Arboretum and Extended Supply Vaults: triple or quadruple endurance

By van Riebeeck, in Rogue Trader Rules Questions

A small question here, both the Arboretum and the Extended Supply Vaults double the time a ship can stay in the Void without suffering undue problems. If we add both to a ship, do we:

- Double the double, i.e. quadruple endurance, in normal cases 24 months.

- Twice add the normal endurance, i.e. triple endurance, in normal cases 18 months.

Friedrich van Riebeeck, Navigator Primus, Heart of the Void

van Riebeeck said:

A small question here, both the Arboretum and the Extended Supply Vaults double the time a ship can stay in the Void without suffering undue problems. If we add both to a ship, do we:

- Double the double, i.e. quadruple endurance, in normal cases 24 months.

- Twice add the normal endurance, i.e. triple endurance, in normal cases 18 months.

Friedrich van Riebeeck, Navigator Primus, Heart of the Void

In my opinion the double the double it is the correct one.

There is a standard about this sort of thing in most RPGs: it's that you triple and not quadruple.

Let's do the math:

Say your normal supplies allow you to stay in the void for three months.

Arboretum doubles this if taken solo = 6 months, thus it adds three months.

Extended supply vaults double this if taken solo = 6 months, thus it adds three months.

If you then take both of them that adds two times three months = 6 extra months for a grand total of 9. 9 = 3 times 3. Hence it triples.

This is the same if you gain unnatural strength x2 from both a mutation and synthetic muscle grafts you end up with unnatural strength x3 not x4 (thank god).

Badlapje said:

There is a standard about this sort of thing in most RPGs: it's that you triple and not quadruple.

Let's do the math:

Say your normal supplies allow you to stay in the void for three months.

Arboretum doubles this if taken solo = 6 months, thus it adds three months.

Extended supply vaults double this if taken solo = 6 months, thus it adds three months.

If you then take both of them that adds two times three months = 6 extra months for a grand total of 9. 9 = 3 times 3. Hence it triples.

This is the same if you gain unnatural strength x2 from both a mutation and synthetic muscle grafts you end up with unnatural strength x3 not x4 (thank god).

The rules simply do not say "solo," though. They say "double." Therefore, I'd say every time you add an Arboretum or Extended supply vaults to a ship (or have a PC take that Ship Role in Into the Storm that also doubles supplies) you double the time that can be spent unsupplied. Unnatural attributes are specifically outlined as you've described them. However, we're not talking about "unnatural supplies" but components.

OMG: the rules state this about what the component does to the basic supply. Not to the modified supplies. If it worked your way then it'd take up a lot more space depending on what other components are already taken.

I've sent in a rules question in order to ensure that this doesn't turn in to a huge mindnumbing debate.

Yes, probably the best way to solve it. Not a major question, but worth to have cleared up. I myself tend to the triple as well, but that is just my ingrained 'let's not overpower PC's' reflex. As I see it, the arboretum and the extended supply vaults will have different functions, one purely improving the stocks of supplies, the other mostly improving the athmosphere, and probably recycling the athmosphere and possibly water with far more efficiency. Both will have a marked effect on the endurance. But tripling seems nice enough to me.

FvR

Badlapje said:

OMG: the rules state this about what the component does to the basic supply. Not to the modified supplies. If it worked your way then it'd take up a lot more space depending on what other components are already taken.

I've sent in a rules question in order to ensure that this doesn't turn in to a huge mindnumbing debate.

If RPGs and wargames would only follow maths......then this wouldnt be a problem.

OTOH its really about some simple module that isnt even THAT important, unless your RT loves to be away for loooong times....without a single semi-green planet nearby.

I do agree with you, though i might just allow a quadruple because of the huge amount of space wasted on supplies ^^.

Yay, we can store even more food.

Good, more plunder for us, says the RT who used the extra space on better weapons or larger hangar bays :) .

Yeah, this really isn't a serious question. I just feel that it's x4, not x3. I'd be rather surprised if you spent more than a year without supplies under a normal situation anyways. As Voronesh said, that's a lot of space that could be used for guns/scanners/barracks/etc.

numb3rc said:

Yeah, this really isn't a serious question. I just feel that it's x4, not x3. I'd be rather surprised if you spent more than a year without supplies under a normal situation anyways. As Voronesh said, that's a lot of space that could be used for guns/scanners/barracks/etc.


Ahh btw.

Battlefleet Koronus fluff has patrol ships with enough supplies for decades. AFAIR or a time period close enough for that. So basically it doesnt matter that much what the rules say, the background is already giving you WAY more time possible than the meagre allotment we can recreate with the rules.

If the components werent so expensive, id ignore that part of the rules... It remembers me too much of keeping track of food provisions in fantasy RPGs....

Well, it is not just food provisions, it is that I wish to have my own fish tanks so I can get fresh lobster and fruit trees so that I can have my juicy mulberries. Guns and such are all very nice, but a gentleman just needs some basic amenities to make life bearable, especially during those long travel times. Or are you telling me you are surviving on the ratings rations?

On a serious note, my Navigator ensures he has as much luxury as he can cram aboard, because he does like the little good things of life (like a master chef and a Kapelmeister) and because it has proven (as expected) a very nice support to diplomacy and talks. Discussing trade over top rated Amasec and fresh strawberries glazed in balsamico makes everything go so much smoother. And well, you are a Navis of the Great Houses or you aren't. Some of those Imperial 'nobles' seem to forget that the Navis Houses have been there since before the Imperium. Having your own Court is just...well, logical. Untill those unavoidable mutations will make it hard, so better enjoy the 'human' time you have.

FvR

Hello,

The endurance is triple normal endurance, so 18 months.

On Jun 28, 2011, at 2:37 PM, <xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Message from:
> koen
>
>
> E-mail:
> xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> Rule Question:
> Hi,
>
> can you please provide an answer to this question:
> A small question here, both the Arboretum and the Extended Supply Vaults double the time a ship can stay in the Void without suffering undue problems. If we add both to a ship, do we:
>
> - Double the double, i.e. quadruple endurance, in normal cases 24 months.
>
> - Twice add the normal endurance, i.e. triple endurance, in normal cases 18 months.
>
> thx.
> b.

Sam Stewart
RPG Designer
Fantasy Flight Games