Hi everybody, I have some doubts concerning the actual meaning of "Scoring" in the "Plasma Scoring" Technology card (English is not my first language).
I suppose they're using score as in 'mark with lines, scratches or (in this case) plasma burn marks', but I fail to understand how this can be a researchable Technology. Is there any other meaning to 'Scoring' that I am not taking into consideration here?
Edited by Killyou8 minutes ago, Killyou said:Hi everybody, I have some doubts concerning the actual meaning of "Scoring" in the "Plasma Scoring" Technology card (English is not my first language).
I suppose they're using score as in 'mark with lines, scratches or (in this case) plasma burn marks', but I fail to understand how this can be a researchable Technology. Is there any other meaning to 'Scoring' that I am not taking into consideration here?
Scoring can be used intentionally in metal or woodwork to make things easier to attach. It creates more surface area for adhesive or solder. Presumably here the technology is using plasma to intentionally mark materials for etching marks for ID or something, or for construction.
Oh, cool, thanks a lot for your reply.
So, with it being a Warfare Technology and all that, I assume that it would be using plasma to etch some kind of rail system (so to speak) on which cannons and other weapons are mounted (on a ship scale)? And in no way related to using actual plasma projectiles of any kind, just the building of the weapons?
15 minutes ago, Killyou said:Oh, cool, thanks a lot for your reply.
So, with it being a Warfare Technology and all that, I assume that it would be using plasma to etch some kind of rail system (so to speak) on which cannons and other weapons are mounted (on a ship scale)? And in no way related to using actual plasma projectiles of any kind, just the building of the weapons?
That's my take on it, yep. Something to improve construction of munitions or weapons systems.
Regardless, I agree that it's a stupid name for a tech! Of all the cool-sounding, science fantasy-type names they could have used, they went with "Plasma Scoring."
Star Wars had carbon scoring. It's not a super stupid name.
Carbon scoring in Star Wars was residual damage or residue from "seeing a lot of action" (Luke says it when he's examining the droids I believe). When I saw Plasma Scoring for the first time, I thought, "What, I research a tech that makes my ships look beat up?" Then I thought, maybe the weapons use plasma to score the enemy hull so that a second shot penetrates better? After all, the tech gives you an extra shot when you bombard or fire deep space cannon, right? That makes sense...
Then of course there's the idea suggested above: Using plasma scoring for construction. Thing is, plasma is used in our modern day and age already. You can cut and score with plasma torches. Doesn't seem particularly futuristic to me. I'd rather see a made-up word like "Foltavian Alloys" or "Voxide Warheads" over something as humdrum as Plasma Scoring.
I prefer sci-fi that makes up terms, not words. Foltavian or Muxotidine sounds like they're trying too hard to sound spacey and futuristic. At least Plasma Scoring has the benefit of being understandable and possibly meaningful in 2017.
To each their own. Plasma Scoring is only slightly less boring than "Laser Beam," in my opinion. Worse because it makes you scratch your head and wonder how it works, and not in a good way. If you want something more real-science, lots of things are better. ****, plain old "Plasma Cannon" would have been better. Neutron Array. Tachyon Pulse. Graviton Negator (a nod to the now-defunct TI2/TI3 tech). Any of those would be better.
The lore of Twilight Imperium (previous editions, RPG, and even that silly game Mag Blast which was originally based on the TI3 universe) has a few technologies that are unique to that universe... Flux Space manipulation (the medium through which ships travel FTL), Mag Blasters which are basically Star Wars blaster bolts, and Hardbeam Laser Lances, which are designed to penetrate heavy armor. They could have used any of those. For TI3, I homebrewed a tech called "Flux Beacon" that gave all ships +1 to their move as long as they were moving into a hex they already controlled.
But all of this is personal taste, and I didn't design the game, so we get Plasma Scoring. Oh well.
18 minutes ago, MikeEvans said:To each their own. Plasma Scoring is only slightly less boring than "Laser Beam," in my opinion. Worse because it makes you scratch your head and wonder how it works, and not in a good way. If you want something more real-science, lots of things are better. ****, plain old "Plasma Cannon" would have been better. Neutron Array. Tachyon Pulse. Graviton Negator (a nod to the now-defunct TI2/TI3 tech). Any of those would be better.
The lore of Twilight Imperium (previous editions, RPG, and even that silly game Mag Blast which was originally based on the TI3 universe) has a few technologies that are unique to that universe... Flux Space manipulation (the medium through which ships travel FTL), Mag Blasters which are basically Star Wars blaster bolts, and Hardbeam Laser Lances, which are designed to penetrate heavy armor. They could have used any of those. For TI3, I homebrewed a tech called "Flux Beacon" that gave all ships +1 to their move as long as they were moving into a hex they already controlled.
But all of this is personal taste, and I didn't design the game, so we get Plasma Scoring. Oh well.
Can't disagree with any particular point, but I like all of those options because they're real words =) but yes, this is a matter of taste and in the end a purely cosmetic point, not mechanical, so really irrelevant.
2 hours ago, MikeEvans said:The lore of Twilight Imperium (previous editions, RPG, and even that silly game Mag Blast which was originally based on the TI3 universe) has a few technologies that are unique to that universe... Flux Space manipulation (the medium through which ships travel FTL), Mag Blasters which are basically Star Wars blaster bolts, and Hardbeam Laser Lances, which are designed to penetrate heavy armor. They could have used any of those. For TI3, I homebrewed a tech called "Flux Beacon" that gave all ships +1 to their move as long as they were moving into a hex they already controlled.
whoa, where did you get those? If you don't mind dropping by the TI3 forums and check my TI RPG thread, I'd take all the lore you can give me.
17 minutes ago, Laurefindel said:whoa, where did you get those?
Try and see if you can find the old Twilight Imperium RPG rulebook. There was also an expansion book, I think it was called Mecatol Rex. I actually ran a TI RPG on the TI3 Wiki for a decent amount of time. My group played a crew of Mentak privateers. It was super fun. I'll check out your thread.
Just checked on Ebay, and there is a copy of the RPG for sale (and the expansion book), but they're ridiculously expensive... more than $150 combined in US dollars, plus shipping from Australia. Woof. I think I paid 30 total for mine, but that was a decade ago. They're a fun read, though.
12 hours ago, MikeEvans said:Just checked on Ebay, and there is a copy of the RPG for sale (and the expansion book), but they're ridiculously expensive... more than $150 combined in US dollars, plus shipping from Australia. Woof. I think I paid 30 total for mine, but that was a decade ago. They're a fun read, though.
Yikes, it's a bit more than what I'm willing to commit. I'll look with my circle of gamer friends. Maybe someone knows someone...
Sorry for the derail folks, back to your regular program.