Anyone ever come up with a spreadsheet for ship design?

[billclo]

Anyone ever come up with a good one? I tried building a 75,000 ton cruiser for my first attempt (yeah, not the best idea I've had), and it's rather involved. That and flipping between 2 design sections for all relevant info (sub-2000 ton rules and Cap ship rules)...

I have basically nil spreadsheet construction skills, so if someone has a nice one that they'd be willing to share it'd be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[locarno24]

I suspect doing a single sheet for all types would be a bit over-the-top but one for each weight bracket could be feasible.

Small Craft and Starships are easy. Doing one for a capital ship would be much more involved - wouldn't want to try that without some practice.

I'll have a play around and see what I can do.

 

[apoc527]

I've done one for spacecraft. Next up is small craft. Then maybe I'll tackle cap ships.

 

[billclo]

Okay, thanks.

I'll have to stick to pencil and calculator for awhile then.

 

[Rick]

This may be for a previous edition. Not sure how applicable it may be: http://www.downport.com/amv/software/hgs.html

 

[GypsyComet]

Used to maintain one for MegaTraveller designs. MGT really doesn't need one anywhere near as much as MT or TNE did...

 

[apoc527]

I just spent the evening geeking out with Excel. My Spacecraft Design sheet now incorporates my house rules, which largely includes new weapons and turret options. But it also includes my house MISSILE rules, complete with a "design your own ordnance" sub-worksheet that integrates in to the Design and Display functions.

I'll have to find a way to share for those who are just plain curious.

 

[apoc527]

I'll probably get around to cap ships, but honestly, I don't have much of a need. It's not like I'm flinging battleships around during play. Small craft will come first, since those are guaranteed to come into play.

 

[billclo]

No hurry, Apoc. I am not even playing Traveller at this point. I just can't resist the ability to design Capital ships.

Takes me back to my High School days when I fooled around with Traveller and Striker to pass the time. That and Starfire.

I believe you could upload the spreadsheet to Scribd for people to download. I'm sure there are other services I'm unaware of.

 

[klinktastic]

Any progress? I found some word file versions, but thats more just for tracking by-hand calculations.

Side note, anyone up for some PbP Traveller action?

 

[BFalcon]

I've got a couple I use, but they're far from perfect and not really fit to share, sadly... nobody else?

(BTW anyone who knows how to do a drop-down list in Open Office Calc, please pm me)

 

[DFW]

Anyone ever come up with a good one? I tried building a 75,000 ton cruiser for my first attempt

D/Led one for regular ship design. Never seen one for Capital ships

 

[D-Foxx]

I thought under the developers pack and license issue that it was not allowed to "devlope" electronic/automated products for shared use. Can some one clarify this for me?

 

[GypsyComet]

If such a spreadsheet replaces the need for book in hand, yes. A nicely formatted replacement for paper that just handles the overall math but requires you to pull values from the book should be no issue.

A parallel can be found in the fan-made character sheets. If you could push a button and have a character generated, then you don't need the books.

 

[D-Foxx]

So a database with nice forms and drop down menus that hold the values you would usually look up in the book would be a "no-no". Or a spredsheet that did the same would also be "bad"?

 

[GypsyComet]

As those are "automated products", they fall under the wording of the license.

 

[billclo]

As those are "automated products", they fall under the wording of the license.

Hi. What license, and where can it be viewed?

 

[D-Foxx]

I believe it is the developer pack.


http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/pdf/travdevpack.zip

 

[GypsyComet]

I don't recall if this has changed recently, but Mongoose's license with Marc Miller did not initially include software, so the trickle-down license to 3rd party developers cannot give permission to develop software.

The definition of "software" has gotten rather fuzzy in the last fifteen years or so. Scripting and internal referencing have gotten so good that, despite being "just a file", a sufficiently beefy Excel spreadsheet can completely replace the need for a book in hand. The final decision would, IIRC, be Marc's, but Matt probably has a solid grasp of what to tolerate.

 

[DFW]

The final decision would, IIRC, be Marc's, but Matt probably has a solid grasp of what to tolerate.

Yep. I imagine it revolves around the need for the rule(s) book. If the s/w in question obviates the need, it is prohibited.