[Moon Toad Publishing] Ship Book: Panga Class Merchant

[middenface]

http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/131708/Ship-BookPanga-Class-Merchant

This book details the Panga Class Merchant, one of the many thousands of merchant vessels plying the space lanes across known space. It is a small vessel, but with the ability to fit various pods, so it can carry more and be adapted to different roles.

Contains:

A description and guided tour of the vessel
Details of 3 notable ships of the class
3 versions of the Panga with complete deckplans, specifications and game sheets
An example crew with complete game stats
New equipment, inlcuding a shotgun and two ATVs.

Included as seperate files are A3 sized, technical blueprints, deckplan (blueprint style) and 15mm scale black and white plans on A3 size sheets


This book is for the Mongoose edition of Traveller and requires the use of the core rulebook to use it.

 

[Annatar Giftbringer]

Interesting little thing! For some reason it reminds me of the Nostromo from alien (but of course smaller). I don't know why, something with the internal layout, or the towed pods I guess...

I also get kind of a space trucker vibe that makes me want them to be "everywhere", picking up pods and delivering goods near and far.

Of course, on a less serious note, it also reminds me a bit of the mushroom ship the Toad Brigade uses in super Mario galaxy

Despite the landing legs it looks more suited to docking than landing, I see no obvious simple way to enter/exit the craft when landed, apart from air rafts?

The pod concept is interesting. Let's the crew/freight company choose between light load and longer range, or more cargo but shorter range/longer duration trip.

With widespread use of Panga, I could see customers renting a pod, filling it with cargo and then book a transport.

Speaking of the pods, how do they land? I assume they lie down lengthwise rather than balance on the bottom? Should be an experience to exit the pod and walk out for the first time, and I hope they keep artificial gravity on for the whole ground duration

Overall, another interesting and sensible design, and one I can see myself using someway or another. The shotgun and crawler were a nice bonus too! (Is the shotgun pump action?)

 

[Burocrate]

The following quote discusses the merits of the old Terran TL5 sea-going Panga Boat.

“A traditional Panga is suitable for running right up on the beach, so it’s ideal as our support vessel for loading and unloading expedition gear. Even under heavy load, they draw very little water, allowing for entry into all the shallow bays. The ecotourism boom and the ability of the Panga to help support it ensured that the local population, including ex-fishermen, had a new way to make a living."

http://www.boatingmag.com/boats/history-panga

IMTU Panga Boat owners would range from solid citizens to 'get-rich-quick' schemers to out-right smugglers; okay...mostly to smugglers.

In today's RL news accounts Panga boats have been the choice of coastal smugglers for decades. For rough estimates, a 20 foot open hulled craft can deliver enough product to fill two full sized cargo vans. Not a bad payoff for the investment, assuming the Coast Guard, local Harbor Patrol, Sheriff's Marine division, other Federal Air/Marine Interdiction units and or local police don't encounter your craft at sea or worse when it is most vulnerable when it is unloading.

In short, I love adding the Panga class ship to my Traveller games, thank you.

 

[middenface]

Glad we like.

Yes, perhaps a rotating airlock, exit is required on the pods. In fact I might update the file with that. And give the 1% or 5% cost in tonnage and hull cost to cover fitting for the dock, perhaps fittings for the empty pods and maybe extended Jump Grid...