Small Craft Complements

[CRMcNeill]

Certain aspects of a ship's small craft are pretty well know, such as starfighters, combat shuttles, dropships, landing barges, etc. I'm curious about the less well known vehicles, especially those with more mundane uses. What are some vehicle concepts that you've included in the complements of starships?

Since deck space is at a premium, I would think the best vehicle choices would be as multi-role as possible, so that a one-mission platform isn't just sitting around taking up deck space until that one time you need it.

A few of my own concepts:

Work Pod - A one-man vehicle equipped with servo arms and a variety of tools, allowing a single crewman to perform external repairs without the necessity of a space platform.

Engineering Platform - A multi-crew platform used for more extensive repairs. Includes a modular scaffolding and bracing system to dock with a ship's Hull at the repair site, thus creating a stable work environment for the repair team.

Space Tug - Little more than an engine and tractor beam attached to a crew compartment. Used to haul containerized cargo between ships, as well as Maneuvering assistance for large repair jobs.

There are other possibilities, such as space barges, different types of shuttles and pinnaces, scout ships, Intel freighters, and the like.

Thoughts?
_________________
"No set of rules can cover every situation. It's expected that you will make up new rules to suit the needs of your game." - The Star Wars Roleplaying Game, 2R&E, pg. 69, WEG, 1996.

The CRMcNeill Stat/Rule Index

[MrNexx]

Similar to the Space Tug, I wound up creating the long-haul version of that... take the cheapest possible hyperdrive, the cheapest possible backup, stick it behind a crew compartment and give it clamps to lock onto a standard cargo container.

http://www.rancorpit.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6021
_________________
"I've Seen Your Daily Routine. You Are Not Busy!"
“We're going to win this war, not by fighting what we hate, but saving what we love.�
http://rpgcrank.blogspot.com/

[CRMcNeill]

For the purposes of this conversation, how would you fit your slow haul into the a capital ship's complement of small craft. I'm not really seeing it...
_________________
"No set of rules can cover every situation. It's expected that you will make up new rules to suit the needs of your game." - The Star Wars Roleplaying Game, 2R&E, pg. 69, WEG, 1996.

The CRMcNeill Stat/Rule Index

[MrNexx]

[CRMcNeill]

Maybe something like the Eagle from Space 1999.



By design, it's completely modular, with the fuselage section between the landing legs being swapped out for variety of different mission modules. For the purposes of this subject, I could even fold my Engineering Platform from above into a mission module that could be carried.

Maybe with a Star Wars twist, though; the cockpit from a Sentinel Landing Craft up front, better engines and less exposed girderwork?

EDIT: Maybe even make it capable of hauling Rapid Deployment Base sections.
_________________
"No set of rules can cover every situation. It's expected that you will make up new rules to suit the needs of your game." - The Star Wars Roleplaying Game, 2R&E, pg. 69, WEG, 1996.

The CRMcNeill Stat/Rule Index

[CRMcNeill]

Something came up in another topic that has bearing here. As far back as the age of sail, ships had small craft in the form of rowboats and the like, and many of those names have carried over into the small boats carried by modern naval ships. Here are a few analogs for the SWU:

Pinnace - An armed utility craft, equipped to carry a small number of passengers, but outfitted for search & rescue, light boarding operations and combat picket duties (particularly when a ship is immobile / at anchor)

Gig - Similar in size to the Pinnace, but fitted out for VIP Passenger Transport. Commonly called a "Captain's Gig", as most small ships carry only one, which is reserved for use by the ship's captain.

Launch / Barge - A larger craft configured for hauling cargo or passengers.

At this point, I'm thinking entirely in terms of sublight craft. We have plenty of hyperspace capable craft already that serve as shuttles, whether Lambdas on Imperial craft or YT-1300's on Rebel ships.

I hadn't really considered it before, but the clandestine nature of the Alliance would certainly make YT-1300's useful as shuttles, since one YT-1300 in dozens or hundreds would be hard to tell apart...
_________________
"No set of rules can cover every situation. It's expected that you will make up new rules to suit the needs of your game." - The Star Wars Roleplaying Game, 2R&E, pg. 69, WEG, 1996.

The CRMcNeill Stat/Rule Index

[MrNexx]

I tend to agree that the Rebellion would use commercial craft (which, in SW universe, are already traditionally armed) for a lot of things for which the Republic or Empire might have a specialized craft. Need a shuttle? Why get something like a Lambda custom-designed when you can use a stock freighter? Heck, they might even wind up using general hulls for more specialized uses... cargo ships for carriers or MASH units, for example.
_________________
"I've Seen Your Daily Routine. You Are Not Busy!"
“We're going to win this war, not by fighting what we hate, but saving what we love.�
http://rpgcrank.blogspot.com/

[ForbinProject]

The Eagles were the first spaceship I fell in love with as a kid and I think they'd be a great addition to the game.

The modular pod design has another benefit that may be overlooked. The modules may be used to construct prefabricated bases.

Pods can be designed for virtually anything you can imagine and easily connected together.

Eagles with space capability can take them to any environment.

Some of the modules/pods seen on the show:

Passenger — The standard passenger module, it is usually unarmed and used solely to transport Moonbase personnel. Passenger Eagles have a transport module which provides maximum seating space for eight persons. These Eagles were first seen in the pilot episode "Breakaway".

Reconnaissance — Sometimes known as Survey Eagles, this type typically has a computer bank on the starboard side of the ship. Reconnaissance Eagles are used to explore alien planets and regions of space; the sophisticated computer bank is used to obtain, store, and analyse data gathered from the planet being studied including atmospheric composition, valuable minerals resources and biological life.

VIP — Seen only in the episode "Breakaway", the orange VIP Eagle was used by Lunar Commissioner Gerald Simmonds; it is primarily a passenger Eagle used to transport high-ranking officials.

Rescue — These Eagles are recognisable by their vertical red stripes. Rescue
Eagles are equipped with a variety of rescue and life-saving equipment which can be used in emergencies.

Transport/Supply — These Eagles are used to transport supplies and equipment rather than passengers. Their transport modules are designed to carry equipment and have limited seating space for passengers.

Docking — Usually a standard Eagle fitted with an extendable airlock to enable docking with another craft in space. This was seen in the episode "Collision Course" when John Koenig had to dock with Alan Carter's damaged Eagle.

Freighter — These specialized Eagles are used to transport dangerous nuclear waste to the Nuclear Disposal Areas; unlike supply or transport Eagles, they are heavily shielded to protect their crews from radiation. The waste canisters are carried in a 'pallet' type pod which links to a conveyor belt at the disposal areas. These Eagles were seen in the episode "Breakaway".

Laboratory — A specialized Eagle which carries equipment of a more scientific nature than the Reconnaissance Eagle; beginning the second series, they are usually fitted with additional airlocks for decontamination purposes, and have small but well-equipped laboratories on board. These Eagles appear throughout the series, but make their first prominent appearance in the second season premiere "The Metamorph".

Winch — Winch pods can be attached to Eagles and used for a variety of purposes. Most notably they were used to attempt to disperse the nuclear waste containers in Disposal Area 2 in "Breakaway". They are not to be confused with Freighter Eagles. Winch pods can be either in the form of a grab, as seen in "Collision Course" when nuclear charges were planted on an asteroid, or a magnetic winch, used for other purposes like removing the Command module of a crashed Eagle in "Missing Link".

Combat — Although Eagles are not primarily designed for combat, they can be equipped with laser emitters and missiles for defensive purposes. When Moonbase Alpha broke away from Earth, several Eagles were equipped with weapons and used to defend the Moonbase from potential alien attacks. Specialised Eagles were designated as 'Combat Eagles' in the episode "The Metamorph".

In a Star Wars setting modules may look something like this:

Small Cargo Pod
Cargo Capacity: 50 tons
Availability: 1
Cost: 10,000

Large Cargo Pod
Cargo Capacity: 100 tons
Availability: 1
Cost: 20,000
Refrigeration Pod Small
Cargo Capacity: 50 tons
Notes: Integrates into current cargo system for remote control of compartmentalized variable environments. All compartments are variable in size, pressure and tempurature. Comes with its own power supply so that the unit does not impact on current ship systems.
Availability: 1
Cost: 30,000

Refrigeration Pod Large
Cargo Capacity: 100 tons
Notes: Integrates into current cargo system for remote control of compartmentalized variable environments. All compartments are variable in size, pressure and tempurature. Comes with its own power supply so that the unit does not impact on current ship systems.
Availability: 1
Cost: 60,000

Tanker Pod Small
Notes: Unit is capable of storing any type of gas or liquid in pressurized or non-pressurized states. Comes with its own power supply.
Availability: 1
Cost: 10,000

Tanker Pod Large
Notes: Unit is capable of storing any type of gas or liquid in pressurized or non-pressurized states. Comes with its own power supply.
Availability: 1
Cost: 20,000

Rescue Pod Large
Notes: This unit is a full medical suite capable of supporting up to 40 patients. It comes with two surgical droids and two medical assistant droids and its own power supply.
Consumables: 2 weeks
Availability: 3,F
Cost: 75,000

Passenger Pod Small
Capacity: 20
Notes: 5 rows of comfortable chairs. 2 per side with a walkway down the center and 2 small refreshers in the back.
Consumables: 2 weeks
Availability: 2
Cost: 40,000

1st Class Passenger Pod Small
Passengers: 8
Features: 8 small private cubicles with Hologame systems, Holovid players, interactive holos and 2 small refreshers in the back.
Notes: The cubicles are comfortable. Comes with its own power supplies and filtration systems.
Consumables: 2 weeks
Capacity: 3
Availability: 2
Cost: 45,000

VIP Pod
Features: Hologame systems, Holovid players, interactive holos, sunning room and one jacuzzi.
Notes: The rooms are spacious and very comfortable. Comes with its own power supplies and filtration systems.
Capacity: 3
Availability: 2
Consumables: 2 weeks
Cost: 45,000

Troop Pod
Passengers: 20
Cargo Capacity: 200 kilograms
Consumables: 2 weeks
Hull: 2D
Shields: 1D

PreFab Base Modules
Hull: 2D
Consumables: 1 month
Availability: 2
Cost: 50,000
Notes: These modules can easily be deployed and connected in a wide variety of floorplans. Modules can be laid out horizontally and stacked vertically. Any of the walls, ceiling, and floor can be removed when connecting modules to create larger rooms.

The modules have their own life support and can be used in a variety of enviroments vaccuum, underwater up to a depth of 1.5 km, a poisonous atmosphere, or buried underground.

If there is a catatrophe that cuts off power and traps people inside a module the life support can keep up to 40 people alive for 1 month.

[MrNexx]

That's how TIE Fighter and X-Wing video games used the BFF-1 and their cargo modules... some would be hangars, or repair modules, or whatever. I kind of picture BFF-1 and its class-A Cargo Containers as being like modern intermodal shipping containers... frequently used to just ship stuff, but also useful as a building block for standardized spaces... a "drag and drop" surgical hospital, or a rack for droid troops, or a field base, etc.
_________________
"I've Seen Your Daily Routine. You Are Not Busy!"
“We're going to win this war, not by fighting what we hate, but saving what we love.�
http://rpgcrank.blogspot.com/

[CRMcNeill]

[CRMcNeill]

[ForbinProject]

[MrNexx]

[CRMcNeill]

[ForbinProject]