Lack of 300 ton ships?
- Thread starter EvilDM
- Start date
Tom Kalbfus
Mongoose
You could solve that problemReynard said:
Design a 300, a 500, a 700, and a 900-ton starship.
sideranautae
Mongoose
I did a search for topic titles of 300 ton and found only one: http://forum.mongoosepublishing.com/viewtopic.php?f=89&t=45944&p=651000&view=show#p651000
One possible reason might be that 300 tons on the drive performance tables hits a sour spot in that in many cases (for sure in the case of Jump 2, possibly others but I don't have it in front of me) the drive required for a given performance is the same as for a 400-ton ship. Some (and you know who you are) consider something like that so criminally inefficient that they just make a 400-ton ship anyway.
Others (such as Yours Truly) consider this a "sweet spot" instead and take advantage of the oppurtunity to throw on demountable fuel tanks, cargo pods, external cradles, etc.
:arrow:
Off the top of my head I can think of two 300-ton ships in the published works: the Indigo-class pirate carrier in Scoundrel and the Rhapsody-class trader in Merchants and Cruisers. The latter ship however needs either a correction of a typo (it lists a performance of Jump-2, but drive and fuel for Jump-1), or some simple redesign to make it actually Jump-2.
Others (such as Yours Truly) consider this a "sweet spot" instead and take advantage of the oppurtunity to throw on demountable fuel tanks, cargo pods, external cradles, etc.
:arrow:
Off the top of my head I can think of two 300-ton ships in the published works: the Indigo-class pirate carrier in Scoundrel and the Rhapsody-class trader in Merchants and Cruisers. The latter ship however needs either a correction of a typo (it lists a performance of Jump-2, but drive and fuel for Jump-1), or some simple redesign to make it actually Jump-2.
GypsyComet
Emperor Mongoose
One of my favorite "You fly one of those!?!" ships is FASA's 500 ton Maru.
Several editions have no letter drive bias in the small ships, and you'll see all sizes for those. I should probably convert the 300 tonner I did for TNE, as it might work a little better without those ginormous turret cans.
Several editions have no letter drive bias in the small ships, and you'll see all sizes for those. I should probably convert the 300 tonner I did for TNE, as it might work a little better without those ginormous turret cans.
middenface
Cosmic Mongoose
Damn the typo on the Rhapsody is my fault. Oops.
How about this little 300 tonner..
http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/127808/Ship-BookLune-Class-Freelancer
How about this little 300 tonner..
http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/127808/Ship-BookLune-Class-Freelancer
Rikki Tikki Traveller
Cosmic Mongoose
Most designers avoid the 300-ton size, and others, since the Drive Tables make these tonnages uneconomical and "off". You have to buy 400-ton drives, so might as well use a 400-ton hull.
HOWEVER, the Outer Veil setting by Spica Publishing has several 300-ton designs...
HOWEVER, the Outer Veil setting by Spica Publishing has several 300-ton designs...
Rikki Tikki Traveller said:
That may be, but 300 ton designs are still cheaper, imo cheap enough for parties to realistically have, have a good amount of turrets a party can realistically manage to man and enough space to have a jack of all trades ship with gadgets and cargo space.
ieqo said:
I do not see a bad spot, at least at Jump 2.
A 300 ton Jump 2 needs Drive C while a 400 ton hull needs D.
There isn't really any instance where the 300 ton hull can't get the same performance than the 400 ton hull with a drive 1 size smaller except for jump/thrust 1
sideranautae
Mongoose
EvilDM said:
Which means very few merchant 300 tonners.
sideranautae
Mongoose
EvilDM said:
In the Imperium frontier areas it is mostly 200t J1 Free traders. As far as sheer numbers of ships... Non subsidized J2 merchants are not economically that viable based on freight and passenger rates
DickTurpin
Banded Mongoose
300 tons is an inefficient number compared to a 200 ton hull. The bridge doubles in size, all drives must be on size larger, they require more fuel for the same performance, armor and weapons increase in space and cost needed (if used).
An unarmed free trader increased to 300 tons would cost an additional MCr. 29.9 for an increase in cargo capacity of 63 tons. That gives a monthly cost increase (mortgage and maintenance) of Cr. 274,083 which means you would need to make Cr. 4,000/ton just to cover the costs. Adding passenger space or hauling freight won't net the needed cash, only good quality speculative trade will do it, assuming you can consistently fill a 151 ton cargo hold.
Jumping from a 300 ton hull up to a 400 ton hull is only MCr. 14.7 more and grants an additional 85 tons more cargo space, a much more efficient ratio.
An unarmed free trader increased to 300 tons would cost an additional MCr. 29.9 for an increase in cargo capacity of 63 tons. That gives a monthly cost increase (mortgage and maintenance) of Cr. 274,083 which means you would need to make Cr. 4,000/ton just to cover the costs. Adding passenger space or hauling freight won't net the needed cash, only good quality speculative trade will do it, assuming you can consistently fill a 151 ton cargo hold.
Jumping from a 300 ton hull up to a 400 ton hull is only MCr. 14.7 more and grants an additional 85 tons more cargo space, a much more efficient ratio.
