Zuerrdhaz Class Vargr Fast Trader

[sageryne]

Hi all,

Over the last couple of months, I have been working with Robert Pierce from Yet Another Traveller Blog developing a series of Traveller starships. Today I am posting another of my designs. This one is a Vargr ship, officially it is a 'fast transport,' but all the customs agents know it is a blockade runner / smuggler ship. The article includes a description, perks & quirks, variants, notes, adventure hooks, and stats. It has upper and lower deck plans with a detailed map key.

Please enjoy.

Kerry

 

[Spinward Flow]

The article includes a description, perks & quirks, variants, notes, adventure hooks, and stats.

Looking at the design stats block, I can't help but be surprised by how ... divergent ... certain parameters are from my CT experience.

Mapping drive tonnages to LBB2.81 values, I wind up with:

• Jump-B = 15 tons, MCr20, TL=9
• Maneuver-F = 11 tons, MCr24, TL=A
• Power Plant-D = 13 tons, MCr32, TL=9 (and not legal, because Power Plant-F is required for Maneuver-F drive)
• Totals: 15+11+13=39 tons, 20+24+32=MCr76, TL=A

Your stat block is showing:

• Jump-2 = 15 tons, MCr22.5, TL=?
• Maneuver-6 = 12 tons, MCr24, TL=?
• Power Plant-? = 12.6 tons, MCr12.6, TL=C
• Totals: 15+12+12.6=39.6 tons, 22.5+24+12.6=MCr59.1, TL=12

Just for shizzle, here's what LBB5.80 would yield for (legal) drives in a 200 ton hull in order to achieve Agility=6 with 2x triple laser turrets to energize in combat:

• Jump-2 = 6 tons, MCr24, TL=11
• Maneuver-6 = 34 tons, MCr17, TL=9
• Power Plant-9 = 54 tons, MCr162, TL=11
• Totals: 6+34+54=94 tons, 24+17+162=MCr203, TL=11

Required fuel loads are also wildly divergent.

LBB2.81 fuel load requirement:

• J2 @ 200 tons = 40 tons
• Power Plant-6 = 60 tons (necessary for a 6G maneuver drive)
• Total: 40+60=100 tons of fuel

Your stat block is showing:

• 41.26 tons of fuel

LBB5.80 would be better on fuel tonnage:

• J2 @ 200 tons = 40 tons
• Power Plant-9 = 18 tons (necessary for a 6G maneuver drive AND 2x triple laser turrets)
• Total: 40+18=58 tons of fuel

To highlight the disparities, if I "fixed" the LBB2.81 drives to be legal (B/F/F) and combined the drive and fuel tonnages together, here's what happens:

• LBB2.81: 15+11+19+40+60=145 tons for drives and fuel ONLY, MCr92
• Your stat block: 15+12+12.6+41.26=80.86 tons for drives and fuel ONLY, MCr59.1
• LBB5.80: 6+34+54+40+18=152 tons for drives and fuel ONLY, MCr203

And that's not even including things like using a 10 ton bridge (plus 2 tons for military sensors) in your stat block, as opposed to the 20 tons minimum for bridges in CT.

My point being that the design paradigm you're using would seem to be MUCH MORE FORGIVING than any design paradigm available from the CT days (which I'm much more familiar with). Hence why when I'm reading the Fluff Text™ revealing how this is a 200 ton J2/6G Fast Trader, I'm thinking to myself ... "HOW?!?" ... and then I realized (by reading the stat block) ... "oh, that would NEVER fly under CT" (as I've detailed above).

If you change paradigms, what was previously IMpossible can become quite possible.

 

[sageryne]

I created this design under Mongoose 2ed High Guard. I realise there are many on this forum who consider those rules as heresy. I am doing this for fun, rule fights bore me.

It is a free giveaway and no one is forcing you to use it. If you want to use the deck plans and redesign it using LBB, feel free.

- Kerry

 

[whartung]

This is a beautiful deck plan and great write up.

 

[Spinward Flow]

I created this design under Mongoose 2ed High Guard. I realise there are many on this forum who consider those rules as heresy.

Heresy?
No, not really ...

Incongruent with what I "know" from CT?
Definitely.
MgT2 is certainly a different design paradigm ... which then lets you "do things" that would not have been possible previously.

If you want to use the deck plans

I will readily admit that the deck plans you've provided are inspired and inspiring!

redesign it using LBB, feel free.

The point I was making was that because of the differences in design paradigms (CT vs MgT2) it really isn't possible to "translate" what you've done into compliance with LBB design rules without fundamentally breaking something, so there really wouldn't be a 1:1 symmetry.

However, back in 2021, I did design a couple of 194 ton starships that were J2/6G (TL=13) ... and J2/5G (TL=11) which were cargo only (no passengers).

• 194 ton TL=11 J2 5G Spinward X-Courier (MCr121.5184 in volume)
• 194 ton TL=13 J2 6G Spinward Flex Courier (MCr109.8752 in volume)

In the Spinward Flex Courier thread, I even ran a "Race To Profitablity" study on a hypothetical subsidized route in the Vilis subsector, pitting the design against a Type-A2 Far Trader (stock) to answer the question as to which class of starship would be more profitable to operate on the exact same route and dice rolls for passenger tickets, freight tickets and speculative cargoes.

I won't spoil the results for you ... but the "Race To Profitability" started and ended @ D'Ganzio/Lanth.
I learned a LOT from running this 1:1 comparison between the two starships in "mirrored simulation" mode. Brought to the forefront how a lot of LITTLE things built into starships at the naval architect's office can have some pretty profound impacts on how starships "work" when crewed and operated.

 

[sageryne]

I will readily admit that the deck plans you've provided are inspired and inspiring!

The point I was making was that because of the differences in design paradigms (CT vs MgT2) it really isn't possible to "translate" what you've done into compliance with LBB design rules without fundamentally breaking something, so there really wouldn't be a 1:1 symmetry.

If you are inspired, I say go for it, stat out a ship that works for you. It may not have the same speed, but if you can come up with something you like and can reuse the deck plans!

 

[Spinward Flow]

If you are inspired, I say go for it, stat out a ship that works for you.

Working.
Object is a Class M Planetoid.



Link
Research is currently incomplete.

 

[Grav_Moped]

Yeah, my idea was "yacht that's a getaway car, in space" but it's also a smuggler’s hot rod if you leave out the non-crew staterooms:

Gypsy Queen Class Fast Merchant, LBB2, 199Td, J26GP7

Vargr would like this. They might prefer the 200Td variant with the second hardpoint, turret, and slightly larger crew, though.

The OP is a lot like a MgT2 implementation of this, which is cool. And I didn't get around to deck plans so that's a point in their favor.

ETA: what are the hallmarks of Vargr ship design? I know they're into loud -- even garish -- paint schemes, but how are their ships shaped, generally?