large assortment of electronic devices. Also not something we see in Star Wars. I'm going for Star Wars feel and fun gaming, not reality. Much more fun to have a PC roll to encode the secret rebel message then simply buy a device and have it automatically applied.

On the other hand, right now, with the right software installed, almost any smartphone can use had encryption on email, etc.

Yeah. Go ask Apple how long they think that’s going to last. ;(

On the other hand, right now, with the right software installed, almost any smartphone can use had encryption on email, etc.

Yeah. Go ask Apple how long they think that’s going to last. ;(

I prefer to keep my star wars at the 1980s level of sci-fi technology, so anything beyond basic encryption and decryption is going to be cumbersome and take large computers to do and it can't be done in real time so no encrypted voice communications.

The future is a moving target.

I prefer to keep my star wars at the 1980s level of sci-fi technology..

What does that mean, besides from only the military/government(The Empire) having internet?

I prefer to keep my star wars at the 1980s level of sci-fi technology..

What does that mean, besides from only the military/government(The Empire) having internet?

It would mean no small wireless devices, no small batteries and consumer-grade rechargables in their infancy, most signals are still analog, the fastest processors would be running at 20Mhz or so, and a 10MB HDD bigger than most current smartphones would be cutting edge, etc...

Comlinks would need to be the size of those old brick cellphones. Computing the Nth-dimensional coordinates necessary to complete a hyperspace jump would take days, not minutes. Etc.

Yes, I'm being intentionally obtuse here and directling my answer at actual 80s technology and not "people in the early 80s looking toward a distant fantastic time" technology. There's a reason I posted "The future is a moving target" above.

I prefer to keep my star wars at the 1980s level of sci-fi technology, so anything beyond basic encryption and decryption is going to be cumbersome and take large computers to do and it can't be done in real time so no encrypted voice communications.

C3PO knowing 6 million forms of communication and translating is real time encryption/decryption.

True... if you have the ability to create AI droids, you probably have the computer power to do real-time big-numbers encryption.

True... if you have the ability to create AI droids, you probably have the computer power to do real-time big-numbers encryption.

And in the movies they do have comlinks that are about the size of a lipstick. And hand-held holocommunicators that might not have a great deal of power, but the technology can transmit across the galaxy in a virtually instantaneous manner.

That’s not to mention starships that can travel between planets, and do so at faster than light speeds, being able to build a moon-size moving weapon that can destroy entire planets, etc….

So, if you’re sticking everyone in 1980s-level technology for everything, then there’s a lot of stuff in the movies that can’t happen.

True... if you have the ability to create AI droids, you probably have the computer power to do real-time big-numbers encryption.

And in the movies they do have comlinks that are about the size of a lipstick. And hand-held holocommunicators that might not have a great deal of power, but the technology can transmit across the galaxy in a virtually instantaneous manner.

That’s not to mention starships that can travel between planets, and do so at faster than light speeds, being able to build a moon-size moving weapon that can destroy entire planets, etc….

So, if you’re sticking everyone in 1980s-level technology for everything, then there’s a lot of stuff in the movies that can’t happen.

I admit that my response to the question contained high concentrations of snark, it was a very bad morning here. I wasn't actually suggesting that Star Wars should operate at 80s tech levels.

Ahrimon's comment wasn't about actual 80s tech, it was about how highly advanced tech of the far away or far from now was anticipated by people in the late 70s to mid 80s -- it's a topic often referred to as "retro future" or similar. Think of the way that people in the 20s or 50s looked forward to 2016 and expected rocket ships, flying cars or jetpacks, ray guns, food pills, silver lamé unisex clothes, etc -- "Dude, it's the future, where's my jetpack?!"

The "technological aesthetic" of Star Wars was very "80s sci-fi tech". Lots of buttons where and dials and switches and indicator lights instead of MFDs and touchscreens and near-future "gesture interfaces"... no thought to excessively wireless connected everything... etc.

The future is a moving target.

Now, whether one wants to stick to that aesthetic, or account for the 30 years that have passed and all the new things we can see in the future, is probably a matter of personal taste.

True... if you have the ability to create AI droids, you probably have the computer power to do real-time big-numbers encryption.

And in the movies they do have comlinks that are about the size of a lipstick. And hand-held holocommunicators that might not have a great deal of power, but the technology can transmit across the galaxy in a virtually instantaneous manner.

That’s not to mention starships that can travel between planets, and do so at faster than light speeds, being able to build a moon-size moving weapon that can destroy entire planets, etc….

So, if you’re sticking everyone in 1980s-level technology for everything, then there’s a lot of stuff in the movies that can’t happen.

This is fiction, so all that matters is the kind of atmosphere and feel we want the story(the game) to have. That being said, in a Galaxy of millions of inhabited worlds, it would be likely that all levels of technologis would exist at the same time...

But also in the variety of stories that is the fiction of Star Wars, different levels and flavours of technology exist! The Outer Rim of the Rebel Era can be space western, the Old Republic`s Core worlds can be a Space Opera of Science Fantasy, and Nar Shaddaa can have elements of Sci-Fi noir in other stories in the same overarching fictional universe. All these things are Star Wars, they are all fiction and what we want them to be. Star Wars is never hard science fiction, but always science fantasy.

That is why a planet made space station, powered by magic crystals can drain stars, shoot worlds and jump to other systems by the magic of the Force, Hyperspace, science fiction and the power of screaming fanboys and fangirls who doesn`t agree on or understand the genre and tone of the fiction.

It's hard to put it into words but I think, to me, Star Wars is highly advanced analog technology vs Star Trek's highly advanced digital technology.

As far as encryption goes, yes they have it but I don't think it's anything like we have now. Now we have commercial grade encryption that unless you have the key it takes massive amounts of computer power years to crack. I see star wars encryption more like a simpler basic encryption that would be easy to beat today in our digital world, but would be cutting edge for an advanced analog world.

It's hard to put it into words but I think, to me, Star Wars is highly advanced analog technology vs Star Trek's highly advanced digital technology.

As far as encryption goes, yes they have it but I don't think it's anything like we have now. Now we have commercial grade encryption that unless you have the key it takes massive amounts of computer power years to crack. I see star wars encryption more like a simpler basic encryption that would be easy to beat today in our digital world, but would be cutting edge for an advanced analog world.

The challenge there, as noted above, is that at least in our world, we know from experience that takes far less computing power to create and use very hard encryption, than it does to create artificial intelligence. So, unless there's something very different in the Star Wars world... they have droids with very deep AI, so they have the computer technology for very fast very complex encryption.

It's hard to put it into words but I think, to me, Star Wars is highly advanced analog technology vs Star Trek's highly advanced digital technology.

As far as encryption goes, yes they have it but I don't think it's anything like we have now. Now we have commercial grade encryption that unless you have the key it takes massive amounts of computer power years to crack. I see star wars encryption more like a simpler basic encryption that would be easy to beat today in our digital world, but would be cutting edge for an advanced analog world.

Compared to the computer power it would take to design a planet sized space ship that blows up other planets? Can move faster than light? Can park next to another planet and not have the gravitational stresses tear both apart? Isn't torn apart by the gravitational stresses it's own mass would impose? I think the Empire laughs at our tech.....

I also have to remind players regularly that not everything works wirelessly. I'm curious how technology will be portrayed in the future star wars franchise.

Having more and less advanced technology at the same time is very difficult to portray or to describe accurately.

The specific "why no wireless" question is actually easier to answer -- in a world full of droids and the associated portable computing power, wireless data would be even less secure than it is in our world. Every droid is a potential wireless hacker. Every high-end datapad or handheld is a threat.

At some point, everyone gives up and goes back to plugging in.

The specific "why no wireless" question is actually easier to answer -- in a world full of droids and the associated portable computing power, wireless data would be even less secure than it is in our world. Every droid is a potential wireless hacker. Every high-end datapad or handheld is a threat.

At some point, everyone gives up and goes back to plugging in.

that...is actually a very good point

The specific "why no wireless" question is actually easier to answer -- in a world full of droids and the associated portable computing power, wireless data would be even less secure than it is in our world. Every droid is a potential wireless hacker. Every high-end datapad or handheld is a threat.

At some point, everyone gives up and goes back to plugging in.

Battlestar Galactica:)