Alan-Ibn-Xuan Al-Alasabe
Planetary Response Organisation
348
   |
Posted - 2013.06.11 04:30:00 -
[1] - Quote
A prototype is, in essence, a proof-of-concept. When prototypical equipment is demo-ed for a military only a small amount exists, and what exists may be unreliable, as it will not yet have gotten much field testing. You would probably not want to go into battle with prototypes.
In short, "prototype" means non-mass-produced demonstration equipment, not state-of-the-art equipment, though it may also be state-of-the-art. If you're looking for a way to say "state-of-the-art" why not just say it?
So anyway, that's my petty pedantic rant for the evening. |
Alan-Ibn-Xuan Al-Alasabe
Planetary Response Organisation
349
|
Posted - 2013.06.11 10:47:00 -
[2] - Quote
Vyzion Eyri wrote:Simple solution: swap officer and prototype.
Now, officer gear is the most expensive, only affordable by those who've worked bloody hard for it, and prototype gear is found on the battlefield, is extremely limited in amount, and has incredibly boosted performance compared to anything else.
Officer gear has its own significance, referring to equipment that has been specially modified by some NPC to outperform the normal market variants. Unlike the normal gear, including what is currently called the "prototype" tier, it isn't and never should be available through normal means.
And those officer mods still aren't prototypes. Those modifications have been around for a while and have been field tested. They're rare, but they're not prototypical.
Patoman Radiant wrote:tech 2, what else is it, requires level 5 skills
T2 also has its own meaning, referring to something that is highly specialized and technologically advanced. They're not intended to be just straight up "better". That said, I've argued for a move to a T1/T2 system for dropsuits and vehicles.
Wolfgang Erikson wrote:Just because it is not mass produced or field tested doesn't mean it has defects, higher potential for them, yes.
Although I would agree that to deserve the name prototype, it should have some sort of technology that none of the other suits have. Something that does push the limits and something "new" not just higher quality versions of the current tech, because that's just an upgrade.
I guess I agree with you, but not necessarily in your exact argument, if that makes sense.
A prototype doesn't have to introduce a new technology, it just has to be an early model of some design. When our militia suits were first being created there would have been someone testing out prototypes of them. Hell, when I make software for a customer I build prototypes of the interface so they can see what it will look like. None of this introduces new technologies. |