tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3899408099257648174.post3556775725543489077..comments2023-11-15T21:31:39.318+13:00Comments on Waystar High Port: Solo Traveller - Aloin's Saga Backgrounder #4Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14192928573798426693noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3899408099257648174.post-32067975341996571912012-08-18T00:07:56.254+12:002012-08-18T00:07:56.254+12:00Oh, put the Prosperity class subsidised merchany o...Oh, put the Prosperity class subsidised merchany on your Starships thread.<br /><br />Its designed to carry a Tulip-class in wartime, rather than its more usual cargo pod.Ian Whitchurchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14896497136190817451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3899408099257648174.post-39378594453881512842012-08-17T01:03:33.464+12:002012-08-17T01:03:33.464+12:00500 million people at tech 9 and a C port ... for ...500 million people at tech 9 and a C port ... for 54 BCr to be right, thats 100 credits a year per capita. Im much happier with the GT:FT number of Cr3500, especially if its in local credits.<br /><br />The relationships between the three worlds "feel" about right with RUs ... Miazan ten times the size of Exxilon, and twice the size of teeming but underdeveloped Nakaya.Ian Whitchurchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14896497136190817451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3899408099257648174.post-57864681665889456752012-08-17T00:45:21.509+12:002012-08-17T00:45:21.509+12:00Absolutely.
Its a clumsy brute of a thing, that m...Absolutely.<br /><br />Its a clumsy brute of a thing, that makes up for three thousand years of technological obsolescence - and make no mistake, this was a design outdated at the height of the Ziru Sirkaa - with megajoule after megajoule of charged particles.<br /><br />And it would put cold fear into pirates, as it's highly unlikely any ship smaller than a thousand dtons that was hit by it's main armament would ever have any survivors.<br /><br />Even ships of the line dont want to be hit by one, once.<br /><br />This ship is an example, to me, of why gearheading is important in Trav ... it's a 9000 dton monitor that is literally 55% spinal mount. You could make an entire story about how you could probably fly a type S scout into the maw of it's main armament.<br /><br />On board, it has g-couches that the crew strap into. Bedding is bunks, at four to a stateroom. For captains and crew used to the sleek efficiency of high stellar tech, this craft would be loud, dangerous and unpleasant.<br /><br />This is a ship is about the shock of the old.<br /><br />And the first one to roll out of the orbital facility will be the pride of Exxillon.Ian Whitchurchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14896497136190817451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3899408099257648174.post-16922809209992055322012-08-16T20:39:49.711+12:002012-08-16T20:39:49.711+12:00I really like this design. Would you mind if I put...I really like this design. Would you mind if I put it into my Starships and Space Ships page (with suitable credits)? I'm sure if we can't get Exxilon up to at least a B Class Starport, there will be other TL 9 worlds needing SDBs.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14192928573798426693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3899408099257648174.post-81426605988880245452012-08-16T20:11:24.537+12:002012-08-16T20:11:24.537+12:00Thanks for all the comments, BTW - I like this par...Thanks for all the comments, BTW - I like this part of the story creation (working out the background) almost as much as I enjoy playing.<br /><br />Yes, I have a copy of T4's <i>Pocket Empires</i> and think it's a fantastic tool for working out the "big picture". <br /><br />Apologies for not putting the UWPs for Miazan Subsector up earlier (or at least a link to them on my <a href="http://billinghurst.spalding.gen.nz/Webstuff/hobbies/fullmiazansubsector.html" rel="nofollow">website</a> or a link to the <a href="http://billinghurst.spalding.gen.nz/Webstuff/hobbies/travellermenu.html" rel="nofollow">Sector Page</a>) but I hadn't expected the discussion to take off in this direction.<br /><br />Now I did have a go at calculating RUs for Miazan Subsector a while back and seem to have come up with a Base GWP of 50.4 RUs or BCr54.8 local for Exxilon. Interestingly, when I calculated the planet's GWP using GURPs: Far Trader, I came up with a GWP of TCr1.686. Miazan has a GWP of 570 RU and Nakaya has a GWP of 227 RU, by way of comparison.<br /><br />Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14192928573798426693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3899408099257648174.post-35526636468848261452012-08-16T18:29:51.604+12:002012-08-16T18:29:51.604+12:00T4's Pocket Empires is the product you want fo...T4's Pocket Empires is the product you want for issues like that<br /><br />http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/234/T4-Pocket-Empires?it=1<br /><br />A C port should be able to maintain the Orchid Class SDBs at least :)Ian Whitchurchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14896497136190817451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3899408099257648174.post-30944182310690880262012-08-16T18:25:18.792+12:002012-08-16T18:25:18.792+12:00This comment has been removed by the author.Ian Whitchurchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14896497136190817451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3899408099257648174.post-72950226548129177832012-08-16T17:26:53.067+12:002012-08-16T17:26:53.067+12:00Apart from fission power plants, about the only ot...Apart from fission power plants, about the only other major exports Nakaya is known for are Model/2 computers and TL7 firearms.<br /><br />The one main resource the planet has is it's massive population. Possibly like the Friendlies in the Dorsai Series, Nakaya exports labour and cannon fodder. <br /><br />The Government is a Feudal Technocracy, and from my notes I see that the Defence Command technicians and engineers effectively took over the government and planetary defence during the 4th Outrim War and never gave it back. It suggests an image of the elite living in deep shelter complexes while the populace dig air raid shelters and form urban patrol groups. Possibly not a nice place to visit with its contaminated atmosphere.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14192928573798426693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3899408099257648174.post-60342149753566015512012-08-16T13:42:09.077+12:002012-08-16T13:42:09.077+12:00The problem with Exxilon is that its starport is c...The problem with Exxilon is that its starport is currently only Class C, which precludes native shipbuilding (see <a href="http://billinghurst.spalding.gen.nz/Webstuff/hobbies/fullmiazansubsector.html" rel="nofollow">here</a> for the subsector UWPs).<br /><br />Strategically, and economically, it would make sense to upgrade Exxilon's starport to a minimum of Class B, but the impression I get from discussions on COTI (I've started lurking again) is that starport upgrades take some years and multiple RUs (10s - 1000s of MCRs).<br /><br />With a C Port, but a reasonable economy, it probably makes equal sense to buy SDBs off the peg from either a local shipyard or to take a number and get in the queue for a major TL15 yard, such as Gamelea.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14192928573798426693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3899408099257648174.post-51099653964688282282012-08-16T13:41:07.842+12:002012-08-16T13:41:07.842+12:00This comment has been removed by the author.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14192928573798426693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3899408099257648174.post-64374546482274107852012-08-15T18:42:40.490+12:002012-08-15T18:42:40.490+12:00On behalf of Exillon Heavy Industry Plc, we presen...On behalf of Exillon Heavy Industry Plc, we present the design for the 9000 dton Orchid Class Heavy System Defense vessel.<br /><br />A variant on the established Tulip class SDB by Jospeph Kimball, the Orchid class is equipped with a spinally mounted particle accelerator weapon, can sustain 2G of acceleration and has armour and light secondary armament for self-defense against fighters and similar threats.<br /><br />We believe that these can be entirely consturcted within Exillon, and that if taken into service these vessels will be able to make a substaintial contribution to the defense of the subsector.<br /><br />Ship: Orchid<br />Class: Tulip-bis<br />Type: Light Monitor<br />Architect: Ian Whitchurch/Jospeh Kimball<br />Tech Level: 9<br /><br />USP<br /> DG-J102639-180000-80B00-0 MCr 9,706.590 9 KTons<br />Bat Bear 1 1 1 Crew: 137<br />Bat 1 1 1 TL: 9<br /><br />Cargo: 141 Crew Sections: 9 of 16 Fuel: 540 EP: 540 Agility: 0 Shipboard Security Detail: 9 Marines: 20<br />Craft: 1 x 20T None<br />Fuel Treatment: Fuel Scoops and On Board Fuel Purification<br />Backups: 1 x Model/3 Computer<br /><br />Architects Fee: MCr 97.066 Cost in Quantity: MCr 7,765.272<br /><br /><br />Detailed Description<br /> (High Guard Design)<br /><br />HULL<br />9,000.000 tons standard, 126,000.000 cubic meters, Needle/Wedge Configuration<br /><br />CREW<br />20 Officers, 97 Ratings, 20 Marines<br /><br />ENGINEERING<br />Jump-0, 2G Manuever, Power plant-6, 540.000 EP, Agility 0<br /><br />AVIONICS<br />Bridge, Model/3 Computer<br />1 Model/3 Backup Computer<br /><br />HARDPOINTS<br />Spinal Mount, 20 Hardpoints<br /><br />ARMAMENT<br />Particle Accelerator Spinal Mount (Factor-B), 10 Triple Beam Laser Turrets organised into 1 Battery (Factor-8)<br /><br />DEFENCES<br />10 Triple Sandcaster Turrets organised into 1 Battery (Factor-8), Armoured Hull (Factor-1)<br /><br />CRAFT<br />1 20.000 ton None (Crew of 2, Cost of MCr 0.000)<br /><br />FUEL<br />540 Tons Fuel (0 parsecs jump and 28 days endurance)<br />On Board Fuel Scoops, On Board Fuel Purification Plant<br /><br />MISCELLANEOUS<br />72 Staterooms, 141 Tons Cargo<br /><br />USER DEFINED COMPONENTS<br />None<br /><br />COST<br />MCr 9,803.656 Singly (incl. Architects fees of MCr 97.066), MCr 7,765.272 in Quantity<br /><br />CONSTRUCTION TIME<br />158 Weeks Singly, 127 Weeks in Quantity<br /><br />COMMENTS<br /><br /><br /><br />Tulip-bis Class Light Monitor<br /><br />Book 5 Crew Breakdown<br />Command section: 7 officers and 4 ratings; Engineering section: 3 officers and 18 ratings; Gunnery section: 6 officers and 47 ratings; Flight section: 1 officers and 3 ratings; Service section: 2 officers and 16 ratings; Medical Section: 1 officers and 0 ratings; Marines: 20<br />HULL<br />Hull: 0.000 Td; MCr 1,080.000<br />Armour Factor-1: 720.000 Td; MCr 288.000<br /><br />ENGINEERING<br />M-Drive Factor-2: 450.000 Td; MCr 315.000<br />J-Drive Factor-0: 0.000 Td; MCr 0.000<br />P-Plant Factor-6: 1,620.000 Td; MCr 4,860.000; +540.000 EP<br /><br />FUEL<br />P-Fuel: 540.000 Td; MCr 0,000<br />J-Fuel: 0.000 Td; MCr 0.000<br />Scoops: 0.000 Td; MCr 9.000<br />Purification: 9.000 Td; MCr 0.038<br />L-Hyd Drop Tanks: 0.000 Td; MCr 0.000<br /><br />AVIONICS<br />Bridge: 180.000 Td; MCr 45.000<br />Computer Model/3: 3.000 Td; MCr 18.000; -1 EP<br />1 x Backup Computer Model/3: 3.000 Td; MCr 18.000<br /><br />WEAPONRY<br />Spinal Particle Accelerator Factor-B: 5,000.000 Td; MCr 3,000.000; -500 EP<br />10 x Laser Turrets: 10.000 Td; MCr 30.000; -30 EP<br />10 x Sand Turrets: 10.000 Td; MCr 7.500<br /><br />SCREENS<br /><br />CRAFT<br />1 x None: 26.000Td; MCr 0.052; Cost of craft: MCr 0.000<br /><br />ACCOMODATIONS<br />72.0 x Staterooms: 288.000 Td; MCr 36.000<br />Cargo: 141.000 Td; MCr 0.000<br /><br />USER DEFINED<br /><br />The design is different from his, in that it has 2Gs rather than 6 - TL9 doesnt do compensators per FFS2, so even if HG allows it, I'd rather not have 6G ships at TL9. <br /><br />With some shoehorning, I can probably make a 9900t jump-1 variant that keeps the spinal mount, if Exxillon ever gets an A-port. While only jump-1 capable, they could be moved around slooooowwwlllyyyyy with tanker support.<br />Ian Whitchurchnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3899408099257648174.post-89145623886431242362012-08-14T19:54:01.623+12:002012-08-14T19:54:01.623+12:00Im trying really hard to see how Nakaya can be mil...Im trying really hard to see how Nakaya can be militarily useful - closest I can get to is have them build lots of TL7 Light Composite for use as armour plate and TL7 fission plants (bring a backup power source if the bad guys use a nuke damper to turn it off).<br /><br />TL7 light composite is roughly half as effective by mass as TL12 Superdense, and a quarter as effective by volume. A cubic meter of it is 7t and KCr 70 - but thats KCr 70 in Nakaya credits, and you'll get a lot of those for just about anything hi tech. If you're a commercial starship, you probably dont want to take more than 2m3 to a dton, unless you have a maneuver drive that can cope with very heavy cargos.<br /><br />I can easily see an 'inner hull' of Crystaliron, and then layers and layers of Nakaya Composite on everything that isnt needed for sensors, turrets or radiators.<br /><br />A TL7 12 MW Nakaya Special fission plant is 20m3, 160t and MCr 2 in local currency. It'll need 3 m3 of fuel a year, so with a year of fuel rods call it 25m3, 220t and MCr2.3 in local credits. That plant will run Extended Life Support for about 800 dtons of space or asteroid facility, or power a m3 of TL12 thruster plates that can move 400 tons at one gee.<br /><br />A TL12 fusion plant is roughly 0.5t per megawatt, as compared to 13t per megawatt for a Nakaya Special. A TL12 fusion plant costs MCr0.1 for a megawatt of power.<br /><br />Nakaya Specials also very, very rarely explode or leak coolant or otherwise malfunction and kill everyone on the ship from radiation poisoning.<br /><br />Nakaya Specials are also the only vaguely useful thing I can see Nakaya being able to contribute to the collective defense.<br /><br />Every damn spacer in the Subsector Navy is going to hate Nakaya Specials with a passion.Ian Whitchurchnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3899408099257648174.post-23298224291289103372012-08-14T19:08:04.134+12:002012-08-14T19:08:04.134+12:00At TL9, Exxillon can certainly build militarily us...At TL9, Exxillon can certainly build militarily useful hulls, sandcasters and particle weapons.<br /><br />For example, it could build a 2000 dton Light Monitor hull with a fission power plant and a small spinal mount and a number of sandcaster turrets for defence (in HG terms, a small spinal mount is a 100 dton bay)<br /><br />The hull is then taken by a tender to Miazan to have TL12 sensors,computers and maneuver drives installed, and the Monitor then shipped to where it can do the most good.<br /><br />Yes, it would be a more efficient warship if built entirely to TL12 specs at Miazan - but by building the hull, drives and weapon systems to TL9 standards, Miazan's scarce shipyard resources are better utilised.<br /><br />Ian Whitchurchnoreply@blogger.com