Starship designs...

[taalismn]

under the options?....

Yep...snuck it in so people can go hogwild....

[taalismn]

Hey, interstellar dragracing....Mimimal airframe, maximum engine...and with the Scarab you drop the lower sled, and wedge in an extra booster engine....and make sure your insurence is paid up

[DhAkael]

Just a little 'thing' I created when I was bored, using the Rifter #34 'Tracer' ship creation chart.
All rights reserved for the artist; 'Delagris' @ deviantart.com
http://fc01.deviantart.com/images3/i/2004/177/b/c/Ancient_wisdom.jpg

MG-077 Hawkwind

Model Type: Silver Talon
Class: Scoutship
Crew: 4;1 pilot, co-pilot & 2 gunners. 3 extra passengers can be berthed.
M.D.C. by Location:
Main Body - 1500
Pilots Compartment - 600
*Sensor & Com unit - 300
Wings (2) - 900 each
*CG-Enigines (2) - 900 each
*Particle Cannons - 100 each
*Point Defense Rail Guns (3) - 150 each
*Missile Launchers (2; wings) - 100 per tube
Variable shields (6 facings)- 300 each / facing
Note: '*' marks targets that require a called shot of 15 plus to hit.
Speed:
Flying: Inatmo; Mach 1/ Exatmo; Mach 5 combat speed or 5.5G / second acceleration.
FTL: Type-B CG drive; rated for 2LY / Hr.
Range: 120 days of atmosphere & consumables
Statistical Data:
Height: 30ft. Length: 100ft.
Width: 30ft..; Wingspan of 43ft.
Weight: 225 tonnes full combat weight.
Cargo: 1.5 tonnes in 6x5x5 ft area.
Drive Type(s): Primary; Dual gravitic impellers.
Power System: Fusion reactor with 30yr. life-span.

Weapon Systems
1)Praticle Beam Cannons: one pair of fire-linked particle cannons are mounted either side of the nose.
Damage: 1D6X10+5 per shot, 2D6X10+10 for both fire-linked.
R.O.F.: As per pilots combined actions per round.
Range: 5 miles in space, approx. 1.5 miles Inatmo. Payload: Effectively unlimmited.

2) G-Railgun point deffense turrets (3): Light G-railgun point defense systems in pop-up turrets. 2 are placed either side of the cockpit / bridge while the third is placed lower aft. Can be automatic or manualy opperated.
Damage: 1D4X10 per 10 round burst, 2D4X10 for 2 firing at same target.
R.O.F.: As per gunners actions per round, or 3 bursts per melee per gun if automated.
Range: 2 miles in space, approx. 6000ft. Inatmo.
Payload: 2000 rounds per gun = 200 bursts per gun.
Note: +2 to strike if automated

2) MRM Launch System (2): An internal missile luanch system is loacted in the forward part of the wings When not in use, armoured panels cover the launch rails. Typically AP or High-Explosive are loaded with LIDAR or active radar seeking guidance.
Mega-Damage: As per MRM type. R.O.F.: Individually or in volleys of two. Range: as per warhead type
Payload: 5 per tube (10 total).
Other Systems
Defensive:
Variable-shields; Standard light Mil-Spec shiled generators. Typicaly found on most mid-range interceptors and Runner ships.
Oni Phantom; The Oni have always had a fetish for the art of stealth. The Phantom Array is a combination of sensor shielding, baffling arrays, electronic countermeasures, and a light bending polymer that coats the hull.
Oni Sensor Shielding - Opposing ship sensor range is limited to 2,500 miles when trying to detect the Tracer's ship.
Baffling Array - Used to obscure the functions of close-range systems that estimate the capabilities of the ship they're scanning. With this device, the ship can be scanned BUT the enemy's sensors will get a false reading. Just what the reading is CAN be programmed into the Baffling Array, though it is beneficial to keep the lies within reason.
Phantom Busters - A series of advanced electronic countermeasures that produce pulses of static, which confuse an enemy's sensor systems. The static bursts have an 80% chance of creating 1d4 duplicates of the ship that appear on the enemy radar. These duplicates last for one melee round but during that time, they are as real as the ship (at least according to sensor and targeting software). The PB can be used once every two minutes (8 melee rounds).
Star Glow - A synthetic, light bending polymer, developed by the Oni, which makes the ship difficult to detect visually. The ship basically becomes a chameleon and there is a 60% chance that it will be visually undetectable by other vessels even at extremely close distances. Gunners firing at a target using this polymer suffer a -1 to strike.

Sensors & Computer:
Millitary Sensors & Combat Computer; The sensor package includes Radar, Sonar, Radiation, motion, and gravity wave sensors, which can detect ships a far away as 240,000 miles if they are traveling at sub light speeds. Ships in FTL can be detected at distances of up to 10 light years away, due to the disturbances that they make when travelling faster than light. Additionally, it boasts short-range scanners that give details on the capabilities and attributes of another ship. The sensors record weapons (exterior mounted, not recessed), engine power (based on power core readings), ship's mass, estimated MDC and estimated crew number. When the scanned ship is a recognizable model, the known specs of said model are posted next to the data being gleaned from the target for comparison.

Engineering Systems:
Type 2 Recycling system (Atmosphere & Consumables); Can continuously provide recycled, breathable air & water for 120 days for the crew and passengers.
Trans-Atmospheric Capabilities; Design elements allow the ship to enter and leave planetary atmospheres.
Refresher Units (4): Combination bunk-bed and bathing units (waterless). Shaped like 8ft. long 'coffins;.
Modular Docking System: The tunnel extends out from an air lock at the bottom of the ship. It has 300 MDC and can extend 50 feet away from the hull. Once it has reached another ship's air lock, it locks on using magnetic locks. For the rare occasions in which the other ship's hull is not metal, the head of the tunnel will use a mechanical locking system that bores in and holds fast. Once the connection is made, the tunnel is pressurized, further strengthening the seal. The ring at the head of the tunnel is flexible and capable of assuming any shape required in order to fir another ship's air lock. This is naturally a very great advantage to spacer and bounty hunter alike. Additionally, the tunnel has six points along its length where it can from force field bulkheads in the event of a breach, which seal the tunnel automatically with 10 MDC force fields. Not only can the tunnel link up with any airlock configuration in the Three Galaxies, but it can seal against a ship's hull and provide a place to cut through using high-powered laser torches.

Combat Bonuses
All bonuses are in addition to the pilots P.P. stat and combat skills.
+1 to strike with weapon systems, +1 to dodge Inatmo & space, +15% to all combat

[DhAkael]

Wow! The MDC are high but very nice ship....


Hmm.... that design look awfully familiar......

The MDC ratings are right out of the rifter article *shrug*.
As for the design; I think the artist was trying for something that looked like a Thanagarrian assault scout (from DC universe / Justice Legue animation).

[KLM]

MDC is all right with me... (compared to the Runner ship)
however sublight and FTL are slower, than the three galactic
average.

I guess it is reasonble to ask about 30 million for a
used, but well maintained baby like this.

Or 50 bucks for a brand new one.

Adios
KLM

[DhAkael]

MDC is all right with me... (compared to the Runner ship)
however sublight and FTL are slower, than the three galactic
average.

I guess it is reasonble to ask about 30 million for a
used, but well maintained baby like this.

Or 50 bucks for a brand new one.

Adios
KLM

As I said... using the tables as written; it's a Zero-sum system so..yeah..the numbers are a bit..ugh..and some of the limitations were just nutty (Oni DON'T use courrier or scout craft with stealth tech?!).
Was just an experiment..tha's all.

[taalismn]

Nice CG ship...does it come in red?

Nice specs, too...as for low speed values? Well, that's where Spaceship Mechanics comes in handy, as well as some discretionary funds for repairs and improvements...enough to take it off-spec, and into the category of "It's NOT SUPPOSED TO THAT!!!!!" as it turns on an opponent who memorized the posted stats....

Good jobs, both to the artist and the technical writer! Hope to see more!

[DhAkael]

All credit goes to the artist. I just found the persons work compelling.
This pic screamed for an RPG-stat write-up

[taalismn]

Likewise...added to the growing files of internet art....the Renderosity web site is a good collection of similar CG artworks..

[taalismn]

Trying an experiment....
Okay...failed at that...was attempting to add a small jpg, image, but apparently that's not possible without having it on a URL somewhere else....

[Aramanthus]

That was a very cool little ship! I like it and I've saved it on my computer too.

[taalismn]

another doodle. Let me know what you guys think.

Swivel

Looks like a giant joystick controller for an Alien Intelligance to take hold of....

[taalismn]

kinda reminds me of this one

http://visionforgestudios.com/jesse/tra ... ourier.htm

although yours looks much bigger

Ah...asymetrical spacecraft...gotta love 'em...

[Aramanthus]

It does look cool! And it looks like a joy stick like Taalismn said too.

[taalismn]

It does appear to be respectably armed, too....

[taalismn]

Ok... Here's something inspired by the Intruder.

PFS

Thought might be the result of the Intruder's trading with TechYards.

Wow...ultimate hovercycle, man....The StarCycle!

[taalismn]

How much I gotta spend or who do I gotta kill to get one?
(provided a) it doesn't have cruddy gas mileage, and b) it takes forever to get anywhere...)

[shiiv-a]

so who's the one to chat with about ships on this link? ... need to bounce a couple ideas of someone impartial

[Aramanthus]

We're all willing to help on this particular theard. I know Taalismn and I will help you out. And I think Darkmax would try and draw your ship out.

[taalismn]

Well, we know from the Anvil Galaxy sourcebook that FTL starships can get pretty small...Ganymede GoSystems makes a spacesuit with an FTL drive that can get you up to 25 lightyears(maybe figure 3 lightyears per hour, because 8 hours in a suit is pretty long...though if you compare it to mountain climbing...well, you could go 2 LY/h, for a trip of over 12 hours, but that would be tough on the traveller).
The PFH has the advantage of having speed on its side, a crystal powerplant, better sublight speed and handling, and a forcefield, but the pilot's still stuck in a spacesuit, rather than a comfortable cabin....No weapons(all power goes to shields and drives, and navigation) aside from what the pilot's got handheld(or in the hands of a piggybacked passenger), and sensors are practically Mark One Eyeball....Still, nobody expects an FTL motorcycle...

[shiiv-a]

not sure i have anything at the moment .. but your right .. it would have to be large enough for at least 3 people ... so i'll have to plan the floor plans and other things. not sure anyone could actually help. not without ruining the concept. sorry guys. will have to think it out on my own.

[taalismn]

For peer review...

WZ-MCF-500 ‘Immense’ Ultra Cargo Freighter
When a ‘Behemoth’ just isn’t large enough, then maybe you need an ‘Immense’. The WZ-MCF-500 Immense is the ‘Behemoth’s’ big brother, the same concept writ large. As such, the Immense is one of the largest commercially available cargo carriers in the Three Galaxies; there may be larger ships out there, but they’re either one-offs or custom-commissions in the service of the bigger corporations and governments.

The Immense follows the same design configuration as the Behemoth; a forward command/control section, three cargo ‘bulkheads’ connected by extendable bucky-connectors, and a reardrive/power section. Like the Behemoth, the Immense is open to space; cargo is carried in sealed modules that are arranged and gravitically anchored within the ship’s extended framework.
The forward command/control module is actually an adapted fuselage of WZTechyard Anvil’s Samsur Super-Heavy Tug, complete with tractor beam projectors, power generators, and its own space drives. The C/C module is capable of separating from the rest of the ship assembly and acting as either its own cargo stevedore(especially handy in Rim ports-of-call where adequate port assistance may be lacking) or as an emergency lifeboat. The forward module also has a large hangar bay for crew shuttles and work vehicles. Because long-haulers typically cruise at low-tau speeds between the stars, crew accommodations are surprisingly roomy and comfortable, if spartan...to relieve the tedium of long hauls, crew members have been known to convert unused cargo bays and accessways into makeshift gymnasiums, race courses, and indoor game courts.

Directly aft of the forward command module are three toroidal Cargo Systems Modules. Each module holds four fusion nuclear generators, solar and electrodynamic power collectors, gravitic field generators, and drive field extensor vanes. Each module has a narrow accomodation corridor around its center, allowing crew members to perform inspections and conduct repairs in a ‘shirt-sleeve’ environment, though most often these sections are used simply for additional storage and as exercise tracks on long voyages. The CSMs also have docking and recharge ports for EVA pods and work’bots engaged in external maintanenace and cargo management. The CSMs fairly glow with excess energy-bleed from the EM and CG forcefield systems; this glow is also handy to warn other ships away from possible collision hazards when the ship is embarkin/disembarking cargo.

Strung between each Cargo Systems Module are fourteen(1 center shaft, five in an inner ring, and eight on the outer ring) extendable connectors made of strong bucky-polymer conduit. Each conduit can accommodate a man-passage, power leads, and electrodynamic tether cabling between sections. They also help anchor the external cargo, via mechanical linkage, localized electromagnetic attraction, and a containment forcefield. If necessary, the entire connector/cargo ring assembly can slowly rotate, independent of the rest of the ship, to produce a weak gravitic field to stablize the cargo.

Cargo is shipped in standardized ‘cans’, which are stacked and arranged between the extensor shafts and held in place by a combination of artificial gravity, EM forcefields, and cargo nets. The cargo is of necessity packed into indvidual sealed modules because the Immense is an ‘open’ design, with no pressurized or hull-covered holds. Like the smaller Behemoths, some of the cans can be made accessible from inside the ship by arranging to have them mounted adjacent to an access airlock in one of the carrgo tube extensors. Otherwise, a pod-can would have to be accessed by an EVA-suited spacer or inspection ‘bot excursing from an airlock.

The rear drive module holds the massive local and FTL drive engine units, main fusion reactor power plants, and engineering sections. It can be manned independently of the rest of the ship, but lacks life support accommodations, limiting its effectiveness as both a spacecraft and a lifeboat(lifeboats are provided for the engineering crew in case of emergency).

Fully loaded, an Immense is massive and slow to maneuver, taking incredibly long(by modern CG-drive standards) to accelerate and decelerate, but their cargo capacity is truly impressive. They are incapable of any sort of combat maneuvering in all but their unloaded and ‘compacted’ state, and most lack weaponry. However, as they represent major concentrations of material, some of it quite valuable, ultra-haulers make tempting targets for pirates. Thus, many operators equip their haulers with at least basic point defense armaments and provide them with an escort fighter(or squadron of them). Of course, like their smaller cousins, the Ultra-Haulers have frequently been pressed into service as improvized warships and weapons’ on at least eight occasions in recent centuries, ultra-haulers(and ships like them) have been used to accelerate large loads of ‘dumb’ mass as kinetic bombardment missiles at planetary targets.

Ultra-Haulers are common sights on the trade lanes between the major worlds of the Three Galaxies, the inter-3G routes, and in Rim development zones, where the huge cargo capacity of these ships is invaluable to colonization efforts.

Type: WZ-MCF-500 ‘Immense’
Class: Extendable Ultra Cargo Freighter
Crew: 50, with provision for 1-50 additional crew/passengers
MDC/Armor by Location:
Command/Navigation Module: 8,000
Cargo Systems Modules(3) : 9,000 each
Drive Section: 15,000
BuckyTubes(14) 4,000 each
Forcefield 10,000
Height:
Command/Navigation Module: 720 ft(240 m)
Cargo Systems Modules:5220 ft(1740 m)
Drive Section: 1200 ft(600 m)
(Fully Loaded): 5220 ft(1740 m)
Width:
Command/Navigation Module: 780 ft(260 m)
Mid-Section Systems Module: 5220 ft(1740 m)
Drive Section: 1200 ft(600 m)
(Fully Loaded): 5220 ft(1740 m)
Length:
Command/Navigation Module:900 ft(300 m)
Mid-Section Systems Modules: 540ft(180 m)
Drive Section:174 ft(600 m)
(Retracted): 576 ft (200 m)
(Fully Loaded): 9180 ft(3060 m)
Weight: Unloaded, an Immense masses some 90,000 tons; fully loaded; 11,478,000 tons
Cargo: Can carry up to 53,760 ‘super cans’; in full load configuration, stacked in 32 super-can ‘squares’, eight rows between the outer ring of cargo tube extensors, and six more in the central circle.
Powerplant: Four Fusion Nuclear Powerplants w/ 21 year energy life, 12 auxiliary reactors with 15 year energy lives
Speed:
(Atmosphere)Not Possible
(Sublight) Mach 3 fully loaded; Mach 10 in ‘clean’ state
(Kitsune Values:20% of light speed; ; Accelerates/decelerates at 0.3%/1.0% of light speed per melee)
(FTL) 3 light years per hour
(Underwater) Not Possible
Market Cost: 500 million credits
Systems of Note:
Standard Systems, plus:

*Command Module Separation----The entire forward command/navigation module can separate to act as a heavy tug(which it was based on) or as an emergency lifecraft, in the event it becomes necessary to abandon the rest of the ship. Separation takes about 30 seconds(2 melees) while re-atatching takes about 15 minutes with a well-practiced crew.

*Cargo Module Corraling System---The Immense uses a combination of electromagnetic forcefield ‘cages’ and molecular fusion hardpints along the length of the buckytubes to hold the cargo pods in place. These bonds can be severed in seconds with a coded signal from the command center/cargo management boards.

*Electrodynamic Tether Power Generation System----This system takes advantage of the magnetic fields of various planets and the elongated configuration of the Immense to generate additional electrical power while orbiting on station. This usually provides enough power to run shipboard systems allowing the fusion powrplants to be powered down, or to feed a trickel current to the ship’s drive batteries, again saving wear and tear on the powerplants. The system also allows for station keeping and orbit alteration without using thrusters or the CG drive system.

*Tractor Beam Projectors(16)---The Immense mounts no less than sixteen tractor beam projectors....four on the forward module and four on each Cargo Systems Module...for handling cargo pods and securing the ship during docking maneuvers. Each tractor beam projector can handle 1,000 tons, and has a range of 7 miles.

Weapons Systems: None standard, but the standard Immense comes with eighteen hardpoints for mounting weapons systems; some operators even add specially modified cargo cans as fighter/power armor hangars, missile launchers, mine racks, shield geenrators, and weapons platforms.

Aux. Craft:
The Immense is sold direct from WZTechYards with a complementary WZ-PT-0008 H-Class ‘Orbital Hare’ Shuttle, but the forward bays have capacity for 4-8 additional shuttles (or fighters), 6-12 EVA pods(WZ recommends its ‘Scarab’), and 20-100 orbital work’bots.

Options:
Most buyers and operators of Immenses will tweak the standard configuration depending on their specific needs, adding additional armor, armament, variable forcefields, different engines and powerplants, and different avionics(such as individual cargo pod state monitoring, inventory locks, internal security, etc...), though few do anything radical to the design.

[taalismn]

I should note: the Command Module, when separated, can make planetfall and take off again under its own power, but the entire ship cannot...

It is loaded in orbit via either tugs or tractor beams or combination of both....

Loading/Unloading times depends on the number of pods carried and whether they need to be arranged in any special order...as well as the number and competency of loaders and loading gear....A well-trained workforce of HUNDREDS of workpods with the cargo cans ready and waiting to go near the ship can each load a pod every 20 of so minutes. depending on how far they have to go ...but usually loading up one of these ships takes a week or so as cargo is assembled and last minute add-ons made....

Many times, the Immense will carry cargo for several locations along a route...arrangements are made so the appropriate cans can be rotated to position for drop-off when teh ship makes its scheduled stop, and any new cargo cans(or evem empty ones to be recycled) tacked on before it heads off to the next stop.....Travelling nearly empty is NOT economical for an Immense or similar Ultra-Hauler class....

[Aramanthus]

It looks very nice! I'll use it in my game.

[taalismn]

Heck...you could run a CAMPAIGN on one....vary the cargo pods and have a few accessible from inside the ship for extra space, toss in some various mysteries, a crew of misfits, random spacial encounters, and random systems failures(AGK! -BUGS-!!!!)....

[Aramanthus]

And then ship is pretty big. It's would be a great place for and adventure, especially if your cargo has some parasitic infiltration in it. And the parasites are big enough to carry off the crewmen.

[taalismn]

The contraband you weren't informed of...some of which just seems plain freaky...like that load of frozen corpses...or are they in suspended animation? Oh, they're SLAVES?! And who's hailing us with orders to prepare to be boarded for inspection, but the meanest, nastiest, most ardently anti-slavery species in the sector? And what about this red powder in hundred-kilo sacks found in the floorboards? They lop off arms if they catch you with a gram of this stuff on our next port of call!
And what about the canisters we're just supposed to drop off into open space on our closest approach to TGE space? What do you suppose all that's about?

[taalismn]

oh! Before I forget.... you do know that this "ship" is going to be one visiting mutliple port, right?...

In other words...ALL of the above...
BY journey's end(or midpoint) the authorities of a dozen(or more) nations are going to be tracking the ship down, wanting to talk(at the very least) with the crew....

[Aramanthus]

And the ones who can actually pull it off.............. Those are some great players. I've seen it happen once in awhile.

[taalismn]

WE will, of course, start thinking of future sidecar-equipped models, the CHyP(Cosmic Hyperlane Patrol) model, and the highly accessorized 'StarHawg' model for the annual starcycle rally on Sturgis* VII...

Had a friend who attended the Harley-Davidson rally in Sturgis, South Dakota....More chrome, leather, chains, and business cards from lawyers and dentists per block than anywhere else on Earth....

[taalismn]

High-Intensity Laser Headlights...New meaning to the term 'high-beams'.

[taalismn]

Pay extra for the false exhaust pipes streaming plasma flame?

[taalismn]

Broad-frequency sound effects transmissions that broadcast the sounds of some SERIOUS engine revving?

[KLM]

pay for noise?! IN SPACE?!!!!! You trying to sell a refrigerator to an eskimo?.....

Of course, after all, Inuits (sp?) might want to travel
to other lands, and still want to have a homemade
snack, right?

For my part "sound in space" is nothing more, than an
audio proximity warning system in your spaceship - ie.
it generates a sound (if possible, the atmosperic sound)
of the passing by craft. Installing a transponder so
your crafts will be registered by this audio system as
a chopper... Why not?

But that "information exchange with Intruders" stuff
bugs me a little... For my part I would say, that it is
a psilite/tech hybrid craft. Or a TW debut.

Adios
KLM

ps.: That makes me wonder how my biker friends are doing...
Haven't seen them for ages.

[Aramanthus]

I like the updated version of your craft!

[taalismn]

Since the Intruders are deliberately left with a lot of mystery, you could argue that tech that looks suspiciously like theirs is the result of them dealing with another race that they don't feel threatened by, a rogue group or individual Intruder, or someone making a breakthrough in deciphering their tech...ALL scenarios which open a whole nasty can of worms...Heck, even if the Intruders AREN'T in any way involved, the mere suggestion is enough to spark rumors that will mushroom out of control and spell possibe trouble further down the road...
That's not to mention possible influence by Core races like the K!ozn or the Xodian Collective....

[taalismn]

In a Megaverse of Possibilities, Consider All Possibilities...
It's the only way to survive, otherwise....

[taalismn]

I'm working on it!I'm working on it! But considering it's your sig-ship, I wanna do it right!

[taalismn]

Ah, but since ypu haven't named a ship for yourself, we sort of see the Wasp as iconic of you...

[Aramanthus]

I do like the ship in your sig too! Great job!

[taalismn]

For peer review,,,,

*WZ-SRD-X Ecto Stealth Recon Drone
In the ever-changing highly-charged cosmopolitical theatre of the Three Galaxies, INFORMATION is the most powerful weapon any nation can possess, and gathering that information is paramount to those who want to survive. WZTechYards has jumped into the struggle with its WZ-Ecto Stealth Recon Drone.
The Ecto is a fully equipped interstellar robot starship designed to infiltrate contested space and gather data; it can also be used to drop and deploy remote sensor packages and even courier-pods. Being unmanned, it can be sent into regions deemed too dangerous for manned missions, and can perform at speeds that would kill a living crew(without expensive and complex protections). Being unmanned, it can be considered expendable.
The Ecto is fully capable of multi-environment operations; the drone can thus enter a planetary atmosphere to gather information on surface installations, or hide underwater from pursuit. The drone’s lucerin-fueled powerplant gives it plenty of power for its high-performance drive system and its sophisticated sensor suite.
The Ecto is modestly armored against spatial hazards, and has a standard forcefield for further protection. It is lightly armed with a pair of hi-intensity laser cannons, though the Ecto is not intended as a combat fighter; the lasers are typically used to shoot down pursuing missiles, disable surveillance satellites, and clear debris from a hiding site.
The heart and soul of the Ecto is its neural net artificial intelligence, which has been programmed not simply in piloting, navigation, and space combat(or ratehr evasion), but in surveillance-related espionage. The Ecto is ‘smart’ enough to study situations, evaluate odds, and formulate the best strategies and tactics for gathering information, including the merits of high-speed fly-bys, transponder impersonation of other ships/hardware, playing dead, and hiding near surveillance targets. The A.I.s have also been programmed in numerous Runner-originated evasive tricks and maneuvers; Ectos have been known to ‘go to ground’ in caves bored in asteroids, play dead in space junk, and hide in a pursuer’s exhaust flux in order to escape detection.
If not periodically reformatted and memory-wiped, or if deployed on exceptionally long duration missions(eighteen months or more) the Artificial Intelligence of an Ecto-Drone can begin to develop a personality of sorts....Many buyers(and WZ’s security arm) often allow this to happen, as they find the ‘experienced’ A.I.s are entertaining, easier to relate to, and able to more effectively formulate evasive strategies in the field, but other users find the personas annoying, difficult to work with, often given to colored commentary and editing on their reports, and rather more difficult to send on suicidal recon missions.
Though the Ecto carries a hefty price tag per unit, most users still consider it far less expensive than manned units with their irreplaceable crews. Buyers thus far have included the CCW, FWC, multiple well-financed exploration and mercenary organizations, and at least one high-priority courier company. A number of Ectos have been launched on exploration missions into the Core regions of the Three Galaxies, hoping to gather intel on such species as the K!ozn and the Xodian Collective; it is not known if any of these probes have returned any information yet....
Type:WZ-SRD-X Ecto
Class: Stealth Recon Drone
Crew: None; Neural Network Artificial Intelligence
MDC/Armor by Location:
Main Body 380
A.I. Pod 120
Waldo Arms(4) 20 each
Forcefield 400
Height: 18 ft (6 m)
Width: 45 ft (15 m)
Length: 75 ft (25 m)
Weight: 3.2 tons
Cargo: If not carrying a sensor pallet, the drone can carry about 250 lbs of cargo instead.
Powerplant: Lucerin-Crystal Nuclear Fusion with 10 year energy life
Speed:
(Atmosphere) Hover to Mach 7, transatmospheric
(Sublight) Mach 35
(Kitsune Values: 50% of light speed; Accelerates/decelerates at 3.5% of light speed per melee)
(FTL) Light Years per hour
(Underwater) Can survive underwater; moving at up to 80 MPH and can survive depths up to 2 miles.
Market Cost: 76 million credits
Systems of Note:
Standard Starship Systems, plus;
*Stealth Design---Passive stealth design gives the Ecto a 20% chance of being detected by standard long range scanners

*Recon Sensors----Cutting edge military sesnors and scientofic scanners that can detect ships in normal space at 700,000 miles, and FTL drive emissions at 15 light years away. Planetary survey sensors are less capable, but can still do an accurate atmospheric analysis at 80 million miles, and detect the containment fields of unconcealed fusion reactors from as far away as 2 million miles.

*Waldo Arms(4)-----The Ecto can deploy four small retractable manipulator arms for recovering samples, removing debris, or pulling camouflage over itself. Each arm is roughly 8 ft long, has a Robotic P.S.. of 29. and has 20 MDC

*Self Destruct System---In the event the ship faces capture, it can activate one of several self-destruct system(multiple backups)...The primary is an enhanced e;ectromagnetic pulse fusion block that vaporizes the ship and hopefullu scrambles the electronics and computer memory of surrounding ships...the second system is a thermal acidic compound that, in event of the failure of the fusion block to detonate, melts and dissolves key systems into caustic, flammable, sludge.
Weapons Systems:
1) High Intensity Lasers(2)---Twin gimballed point-defense lasers in the forward flanges, with 360 degree arc of fire, and 90-degree elevation. These are typically used for anti-missile and anti-fighter defense.
Range: 6,000 ft in atmosphere, 18,000 ft in space
(Kitsune Values: 3.4 miles in atmosphere, 340 miles in space)
Damage: 2d4x10 MD per blast, 4d4x10 MD per dual blast(counts as one attack)
Rate of Fire: Up to 7 times per melee
Payload: Effectively Unlimited
Programming:(Neural Net Artificial Intelligence; I.Q. 20)
Language/Literacy----Programmed to understand all the major languages
Math: Advanced 98%
Astronomy 95%
Navigation: Atmosphere 98%
Navigation: Underwater 98%
Navigation: Space 98%
Pilot: Spacecraft(Small) 98%
Radio: Basic 98%
Radio: FTL 98%
Lasers/Optics 98%
Surveillance Systems 98%
Cryptography 80%
Military Intelligence 75%
Electronic Countermeasures 98%
Camouflage 80%

(Optional)
Advanced Science Probes and Extended-Experience A.I.s may be (self)programmed with additional (appropriate)skills;
Scientific Probes typically receive additional programming such as Xeno-Biology, Xeno-Botany, Lore(Alien), Chemistry, Chemistry: Analytical, and the like.
Extended Experience(those that have been out in the field for prolonged missions) and rogues typically develop ‘hobbies’ such as Lore(Alien), Computer Programming/Hacking, Journalism/Creative Writing, and Gambling , as per the Palladium rules for Neural Intelligences.

Actions/Attacks per Melee: 7
Initiative: +4
StrikeL +6
Parry---Not Applicable
Dodge: +6
Roll: +6
Pull---Not Applicable

Variants:
Depending on the mission requirements, WZ can modify the drone design accordingly. ‘dumbing down’ the AI to a Robotic level, loading it with additional programming, adding additional sensors, or cargo capacity(such as for carrying orbital mines or expendable mini-probe packages)...These options come at extra cost, or may cause adjustments in the above performance specs(extra probe capacity adds mass, resulting in lower speed performance, typically, or may interfere with the stealth design), balancing out any gains in capability.

[KLM]

Nice. A must for the power blocks' game.

There are suggestions thought:
1, M35 in space is waaaaay too much. It has to be fast, all right, but
since the fastest fighters can go around M20...

1.1, Craft in the 3 Galaxies are not limited in their sublight speed
by the crew. Spacecraft have CG acceleration dampeners.

2, No FTL value. I suggest something like 1 ly/h in stealth mode and
4,5 ly/h in normal mode.

3, Reactor life: I think several costumers would ask for shorter
reactor life (you know, the ones who saw too much Terminator movies).

4, Melee combat: since the drone has arms, and can mine/dig,
I think it is reasonable to give it melee capabilities, with a hefty
parry (even disarm and entangle) bonus, and maybe equip it
with scalpels, stun guns, etc. Just for the scientific missions.


5, Electronic intelligence: given the capabilities of the unit,
programming it in ELINT (ie. computer programming and hacking)
just in case it can jack into the subject's data network...

Adios
KLM

[KLM]

1, Speed and G-forces:
G forces affect ships and crews, when changing speed or direction,
and affects ships in zero-g as well, not just in atmosphere.
As for reaction speed, ships in dogfight usually do not use their
top sublight speed

Anyhow, even current fighters use a bit of computer aid for targeting.

The lame Mach-system - of course - needs to be rewritten, but
as a relative speed, M35 is still tooo much.

2, FTL stealth:
More likely it will give false data for the sonsors - wrong
distance, for example. And without stealhy FTL, the probe
is way less usefull.

3, Reactor life:
Yes, I do want to control a neural AI by its lifetime, since
it only takes one of them to hijack a cargo ship full of
industrial equipment (or find an abandoned facility) and
a few years out of sight to produce a swarm of murderous
automatons. See Manhunter.

4, Robot arms:
Robotic PS 29, and the need for collecting specimens. They are
not that fragile, thought I agree, they worth nothing against a PA
which grabbed the rear end of the probe.

5, ELINT
Hmmm... OK, reduce reactor life to like a few months in case of
ELINT ops/skill package. But I guess, without the ability to tap
into enemy transmissions or datanet, the drone is - again -
way less usefull than it could be.

---------
No problem, I take it as a brainstorm. Some ideas need to be
elaborate - or even discarded.

Adios
KLM

[taalismn]

Nice. A must for the power blocks' game.

There are suggestions thought:
1, M35 in space is waaaaay too much. It has to be fast, all right, but
since the fastest fighters can go around M20...

1.1, Craft in the 3 Galaxies are not limited in their sublight speed
by the crew. Spacecraft have CG acceleration dampeners.

2, No FTL value. I suggest something like 1 ly/h in stealth mode and
4,5 ly/h in normal mode.

3, Reactor life: I think several costumers would ask for shorter
reactor life (you know, the ones who saw too much Terminator movies).

4, Melee combat: since the drone has arms, and can mine/dig,
I think it is reasonable to give it melee capabilities, with a hefty
parry (even disarm and entangle) bonus, and maybe equip it
with scalpels, stun guns, etc. Just for the scientific missions.


5, Electronic intelligence: given the capabilities of the unit,
programming it in ELINT (ie. computer programming and hacking)
just in case it can jack into the subject's data network...

Adios
KLM

1> I'd argue that this thing is essentially a big missile....But to lower costs, a less powerful(and more expendable) drive could be used...

1.1> As an unmanned vehicle with more durable electronics(maybe a crystal solid-state system) it wouldn't require internal CG-baffling with constant adjustments to compensate for gee-forces...cutting costs and saving space...Just my opinion....

2) Ack! Thought I had! Me bad then....

3) Another system for modular options....short life at lower cost, or longer for more, with the possibility your probe might run rogue and run off on its own?

4) Hmmm...maybe 15 ft then?

5. KNEW I'd neglected active jamming systems, but figured it could be showhorned in as modular systems for more cost....

In retrospect, the Ecto should actually represent a FAMILY of drone designs, ideally with a strong modular basis, so at the upper end of the price/capability scale you could have vessels that could act as autonomous kidnapping/extraction/xenosampling/assassination systems


Maybe what I ought to do is dumb down and format the Ecto as the 'budget' stealth probe model(the basic marjet openner), and list in detail some of the derivative improved models that were developed as the market caught on and tech improved afterwards....

[taalismn]

Another vessel for peer review...

WZ-MDS-0556 Quest Diplomatic Transport
For high-pressure negotiations and diplomatic contacts, WZTechYards has developed the WZ-MDS-0556 ‘Quest;, a ship specifically designed with volatile politics and high-stakes dickering in mind.
Though most diplomatic services scoff at the idea of a ship touted as a diplomatic vessel being armed, WZ points at the number of unarmed diplomatic couriers and conference craft that have been attacked, hijacked, or outright destroyed, setting back diplomatic relations, and accerbating hostilities....The Quest is considered a fair compromise between unarmed diplomatic cruisers and larger obvious warships often used for political missions. TheQuest is ugly as sin, and as functional as a bunker, and its capabilities have obviously been designed with a strong hint of paranoia. The MDS-0556 is well-armored and fast, both in space and in atmosphere, the better for quick response to tense situations, and quick getaways if a stable situation becomes unexpectedly UNstable. For a ‘civilian’ ship, the Quest is also remarkably agile; crews have compared the ship to a Runner in terms of control response, an especially useful trait considering that both Runners and diplomatic ships often come under fire(often from the same parties). The ship’s interior is roomy, with multi-environment life support capabilities to handle a variety of biological demands, and the ship’s rooms can be reconfigured to suit the needs of negotiators. Furthermore, depending on circumstances, the ship can be rendered transparent to electronic scanning...or locked down securely to prevent electronic spying and unauthorised communications.
The ship’s sensors are as comprehensive as any science ship’s, but long range survey scanning is much reduced in favor of close-range early warning...The Quest’s systems are particularly advanced in their protocols for weapon scanning, including concealed explosives, toxins, and pathogens.
Some diplomats won’t ever use a Quest; they consider the ship itself to be a belligerent statement of distrust, but other diplomats demand the ship be on hand. Galacta-Corporations in particular like using these ships for carrying out trade negotiations and for executive transport, and many governments have bought Quests as transports for high-ranking political officers.
Interesting enough, the Golgan Republik has bought a lot of these ships for negotiations with its many break-away vassal states.

Type: WZ-MDS-0556 Quest
Class: Multi-Purpose Diplomatic Liaison Transport
Crew: 15, +provision for an additional 35 mission specialists(security, environmental specialists, comtechs, etc.) and 190 passengers
MDC/Armor by Location:
Main Body 4,000
Bridge 1,000
Reinforced Passenger Sections(5) 1,000 each
Medium Range Missile Launcher(1) 150
Hangar Bays(2) 300 each
Variable Forcefields 500 each side (3,000 total)
Height: 195 ft( 65 m)
Width: 210 ft ( 70 m)
Length: 390 ft(130m)
Weight: 2,800 tons
Cargo: 200 tons
Powerplant: Advanced Lucerin-Fuelled Nuclear-Fusion w/ 25 year energy life.
Speed:
(Atmosphere) Hover to Mach 7, transatmospheric
(Sublight) Mach 10
(Kitsune Values: 50% of light speed; Accelerates/decelerates at 1.0% of light speed per melee)
(FTL): 7 light years per hour
(Underwater) Can operate underwater effectively(some negotiations require it), able to maneuver at 45 MPH, and survive depths of 900 ft.
Bonuses: +3 Dodge
Market Cost: 280 million credits
Systems of Note:
Standard Ship Systems, plus:
*Multi-Environmental Capacity---The five separate passenger compartments can be quickly altered to accommodate just about any atmospheric and gravitational requirement(though some extremely exotic environments, such as the radioactive hell of the Votorons’ home environment, require specially manufactured pods to be mounted in place of the usual passenger compartment), allowing for maximum diplomat comfort during long negotiations.

*Universal Docking Collars

*Secured Communications---All internal and external communications feeds include signal encryption to prevent eavesdropping on privileged communiques. Communications systems feature multiple-redundancy(including three separate FTL transmission systems) that can be isolated from one another, allowing negotiating parties to relay and recieve information to/from outside without overhearing each other(typically the ship’s crew itself maintains a separate communications feed to relay status information to any escorts or to a neutral third party).

*Internal Signal Security----State of the art weapons scanners at the entrance hatches guard against possible terrorist/assassination attempts, and a full-sweep security scanner system detects and disables any unauthorized communications and eavesdropping. Conversely, the system can be shut down and the interior of the ship subject to FULL external scanner access.

*Internal Security Scanners---The Quest features full coverage maximum security scanners for filtering out possible threats. These systems are routinely and regularly updated to keep up with advances in explosives and nano technology. In the event of a scanner trip, an alert is sounded(either silent and routed to shipboard personnel) or overt, and activation of internal security doors and blast barriers(including forcefields---standard rating is 200 MDC per hallway field)....Many corporate, but few diplomatic, vessels include active pop-up defense turrets(stun blasters, capture foam sprayers, and/or pulse lasers) to actively contain threats.

*Quick-Jump System---The FTL drive system is equipped with advanced capacitors and power delivery systejms that allow the drive system to be in a ‘primed’ state for prolonged periods of time, rather than have to be powered up just prior to jumping to FTL. This allows the ship to be able to reach FTL speeds as soon as possible, without unnecessary delay(usually as soon as it clears atmosphere or a gravity well).

Weapons Systems:
1)Medium Range Missile Launcher(1)--This launcher is mainly used to fend off enemy missiles and fighters, though it can also launch drone and decoy munitions. Payload is limited, but if you find yourself in a situation where you need more than five volleys, an MRM launcher ISN’T going to save you....
Range:Varies by Missile Type
(Kitsune Values: 160 miles in atmosphere, 80,000 miles in space)
Damage:Varies by Missile Type
Rate of Fire: Volleys of 1-6
Payload: 40 missiles

Aux. Craft:
5 Light Shuttles or Medium Fighters can be carried

[Aramanthus]

Both nice starships!

[KLM]

Ecto: remember, sci-fi (and space opera) have a looong line
of automated spies, probots, you name it. My personal favourite
is the Arakyd Viper from a galaxy far far away...

Quest: given its weight and mission profile, I would suggest
shields to be doubled, and an addition of a point defense system,
like 2 particle beams from the CAF assault shuttle. Or even
several emplacements/personal airlock hatches for PA troops
acting as point defense (or the equivalent of robots, like
the Triax Dyna-bot or sentry).

It will be still underarmed in comparison of the "tipical merchantman"
in DMB 2.

Adios
KLM

[taalismn]

i just realized I removed Ecto and no longer have the file.....

Oh well....at least we'll have some working stats....I suspect (no, I KNOW)I have stat files going for a number of 'discontinued' designs...but heck, the more material, the better, I say...

[taalismn]

Ecto: remember, sci-fi (and space opera) have a looong line
of automated spies, probots, you name it. My personal favourite
is the Arakyd Viper from a galaxy far far away...

Quest: given its weight and mission profile, I would suggest
shields to be doubled, and an addition of a point defense system,
like 2 particle beams from the CAF assault shuttle. Or even
several emplacements/personal airlock hatches for PA troops
acting as point defense (or the equivalent of robots, like
the Triax Dyna-bot or sentry).

It will be still underarmed in comparison of the "tipical merchantman"
in DMB 2.

Adios
KLM

Good points...as soon as I look up the appropriate stats I'll make the changes....The 'bots would have to wait, though...people tend to react poorly to warbots or even security automata...maybe it's because they perceive living beings as more responsible, or more courteous, or maybe because they figure a security being is more easily surprised and beaten to a pulp if things go south and the perceivee has to make a break for it from 'supposedly neutral' ground....

Thanks!

[taalismn]

We need some Phaseworld updates and upgrade notes to the SB1: Revised Robot Guidelines to reflect the more advanced state of Three Galaxies' robotics....and have some more robots for Rifts Orbitals...given the preference in NASA these days for telepresence systems, I'm surprised there isn't more discussion of remote-operated 'bots and probes(aside from CAN's VRRDSystem) in the Orbital community.