Flying Saucers!

[Golan2072]

As a test for HG2, I'll try to design flying saucers for the Reticulans (Grey Aliens) of my homebrew setting. They make extensive use of two types of saucers - a civilian model and a military model. Both are highly versatile, rugged and enjoy standardized production.

Let's start with the Civilian Saucer.

Nominally TL12. Produced at TL13. 30 tons.

Hull: 30 tons, streamlined, MCr1.5 x 1.2 = MCr1.8

Armour: None

Basic Systems: require 6 Power

Manoeuvre Drive: 3-G, 2 tons, MCr4, requires 9 Power

Power Plant: TL12 Fusion, 2 tons, MCr2, 30 Power

Fuel: 1 ton, enough for 20 weeks of power plant operation

Bridge w/Holograpic Controls: 3 tons, MCr0.625

Computer/10/fib, MCr0.32

Basic Sensors, DM -4

Armament: Fixed Mount w/Beam Laser, MCr0.6, requires 4 Power

Crew: 1

Additional Components:
Fuel Scoop, MCr1

Cargo/Reconfigurable Space: 22 tons
Excess Power: 11

Base Cost: MCr10.34
Cost (w/10% discount as a standard design): MCr9.31

I kinda like it; high-tech "Slow Boat" with enhanced electronics and controls. Easily reconfigurable - can easily be modified to carry passengers, to include a small laboratory, to hold mining drones, to hold survey equipment - and even hold good staterooms and some luxuries for a Reticulan's small yacht!

 

[Golan2072]

Now for the Military Saucer!

TL13. 30 tons.

Hull: 30 tons, streamlined, MCr1.5 x 1.2 = MCr1.8

Armour: 2 points Crystaliron, 0.75 tons, MCr0.18
Stealth: MCr3

Basic Systems: require 6 Power

Manoeuvre Drive: 9-G, 2.7 tons, MCr5.4, requires 27 Power

Power Plant: TL12 Fusion, 4 tons, MCr4, 60 Power

Fuel: 1.2 tons, enough for 12 weeks of power plant operation

Bridge w/Holograpic Controls: 3 tons, MCr0.625

Computer/20/fib, MCr10

Military Sensors, DM +0, MCr4.1, 2 tons, 2 Power

Armament: Fixed Mount w/2 Plasma Guns, MCr5, requires 12 Power

Crew: 1

Additional Components:
Fuel Scoop, MCr1

Cargo/Reconfigurable Space: 16.35 tons
Excess Power: 13

Base Cost: MCr32.1
Cost (w/10% discount as a standard design): MCr28.89

I like this; a classic UFO: fast, stealthy, not too heavily armoured, and with X-COM-type plasma weapons to boot!

Can be easily reconfigured into dropship, bomber, spy ship etc.

 

[Golan2072]

Saucer Tender

Many Reticulans, either upper-caste individuals or the various businesses, operate civilian saucers for a wide variety of in-system purposes; many also use these ships as homes, yachts and mobile laboratories. When such a Reticulan wishes to travel between stars, instead of leaving her saucer behind, she loads it up on a jump-capable Saucer Tender. Some stay at their saucers' own staterooms, while others - typically those without staterooms installed at their saucers - also pay for passage in the Tender's own staterooms.

TL13. 1,000 tons.

Hull: 1,000 tons, "standard" partially-streamlined cylinder, MCr50

Armour: None

Basic Systems: require 200 Power

Manoeuvre Drive: 1-G, 20 tons, MCr40, requires 100 Power

Jump Drive: Jump-2, 50 tons, MCr75, requires 200 Power

Power Plant: TL12 Fusion, 35 tons, MCr35, 525 Power

Fuel: 222 tons, enough for 1-Jump-2 and 8 weeks of power plant operation and refueling all docked Saucers

Bridge w/Holograpic Controls: 20 tons, MCr6.25

Computer/15/fib, MCr4

Civilian Sensors, DM -2, MCr3, 1 ton, 1 Power

Armament: None

Crew: 8 - Pilot/Captain, Astrogator/1st Officer, 3 Engineers, 1 Maintenance, 1 Medic, 1 Steward

Staterooms: 24, 96 tons, MCr12 for the crew and 16 Middle Passengers
Common Area: 48 tons, MCr4.8

Additional Components:
Fuel Scoop, MCr1
18 tons Fuel Processors, MCr0.9, can process 360 tons of fuel per day

Capable of Carrying: 15x 30-ton Saucers - 450 tons

Cargo/Reconfigurable Space: 60 tons
Excess Power: 24

Base Cost: MCr229.95
Cost (w/10% discount as a standard design): MCr206.95

 

[Golan2072]

Reticulan Scout

The ship that crashed in Rosewell was of that class.

TL13. 200 tons.

Hull: 200 tons, streamlined flattened sphere, MCr12

Armour: None
Stealth, MCr20

Basic Systems: require 40 Power

Manoeuvre Drive: 3-G, 6 tons, MCr12, requires 60 Power

Jump Drive: Jump-3, 15 tons, MCr22.5, requires 60 Power

Power Plant: TL12 Fusion, 12 tons, MCr12, 180 Power

Fuel: 64 tons, enough for 1-Jump-3 and 12 weeks of power plant operation

Bridge w/Holograpic Controls: 10 tons, MCr1.25

Computer/20/fib, MCr10

Improved Sensors, DM +1, MCr4.3, 4 tons, 3 Power
Life Scanners, MCr2, 1 ton
Mineral Detection Suite, MCr5
Enhanced Signal Processing, MCr8, 2 tons

Armament: 2 hardpoints and 2 tons reserved for fire control

Crew: 4 - Pilot/Captain, Astrogator/1st Officer, Engineer, Medic/Science Officer
Staterooms: 4, 16 tons, MCr2
Common Area: 8 tons, MCr0.8
Low Berths: 10, MCr0.5, 5 tons

Additional Components:
Fuel Scoop, MCr1
Cargo Scoop, MCr0.5, 2 tons
4 tons Fuel Processors, MCr0.2, can process 80 tons of fuel per day
4 tons Advanced Probe Drones, 20 Drones, MCr4
Repair Drones, 2 tons, MCr0.4
16 tons Laboratory, MCr4
Library, MCr4, 4 tons

Cargo/Reconfigurable Space: 23 tons
Excess Power: 17

Base Cost: MCr116.45
Cost (w/10% discount as a standard design): MCr104.80

Expensive, but very high-tech. Relies on stealth and speed for self-defense rather than weapons; may be armed with turrets (and two additional staterooms for the gunners) in case more trouble is expected than "just" TL6 Terrans (that AA gun at Rosewell came as an unpleasant surprise when it got a lucky shot at the much higher TL Reticulan Scout).

Can abduct people - has a laboratory for vivisection and low berths for "samples". Hard to detect by low-tech Terrans and their TL6-TL7 radar.

 

[Golan2072]

Abductor

Larger "science ship" ideal for collecting "samples" and "studying" them. Also prepared to fight, and last but not least - armed with a big Ion Barbette to paralyze enemy ships in order to abduct their crews...

TL13. 600 tons.

Hull: 600 tons, streamlined cylinder, MCr36

Armour: None
Stealth, MCr60

Basic Systems: require 120 Power

Manoeuvre Drive: 3-G, 18 tons, MCr36, requires 180 Power

Jump Drive: Jump-3, 45 tons, MCr67.5, requires 180 Power

Power Plant: TL12 Fusion, 40 tons, MCr40, 600 Power

Fuel: 188 tons, enough for 1-Jump-3 and 8 weeks of power plant operation

Bridge w/Holograpic Controls: 20 tons, MCr3.75

Computer/25/fib, MCr20

Improved Sensors, DM +1, MCr4.3, 4 tons, 3 Power
Life Scanners, MCr2, 1 ton
Enhanced Signal Processing, MCr8, 2 tons

Armament:
1x Ion Barbette, MCr6, 5 tons, 10 Power
3x Triple Beam Laser Turrets, MCr7.5, 3 tons, 39 Power
1x Triple Sandcaster Turret, MCr1.75, ton, 1 Power

Crew: 28 - Captain, Pilot/1st Officer, Astrogator/2nd Officer, 3 Engineers, Medic, 5 Gunners, 5 Scientists, 12 Ship's Troops
Staterooms: 15, 60 tons, MCr7.5, double occupancy for all but the Captain and Pilot
Common Area: 30 tons, MCr3
Low Berths: 40, MCr2, 20 tons
20 tons Multi-Environment space, MCr0.5, 21 tons with control equipment

Additional Components:
Fuel Scoop, MCr1
Cargo Scoop, MCr0.5, 2 tons
10 tons Fuel Processors, MCr0.5, can process 200 tons of fuel per day
4 tons Advanced Probe Drones, 20 Drones, MCr4
Repair Drones, 6 tons, MCr1.2
60 tons Laboratory, MCr15
Library, MCr4, 4 tons
Breaching Tube, MCr3, 3 tons
Armory, MCr0.5, 2 tons

Cargo/Reconfigurable Space: 52 tons
Excess Power: 67

Base Cost: MCr325.5
Cost (w/10% discount as a standard design): MCr292.95

 

[Chas]

Good stuff. Definitely be looking more at the tender . I did a chunk of work with 30 ton drone ships at TL15 with high thrust reaction drives under the previous rule set. I found these to be particularly useful, to the point where I think they have a place as a standard element in many navies. And will be the first things to trial fit the new rules into them as soon as I have time.

 

[Golan2072]

Many thanks for your kind words!

 

[wbnc]

I like your designs, and having one of the staples of sci-fi around is a real bonus. I watched the old UFO series a lot when I was a kid so I have a warm fuzzy lace for sinister alien saucers, and dashing, handsome heroes in bad haircuts fighting them


I have always included "them" in a lot of my sci-fi games. An advanced, sneaky, race with unknown motives always makes the players a little wary.


The mental image I got of one of the scouts....

yes, you now have inspired fan art...


oh by the way..this is the wrong angle to see one of those scouts from....

 

[Golan2072]

Or something like this:

Or this: :-D

 

[wbnc]

Very nice, and the image of the hovering UFO is down right creepy...as it should be.