Re: Weapons Modules, who would use them?

In a message dated 97-02-03 23:50:01 EST, you write:

<< Part of the current set up is that there is equality on some levels of
 spelljamming technology.  Everybody travels roughly the same distance
 per day, the sizes of the ships and their toughness is comparable.
 When you make more of combat dependant on Detection magics you take
 away some of the equality.  A society which is more advanced magicly
 has _much_ more of an advantage, groundlings are in a much _worse_
 position, because they don't have magical detection devices, or
 communication crystals, cloaking devices or anything else which is
 pure magic.

 The current set up doesn't require a huge proportion of the crew
 be mages or clerics.  If you make too much of a typical encounter
 based on magic, you may as well not have an Player character fighters
 because they aren't going to be _doing_ anything.

 Unless the magical detection devices are integrated into the helms in
 such a way that everybody has the same basic edge you risk changing
 the player slowly learning what sorts of maneuvers work in space to
 The Quest for the Better Black-Box-Device-For-Detecting-Other-Ships.
 Why pore over deck plans when you just spend a little more money and
 get a better detection system? >>

    What kind of "detection systems" are being discussed here, and how are
they used in game play?  I have several magical "techno-type" devices that I
feel do not unbalance the game much, if at all.  I would be happy to post
them, along with any tips and tales about their use.  They will probably end
up on the Spelljammer Message Board on AOL under my Rip-Off Stuff series.