I've been trying to get back into a designing mood for the last couple of days
(for reasons best known to Mark Cook and Metlay), and came up with these two.
A comment or two on the rules: It's been pointed out here that the rules
state that a starship should have three computers. They do not, however,
say that these three have to be of the same model. I've used this dodge
once or twice before, and when I do, I almost always calculate the control
and crew requirements based on the worst computer, and the combat modifications
based on the best computer. I made a small exception with the Starflare
shown below. If the gunnery crew is figured on the basis of the Model 5
computer, 19 gunners are needed to operate the four turrets and the damper.
This seemed a little excessive--1 per turret plus 15 for the damper? After
all, these things are 'optimized' because by TL15 they are old and well
understood technology. Using the Model 9 resulted in 5 gunners--one per
turret and one for the damper which seemed a little more reasonable.
Trying to shoehorn everything into the Starflare was a bit of a mess. In
the process I decided that I had better give the detailed fuel use numbers,
in case anyone actually wanted to use one of these things. (I think it
would work nicely as the main ship in the adventure from MTJ#2.) I see
no reason why the maneuver drive should be running in Jump space, which
means that a detailed fuel use calculation should probably allow for
power only for life support in Jump.
Good Gaming,
Rob Dean
Kontos class Fighter-Launch TL15
The Kontos class is the result of a design project sponsored by the
Planetary Navy of Mora in 1110. The prototype was completed by the notorious
Moran branch of TrinTechnics in late 1112, on time and slightly under budget.
Flight testing was satisfactory, and the Moran Navy contracted with TrinTech-
nics for a full scale production run beginning in 1114. Several hundred
craft were completed when news of Emperor Strephon's assassination reached
Mora. The production line was expanded shortly thereafter, and sales were
permitted to registered armed vessel operators (Starmercs). By 1121, over
two thousand had been produced.
The Kontos is popular among small AVOs due to its clever multi-purpose
design, which gives a great deal of operational flexibility without impairing
the craft's usefulness as a fighter. For most operations the relatively
short endurance is not a problem. Bunks are installed to provide a minimum
level of long-term accommodation for the regular two man crew if a multi-day
patrol is necessary. The asymmetrical computer installation allows easy
operation in routine conditions and good combat responsiveness at a low cost,
with some loss of damage capacity. The Model 7 computer installation accounts
for nearly 50% of the cost of the base model. Some production models have
also been sold with a down-sized battle computer installation--a Model 5 set
up at a total cost of MCr27.58, and a Model 3 set up at a total cost of
MCr21.69.
CraftID: Kontos Class Fighter-Launch, TL15, MCr35.285
Hull: 18/45, Disp=20, Conf=1AF, Armor=40G, Loaded=275t,
Unloaded=267t
Power: 2/4, Fusion=522MW, Dur=5 days
Loco: 3/6, Maneuver=6 (Thrusters=2210t), TrueAcc=8.03G,
MaxSpeed=4500kph, Cruise=3375kph, NOE=190kph, Agility=8
Comm: Radio=System, MaserComm=System
Sensors: EMM, EMS Active(Far Orbit), EMS Jammer(Far Orbit),
EMS Passive(Interplanetary), ActObjScan=Rout, ActObjPin=Rout,
PassEnScan=Rout
Off: Hardpoints=1
Missile=x02 BeamLaser=xx2
Batteries 1 1
Bearing 1 1
Def: DefDM+17
SandCaster=xx3
Batteries 1
Bearing 1
Control: CompMod1*2, CompMod7*1, HeadsUpHoloDisplay*2, HoloLink*2
Accom: Crew=2 (Pilot/Commander, Gunner), Passengers=8,
Seats=ExtOccRoomy*10, Bunks*2, Env=basic env, basic ls, extended
ls, grav plates, inertial comp, airlock
Other: Fuel=31.32kl, Cargo=5.5kl, ObjSize=Avg, EmLevel=None, Missile
Magazine=20 missiles (20 b-r)
Starflare class Close Escort TL15
The Starflare was designed and produced by the Mora branch of TrinTech-
nics. The first test model was completed in early 1114. The Starflare
exhibits a number of typical TrinTechnics design features: the asymmetrical
computer installation, short endurance, and general multi-task design in
particular. TrinTechnics designers attempted to wedge as many useful fea-
tures as possible into the Starflare, with the nuclear damper installation
perhaps being the most unusual in a vessel of this size. This was prompted
by a perceived need to defend against small Vargr vessels with easy access to
nuclear weapons. A small troop contingent, a slight surplus capacity in
accommodations, and provision of cold sleep chambers for prisoners allows a
Starflare to engage in boarding and capture operations. As of 1120, no navy
in the Domain of Deneb had ordered more than a few test examples of the Star-
flare, usually citing the low endurance as the cause of rejection. However,
23 of the vessels have been produced for private purchasers.
CraftID: Starflare class Close Escort, TL15, MCr415.9 including fighters
Hull: 360/900, Disp=400, Config=1AF, Armor=49G, Unloaded=4791t,
Loaded=5577t
Power: 24/48, Fusion=6480MW, Dur=13 days at full maneuver power (see
note)
Loco: 18/36, Jump=4, 40/80, Maneuver=4 (Thrusters=28.6kt),
TrueAcc=5.12G, Max=3400kph, Cruise=2550kph, NOE=190kph, Agility=5
Comm: Radio=System*2, LaserComm=System*2, MaserComm=System*2
Sensors: EMM, EMS Active(Far Orbit)*2, EMS Jammer(Far Orbit), EMS
Passive(Interstellar)*2, High Pen Densitometer(1km), Neutrino
Sensor(10kw), ActObjScan=Rout, ActObjPin=Rout, PassObjScan=Rout,
PassObjPin=Rout, PassEnScan=Simp, PassEnPin=Rout
Off: Hardpoints=4
BeamLaser=xx4 Missiles=x03
Batteries 2 2
Bearing 2 2
Def: DefDm+15, Optimized Nuclear Damper-1
Control: Computer Model 5*1, Computer Model 5fib*1, Computer Mod9*1,
HeadsUpHoloDisplay*6, HoloLink*10
Accom: Crew=26 (3 Command, 2 bridge, 2 engineer, 2 gunnery, 6 flight,
6 troops, 2 medical), Passengers=4, Staterooms=15, Low Berths=10,
Env=basic env, basic ls, extended ls, grav plates, inertial comp
Other: Fuel=3275kl, Cargo=65kl, Fuel Scoops, Fuel Purifier (24hrs),
Subcraft=2*Kontos class fighter-launches (20t), ObjSize=Large,
EmLevel=Faint
Note: Fuel usage is as follow: Jump-4=1350kl, Jump-3=1080kl,
Jump-2=810kl, Jump-1=540kl. Full power=4.24kl/hr, full maneuver
power=1.75kl/hr, 1-G maneuver power=0.5kl/hr, Life support
only=0.2kl/hr. Operating crew requirements figured on a Mod5
computer basis, gunnery crew figured on a Model 9 computer basis.