Handy when you need to pack small asteroids in a hurry...
Ship Design Philosophy
- Thread starter Condottiere
- Start date
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Practically, anything.
In theory, somewhat short of a twenty foot container.
In theory, somewhat short of a twenty foot container.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Spacecraft: Cargo
1. In theory, a grappling arm that has a capacity of five tonnes, and presumably reach of a quarter of a kilometre. would suit me.
2. You could interpolate between the two and six tonners (capacity ten tonnes).
3. Ten divided by six is one and two thirds.
4. But, two is two, so difference eight is divided by four, basically two.
5. I doubt it's linear, even with two intersecting lines.
6. Three and a half tonnes capacity five tonnes is likely too light.
7. Similar argument for three tonnes for five tonne capacity.
8. That would make two tonnes capacity three and a third tonnes.
9. Likely, four tonnes capacity five tonnes.
1. In theory, a grappling arm that has a capacity of five tonnes, and presumably reach of a quarter of a kilometre. would suit me.
2. You could interpolate between the two and six tonners (capacity ten tonnes).
3. Ten divided by six is one and two thirds.
4. But, two is two, so difference eight is divided by four, basically two.
5. I doubt it's linear, even with two intersecting lines.
6. Three and a half tonnes capacity five tonnes is likely too light.
7. Similar argument for three tonnes for five tonne capacity.
8. That would make two tonnes capacity three and a third tonnes.
9. Likely, four tonnes capacity five tonnes.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Spacecraft: Cargo
A. It looks like that a grappling arm costs a megastarbux per two tonnes.
B. Which means, our four tonne grappling arm, with five tonne capacity, costs two megastarbux.
C. A six tonne grappling arm, with ten tonne capacity, costs three megastarbux.
D. Which would indicate, that we could double capacity, just by increasing tonnage and cost by a third.
E. In theory, we could have a nine tonne grappling arm, with twenty tonne capacity, and costing four megastarbux.
F. Though, more likely, four and a half megastarbux.
A. It looks like that a grappling arm costs a megastarbux per two tonnes.
B. Which means, our four tonne grappling arm, with five tonne capacity, costs two megastarbux.
C. A six tonne grappling arm, with ten tonne capacity, costs three megastarbux.
D. Which would indicate, that we could double capacity, just by increasing tonnage and cost by a third.
E. In theory, we could have a nine tonne grappling arm, with twenty tonne capacity, and costing four megastarbux.
F. Though, more likely, four and a half megastarbux.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Inspiration: Stand Alone | Wolfhounds Book 1 – Imperial Navy’s Deadliest Gamble
Audiobook of “Stand Alone (Wolfhounds – Book 1)” by John Van Stry.
Length: ~ 10h 49 m
🗂 Genre: Adventure · Science Fiction · Military Opera
Publisher: Audible Studios · 2025
Release date: 2025
Expecting a short stay in jail, Chase is instead thrust into the Emperor’s Own – the elite Wolfhounds of the Imperial Navy. Sentenced to ten years amid hostile space campaigns, he must survive enemy fire and internal conspiracies orchestrated by the base AI. Betrayed by family and tested by war, Chase must prove he’s as tough as his adversaries—or die trying.
Slow starting.
Predictable what's going to happen, with the crumbs that get scattered.
Still, interesting enough.
Audiobook of “Stand Alone (Wolfhounds – Book 1)” by John Van Stry. Length: ~ 10h 49 m 🗂 Genre: Adventure · Science Fiction · Military Opera
Publisher: Audible Studios · 2025 Release date: 2025Expecting a short stay in jail, Chase is instead thrust into the Emperor’s Own – the elite Wolfhounds of the Imperial Navy. Sentenced to ten years amid hostile space campaigns, he must survive enemy fire and internal conspiracies orchestrated by the base AI. Betrayed by family and tested by war, Chase must prove he’s as tough as his adversaries—or die trying.
Slow starting.
Predictable what's going to happen, with the crumbs that get scattered.
Still, interesting enough.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Inspiration: Taking Ground | Wolfhounds Book 2 – Chase & Claire’s Martian Rebellion
Audiobook of “Taking Ground: Wolfhounds, Book 2” by John Van Stry, narrated by Kyf Brewer.
Length: 9 h 40m
🗂 Genre: Sci-Fi · Fantasy · Military
Publisher: Audible Studios · 2025
Release date: 2025
After the Battle of Portlandia, hero Chase faces a 25 million-credit bounty and skepticism from Fleet Captain Witner, who doubts his true identity. With Duchess Claire by his side, he navigates court intrigue, battle scars, and revolutionary plots to seize power for the Martian uprising. Together, they fight betrayal and forge a new path for the Empire.
Audiobook of “Taking Ground: Wolfhounds, Book 2” by John Van Stry, narrated by Kyf Brewer. Length: 9 h 40m🗂 Genre: Sci-Fi · Fantasy · Military
Publisher: Audible Studios · 2025 Release date: 2025After the Battle of Portlandia, hero Chase faces a 25 million-credit bounty and skepticism from Fleet Captain Witner, who doubts his true identity. With Duchess Claire by his side, he navigates court intrigue, battle scars, and revolutionary plots to seize power for the Martian uprising. Together, they fight betrayal and forge a new path for the Empire.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Inspiration: Force Majeure | Wolfhounds Book 3 – Prince Chase’s Imperial Trials
Audiobook of “Force Majeure (Wolfhounds – Book 3)” by John Van Stry, narrated by Kyf Brewer.
Length: 10 h
🗂 Genre: Adventure · Sci-Fi · Military
Publisher: Audible Studios · 2025
Release date: 2025
Chase embraces his role as Prince of the Solarian Empire but struggles to reveal his true identity to Fleet Captain Witner and the Command Team. As he navigates imperial politics and military duties, an ever-present bounty and political conspiracies threaten his claim. With Duchess Claire’s support, he confronts betrayal, family secrets, and mortal danger to secure his path to the throne.
Audiobook of “Force Majeure (Wolfhounds – Book 3)” by John Van Stry, narrated by Kyf Brewer. Length: 10 h 🗂 Genre: Adventure · Sci-Fi · Military
Publisher: Audible Studios · 2025 Release date: 2025Chase embraces his role as Prince of the Solarian Empire but struggles to reveal his true identity to Fleet Captain Witner and the Command Team. As he navigates imperial politics and military duties, an ever-present bounty and political conspiracies threaten his claim. With Duchess Claire’s support, he confronts betrayal, family secrets, and mortal danger to secure his path to the throne.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Spacecraft: Cargo
G. You're probably thinking, that the six tonne grappling arm is a no brainer.
H. Probably, a larger variant, especially for large spacecraft.
I. However, this is like the Three Bears.
J. Goldilocks has a specific comfort zone, and what you want is something that's a good fit for her.
K. And five tonnes is ideal, as both a forty footer cargo crane, and a five tonne spacecraft hoist.
G. You're probably thinking, that the six tonne grappling arm is a no brainer.
H. Probably, a larger variant, especially for large spacecraft.
I. However, this is like the Three Bears.
J. Goldilocks has a specific comfort zone, and what you want is something that's a good fit for her.
K. And five tonnes is ideal, as both a forty footer cargo crane, and a five tonne spacecraft hoist.
Fluffy Bunny Feet
Cosmic Mongoose
Or use 3 grappling arms and you can handle up to 3 smaller items at once. More flexibility.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
You'd think so, based on given values.
What you get is more capacity.
But, with three different hands holding the same item, there would be curtailment of flexibility, and that quarter kilometre range.
What you get is more capacity.
But, with three different hands holding the same item, there would be curtailment of flexibility, and that quarter kilometre range.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Spacecraft: Cargo
L. If I had to make an educated guess, I'd say the next interesting tonnage is thirty tonnes.
M. Thirty tonnes is the volume of a ship's boat, the standard module for fifty tonne cutters, and docking clamp type/one capacity.
N. The ship's boat could be handled through the hangar, and launch/recovery.
O. I'm gonna bet that installing/detaching a thirty tonne module with grappling arms is a lot faster.
P. The grappling arms can easily manoeuvre thirty tonne objects to position them for the docking clamp to easily snap them up.
L. If I had to make an educated guess, I'd say the next interesting tonnage is thirty tonnes.
M. Thirty tonnes is the volume of a ship's boat, the standard module for fifty tonne cutters, and docking clamp type/one capacity.
N. The ship's boat could be handled through the hangar, and launch/recovery.
O. I'm gonna bet that installing/detaching a thirty tonne module with grappling arms is a lot faster.
P. The grappling arms can easily manoeuvre thirty tonne objects to position them for the docking clamp to easily snap them up.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Spacecraft: Engineering and Thrust
Thrust tonnes
Maximum thrust - potential possible
Dry - manoeuvre drive
Wet - reactionary rocket
Augmented thrust - with high burn thruster
Thrust tonnes
Maximum thrust - potential possible
Dry - manoeuvre drive
Wet - reactionary rocket
Augmented thrust - with high burn thruster
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Spacecraft: Cargo
Q. The next logical progression is fifty tonnes.
R. Would there be a convenient container sized fifty tonnes?
S. Donno.
T. However, under the current rules set, it's the cockpitted spacecraft cap.
U. Though you do have canonical phenomenon that contradicts that.
Q. The next logical progression is fifty tonnes.
R. Would there be a convenient container sized fifty tonnes?
S. Donno.
T. However, under the current rules set, it's the cockpitted spacecraft cap.
U. Though you do have canonical phenomenon that contradicts that.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Spacecraft: Hulls, Volume, and Damage
1. was just think about hulls constructed from wood.
2. It occurred to me, that unlike steel, wood can compress, but has a breaking point.
3. Steel can be permanently dented, before reaching that.
4. And, is plastic enough to be knocked back into the original shape.
5. But, while it's dented, it would constitute less volume than designed.
6. As such, since drive performance is based on volume, it would have to be recalculated.
7. The dent is likely to be relatively small enough, to only fractionally affect acceleration.
8. Though, if the dent is created internally, thereby outwards, it could drastically affect jump drive calculations.
9. Critically, while being damaged just as transition is being initiated.
1. was just think about hulls constructed from wood.
2. It occurred to me, that unlike steel, wood can compress, but has a breaking point.
3. Steel can be permanently dented, before reaching that.
4. And, is plastic enough to be knocked back into the original shape.
5. But, while it's dented, it would constitute less volume than designed.
6. As such, since drive performance is based on volume, it would have to be recalculated.
7. The dent is likely to be relatively small enough, to only fractionally affect acceleration.
8. Though, if the dent is created internally, thereby outwards, it could drastically affect jump drive calculations.
9. Critically, while being damaged just as transition is being initiated.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Spacecraft: Cargo
V. Next stage seems to be sixty five tonnes.
W. That lines up with the crane capacity.
X. Though, why Mongoose settled on sixty five tonnes seems somewhat of a mystery.
Y. There's no previous indication that it's some Imperium standard, or it adds some kind of advantage.
Z. Perhaps, there is some lurking Murky Machination, behind it.
V. Next stage seems to be sixty five tonnes.
W. That lines up with the crane capacity.
X. Though, why Mongoose settled on sixty five tonnes seems somewhat of a mystery.
Y. There's no previous indication that it's some Imperium standard, or it adds some kind of advantage.
Z. Perhaps, there is some lurking Murky Machination, behind it.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Spacecraft: Cargo
1. Canonically, kilotonne pods can be configured for cargo (as well as passengers).
2. Anything larger than this, would likely be custom made for specific materials or commodities.
3. For the Confederation, I'd say that most cap these at five kilotonnes.
4. Possibly, twenty five kilotonnes, and on occasion, hundred kilotonnes.
5. But this would be due to inherent increased structural strength, and lower number of maintenance personnel.
6. 'Cos, I do think that cargo containers and pods are subject to maintenance rules.
7. Due to a prevalence of fifty kilotonne monitors and battle riders, it's also possible that cargo pods are sized at fifty kilotonnes.
8. You just substitute one of the battle riders for one, on the battle tender.
9. Anything under one kilotonne, would be somewhat speculative.
1. Canonically, kilotonne pods can be configured for cargo (as well as passengers).
2. Anything larger than this, would likely be custom made for specific materials or commodities.
3. For the Confederation, I'd say that most cap these at five kilotonnes.
4. Possibly, twenty five kilotonnes, and on occasion, hundred kilotonnes.
5. But this would be due to inherent increased structural strength, and lower number of maintenance personnel.
6. 'Cos, I do think that cargo containers and pods are subject to maintenance rules.
7. Due to a prevalence of fifty kilotonne monitors and battle riders, it's also possible that cargo pods are sized at fifty kilotonnes.
8. You just substitute one of the battle riders for one, on the battle tender.
9. Anything under one kilotonne, would be somewhat speculative.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Spacecraft: Cargo
A. Docking clamp type/two is thirty one to ninety nine tonnes capacity at five tonnes, which makes no sense.
B. Type/four has a capacity of two kilotonnes, which could be one possibility.
C. Type/three is one to three hundred tonnes, at ten tonnes.
D. One hundred tonnes allows non penalized hull armour, and a hardpoint.
E. Three hundred tonnes would be a compromise.
F. And, I think I've run out of possible optimal container sizes.
A. Docking clamp type/two is thirty one to ninety nine tonnes capacity at five tonnes, which makes no sense.
B. Type/four has a capacity of two kilotonnes, which could be one possibility.
C. Type/three is one to three hundred tonnes, at ten tonnes.
D. One hundred tonnes allows non penalized hull armour, and a hardpoint.
E. Three hundred tonnes would be a compromise.
F. And, I think I've run out of possible optimal container sizes.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Spacecraft: Cargo
G. The Modular Cutter has been illustrated as a cylindrical torpedo.
H. So, the assumption is, the module is a shorter variant of that.
I. Especially, when it was still an external hull component.
J. However, it might be more practical to make it rectangular.
K. Which would also allow it to fit in with normal container configurations.
G. The Modular Cutter has been illustrated as a cylindrical torpedo.
H. So, the assumption is, the module is a shorter variant of that.
I. Especially, when it was still an external hull component.
J. However, it might be more practical to make it rectangular.
K. Which would also allow it to fit in with normal container configurations.
Fluffy Bunny Feet
Cosmic Mongoose
I did a 100 ton ship design inspired by the Eagle using breakaway hulls. It impacted the armament and recently I've been considering doing a modular version since the small craft book has modules being capable of independent function but not impacting the crafts weapons. Have to see what it does for price.Spacecraft: Cargo
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Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Breakaways take two percent of voume, at two megastarbux per tonne.
There's no way around interior modularization.
However, consider cargo pod/hull, and Docking Clamp type/one.
As regards armament, my personal opinion is that while breakaways get a pass, by being able to transfer them to separate hulls, and I tend to rule that you have to base firmpoints and hardpoints on the actual volume of the hull in question.
So if your primary hull is seventy tonnes, and the secondary breakaway hull is thirty tonnes, it's still three firmpoints, possibly all three on the primary, or two on the primary, and one on the secondary, whereas the rules would be one hardpoint, on either.
There's no way around interior modularization.
However, consider cargo pod/hull, and Docking Clamp type/one.
As regards armament, my personal opinion is that while breakaways get a pass, by being able to transfer them to separate hulls, and I tend to rule that you have to base firmpoints and hardpoints on the actual volume of the hull in question.
So if your primary hull is seventy tonnes, and the secondary breakaway hull is thirty tonnes, it's still three firmpoints, possibly all three on the primary, or two on the primary, and one on the secondary, whereas the rules would be one hardpoint, on either.
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