Re: [HoE] [HOPPLER] Junker Questions

[PEGHopler@aol.com]

In a message dated 7/7/99 3:59:14 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
calabim69@hotmail.com writes:

<< It says in the man rule book that we can use regular teck in place of 
junker 
 tech. But I saw no mention of this is the junkman cometh does this rule 
 still apply or not. I'll give a few examples.
 
 (1) I am building a car using locomotion. Now of course I want the car to 
 have headlights so that I can drive at night. Do I have to have the light 
 power or can I just scrounge up some old working headlights to put in.
 
 (2) It says in the commo power that I need an audeo sensor to beld 
 walkie-talkies. Does that mean I must have the sensor power. What if I 
 already have and audeo sensor like from an old cell phone or something.
 
 To sum up what I want to know is what would be the rules for using regular 
 tech in a device.(if it can be used at all) Like slot space. or power 
 requirments. Thanx in advance. >>


You've raised a very good point. Yes, you can using existing tech in junker 
devices. in fact, this actually makes the junker's and the tech spirit's job 
easier because they don't need to adapt similar components into the "right" 
components. 

Unfortunately, due to the large number of possible powers and devices, it's 
hard to give any hard and fast rules for doing this. In general, I'd say each 
component of a specific nature like headlights or a phone mike counts double 
(or maybe more if it's really large or crucial)  toward the component cost of 
the device. They can also negate the need for additional powers if the 
component fulfills the right role. In this case the mike negates the need for 
the sensor power and the headlights negate the need for the light  power.

As far as slots go, I'd use the Frame Table as a guide. A phone mike for 
instance is smaller than a mouse (Frame size 1 slots 2), so I'd say it takes 
up 1 slot. In the case of the headlights I'd say they're about a size 3 Frame 
and take up about 5 slots. In the end though, it's up to your Marshal.

These items, because the tech spirit is able to instantly meld with them, 
don't cost any additional drain. Now, this might tempt people to try and 
build devices by saying, well I've got all the original pieces, all I have to 
do is put them together and I have a device which requires no Drain. That's 
true, but you've basically just repaired a standard device which still needs 
conventional batteries, gasoline or whatever--it won't run off a spirit 
battery. Using specific components doesn't reduce your Drain, it just doesn't 
increase it.

Hope this helps.

Sincerely 

John Hopler
Pinnacle