Ask MongooseMatt ANYTHING!!!

[Terry Mixon]

Okay, not really anything, but when we post questions about the rules or potential typos in the feedback area, we often don't receive a response, so I'm creating this thread in the hopes of getting some response to questions we have, even if it is "we're looking at that" or some such.

I'll kick this off with a question I posted a few days ago. The emergency low berths in High Guard 2022 Update are listed at MC1 a pop. Seems real pricy since Mongoose 1e and all the previous versions of Traveller we checked had it being KCr100. In Mongoose 1e, it was listed as MCr.1 and we suspect a typo. Can we get some clartity on that so we can update the starship build sheet to reflect what we suspect if we're right? Thanks.

Also, allow me to suggest that adding KCr, BCr (or GCr to please @Geir), and TCr to your repertoire would be really helpful and would minimize the complaints about not having comma separation in your big numbers, too.

And sorry for all the wild AMA questions you're about to get @MongooseMatt.

 

[Sigtrygg]

Release it with placeholder and update later perhaps, or does the change mess up the page formatting.

 

[ottarrus]

@MongooseMatt
So, what is the rough spitball guess-timate on Armies?

 

[MongooseMatt]

@MongooseMatt
So, what is the rough spitball guess-timate on Armies?

Think it is now being measured in minutes...

 

[boggo2300]

Think it is now being measured in minutes...

you can measure an awfully long time in minutes...

 

[Limpin Legin]

Cinematic Action, Rewind then Slow Motion Replay

 

[Terry Mixon]

I created a set of enhanced docking clamps (posted in the Traveller forum for general amusement) to add power couplings, the ability to add airlocks to the clamp, and the ability to add a drop tank mount (minus the explosives) for use in fueling a ship's jump drives. The airlocks and drop tank mounts are paid for and have the tonnage as in the rules, but the power coupling is just added for free. For the price of a clamp, it seems minor enough.

As expected, someone on social media disagreed that this was needed--searches for my shocked face--and stated that docking clamps must already have power couplings and airlocks because they would hardly be worth their price otherwise.

Power couplings could be a gimmie as they wouldn't really move the needle on price or tonnage. Airlocks on the other hand, are problematic in my view.

It seems that if they had airlocks, they would be mentioned as a Type I docking clamp might use a free 2-ton airlock, but a Type V serving 2,000 tons to infinity, which might be unloading scads of cargo, would need more, which would have to be paid for and add to tonnage.

Personally, I don't see it in the intent of the rules as written. Can you clarify if the docking clamps are just the clamps, or do they include power couplings, airlocks, and potentially other things never mentioned?

I know you guys are busy, @MongooseMatt, but this seems like a simple question to answer. Could you or @paltrysum shed some light on it? Docking clamps can surely fit around an airlock, so that’s fine, but does a docking clamp come with an airlock by default?

 

[MongooseMatt]

I know you guys are busy, @MongooseMatt, but this seems like a simple question to answer. Could you or @paltrysum shed some light on it? Docking clamps can surely fit around an airlock, so that’s fine, but does a docking clamp come with an airlock by default?

As a quick answer, I would say they do not.

 

[Terry Mixon]

As a quick answer, I would say they do not.

Thank you. That’s what I also thought and expected. I appreciate the clarification.

 

[tytalan]

As a quick answer, I would say they do not.

Matt I’d like to make some counter arguments.
1)The Definition of docking says to be docked a ship is able to load and unload cargo/personal
2)this ruling completely invalidates the ECIT from Pirates of Drinax
3)Docking Clamps are specifically stated that they were designed for small craft but with this rule that’s doesn’t make sense
4)it makes Docking Clamps inferior to External Cargo Mounts in every way.
a) Docking Clamps cost more and require more tonnage
b) both can release what stored in them but External Cargo Mounts have the ability to also blow the mounts for emergency quick release
c) You can land with something connected to External Cargo Mounts not with Docking Clamps
d) with this ruling you have to either buy a Airlock to access what on the Docking Clamps or go EVA. Cargo Mounts can do the same
5)the original Docking Clamps were on the Gazelle in Classic Traveller and you were specifically able to access it without doing a EVA
6) a small craft has to be unloaded/powered up if carried as cargo if Docking Clamps don’t include Airlocks and Umbilical than the Small Craft would have to be unloaded and powered up to use making the Docking Clamps even more inferior to Cargo Mounts.
7) the ISS uses Docking Clamps that include both Umbilical’s and a Airlock as part of the system.
I think in every way this ruling makes no Sense because it literally makes Docking Clamps useless. I would ask you why would you use a Docking Clamps over External Cargo Mounts? I believe the extra cost of the docking clamp represents the cost of the included Airlocks and Umbilical’s

 

[Condottiere]

1. I had thought about this, many moons ago.

2. It's a one shot deal.

3. Docking clamps are reusable.

4. And, redockable.

5. As regards airlocks and docking clamps, or even cargo hatches, treat them as an add on.

 

[Terry Mixon]

1. I had thought about this, many moons ago.

2. It's a one shot deal.

3. Docking clamps are reusable.

4. And, redockable.

5. As regards airlocks and docking clamps, or even cargo hatches, treat them as an add on.

I agree with that assessment. External Cargo Mounts just feel more ad hoc. Docking clamps area much more solid and you pay for the privilege of the reliability and stability.


As for the ships from Pirates of Drinax, they can have airlocks. They either need to be the free ones or be paid for separately. Very straightforward.

Power and non-jump fuel is also a free add-on, in my opinion, but jump useable fuel would need a drop tank mount, also paid for separately. Minus the explosive collar, of course.

As always, anyone can do whatever they like in their own Traveller Universe. Docking Clamps never mentioned airlocks and they should be counted as a separate system to be paid for or gotten free if the ship has free airlocks to spare.

Docking Clamps aren't a free lunch. All the goodies need to be paid for.

 

[Terry Mixon]

1)The Definition of docking says to be docked a ship is able to load and unload cargo/personal

The definition outside the game isn't what we should be looking at. It's what it says in the rules. The ISS, which you brought up on Facebook, uses both docking clamps and an airlock at the same time, but the two are not a single thing. They are two separate systems working in tandem. An airlock can exist without a docking clamp and a docking clamp can exist without an airlock. I assure you that NASA paid for both systems.

All the rules say is this. No mention of airlocks. If they were meant to be there, I'm sure it would set a size per docking clamp. Without that, it could be 2 tons. Could be a hundred. As airlocks are categorized separately, I believe they are meant to be accounted for separately as well.

I respect your right to disagree and rule it works however you like in your traveler universe. Rock on. I simply wanted the equipment cleared up as I use these extensively in my shipbuilding. No offense intended.

DOCKING CLAMP
A docking clamp allows a spacecraft to carry another vessel on the exterior of its hull, typically a small craft such as a ship’s boat or fighter. This permits a ship to carry auxiliary craft without consuming valuable interior space.

A ship’s Thrust and jump capability must be recalculated when another ship occupies its docking clamp, using the combined tonnage of both ships. This likely means the manoeuvre drive will be operating at a lower Thrust and the jump capability is reduced.

The size of a docking clamp dictates the tonnage of the ship it may attach as shown in the Docking Clamp table. Docking clamps can be added to streamlined ships but the ship becomes unstreamlined when another ship is docked to it. Docking clamps alone do not affect a streamlined configuration. It takes three full rounds to release or clamp a ship of less than 2,000 tons, during which time neither ship can expand any Thrust or make any attack rolls. Larger ships take D3+3 rounds.

Note that ships held in a docking clamp can be targeted separately by an attacker. Any evasive action employed by the mothership can be applied as normal.

 

[mavikfelna]

The definition outside the game isn't what we should be looking at. It's what it says in the rules. The ISS, which you brought up on Facebook, uses both docking clamps and an airlock at the same time, but the two are not a single thing. They are two separate systems working in tandem. An airlock can exist without a docking clamp and a docking clamp can exist without an airlock. I assure you that NASA paid for both systems.

All the rules say is this. No mention of airlocks. If they were meant to be there, I'm sure it would set a size per docking clamp. Without that, it could be 2 tons. Could be a hundred. As airlocks are categorized separately, I believe they are meant to be accounted for separately as well.

I respect your right to disagree and rule it works however you like in your traveler universe. Rock on. I simply wanted the equipment cleared up as I use these extensively in my shipbuilding. No offense intended.

DOCKING CLAMP
A docking clamp allows a spacecraft to carry another vessel on the exterior of its hull, typically a small craft such as a ship’s boat or fighter. This permits a ship to carry auxiliary craft without consuming valuable interior space.

A ship’s Thrust and jump capability must be recalculated when another ship occupies its docking clamp, using the combined tonnage of both ships. This likely means the manoeuvre drive will be operating at a lower Thrust and the jump capability is reduced.

The size of a docking clamp dictates the tonnage of the ship it may attach as shown in the Docking Clamp table. Docking clamps can be added to streamlined ships but the ship becomes unstreamlined when another ship is docked to it. Docking clamps alone do not affect a streamlined configuration. It takes three full rounds to release or clamp a ship of less than 2,000 tons, during which time neither ship can expand any Thrust or make any attack rolls. Larger ships take D3+3 rounds.

Note that ships held in a docking clamp can be targeted separately by an attacker. Any evasive action employed by the mothership can be applied as normal.

Clamps, vs External Cargo Mounts is that clamps can hold a ship and release it quickly at any time. And the Clamps don't affect streamlining when not in use. The clamp can also be used for pods and cargo modules so there is some overlap with Mounts but their fundamental uses are different. It is also easier to load a Clamp vs a Mount. 3 rounds vs many many rounds for loading cargo into Mounts. You can't really load a ship or small craft into a Mount as anything other than cargo so it will not be easily available.

 

[hopsnbaer]

Clamps, vs External Cargo Mounts is that clamps can hold a ship and release it quickly at any time. And the Clamps don't affect streamlining when not in use. The clamp can also be used for pods and cargo modules so there is some overlap with Mounts but their fundamental uses are different. It is also easier to load a Clamp vs a Mount. 3 rounds vs many many rounds for loading cargo into Mounts. You can't really load a ship or small craft into a Mount as anything other than cargo so it will not be easily available.

You can't lock onto a pirated vessel and drag it away with external cargo mounts. I agree with what has been said. Airlock, UNREP, all separate from the clamp.

 

[paltrysum]

Docking clamps don't require an airlock. Just a door that connects with the ship they're docking. An airlock is door | chamber | door. Meanwhile a docking clamp portal just needs a door. Let's assume it's got a safety door that shuts outside that door (but with no chamber in between) to keep accidential decompression events from happening.

 

[Terry Mixon]

Docking clamps don't require an airlock. Just a door that connects with the ship they're docking. An airlock is door | chamber | door. Meanwhile a docking clamp portal just needs a door. Let's assume it's got a safety door that shuts outside that door (but with no chamber in between) to keep accidential decompression events from happening.

Something like a docking hatch. It could act as a connector to another docking hatch, but as it has no airlock for expansion, it needs a tight lock between the ship and whatever is docked. Or perhaps it would allow for a flexible connector tube.

I like it.

Of course, if someone wanted to pay for a full airlock to be used in conjunction with a docking clamp, they could. That’s a neat solution to the problem. Thank you.

 

[Vormaerin]

Docking clamps don't require an airlock. Just a door that connects with the ship they're docking. An airlock is door | chamber | door. Meanwhile a docking clamp portal just needs a door. Let's assume it's got a safety door that shuts outside that door (but with no chamber in between) to keep accidential decompression events from happening.

Does it even require that? Is there something that says you can pass from one ship to the other? I mean, the ship you clamp to doesn't have to have any special feature to be clampable, so why would you assume there's a matching door?

I don't see anything in the docking clamp description that suggests you can actually pass from one ship to the other as being one of its features. It's just stuck to the outside of your ship.

 

[Terry Mixon]

Does it even require that? Is there something that says you can pass from one ship to the other? I mean, the ship you clamp to doesn't have to have any special feature to be clampable, so why would you assume there's a matching door?

I don't see anything in the docking clamp description that suggests you can actually pass from one ship to the other as being one of its features. It's just stuck to the outside of your ship.

It may not say it, but there are ships with a need. As pointed out to me, a lab ship has a pinnace clamped outside the ship, so access is needed. This is a neat solution that avoids my issue with there being an undefined free lunch.

 

[MasterGwydion]

Does it even require that? Is there something that says you can pass from one ship to the other? I mean, the ship you clamp to doesn't have to have any special feature to be clampable, so why would you assume there's a matching door?

I don't see anything in the docking clamp description that suggests you can actually pass from one ship to the other as being one of its features. It's just stuck to the outside of your ship.

It is not stated, but it is obvious that docking clamps have a hatch. See below.

ACS page 102



Unless you think that the pilots spend a week in jumpspace stuck in their Light Fighter cockpits?

 

[Condottiere]

That was obvious, for any docking craft procedure.

Hatches don't take up space, but may cost in addition.

And, are docking clamp adjacent, not integral, since they don't seem to be mentioned.