Tricorder
A tricorder is a multifunction hand-held device useful for data sensing, analysis, and recording data, with many specialized abilities which make it an asset to crews aboard starships and space stations as well as on away missions. (TOS: "The Naked Time")--Tricorder - Memory Alpha
A tricorder is personal ultra-tech scanning device [G:UT p66 Small Ultrascanner]. Besides the standard model, there are Medical, Engineering, and Security optimized versions. They require Electronic Operations (Science) skill to operate; the Medical Tricorder requires a Electronics Operation (Medical) to make use of its medical wand. A successful Electronic Operations (Science) roll can provide information which might allow for a follow-up science/engineering-type skill roll to analyze the information with a bonus equal to your margin of success up to a +2 or more [B345, UT64-66].
It takes 5 seconds to analyze a 120° arc and generally requires moving the tricorder from side to side a few times for Imaging, Search, and Radscans; holding it steady for Scan and Bioscans. Tricorders will work under water.
Tricorders Scanning Modes
All Starfleet tricorders can perform any of the five scanning modes listed below. Note that active sensing modes (all modes except Radscan) detect objects by sending out energy and analyzing a return signal. Because of this, a tricorder in an active sensing mode is itself detectible at twice its current scanning range (unless it's in LPI mode) [UT63]. The passive sensing mode of the Radscan simply analyzes whatever radiation is impinging upon the tricoder's sensors; as such its range depends on the strength of the source.
Tricorder Modes of Operation
| Mode | Purpose | Object(s) | Range | Bonuses/Penalties | Follow-Up Skills |
|---|
Imaging
active | Determine the shape and location of objects: a false-color, 3D, rendering. | all objects within a 120° arc | Distant | - Size
- Speed (as penalty only)
- -1/DR of cover
- Quick Contest vs Holdout or Smuggling
| +3 Search |
Search
active | Track moving objects: blips with speed, altitude, location, and approximate size. | all objects within a 120° arc | Distant | - Size
- Speed is a bonus
- -1/DR of cover
- Quick Contest vs Stealth
| +3 Artillery, Forward Observer |
Radscan
passive | Detect particle radiation and electric/magnetic fields: range, strength, bearing. | all objects within a 120° arc | n/a or use Size column | - Operating Cell:
- +0 A cell
- +3 B cell
- +6 C cell
- +9 D cell
- +12 E cell
- +15 F cell
| +2 Physics, El Op (Electronic Warfare) |
Scan
active | Gain information about nonliving objects: composition and radiation emissions. | a single nonliving object | Nearby | - Speed (as penalty only)
- -1/100DR of barrier
| +2 Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, etc. |
Bioscan
active | Gain information about living objects: vital signs and biochemical processes. | a single living object | Nearby | - Speed (as penalty only)
- -1/100DR of barrier
| +2 Biology, Diagnosis |
| LPI | Low Probability Intercept: active modes can only be detected at 1.5 times the halved range. | as above | ½ | | as above |
Use the tables below and above to determine the net bonus or penalty when using a tricoder. (Range penalties are from G:UT p63,66. Size and Speed penalties are based on B550.) If your range/size/speed lies between two values in the table, use the lower row to determine any bonus/penalty. Tricorders can not scan through a solid planet to analyze things below the horizon.
Tricorder Bonuses and Penalties
Bonus/
Penalty | Scan/Bioscan
Ranges | Imaging/Search
Ranges | | Bonus/
Penalty | Size | Speed |
|---|
| (yards) | (miles) | (yards) | (miles) | | | (yards) | (yd/s) | (mph) |
|---|
| +20 | 2 | | 17 | 0.01 | | -20 | 0.91 mm | | |
| +19 | 3 | | 24 | 0.01 | | -19 | 1.34 mm | | |
| +18 | 4 | | 34 | 0.02 | | -18 | 1.97 mm | | |
| +17 | 6 | | 49 | 0.03 | | -17 | id 2.89 mm | | |
| +16 | 8 | | 69 | 0.04 | | -16 | 4.24 mm | | |
| +15 | 11 | | 97 | 0.06 | | -15 | 1/4 in | | |
| +14 | 16 | | 138 | 0.08 | | -14 | 1/3 in | | |
| +13 | 22 | | 195 | 0.11 | | -13 | rec 1/2 in | | |
| +12 | 31 | | 275 | 0.16 | | -12 | 3/4 in | | |
| +11 | 44 | | 389 | 0.22 | | -11 | 1 1/8 in | | |
| +10 | 63 | | 550 | 0.31 | | -10 | det 1 2/3 in | 1.67 in/s | |
| +9 | 88 | | 778 | 0.44 | | -9 | 2 1/2 in | 2.45 in/s | |
| +8 | 125 | | 1,100 | 0.63 | | -8 | 3 5/8 in | 3.60 in/s | |
| +7 | 177 | 0.10 | 1,556 | 0.88 | | -7 | 5 1/4 in | 5.28 in/s | |
| +6 | 250 | 0.14 | 2,200 | 1.25 | | -6 | 7 3/4 in | 7.76 in/s | 0.44 |
| +5 | 354 | 0.20 | 3,111 | 1.77 | | -5 | 11 3/8 in | 11.38 in/s | 0.65 |
| +4 | 500 | 0.28 | 4,400 | 1mh 2.50 | | -4 | 16 3/4 in | 1.5 ft/s | 0.95 |
| +3 | 707 | 0.40 | 6,223 | 2mh 3.54 | | -3 | 2' 1" | 2 ft/s | 1.39 |
| +2 | 1,000 | 0.50 | 8,800 | 4mh 5.00 | | -2 | 3' 0" | 1 | 2.0 |
| +1 | 1,414 | 0.80 | 12,445 | 7.07 | | -1 | 4' 5" | 1.5 | 3.0 |
| 0 | 2,000 | 1.14 | 17,6000 | 10.00 | | 0 | 6' 6" | 2 | 4.4 |
| -1 | 2,828 | 1.61 | 24,890 | 14.14 | | +1 | 9' 6" | 3 | 6.5 |
| -2 | 1mh 4,000 | 2.27 | 35,200 | 20.00 | | +2 | 13' 11" | 5 | 9.5 |
| -3 | 2mh 5,657 | 3.21 | 49,780 | 28.28 | | +3 | 20' 5" | 7 | 13.9 |
| -4 | 4mh 8,000 | 4.55 | 70,400 | 40.000 | | +4 | 10 | 10 | 20 |
| -5 | 11,314 | 6.43 | 99,561 | 56.57 | | +5 | 14.7 | 15 | 30 |
| -6 | 16,000 | 9.09 | 140.800 | 80.00 | | +6 | 22 | 20 | 44 |
| -7 | 22,627 | 12.86 | 199,121 | 113.14 | | +7 | 32 | 30 | 65 |
| -8 | 32,000 | 18.18 | 281,600 | 160.00 | | +8 | 46 | 50 | 95 |
| -9 | 45,255 | 25.71 | 398,243 | 226.27 | | +9 | 68 | 70 | 140 |
| -10 | 64,000 | 36.36 | 563,200 | 3,20.00 | | +10 | 100 | 100 | 200 |
- id
- Minimum resolution for identification
- Detail should be sufficient to enable the identity of an individual to be established beyond reasonable doubt.
- rec
- Minimum resolution for recognition
- Detail should establish with a high degree of certainty whether or not an individual is the same as someone seen before.
- det
- Minimum resolution for detection
- Detail should establish with a high degree of certainty whether or not a person is present.
- 1mh
- 1 meter horizon distance
- The distance to the horizon of an Earth sized planet when tricorder is held 1 meter above the ground is 2.1 miles.
- 2mh
- 2 meter horizon distance
- The distance to the horizon of an Earth sized planet when tricorder is held 2 meters above the ground is 3.0 miles.
- 4mh
- 4 meter horizon distance
- The distance to the horizon of an Earth sized planet when tricorder is held 4 meters above the ground is 4.3 miles.
Standard Tricorder
a +2 bonus to most IQ based skills for each data chip, seven max
The standard tricorder is the only model that accepts data chips; it holds eight of them. A data chip provides a +2 bonus to most IQ based skills. Popular choices are specialties of Area Knowledge, Current Affairs, History, Law, and Physiology; Xenology techniques; Languages (i.e. translator programs); and anticipated academic skills. Chips cost $30 to $100 each and are LC4.
This is the tricorder carried by most starfleet officers. It is a square-shaped device, mostly black with silver trim, with three sections: a pivoting upper portion containing the display readout and controls, a compartmented mid-section containing slots for tricorder data chips, and a lower portion made up mainly of free memory. It sports a leather-like strap, allowing one to sling it over the shoulder when not in use.
The standard tricorder weighs 1 lb., last 4 hours on one B-cell, costs $2000, and is LC3. [UT p. 66]
Medical Tricorder
a +2 bonus to all medical related skills
The Electronic Operation (Medical) skills allows one to make use of the medical wand. The wand, when held within 1’ of the patient, provides a +2 bonus to all medical related skills (penalties for alien species still apply, but all physiology defaults will enjoy the +2 bonus).
This is the tricoder used by the Medical Department. It is a square-shaped device, mostly black with silver trim, with three sections: a pivoting upper portion containing the display readout and controls, a compartmented mid-section containing medical data, and a lower portion containing a small wand unique to the medical model. It sports a leather-like strap, allowing one to sling it over the shoulder when not in use.
The medical tricorder weighs 1 lb., last 4 hours on one B-cell, costs $2000, and is LC3. [UT p. 66]
Engineering Tricorder
a +2 bonus to Electrician and Mechanic skills
The Engineering tricorder provides a +2 bonus to Mechanic skill and is hardened against EMPs and the like. The Engineering tricorder has HT 16. (The Stardard and Medical tricorders have ST 12. The Security Tricorder has HT 14.)
This is the tricoder used by the Engineering Department–specifically when dealing with engineering related issues. It is also used when the environment is too harsh for a standard tricorder. This model is three times heavier than a standard tricorder and has a pistol-grip with controls located on the top of the unit.
The engineering tricorder weighs 3 lb., last 4 hours on one B-cell, costs $2000, and is LC3. [UT p. 66]
Security Tricorder
+3 to hit with an aimed ranged attack with an integrated weapon/helmet
In Search, Bioscan, or Imaging mode, it can track up to 10 targets at normal range and ID them at 1/10 normal range. After a turn of aiming, a "lock" is achieved on that target which gives a +3 to hit it with an integrated type 3 phaser. [G:UT p63,66]
This is the tricorder occasionally used by Security personnel; it is rarely issued in peace time. It is a square-shaped device, mostly black with silver trim, that connects to Starfleet issued security helmets or body armor and interfaces with a type 3 phaser. The triocorder's read-outs are sent to the heads-up display of an integrated helmet or visor.
The security tricorder weighs 1 lb., last 4 hours on one B-cell, costs $10,000, and is LC2. [UT p. 66]
Examples
Imaging
You are searching a crowd for an individual whose face is on file. This would require scanning at 1/2" resolution, which could be done without penalty out to a mile (2000 yards). However, there is a -1/DR penalty for cover, and people provide cover equal to their HP (usually 10). As a -6 penalty amounts to roughly a 10x decrease in range, 2 people (20HP) could be scanned through out to about 2 yards and 1 person can be scanned through to out to about 250 yards. If you want the image capture to hold up in court, you'll need to succeed by by 4 (to get to 2.89 mm resolution), and/or close the distance, and/or get around any intervening cover. E.g. if you could scan from a high enough vantage point, you wouldn't have to scan through any people--you'd have a clear line of site to everyone's faces. If the people are walking around (2 yd/s) there is no penalty; but if they're running around (5 yd/s) there would be a -2 penalty.
Search
You want to know if and how many hostiles are approaching: assuming they're man sized (no size modifier) and approaching cautiously (1 yd/s would give a -2 penalty), an exact success on your Electronic Operations (Scientific) roll would reveal their approach from as far as 50 miles out (+2 range) assuming no significant cover and assuming they don't also make their Stealth roll. If they're approaching through forest, the trees would provide significant cover. As wood is about 1DR/inch, you could expect to detect their approach when they're still 100's of yards out depending on how thick the forest is. If they're moving more quickly, they'd be even easier to detect.
Radscan
If the object can be seen with the naked eye, then a Radscan should be no problem. Transmitting sources, e.g. communicators and tricoders, can generally be detected at twice their operational range without penalty. As a general rule, every quadrupling in energy output amounts to a +2 bonus to detection [inverse square law]. If the source of radiation is weak, e.g. trace radioactive contaminants, use the Size column as a Range penalty. For devices running on power cells, use the Size column for Range and type of power cell for a bonus. E.g. a vaccsuit with helmet makes use of two C cells and one B, which is about 2.1x the effect of one C; so, let's say a +7 bonus to detection (+1 more than a C cell alone). The operating vaccsuit could be detected to a distance of 32 yards without penalty. If you succeeded in your El. Op (Science) roll by 3, then you would detect it out to 100 yards. Note that as the Radscan is a passive sensor, if radiation from the source it blocked, then Radscan can't detect it. E.g. cloud cover can block light, but not radio waves.
Scan
You want to know what a cave wall is made out of. As it's right in front of you, your success is all but automatic. In fact, if it's stone you'll have no penalty scanning to a depth of about 10 inches (stone has about 10DR/inch [B559]. With the information you gather, you could then apply your margin of success (up to a +3) to an IQ-base Beam Weapons roll to determine the optimum phaser setting to cut a hole through the rock.
Biocan
A large, fire-breathing, reptilian monster is attacking your landing party. To avoid cultural contamination, you were issued crossbows appropriate to the culture; so you can't stun it. You decide to take a Bioscan in hopes of locating its vitals. On its a strafing run, it gets within 10 yards (+15 bonus), but it's flying at 10 yd/s (-4 penalty). Your Bioscan is at a net +11. You could use your margin of success (up to a +3) as a bonus to a Physiology roll to remove the penalty to target the beast's vitals. (The Physiology off-species penalty would be a -10, but as recognizing vital organs is a trivial application of Physiology, a +8 task-difficulty bonus is applied as well.)
Source Material
Starfleet tricorders are based on the Small Ultrascanner from GURPS: Ultra Tech, p. 66. The ranges have been modified somewhat.
- Imaging mode should be able to recognize a face at 2000 yards [UT65,66]; notice the -13 size penalty is offset by the +13 range bonus at 2000 yards, in agreement with GURPS RAW.
- Search mode should detect rat-sized moving targets at 10 miles [UT 64,65]; notice the -6 size penalty is offset by the +6 range bonus at <12.5 miles, in agreement with GURPS RAW.
- Radscan mode should detect an operating D cell at about 50 yards (Size Speed/Range Table +6 +2 (TL11)); notice the +9 D Cell bonus offset by the -9 range penalty at 50 miles, in agreement with GURPS RAW.
- Scan mode should be scan through 6" of solid matter; 6" of stone has about 60 DR [B559], so -1/100DR seems about right.
- Bioscan mode shoud be able to examine beings inside of a spaceship; typical spaceship DR is about 70[G:Spaceships, p6-7], so 1/100DR seems about right.
Nearby Range Penalties are calculated as follows.
Penalty = 2 • log2(Range in yards) - 21.93
and
Range (in yards) = 2(Penalty+21.93)/2
For the Distant Range Penalties, change the "21.93" to a "13.29" and use Range values in miles instead of yards. The Penalties in the above equations are positive values, i.e. an actual bonus would be a negative value. Basically, there is an additional -2 penalty for every doubling of range. [G:UT p63] 21.93 = 2•log2(2000) and 13.29 = 2•log2(100).
Size/Speed Bonuses are calculated as follows.
Bonus = 6 • log(Size or Speed in yards per second) - 2
and
Size or Speed (in yards per second) = 10(Bonus+2)/6
Basically, a factor 10 change in Size or Speed for every +6 modifier. [B550] and GURPS forums.
Distance to the horizon is calculated as follows.
distance2 = height2 + 2•radius of planet•height
and
height = SQRT(radius of planet2 + distance2) - radius of planet
The radius of the Earth is 6,365,000 meters.
