Cluster Truck Questions and Errata

[mavikfelna]

Ok, I need some clarification on the jank building rules. The rules are by ton of component, but what if the component doesn't have a tonnage, like computers? Are they just considered part the hull or their associated components? Like is computer done as part of the bridge, or separately? If it's done separately, how many components does it actually use, since it can't be 0? And in the case of computers, does the level and type of the computer affect it? IE, Computer/40 vs Core/40 vs Comp/40/fib, etc.
If you are applying modifications that don't affect weight, or reduce weight but increase cost normally, how are these applied?
Is armor counted separately from hull? Does hull configuration matter? Hull Options? Are hull options Structural, Utility or Control? Are Reaction drives Machinery or Drive, they seem more like machinery than drives?
Are Fuel Tanks just part of the hull or do you need to purchase them as Structural? Are Collapsible tanks worth worrying about, they are normally pretty cheap to add? Fuel/Cargo containers, are the portion of the tank that are machinery done as Machinery or Utility, utility seems right to me?
Bridge, Holographic Controls?
Reduced price used software? Programming needed to adapt it to the jank computer and ship?
What about Basic Sensors?
I'd assume Workshop and Medical Bay are Mechanical, maybe Biosphere as well, but everything else is Utility? Laboratory maybe Control?
Magazines, Control or Machinery? I'd say Machinery
Do we pay for cargo space, or is it included with the hull cost?
How does TL affect things?

 

[wintertraveller]

Due to the jank nature, it may be best to let the players make the rational for using a particular type of material component for systems that are unspecified. "I use this component in this way to get this to work..."

On the otherhand, we could have a component list for every feature offered in HG. This would be a bit like denoting spells needed to craft a magical item in the other dungeon RPGs.

 

[mavikfelna]

Due to the jank nature, it may be best to let the players make the rational for using a particular type of material component for systems that are unspecified. "I use this component in this way to get this to work..."

On the otherhand, we could have a component list for every feature offered in HG. This would be a bit like denoting spells needed to craft a magical item in the other dungeon RPGs.

I'm not worried about individual component, but I am about component classes/groups, since they can be quite different.

 

[Annatar Giftbringer]

Love this book, and I look forward to delving deeper into the new rules and lore, and ofc playing the campaign itself! A couple things I’ve noticed:

1) The Type 4 Dry Goods Trailer (p.44-45) seems to be missing its top deck on the deckplan? The plan says 15 m high cargo hold, and the Darksky’s Traier on p.149-150 has five decks.

2) Not so much an error as a peculiar design choice, but the Brewer Type 2 Prime Mover (p.42-43) doesn’t seem to have any means to enter or exit the cab while a trailer is attached, except through the hangar? Oh wait, most trailers seem to have a side mounted airlock that can be used. Still, the cab itself only has rear facing airlocks, and they all seem to connect to or be blocked by a carried trailer.

3) Artwork throughout the book suggests there are at least two types of cabs, the Type 2 with stats and… another. Seen on p.41 for example. Perhaps it’s similar enough to a type 2 to use the same stats?

 

[chtisjensenromer]

Hello!

Finally got round to running Cluster Truck. A few questions

1. Is the Hawker Memorial starport/Trucker Central in Gialp orbit or the belt? The text of Gialp and the adventure have it in Gialp orbit, the map on page on page 63 the latter? Page 62 says its orbital: page 65 says its in the Belt. Page 98 and 99 are pretty clear its in Gialp orbit?

2. Yidpa or Yilpa? Map and text both feature Yidpa but Yilpa also appears several times?

 

[ProfGrizzlyJon]

Ok, I need some clarification on the jank building rules. The rules are by ton of component, but what if the component doesn't have a tonnage, like computers? Are they just considered part the hull or their associated components? Like is computer done as part of the bridge, or separately? If it's done separately, how many components does it actually use, since it can't be 0? And in the case of computers, does the level and type of the computer affect it? IE, Computer/40 vs Core/40 vs Comp/40/fib, etc.

The new Vehicle Handbook 2026 may help (emphasis added):

SHIP COMPUTERS A vehicle can instead install a larger computer such as those available for spacecraft, as indicated in the Traveller Core Rulebook on page 181 and High Guard on page 20. While a spaceship is usually large enough for the volume of the computer to be inconsequential, this is not true for vehicles. A ship computer consumes one Space for every 10 Bandwidth (rounding up). Ship computers do not decrease in Cost or Spaces as Tech Levels increase.​

 

[Condottiere]

What's the minimum volume for a booster pack?

 

[Condottiere]

A craft that has increased its thrust by 2.3G using booster packs therefore suffers DM-3 on Pilot checks while the additional thrust is active. This does not apply if the booster pack was part of the original design or if a high-burn thruster is being used.


How do you make the booster pack part of the original design, and how does that impact total volume of the ship design?

 

[ProfGrizzlyJon]

A craft that has increased its thrust by 2.3G using booster packs therefore suffers DM-3 on Pilot checks while the additional thrust is active. This does not apply if the booster pack was part of the original design or if a high-burn thruster is being used.


How do you make the booster pack part of the original design, and how does that impact total volume of the ship design?

My guess would be to follow the HIGH-BURN THRUSTER rules on page 45 of the High Guard Update.

 

[chtisjensenromer]

OK Cluster Truck has some serious inconsistencies. First up, Tiddles is at either 31AU or 34AU in the 0Gialp system depending if you go by the map or the text on the previous page. That is not a big issue. It's a long sa0y away!

However Yidpa in the Gialp.system chapter is repeatedly stated and on the map a0t 10AU. Yet in the adventure on page 103 it's at 5AU. I shall do the maths but one is clearly wrong.

 

[Arkathan]

OK Cluster Truck has some serious inconsistencies. First up, Tiddles is at either 31AU or 34AU in the 0Gialp system depending if you go by the map or the text on the previous page. That is not a big issue. It's a long sa0y away!

However Yidpa in the Gialp.system chapter is repeatedly stated and on the map a0t 10AU. Yet in the adventure on page 103 it's at 5AU. I shall do the maths but one is clearly wrong.

Or some wildly elliptical orbits.

 

[chtisjensenromer]

Or some wildly elliptical orbits.

Yep. I did experiment with those.

It took me until 5am but this works if you want to test the mechanics. The adventure is correct, the Gialp chapter and map are incorrect if the journey takes ten days. Oh I can't post a link unfortunately but ill put it on the Mongoose Traveller Facebook group

 

[Arkathan]

Yep. I did experiment with those.

It took me until 5am but this works if you want to test the mechanics. The adventure is correct, the Gialp chapter and map are incorrect if the journey takes ten days. Oh I can't post a link unfortunately but ill put it on the Mongoose Traveller Facebook group

You need a few more posts before links are enabled.
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