Sensors & Signals covers reading sensor arrays, identifying contacts by
signature, intercepting communications, jamming and spoofing via ECM,
pinpointing stealthed contacts, and executing electronic-warfare operations.
The sensor tech reads a ghost return and knows it is a hull, not debris;
the comms officer pulls a whisper out of the static; the EW specialist
blinds a missile with noise and makes a frigate look like a rock.
Computers runs the system; Sensors & Signals runs the eyes and ears.
Engineering builds the array; Sensors & Signals knows what it hears.
The first kill is electronic. The second is kinetic.
Rules Reference
Field
Value
Armor Check Penalty
false
Key Ability
INT
Opposed Skills
Stealth
Trained Only
true
Untrained Use
Read basic scanner display at DC 12 only; intercept, ECM, and stealth detection auto-fail.
Key Ability
INT
Notes
Special: ECM/ECCM opposed by target's Sensors & Signals or Pilot (higher).
Stealth detection opposed by target's Stealth. Does not cover system
intrusion or hardware repair.
Special: ECM and ECCM checks are opposed by the target's Sensors & Signals or
Pilot skill, whichever is higher. Stealth detection is opposed by the
target's Stealth skill. Sensors & Signals does not cover system intrusion
(Computers/Slicing) or hardware repair (Engineering) -- it covers reading
the void and speaking in static.
Untrained: An untrained character can read a basic scanner display -- green dots
mean contacts, red means danger -- at DC 12 and nothing harder. Signal
intercept, ECM, and stealth detection all auto-fail without training.
You cannot jam what you cannot hear.
Descriptors
dc: 12
Field
Value
dc
12
task
Read sensors or run a basic scan
dc: 15
Field
Value
dc
15
task
Identify a contact by its signature
dc: 18
Field
Value
dc
18
task
Intercept a communication or signal
dc: 22
Field
Value
dc
22
task
Jam or spoof a target via ECM
dc: 25
Field
Value
dc
25
task
Pinpoint a stealthed or silent contact
dc: 30
Field
Value
dc
30
task
Execute a full electronic-warfare coup
Synergy
bonus: 2
Field
Value
bonus
2
from
Computers/Slicing
threshold
5
bonus: 2
Field
Value
bonus
2
from
Engineering
threshold
5
Synergies
bonus: 2
Field
Value
bonus
2
ranks
5
skill
Computers/Slicing
bonus: 2
Field
Value
bonus
2
ranks
5
skill
Engineering
Uses
application: Read sensors or run a basic scan
Field
Value
application
Read sensors or run a basic scan
dc
12
failure
You miss a contact or misread a return; the GM decides what hides.
success
You pick up everything in range -- contacts, debris, emissions.
application: Identify a contact by its signature
Field
Value
application
Identify a contact by its signature
dc
15
failure
You misclassify it; a destroyer reads as a freighter, or vice versa.
success
Class, size, heading, and probable intent confirmed.
application: Intercept a communication or signal
Field
Value
application
Intercept a communication or signal
dc
18
failure
You catch fragments or the signal hops frequency; partial or nothing.
success
You lock on and record; content captured for analysis.
application: Jam or spoof a target via ECM
Field
Value
application
Jam or spoof a target via ECM
dc
22
failure
Your ECM is detected; the target locks you instead.
success
Target's sensors are blinded or fed false data for 1d4 rounds.
application: Pinpoint a stealthed or silent contact
Field
Value
application
Pinpoint a stealthed or silent contact
dc
25
failure
The ghost stays ghost; you burn a scan cycle for nothing.
success
You find the ghost; bearing and range locked.
application: Execute a full electronic-warfare coup
Field
Value
application
Execute a full electronic-warfare coup
dc
30
failure
Your EW package is detected and countered; the enemy adapts.
success
Total spectrum dominance; enemy comms, sensors, and targeting compromised.