Ship Shape Free Trader

[atpollard]

I didn't know where else to ask this, but what shape is a Type A Free Trader (Beowulf Class I think)? A wedge, a cone or a flattened sphere?

I could make a case for all three. It just looks streamlined and lumpy to me, but I need to figure out what High Guard would call it.

Thanks.

 

[far-trader]

In the end I think it's whatever works for you. As you say a case can be made for several shapes. As long as the end result is streamlined no one could fault you. I've used Wedge in HG and Box in MT I think. And most recently Close structure with upgrade to full streamlining in T20.

 

[stofsk]

I've asked this before, but what does 'close' structure mean? Wedge, Cone, Cylinder, Sphere, Saucer etc etc are all quite easy to visualise; what the hell shape is 'Close'?

 

[far-trader]

My take on close structure is based on the book description. It consists of more than one type of shape but grouped tightly and with an eye to streamlining. The classic type A Free-Trader is a good example. It has a wedge nose, a sloped box on top, and two squashed half-cylinders on the sides, with a squared box on the back.

The dispersed structure is similar in make-up but the parts are widely seperated often joined by exposed girders, there is no concern given to streamlining.

 

[Arthur Denger]

Originally posted by stofsk:

I've asked this before, but what does 'close' structure mean? Wedge, Cone, Cylinder, Sphere, Saucer etc etc are all quite easy to visualise; what the hell shape is 'Close'?

The Gazelle-class Close Escort is one of the better known examples of the 'Close Structure' configuration. Another might be Eagle 1 from Space:1999. In the case of the Gazelle, that vessel is also considered 'Partially Streamlined'. Dispersed Structure is sort of the opposite, think Battle Tender, and possibly the Annic Nova and the U.S.S. Enterprise and Yorktown from the original Star Trek.

Originally posted by atpollard:

I didn't know where else to ask this, but what shape is a Type A Free Trader (Beowulf Class I think)? A wedge, a cone or a flattened sphere?

I could make a case for all three. It just looks streamlined and lumpy to me, but I need to figure out what High Guard would call it.

You're right, atpollard, the Type-A is a veritable mulligan stew of geometric surfaces. The MegaTraveller canon classifies the good ol' Beowulf-class as a Streamlined Needle/Wedge (Configuation 1SL). I could have sworn the LBBs described it as a (flattened) Cone, but I cannot for the life of me find the reference. I may indeed have dreamt it, once upon a time...

 

[atpollard]

Originally posted by far-trader:
My take on close structure is based on the book description. It consists of more than one type of shape but grouped tightly and with an eye to streamlining. The classic type A Free-Trader is a good example. It has a wedge nose, a sloped box on top, and two squashed half-cylinders on the sides, with a squared box on the back.

The dispersed structure is similar in make-up but the parts are widely seperated often joined by exposed girders, there is no concern given to streamlining.

Good answer.
MIR and Skylab are close structures.
The ISS is a dispersed structure.

For the record, what "book" is your description from.

You probably already know this, but:
if the Type A free trader is a "close" structure, then High Guard says it can only be partially streamlined.

OOPS, someone goofed again. (but that's why we love Classic Traveller,

how can anyone be afraid to tweak the rules when the official sources tweak their own rules in the official books.)

 

[far-trader]

I don't recall exactly which book first had the Close Structure description, I think it was MT but that's not handy so I can't check. My take above is a personal paraphase of the official which is (from memory) something like 'several shapes joined closely together' but I'm not sure.

T20 has a description that sounds like what I remember, "...a number of similarly or differently-shaped structures joined without significant projections."

Yep, I think in HG I made it a cylinder as the cheapest streamlined shape. Now of course with T20 I can make it a partially streamlined close structure and then tweak it with an upgrade to fully streamlined.

 

[Icosahedron]

Originally posted by stofsk:
I've asked this before, but what does 'close' structure mean? Wedge, Cone, Cylinder, Sphere, Saucer etc etc are all quite easy to visualise; what the hell shape is 'Close'?

I gave my take on this elsewhere. I picture a ship with an elastic sheath stretched over it. If there is more ship than empty space inside it, it's close, otherwise it's dispersed.

 

[Arthur Denger]

Originally posted by Icosahedron:
I picture a ship with an elastic sheath stretched over it. If there is more ship than empty space inside it, it's close, otherwise it's dispersed.

I think that is a very useful method of determination. Well done!