Beowulf Free Trader, Step 2: Hull

[robject]

Hull (p. 315, tables on p. 332)

The second step is to select the Hull (p. 315). There are four variables that detail a hull: volume, Configuration, Structure, and Fittings.

Configuration

Configuration (p. 332) indicates the overall organization of the ship, whether the ship's components are an accumulation of components, or enclosed in a lifting body, or somewhere in between. Configuration sets upper limits on the maximum acceleration of a hull, especially in an atmosphere. Some Configurations, such as the Planetoid, cannot enter an atmosphere at all. The Beowulf-class Free Trader has a Streamlined Hull (S). Configurations which favor atmospheric agility are more expensive than those which don't.

The Volume (a 'B' hull at 200 tons) is selected from the table on page 333. Volume and Configuration together specify the hull price. A 200 ton Streamlined hull costs MCr 14. If the ship didn't need to enter an atmosphere, it could have been a Planetoid hull, which would reduce the hull's cost to MCr 2.

A (Beowulf-class Free Trader) TL 10

Volume   Component              MCr      Notes
(200)    Hull B, Streamlined    14

Structure and Fittings

Structure (p. 316; table on p. 334) is about the hull’s construction. Structure affects some performance characteristics, and also affects the basic armor on the ship. Fittings (p. 317; table on p. 334) give some options about how the ship lands on planets. For example, you can give your ship wings like the Serpent-class Scout, or handy landing legs for setting down on uneven surfaces in the wilderness.

For the basic Beowulf, we just accept the defaults: a 'Plate' hull Structure, and 'Landing Skids' (p. 334), both at no cost and no volume. Plate hulls have an Armor Value (AV) equal to the ship's TL; in this case, the Free Trader has AV 10. Note that AV works together with Configuration to determine the maximum safe reentry speed of a ship (pp. 364-5). Since this Free Trader is not significantly armored, it can only handle a safe re-entry (p. 365).

Our running balance looks like:

A (Beowulf-class Free Trader) TL 10

Volume   Component              MCr      Notes
(200)    Hull B, Streamlined    14       
-        Plate Structure        -        AV 10
-        Landing Skids          -        Flat Surfaces Only

Note that most Structure and Fittings choices add to the volume of the hull. In some cases this may change the performance characteristics of the ship (p. 315-6).

 

[Murdoc]

Two questions:

1) Now I only have the "Final" beta version, so maybe this is different from the books people are receiving, but my book says that streamlined hulls have 0 Agility, and I have found no corresponding entry in the released Errata. Where does the error lie?

2) Perhaps a harder question, so I understand if there is no answer for now, but I am interested in flying wing designs (like the B-2 bomber). Would that just be done under Lifting Body configuration, or something different? Because the two do have very different flying characteristics. If need be I can just house rule it for now.

 

[robject]

Hi Murdoc,

You're so right. Streamlined is 0 Agility. Thank you!

As far as a flying wing: I'd use with the Lifting Body entry, giving a positive Agility mod at the expense of Stability. Keep it a subtype of Lifting Body so you don't have to create a new hull entry!

And, post your house rule in a new thread, if you don't mind sharing.

If I may suggest: balance the flying wing's characteristics so it doesn't replace the Lifting Body. That means you need to decide the main purpose of a Flying Wing and carefully recognize the purposes of each of the configuration characteristics.

Acceleration is... acceleration.
Agility is for atmospheric maneuvering.
Friction is for reentry, not atmospheric performance.
Stability is a mod for handling during turbulence.

 

[Reban]

2) Perhaps a harder question, so I understand if there is no answer for now, but I am interested in flying wing designs (like the B-2 bomber). Would that just be done under Lifting Body configuration, or something different? Because the two do have very different flying characteristics. If need be I can just house rule it for now.

p315 has the following to say that might be of help:

Wing and Fin tonnage is also available for other uses:
hollow Wings may also be assigned as fuel tankage, or for
sensors, or even (if large enough) for accommodations.

But its of limited use because you can only add 2tons of wing for every 100tons of hull. A flying wing implies more wing than hull.

Looking at the description of Airframe hulls they look like they cover anything that flies with wings that isn't a Lifting Body. I'd consider a Flying Wing to be an Airframe just on the cusp of becoming a Lifting Body.

I've also just noticed that the descriptions on p332 are out of step with the the other discussions of different Hull forms. These are the ones with illustrations so it makes for a potentially confusing section. Annnnnd it implies Type S Scout/Couriers are all Lifting Bodies because of the illustration, forgive the pun but I'm not sure if that flies.

ps. Thanks for doing the walk through Robject.

 

[robject]

Thanks for posting, Reban. Some of that might be Core Rules errata-worthy...

 

[JimMarn]

The original 1950s Flying Wings did have catwalks in the wings so the flight engineer could go out and check on the engines. Saw the airplane mentioned on a History Channel documentary years ago. Might be shown on the Military Channel sometime.