Looking for some opinions re sst/b5 crossover

[PlayWithBob]

Greetings,

I run a sst rpg campaign. As it looks like the fleet books will never be published, I am looking for another source for the ships SICON will use in the fleet.

For those of you who have looked at both B5 and SST, can you tell me in your opinion if you feel that Ships of the Galaxy, Ship Builder's Manual, and Ship Plan - Hyperion would be useful at all in my quest?

Its all basicly D20 future, correct, and both timelines are set in about 2300 so they cant be that far off....

Please, before I spend 100.00 on books I may never use, give me some feedback.

Bob

 

[PlayWithBob]

The Vally Forge

A Hyperion

Pretty close...

 

[Majeh]

Well the ship builders manuel will help a great deal in creating ships. Not sure how big a hyperion is but I think the valley forge is bigger. Havent seen the hyperion floor map it might be useful for the pcs bearings. Ships of the galaxy might help but nto entirly sure. If there was a site with breakdown of what the valley forge had in terms of weaponary and such that would help too.

 

[Traveller-61]

The Hyperion is over twice the size of the Roger Young (according to the Starship Dimensions page, x2 pixel scale tab) and in the blueprints there are two decks that are dedicated to troop transport (for about 200 marines).

I think the Hyperion blueprints might be quite useful as the deck layouts can be used for any human / EF ship.

As to the books - maybe the Ship Builders Manual would be best because then you could design your own to fit the SST descriptions; or of course Ships of the Galaxy will give you loads of ready made vessels, all you have to do is file the serial numbers off, a quick coat of paint and voila: new SST starships :lol:

DW

 

[PlayWithBob]

The Hyperion is over twice the size of the Roger Young (according to the Starship Dimensions page, x2 pixel scale tab) and in the blueprints there are two decks that are dedicated to troop transport (for about 200 marines).

I think the Hyperion blueprints might be quite useful as the deck layouts can be used for any human / EF ship.

As to the books - maybe the Ship Builders Manual would be best because then you could design your own to fit the SST descriptions; or of course Ships of the Galaxy will give you loads of ready made vessels, all you have to do is file the serial numbers off, a quick coat of paint and voila: new SST starships :lol:

DW

Well I ordered everything while waiting for replies...

You are correct, on the Starship Dimensions page the hyperion is listed as 1199m while the (movie based) Rodger young corvette transport is listed as 550m.

In the Ships of the Galaxy book the Hyperion is a "Huge Spacecraft" and refering to the Ship Builder's manual we find that "Huge" is anyshtarship between 1000 and 3000 feet in legnth.

Doing some math...
Hyperion = 1199 m is 3933.73 ft. (too big for the B5 RPG class assignment)
Rodger = 550 m is 1804.46 ft. (well within the B5 Class assignment)

We know from the SST RPG FAQ that the Rodger Young is a "Super Heavy" class starship and refering to the D20 Future SRD a Super Heavy 1501 feet or longer.

And to throw more confusion at the situation, the rodger young that looks like the Hyperion is from the Roughnecks Cronicals, not the movie.

I'll keep at it...

 

[BuShips]

Yes Bob, the Valley Forge above (now where have I seen that pic before, hmm? lol) never shows up in the movie, as the director went with a much larger ship. The CGI version is much more in line with the original book though and would make a better RPG candidate (thus no doubt why you are asking), if that is any help. As a "wild" idea when those books come, take a look at the White Star as a possible proxy for the Valley Forge. Maybe from the interior layout perspective (other than the bridge probably) it might be useable.

 

[PlayWithBob]

White star deck plans will be out in April. I hate to wait...

For my game I actually feel the Hermes Transport is a better fit. I don't know how familiar you are with the SST ships, but I have my squad on a Heavy Transport as part of the singular platoon assigned to that ship. I am using the (movie based) corvette as a battalion level light mobile infantry transport or a company level Cap trooper transport. However as I now own the deck plans for the Hyperion, I may as well call that the corvette and pretty much use it as is. I wish that the plans had made notes on the slight differences in weaponry and load out between the various Hyperion designs.

But with the reference materials now at my disposal, I am sure I will be able to come up with detailed deck plans of which ever design my PCs end up on.

 

[BuShips]

Good luck and carry on, soldier! (translation: Have fun, Bob!).