Iconic Elements

[Hemdian]

no one has mentioned the modular cutter yet,

I don't think the modular cutter is iconic in itself BUT small craft with a circular cross section are iconic. The standard version of the ship's boat, pinnace, and cutter, all share this design aesthetic. Without it, the modular cutter is the same as the Eagle Transporter from Space:1999.

 

[esampson]

I don't think the modular cutter is iconic in itself BUT small craft with a circular cross section are iconic. The standard version of the ship's boat, pinnace, and cutter, all share this design aesthetic. Without it, the modular cutter is the same as the Eagle Transporter from Space:1999.

And yet GURPs devoted an entire book to it.

Not arguing with you concerning whether or not it is iconic. For my group long ago I would probably put it in a 'semi-iconic' category. They did appear a pretty good amount but if you stopped one of the players and said 'Traveller' it probably wouldn't be one of the first five things to pop into their head.

However, the whole point of the exercise is sort of a 'temperature taking' to see what other people consider iconic. Since the T5 book is so incredibly rules heavy and 'setting light' it would be nice to have some idea of what might give the most 'bang for the buck'. Given that the Scout/Courier seems to appear in a lot of people's lists I feel pretty good about the work I've done on the Scout Project and I'll probably try and buckle down and get a few more variants out (I need to redo the Seeker and Wanderer for the new base design). On the other hand the A2 doesn't seem to have made it onto anyone's list so even though I've started on that I will probably limit my energies in that direction.

 

[aramis]

I don't think the modular cutter is iconic in itself BUT small craft with a circular cross section are iconic. The standard version of the ship's boat, pinnace, and cutter, all share this design aesthetic. Without it, the modular cutter is the same as the Eagle Transporter from Space:1999.

Traveller and the Flying phalli.

That small craft tend to look like adult toys has been a fixture of the Keith Brothers art, as well as GDW work in general, because it's a fairly efficient aerodynamic design.