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Post by senko on Jun 7, 2016 9:38:26 GMT
I've been trying to find the answer to this question for awhile now with no luck some places say the Mark IX upgrade was the most advanced model before the end of the time war but others say there was a mark X but with no information on what there was associated with it. I'm inclined the think the Mark X if it existed was a war upgrade (weapon systems, more power sources etc) but I'm not even sure it really exists. So does anyone know if the final upgrade was the Mark IX or the Mark X please?
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Catsmate
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Post by Catsmate on Jun 7, 2016 9:58:47 GMT
Marnal is the person for TARDIS minutiae and details. IIRR the models went up to about 105.
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Post by senko on Jun 7, 2016 10:47:11 GMT
That's the types i.e. Type 40 = Doctors Tardis, Type 89 = most advanced civiilian model before they began building war tardis's with offensive weapons, Form 102 = Compassion human who became the most powerful TARDIS ever, etc. The mark is the software upgrade affecting systems, layout, etc. So a Tardis is a Type X, Mark Y with the two relating to determine what systems, layout its console has etc. So for example you can have a Type 30 decommisioned TARDIS which gives certain information speed, armour, skills, size etc. Since its also an older model that means it'd have magnetic storage cards and other features that are found there but not on more modern TARDIS's and vice versa. You can then have it as an old museum piece with the mark I refit making it a Type 30 Mark I.
This means the control panels are numbered clockwise with them being communications and exterior monitor, mechanical and master control, fabrication and inforation systems, diagnotic and internal ship systems, navigation, helm and dematerialization systems. It also means other details such as the chameleon circuit being manual not autoamtic so when you land you need to examine the area and then code or load a disguise for it yourself or the fabrication system only providing information on how to make things since it can't actually dispense anything.
Alternatively it could have been lovingly upgraded by old Professor Forgetful before he left it to you in his will as his only heir. So its a Type 30 Mark VII (maybe the energy requirements for some upgrades are too much for certain older TARDIS's to handle a nice explanation I think for some system faults).
This means the control panels are numbered anti-clockwise with them being fabrication and inforation systems, helm and dematerialization systems, mechanical and master control, Navigation, diagnotic and internal ship systems, communications and exterior monitor. It also carries all the upgrades of that update such as the chameleon circuit being automatic, the fabrication panel has a dispensor so you can produce gold, currency, mechanical and electronic devices, etc as long as they're not too large or a special material, a rearrangement of where certain displays like the radiation indicator are placed and so on.
Similarly if you had the popular Type 70 TARDIS it would be a Mark 1 to Mark V only if you deliberately reset the operating software to an earlier version since when that was produced the Mark VI refit was standard for it.
Likewise the Doctor's was a Type 40 Mark III when he stole it but it got the various automatic upgrades to Mark IX that Gallifrey sent out to all TARDIS's over the years.
Essentially Type = your computer hardware (graphics card, CPU, power source) and the Mark = your operating system (windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10) if that helps.
I'm probably putting too much thought into this but I'd like to get my TARDIS right. So that has meant a lot of hunting on what the various types meant (some had special experimental features that weren't on other models, different sizes inside, features that were only standard up to a certain type then got removed like the magentic card system and so on) and what the various Marks added/removed/altered.
Which brings me back to my question I can find information on a lot of the TARDIS types (not all but enough to decide I'd like a Type 70 or maybe a 76 modern TARDIS) and the effects of the various Mark's up to the Mark IX I have seen references to a Mark X and I'm just wondering if anyone know's anything about it or if Mark IX was the highest developed.
I'm planning to try for a Type 70 Mark VI since that's the model that made the Type 50's and before obsolete and was apparently a very popular TARDIS for centuries even after newer ones became available but since the storyline would develop during the early years before the time war when the Fourth Doctor (they aren't likely to meet him except outside the TV adventures) was active and then up through it.
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misterharry
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Post by misterharry on Jun 7, 2016 11:08:01 GMT
The mark is the software upgrade affecting systems, layout, etc. So a Tardis is a Type X, Mark Y with the two relating to determine what systems, layout its console has etc. The systems upgrades for a Mark X are certainly mentioned in Marnal's TARDIS Technical Index, so you probably need to seek that out - I'm not sure that the link I have is for the latest version. I imagine Marnal himself will be here to clarify before too long.
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Post by senko on Jun 7, 2016 17:51:16 GMT
Thanks so it does exist, I'll try searching for that while I wait.
EDIT
Just out of curiosity I'll also add these 2 questions.
1) How do you board a humanoid form tardis? Do you need them to materialize around you so you arrive in the control room, have them assume a non-humanoid form with a door, use the key to open a door in thin air off to the side (i read this somewhere as a means of entering TARDIS's with a chameleon form too small for a door) or something else?
2) Torwards the end of the war after Rassilon was resurrected and the Timelords were growing desperate could you justify a type 105 being equipped with only two eye's of harmony the usual copy for navigation purposes and a prime version of its own in place of the usual hundreds of copies to provide the power it needs and allow it to operate outside the normal range of a TARDIS without needing to eat suns since it has its own limitless fuel supply?
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Post by Marnal on Jun 8, 2016 18:01:29 GMT
Sorry about my lateness to this thread
My feelings [which is loosely supported by the show] is that the TYPE of a TARDIS describes the capabilities of the entire capsule [the 'hardware'], while the MARK number describes the console [so the 'software']and other devices directly connected to the console [known as the transpower system according to the Dr Who DVD files].
So TARDIS will always be whatever Type it was created to be. But you can upgrade the Mark number by installing new updates [allowing access to new desktop themes and whatnot]. That's why the Doctor's TARDIS can be a Mark I in "Terror of the Autons" but a Mark III in "Lets Kill Hitler." And Type 30s being both Mark II and Mark III in "Divided Loyalties."
The highest Mark number ever mention [in any media as far as I am aware] is the Mark IX, which was considered to be state of the art at the time of "Full Circle." Given the time between that story and the end of the final battle of the Time War is quite likely that there was a Mark X or higher.
Certainly that Type 90 and onward War TARDISes had radically different control systems, strongly indicating that we had moved on from the traditional consoles of the classic era.
Being reluctant to speculate to far from the source material my Tech Index [most up-to-date version found here bit.ly/tardistech] I've had the Classic TARDISes run from Mark I to Mark IX and reserved a [hypothetical] Mark X for the Type 90 - Type 94 War TARDISes. With 100 forms being something so weird and new that they have their own system.
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Post by senko on Jun 8, 2016 18:04:31 GMT
Ah I see so Mark IX is the highest confirmed with Mark X likely but no mention/evidence anywhere thanks.
On the subject of War Tardis's do you have any thoughts about my other 2 questions on them? Especially the how you board one part.
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Post by Marnal on Jun 8, 2016 18:16:49 GMT
Senko asked "How do you board a humanoid form tardis?"
Starting at the mouth, the body splits down the middle and 'unfolds/morphs' in an origami-like way into a full size dimensional porthole. Its described as being quite freaky to witness in the novels. Being sapient the TARDIS just opens herself for whoever she wants [so no key is necessary].
Senko asked 2) Torwards the end of the war after Rassilon was resurrected and the Timelords were growing desperate could you justify a type 105 being equipped with only two eye's of harmony the usual copy for navigation purposes and a prime version of its own in place of the usual hundreds of copies to provide the power it needs and allow it to operate outside the normal range of a TARDIS without needing to eat suns since it has its own limitless fuel supply?
Possibly, but there would be complications. A PRIME Eye of Harmony anchors all of reality. There significant issues with creating multiple Prime Eyes with each Gallifrey during the Nine Homeworld Project. In essence, anytime you 'move' a Prime Eye you cause unpredictable alterations throughout history. So the other Cloneworlds all had to be carefully created so that they didn't mess-up the Web of Time. Mounting a Prime Eye on a Time Dreadnought [which, presumably, would spend a lot of time moving about] would cause all sorts of corruptions to time.
So yes, it could be done, but the side-effects would be such that only the most desperate of Time Lords would ever try it.
And you are correct, a TARDIS with a Prime Eye could essentially travel to any point in time and space, without limitation [which is probably one of the reasons the Master wanted one in "Deadly Assassin"!]
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Post by senko on Jun 8, 2016 18:24:05 GMT
Thanks, it was the journey to the center of the TARDIS where they got fried by one that got me wondering.
Ah so that's how you board them interesting.
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Post by Marnal on Jun 9, 2016 16:05:00 GMT
No problem. Let me know if you have any more questions, I can talk about this stuff all day!
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