Small Craft Hulls cost and limitations

[wbnc]

Currently, as far as I can tell, small craft hulls are no different than starship hulls. teh cost per ton, hull points per ton, and damage scale is the same.

However they have one significant issue...no jump drive capability...despite the fact that jump drive, sufficient fuel for jump, and staterooms can be packed into a sub 100 ton ship, there is a distinct separation between Star ships and small craft.

So my thoughts are that if there is a clear distinction between small craft, and starship, should the hull be cheaper?,

Or is there enough difference between the two hulls to affect cost at all?

 

[AndrewW]

However they have one significant issue...no jump drive capability...despite the fact that jump drive, sufficient fuel for jump, and staterooms can be packed into a sub 100 ton ship, there is a distinct separation between Star ships and small craft.

Who said they had no jump drive capability?

 

[wbnc]

However they have one significant issue...no jump drive capability...despite the fact that jump drive, sufficient fuel for jump, and staterooms can be packed into a sub 100 ton ship, there is a distinct separation between Star ships and small craft.

Who said they had no jump drive capability?

If this has changed in the new revision It hasn't been directly stated...up until this moment I had assumed that the standard limitation on jump drives were still unavailable for smallcraft still applied.

 

[AndrewW]

If this has changed in the new revision It hasn't been directly stated...up until this moment I had assumed that the standard limitation on jump drives were still unavailable for smallcraft still applied.

There's nothing in the rules that prevents it.

 

[wbnc]

If this has changed in the new revision It hasn't been directly stated...up until this moment I had assumed that the standard limitation on jump drives were still unavailable for smallcraft still applied.

There's nothing in the rules that prevents it.

Yesssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!

oh sorry..Indeed sir you are correct.

I'm going to wander over there, and see if I can shove a jump drive module in a 50 ton cutter.

 

[Chas]

:lol: let us know how you get on

 

[PsiTraveller]

The General definitions in High Guard pg 3

Ship: A spacecraft of 100 tons or more.
Small Craft: A spacecraft of less than 100 tons. Small craft are incapable of jumping to other star
systems.
Capital Ship: A military ship of more than 5,000 tons.
System Ship: A ship without jump drives.
Star Ship: A ship of 100 tons or more that is capable of jump travel.


But I like the idea of a small Jump ship... so I am off to try and make one.

 

[PsiTraveller]

The Mosquito armed courier

OK, my 20 minute attempt

The Mosquito Armed Courier
Hull 50 tons 2.5 MCr
Armour 4 Crystal Iron 2.5 tons
Jump 1 10 tons
M-Drive: 2.5 tons
Power Plant: 3 Tons 45 power generated
Fuel: 1 Ton: 12 weeks
2 X Jump 1: 10 tons
Bridge: 3 tons
Computers TL 12: Rating 20
Sensors: Military Grade: 2 tons
1 Firm Point with Beam Laser: (no tonnage used?)
2 Staterooms: 8 tons
2 Lowberths: 1 ton
Common Area: 2 tons
Crew Pilot and Engineer: Can double bunk if transporting someone
Cargo: 5 tons (courier mail drum typically)
Software: Evade 1, Fire Control 2, Virt mining 15
Total tons 50
Power Needed: 40
Power Generated: 45

Cost 45.95 MCr

 

[cavebear]

The Mosquito armed courier

OK, my 20 minute attempt

The Mosquito Armed Courier
Hull 50 tons 2.5 MCr
Armour 4 Crystal Iron 2.5 tons
Jump 1 10 tons
M-Drive: 2.5 tons
Power Plant: 3 Tons 45 power generated
Fuel: 1 Ton: 12 weeks
2 X Jump 1: 10 tons
Bridge: 3 tons
Computers TL 12: Rating 20
Sensors: Military Grade: 2 tons
1 Firm Point with Beam Laser: (no tonnage used?)
2 Staterooms: 8 tons
2 Lowberths: 1 ton
Common Area: 2 tons
Crew Pilot and Engineer: Can double bunk if transporting someone
Cargo: 5 tons (courier mail drum typically)
Software: Evade 1, Fire Control 2, Virt mining 15
Total tons 50
Power Needed: 40
Power Generated: 45

Now that is a craft I would use for a few things I could think of. I think a small naval force could use this for fleet communications and it would be a lot less of a loss, in monetary terms, if one were to be lost in action.

 

[AndrewW]

Small Craft: A spacecraft of less than 100 tons. Small craft are incapable of jumping to other star
systems.

I did point that one out, alas didn't get changed...

 

[PsiTraveller]

Yeah, the 100 ton limit still seems to be in effect, but IYTU you could allow it, and I just realized that the 10 tons of Jump Drives is enough to go Jump 2 and not 2 X Jump 1

oh well... it was fun making the ship up.

 

[wbnc]

Yeah, the 100 ton limit still seems to be in effect, but IYTU you could allow it, and I just realized that the 10 tons of Jump Drives is enough to go Jump 2 and not 2 X Jump 1

oh well... it was fun making the ship up.

it y be case of the passage quoted was not properly edited....It Andrew did say that the rules did not disallow it...

 

[Chas]

Wouldn't be the first time an edit slipped through the cracks. More importantly I want my get out of Dodge quick craft! The crown jewels will fit in 5 tons no problem :twisted:

 

[wbnc]

alright did a test build for a 50 ton Jumpcraft...

the result were interesting to say the least. due to the minimum size of the jump droves required by the rules it has max jump for it's tech level..J-3 in this case.

the engine to tonnage ratio is high. So it's a long legged beastie.... if built at TL-12 it's FAST but has no cargo room and not much use as more than a personal transport,/light duty fighter...

at TL_10 the jump range drops, but the cargo space doesn't improve any...basic results, a very fast, limited usefulness transport...great for courier/dispatch/priority transport work.

It might be useful for someone who needs to get somewhere fast, and doesnt want to bother with liners, or commercial transports. also it would be useful if you wanted to avoid..Official Entanglements that come with standard transport.

it very much reminds me of Slave One in the fact it is just big enough to Carry two people..and a block of carbonite....so it might serve well as a smuggler/bounty hunter ship.

sooooo looking at an example of small craft with jump drives what is the verdict, and first impressions?

 

[AndrewW]

Jump capable small craft could be used as couriers. Also as the corporate jet or noble's private transport. One could have internal fuel capacity for a jump-1 or jump-2 and use drop tanks if a longer range is necessary, leaving room for some luxuries.

 

[wbnc]

Jump capable small craft could be used as couriers. Also as the corporate jet or noble's private transport. One could internal fuel capacity for a jump-1 or jump-2 and use drop tanks if a longer range is necessary, leaving room for some luxuries.

Now that's an idea I didn't think of.

it would make it possible for an owner to putter about in a leisurely way, and still have a way to take full advantage of his ships maximum jump range.

the version I built was one I wanted to demonstrate the maximum range and thrust for it's TL. I have one or two that are shorter ranged, and lower tech.