i know there is a post about how big a weapon can be but what about a best MIU not the weapon MIU does those weapons need to be interfaced with it as well and if so how do you interface a weapon to a MIU

There is no RAW bonus for a Best-quality MIU. In my games, you need a Best MIU to link up to a starship's bridge systems to handle the bandwidth of the countless systems at hand, but there's no other real benefit.

To interface a weapon with an MIU, it obviously needs to have an MIU component attached. Trade: Armourer roll from your techpriest, maybe an acquisition for the necessary parts. Beyond that, just hook the cables up to the jacks in your skull and you're golden.

ok thanks i did not see that i put best i thought i put good but thanks for the info

Since the OP's question seems to be answered, I'll post another one. What are the RP effects of a MIU? My Rogue Trader has a good quality one, but does that mean he can interface with his ship like a Princeps with his titan (essentially becoming the ship)? Is there a different comparison (possibly from another setting), that is more apt?

Also, can a normal MIU double as a MIU Weapon Interface?

well it says he gets those powers when connected but a normal one does not get a weapon bonus. the good does and yes i think your right about the princeps titen thingy you need to be connected to the weapon, vehicle, ect for it to work

Nerdynick said:

Based on my reading of the descriptions of the two, I would say that an MIU provides all the benefits of MIU Weapon Interface in addition to those listed in its entry. The MIU Weapon Interface is specifically called a simpler, stripped down version of an MIU.

Black_Kestrel said:

No, you don't get the benefits of the MIU Weapon Interface from the normal MIU. It would state so in the rules if it did, and it doesn't - it gives it different rules unrelated to the MIU Weapon Interface.

The MIU does one thing, the MIU Weapon Interface does another. They're both separate items with different uses.

Nerdynick said:

That's a bit of a thorny issue. Titans have supremely powerful machine spirits; they are fully aware they are gods of war and will suffer very few to stay their hand. Princeps are selected based on their strength of will then trained for years in how best to command the titan. I'm of the inclination that you would need similar levels of training to pilot a ship in that way, but there's nothing I know of to back up that starships have such profoundly individual machine spirits.

Errant said:

i think he was using that as a metaphor

What level of control would it give then?

Nerdynick said:

well i would not say a titan a vehicle [a smaller one like a tank or car] yes. it does say he gets a bonus when communicating with a machine spirits and i would say you should decide if you want you player to connect to a ship. i might let my player do so but another GM might not hope this helps

The MIU allows the player to directly interface with applicable systems provided access to a MIU access port.

It allows one to do what the bonuses would imply one is capable of. For instance, linking to a starship's weapons console the user gets +10BS bonus when firing weapons. Why? Because he isn't simply looking at a screen and calculating a firing solution. Instead he is linked with the ship and they are doing it together how you role play it is really up to you I guess, but does using a calculator or computer to figure out a math problem need to be roleplayed?

The piloting bonus works in much the same way; the relevant information is being fed directly into your brain instead of being read off a screen so the bonus implies one is better capable of responding to the information provided (less lag between stimulus and reaction).

As to exactly what one could do with an MIU that's a little hazy I think, but I wouldn't say they could control all the ships systems simultaneously unless its specified in the rules somewhere. In fact I am not sure it would be possible to interface directly with more than one starship system at a time.

As far as user control of the system. If it ever comes down to something that the player wants to do that is contrary to the 'wants' of the machine spirit setup a willpower test against the machine spirit with the MIU bonus to commune with the machine spirit as the only bonus the player can get. If the player succeeds and it is possible it happens. If he loses he will be fatigued and possibly even suffer some damage (depending on dof).

For instance, you are separated from your party who have found themselves trapped. You know their general location, a garbage compactor, but fail at your attempts to shut it down. You make a willpower test against the machine spirit to override the system and shutdown all compactors on the level.

Good going Artoo. Given the rules I think that's totally plausible (assuming of course you have a MIU, didn't pass the tech-use roll, and time is a critical factor). I might even throw in opposed willpower tests vs a hostile machine spirit before allowing a tech-use roll given the right situation. Just because you are a badass explorator doesn't mean every system should will bow to your touch.

A problem with starships is the vast crew though. In a Titan all the moderati are MIU equipped and form part of a living God-Machine, giving its limbs the steering it needs to obliterate the enemies of Man.

In a starship I picture a vast bridge (possibly with walkways, a starships bridge has to have vast walkways where you can stroll on looking cinematic while the battle unfolds). The steering and shooting is done by a vast crew, supported by servitors, that man all the screens, valves, wheels and all other contraptions that an Imperial ship needs. When a PC steers the ship, it is not so much taking the wheel itself (even if this is possible) as coordinating the crew and giving the right instructions to enginarium, thrusters and all of those. With shooting it is even more logical that a PC does not act alone in a starship with a crew of ten thousands. He will depend on everyone, from the lowest rating slaving at the chains to the gunnery officers getting a correct plot of the foe, many VU's away and no more then a pinprick (if even that) to the naked eye.

I am not certain he will be capable to interface as efficiently with a ship as with a Titan. The +10 bonus is very hefty, but only affects the PC, not all the other crew manning the ship. And contrary to a Titan, where all the moderati are wired up, this is mostly not the case on a starship. So I have my doubts whether or not to apply it there, as the PC's are so dependant on non MIU help.

Obviously, this means that for smaller craft this problem does not apply. A gun cutter with all its crew interfacing with the craft via MIU's is perfectly logical.

Friedrich van Riebeeck, Navigator Primus, Heart of the Void