Example of Craft Design - Step By Step

[aramis]

Oh, and the crew requirements will drop fractionally. The original laser armed version had a crew total of 1.24...

So, I figure that's about 50 person hours per week total. So, the crew has a LOT of free time, provided 2 or more are carried. One man can make it...

 

[fredofmars]

I appreciate your work on this. It is very helpful to see someone else's work. The "thinking out loud" is useful too. The MT design sequence is somewhat quirky to me, though I have done several designs using it.
- Joseph

 

[fredofmars]

I appreciate your work on this. It is very helpful to see someone else's work. The "thinking out loud" is useful too. The MT design sequence is somewhat quirky to me, though I have done several designs using it.
- Joseph

 

[fredofmars]

I appreciate your work on this. It is very helpful to see someone else's work. The "thinking out loud" is useful too. The MT design sequence is somewhat quirky to me, though I have done several designs using it.
- Joseph

 

[Commander Drax]

Dont forget you can cut back even further on fuel requirements and thus have smaller tanks by only supplying power to life support and artificial gravity when in jump. So out of 30 days operation allow 16 of those days to be powered down as you wont need that power hungry m-drive whilst in jump space.

 

[Commander Drax]

Dont forget you can cut back even further on fuel requirements and thus have smaller tanks by only supplying power to life support and artificial gravity when in jump. So out of 30 days operation allow 16 of those days to be powered down as you wont need that power hungry m-drive whilst in jump space.

 

[Commander Drax]

Dont forget you can cut back even further on fuel requirements and thus have smaller tanks by only supplying power to life support and artificial gravity when in jump. So out of 30 days operation allow 16 of those days to be powered down as you wont need that power hungry m-drive whilst in jump space.

 

[aramis]

Ah, but Drax, powering down is not a viable option, as we are at the minimum size for scale efficiency.

Seriously, though, the rules do NOT permit that; they don't exclude that, either. To do it, I'd use a secondary power plant... but only on larger vessels. Mostly because of scale efficiency losses; literally, any smaller, and the powerplant drops radically in output; using half the engine capacity (28 units) only produces 112 MW, due to crossing the SE threshold. using 55 of the 56 units provides 220 MW. 30% losses for 1.5% drop...

Now, to add a laser to this version, I'd either add another 14KL plant OR add 6.5KL of batteries...

Y'see, part of it is envisioning what you're building. And I've always undestood a PP to be a big, single torrid; you can't shut down part and keep it working unless you have two sub-plants in one casing (Which is implied by the CT Bk5 rules... 1 torrid per Pn, so damage knocks out a torrid at a time).

 

[aramis]

Ah, but Drax, powering down is not a viable option, as we are at the minimum size for scale efficiency.

Seriously, though, the rules do NOT permit that; they don't exclude that, either. To do it, I'd use a secondary power plant... but only on larger vessels. Mostly because of scale efficiency losses; literally, any smaller, and the powerplant drops radically in output; using half the engine capacity (28 units) only produces 112 MW, due to crossing the SE threshold. using 55 of the 56 units provides 220 MW. 30% losses for 1.5% drop...

Now, to add a laser to this version, I'd either add another 14KL plant OR add 6.5KL of batteries...

Y'see, part of it is envisioning what you're building. And I've always undestood a PP to be a big, single torrid; you can't shut down part and keep it working unless you have two sub-plants in one casing (Which is implied by the CT Bk5 rules... 1 torrid per Pn, so damage knocks out a torrid at a time).

 

[aramis]

Ah, but Drax, powering down is not a viable option, as we are at the minimum size for scale efficiency.

Seriously, though, the rules do NOT permit that; they don't exclude that, either. To do it, I'd use a secondary power plant... but only on larger vessels. Mostly because of scale efficiency losses; literally, any smaller, and the powerplant drops radically in output; using half the engine capacity (28 units) only produces 112 MW, due to crossing the SE threshold. using 55 of the 56 units provides 220 MW. 30% losses for 1.5% drop...

Now, to add a laser to this version, I'd either add another 14KL plant OR add 6.5KL of batteries...

Y'see, part of it is envisioning what you're building. And I've always undestood a PP to be a big, single torrid; you can't shut down part and keep it working unless you have two sub-plants in one casing (Which is implied by the CT Bk5 rules... 1 torrid per Pn, so damage knocks out a torrid at a time).

 

[mike wightman]

As Aramis says, one of the design possibilities in MT is to include multiple power plants, an option missing from HG.
It was even used in a DGP MTJ ship design

The idea is to work out how much power do you need for:
general maneuvering and environment support, etc.;
weapons/screens;
combat maneuverability/agility.
Build a separate power plant for each but with a much lower endurance so that fuel is kept to a minimum.

As an aside is it more efficient to use batteries/capacitors for life support/environment while in jump so that you can save on fuel volume and carry more cargo???

I'll have to go run the numbers...

 

[mike wightman]

As Aramis says, one of the design possibilities in MT is to include multiple power plants, an option missing from HG.
It was even used in a DGP MTJ ship design

The idea is to work out how much power do you need for:
general maneuvering and environment support, etc.;
weapons/screens;
combat maneuverability/agility.
Build a separate power plant for each but with a much lower endurance so that fuel is kept to a minimum.

As an aside is it more efficient to use batteries/capacitors for life support/environment while in jump so that you can save on fuel volume and carry more cargo???

I'll have to go run the numbers...

 

[mike wightman]

As Aramis says, one of the design possibilities in MT is to include multiple power plants, an option missing from HG.
It was even used in a DGP MTJ ship design

The idea is to work out how much power do you need for:
general maneuvering and environment support, etc.;
weapons/screens;
combat maneuverability/agility.
Build a separate power plant for each but with a much lower endurance so that fuel is kept to a minimum.

As an aside is it more efficient to use batteries/capacitors for life support/environment while in jump so that you can save on fuel volume and carry more cargo???

I'll have to go run the numbers...

 

[aramis]

One problem with multi-plant sub 200Td designs is that the plants needc to be 14+Td EACH to maintain scale efficiency.

Sorry for falling behind... have a sinus infection that's antibiotic resistant AND Brochitis, too...

 

[aramis]

One problem with multi-plant sub 200Td designs is that the plants needc to be 14+Td EACH to maintain scale efficiency.

Sorry for falling behind... have a sinus infection that's antibiotic resistant AND Brochitis, too...

 

[aramis]

One problem with multi-plant sub 200Td designs is that the plants needc to be 14+Td EACH to maintain scale efficiency.

Sorry for falling behind... have a sinus infection that's antibiotic resistant AND Brochitis, too...

 

[aramis]

Erratum: Armot type is F not G. Calculated as F, labeld G.

 

[aramis]

Erratum: Armot type is F not G. Calculated as F, labeld G.

 

[aramis]

Erratum: Armot type is F not G. Calculated as F, labeld G.

 

[aramis]

OK,m now that I found a day off, and am feeling somewhat human... on to rating.
We'll run this as presented in the book, page 84/88 UCP lines in bold, commentary in italic

Craft ID:Snow Flurry class Light Merhantman, Type AL , TL12, MCr29.6956
Snow Flurry is chosen because, well that was the weather when I started it. I'm making a decision that the class names generally are weather phenomena in any language.
Type AL is Merchantman with the light qualifier. Can't get any lighter and still jump...

Hull:90/225 disp=100 Config=6af Armor=40F Unloaded=805.43 loaded=1372.752
I figure unloaded by subtracting out fuel weight from my designed rating. Why? Why not list fuel weightless? Fuel is a major weight factor in all designs. Cargo is only a significant factor in some designs.
Loaded weight: since 1 ton is added per KL, simply add KL of remaining space to weight, and you get a nominal loaded weight, at 13.5Mg per kL. (A Megagram is 1000 Kilograms, and also 1 ton metric.)
Hull damage points as listed ARE NOT using the errqatum from the Ref's Gaming Kit. I don't list with that erratum, but always make a note somewhere that the erratta'd version is 10x the hits...

Power: 1/3 Fusion= 224Mw Dur=28/84d
Here, gary did things the hard way. Just apply the hull formulae to the pp volume. skips several steps, and is mathematically the same. I won't repeat this comment in each line.
As a teacher, I tell kids NEVER list a number without a unit in the real world. So, for duration, d for days. I use h for hours, m for minutes...a few designs I have run to weeks.

Loco: 2/5 Maneuver=1G
_ _ _ 2/5 Jump=1pc
_ _ _ NOE=160 Top=1080kph Cruise=810 Agility=1 (0.66)
Do the calculation once, since both drive are the same volume. (Duh!) Only calculate what you have to.
I list each damage taking item on a separate line, for ease of finding DP.
the underscores are a spacer, to preserve formatting in the web-browser by using underscores. Not a normal part of a layout.
again, label units. Like pc for jump range. Makes it more accessible to players and non traveller fans alike.
Agility is calced from spare Mw/Unloaded weight, times a constant. Ag=(spMw / Munld) * 5.6=(94.592/805.43)*5.6=.657679997022. I round normally, so .6 will round up to 1, but I also list the two place rounded for the obscessive.
also, note the MT does NOT limit agility to MD rating, but does cap at 6. I don't cap at six IMTU.
Yes, she's a pig. But she's cheap...

commo: Radio=FarOrbit
_ _ _ Channels=144
Channels for a radio are TL^2. listed in Ref's Companion. Should be part of the profile. If the ship has a LOT of commo gear, list the DP for the total.

Sensors: AEMS=VDist PEMS=InterPlanetary
_ _ _ ActObjScan=Diff ActObjPin=Diff
_ _ _ PassObjScan=n/a PassObjPin=n/a
_ _ _ PassEnScan=Rout PassEnPin=n/a
Ok, this is the single most awkward bit of MT.
Active Scan is best of Radar or AEMS. lookup on table on page 87/91.
Act Pinpoint is best of Radar, Ladar, or AEMS. again, lookup same table.
Pass Object is desnitometers. I didn't mount one, so the n/a rating. TL determins scan, and penetration determines pinpoint.
Passive Energy scan is ((Passive EMS or Radar DF)+(Neutrino Sens))/2, replaceing the above labels with the range based/sensitivity based components, and then looking up on the second table, bottom of page 88/92.
If you have Laser sensors, list laser sensors as PassLasScan... using laser sensors to add.. because they only help if the enemy is using ladar, laser weapons, or lasercomms... but the rules don't reflect that.
Pass Energy pinpoint is purely a function of Neutrino sensors.
Why do I add the complexity here? because I use it.

Off:Missile=001 (1 single turret)
_ _ _ Batt=001
_ _ _ Bear=001
pretty simple. I add a listing for battery weapons of the configured batteries. I often will list the DP as well, since I use it. a single turret, of 1 ton, is 1/3, a 2 ton is 2/4. Figure whole batteries at a time, if you plan on using them for anti-vehicular fire. (or use the vehicular combat rules for ships. I do.)

Def: +3
Computer is a 1/bis. Agility is (rounded) to 1. Hull size is less than 1000 Td, but not less than 100 Td, for a factor of 1. Totalling, we get +3.

Control: Comp=1/bis x3 panel=DynamicLinked x134 Special = HUDx2
_ _ _ Envrion=BEnv, BLS, ExtLS, AGrav, InertComp
Note that I abbreviate. So did DGP. it helps save space.
Also note that it combines the parts I list in two areas (environ and controls) and puts thhem in one area. For the obscessive, a dp rating could be figured. Even *I* am not that obscessive.

Accom: Crew: 5x1 (Bridge, Engineer, Gunner, Steward, Medic)
_ _ _ HighPass=3 MidPass=0 LowPass=0
_ _ _ LgSR=3 SmSR=5
crew sections are 1 per 100 Td... figure it that way, rather than gasping at the 1 per 1350kl...
ALWAYS list as HP the maximum SR capacity you can support with stewards and available rooms. You can always put mids in HP capability. Likewise, List LowBerths separately from Emergency LB capacity. One's commercial, the other isn't...

other: Cargo=436.36kL ObjSize=Avg EmLv=faint
She's just under 1000 tons mass empty; clearly right in the middle of average.
She's not under 20 tons, and is low enough output, so she's faint signature.

If I needed to keep track of Cargo damage, I'd break it into sections: maximum sections are 1 per 50 tons-displacement of cargo, suggested sections 1 per 100 tons of ship.[/i]

there you go! In the quote box, you'll find the completed and decommented rating:

Craft ID:Snow Flurry class Light Merhantman, Type AL , TL12, MCr29.6956
Hull:90/225 disp=100 Config=6af Armor=40F Unloaded=805.43 loaded=1372.752
Power: 1/3 Fusion= 224Mw Dur=28/84d
Loco: 2/5 Maneuver=1G
_ _ _ 2/5 Jump=1pc
_ _ _ NOE=160 Top=1080kph Cruise=810 Agility=1 (0.66)
commo: Radio=FarOrbit
_ _ _ Channels=144
Sensors: AEMS=VDist PEMS=InterPlanetary
_ _ _ ActObjScan=Diff ActObjPin=Diff
_ _ _ PassObjScan=n/a PassObjPin=n/a
_ _ _ PassEnScan=Rout PassEnPin=n/a
Off:Missile=001 (1 single turret)
_ _ _ Batt=001
_ _ _ Bear=001
Def: +3
Control: Comp=1/bis x3 panel=DynamicLinked x134 Special = HUDx2
_ _ _ Envrion=BEnv, BLS, ExtLS, AGrav, InertComp
Accom: Crew: 5x1 (Bridge, Engineer, Gunner, Steward, Medic)
_ _ _ HighPass=3 MidPass=0 LowPass=0
_ _ _ LgSR=3 SmSR=5
other: Cargo=436.36kL ObjSize=Avg EmLv=faint
The Snow Flurry class merchant is a smal merchantman designed for governmentally underwritten loans to encourage backwater trade route merchants. Some banks will allow her to be purchased for speculation rather than mail route service, but in either case, she's a bare-bones model. A competent crew can usually fill her holds, and provide the three high passengers with excellent service.
Her crew quarters are cramped, and some crews will instead carry 4 to 7 mid passengers, rather than carry a steward and 3 high passengers, though this is actively discouraged by the Imperial Ministry of Trade.
Her holds carry 32 tons of cargo, but 5 are usually reserved for mail.
Ships in the class are usually named for various weather phenomena, especially in older languages.