Binges Frontier Liner Service

[coliver988]

Reading this thread, I see a LOT of potential. I'm wondering if there was a way to get this sort of thing more organized and actually published in a more linear type fashion, sort of a BITS-like thing. There have been several threads that are like this: great nuggets that are spread out over several posts.

I started an attempt at that with the T5 starports but I easily derail.

Anyway - great adventure ideas in here. Who would have thought a subsidized ship could have so much potential for adventure?

 

[RKFM]

Ooops, looks like I got some numbers wrong. After looking at Adv. 13 for deck plan info I found some math probs with my plan (tho I'm not sure how they got their numbers?). I've corrected the original post. Looks like I was over spending on fuel, and over counting the freight (I thought it was 197tons instead of 129tons!). I've adjusted the numbers from the initial business plan, but after running a couple of routes looks like it's still viable with the subsidy, tho looks like around 175k per run. Not much, but not too much and not too little. Just enough to look legit while the Duke weaves his plans.

Reading this thread, I see a LOT of potential. I'm wondering if there was a way to get this sort of thing more organized and actually published in a more linear type fashion, sort of a BITS-like thing. There have been several threads that are like this: great nuggets that are spread out over several posts.

I started an attempt at that with the T5 starports but I easily derail.

Anyway - great adventure ideas in here. Who would have thought a subsidized ship could have so much potential for adventure?

Actually, this is why I started looking into a viable route for a liner to see if I could create a campaign around a liner crew. Not that I would need the route to be profitable ( I would hand-wave it) but I was curious if this route would work economically. I guess I got lucky because this route is looking more and more interesting. It does (just barely) make a profit, and it touches the best worlds in the subsector, plus if you notice the route is along the systems just along a rift.

One thing about the routes I've run: Spec trading ala Book 7 really helps make up some Credits thru the route (I'm assuming the sub take at the end of the route, plus 150K starting money (enough for one payment, or spec trade money)) without the spec trading it would be real tough. Of course, the slim profit margin makes for more adventure possibilities.

 

[aramis]

I've always run routes as 10 months on route, 2 jumps per month, 2 months free (bankable), 1 month for annual maintenance (using the 13 month imperial calendar). I assume 50% of the free months have been banked.

I use 13 months, 12 with payments, 13th without payment, for mortgaged vessels.

 

[RKFM]

Looking for stats/skills for crew/PC members.

I'm thinking as an outline:

Pilot: Merchant, broker/trading skills, disgruntled, not above smuggling, etc.

Navigator: Scout, survival skills, etc. in case of marooning.

Chief Eng, First Eng, Navy men, can fix anything. 2nd Eng: wet behind the ears, young.

Medic: Marine, sick of war, veteran of the 5th Frontier War, looking for quiet gig on a liner. Strong combat skills in case of hijacking.

Stewards/Gunners/Sec folks: PCs, Merch and Naval folks. Maybe even some Naval intel?

I'm going to have a liner with 3 turrets as Robject suggests a dangerous area, why not?

 

[Whipsnade]

I've always run routes as 10 months on route, 2 jumps per month, 2 months free (bankable), 1 month for annual maintenance (using the 13 month imperial calendar). I assume 50% of the free months have been banked.

Aramis,

That's pretty much what is stated in TTA for the "March Harrier".

One question; why one month for annual maintenance? Cutting it back the the usual two weeks means one more trip you can earn with.


Regards,
Bill

 

[aramis]

Aramis,

That's pretty much what is stated in TTA for the "March Harrier".

One question; why one month for annual maintenance? Cutting it back the the usual two weeks means one more trip you can earn with.


Regards,
Bill

It's an allowance for cost overrun, and it also keeps only 480 payments. Plus, it's usually "vacation" for most crews. Also, it often takes up to 3 weeks to get into the rotation at major repair ports.

Subbies still owe their 50% while off route, and if they don't take downtime other than the 2 weeks needed for annual maintenance, during any jumps during the maintenance month. If they get lucky, and have 2 weeks left, lazy crews go surfing, and greedy crews go off route by one jump, to hit the next stop on time.

 

[Whipsnade]

Aramis,

Good reasons all, especially the bits about allowing for "wiggle" room in the yard's schedule and the subbie crews either choosing a longer vacation or making another jump.

May I suggest that the time be also used as a hiring period? IMTU subbie crew members regularly sign on for one year (13 month) contracts. During the annual maintenance period, the subsidizing authority reviews performances, offers or denies new contracts, and hires new crew to replace those not rehired and those who have chose to leave.


Regards,
Bill

 

[aramis]

IMTU, the subbie contract ties one man to the ship for the duration; only if he's missed schedule or failed to turn over payments, or cooked the books can he be relieved. In that case, the subsidy is usually offered to a first officer of another subbie that IS making a profit, on an assumption. (Hence why a 5 term captain can possibly have a 40-years paid ship...) The individual skippers hire crews; officers hold commissions from a central authority, but must be hired by the skippers individually. (much like the way the 18th C merchants worked.)

 

[Whipsnade]

Looking for stats/skills for crew/PC members.

RKFM,

LBB:2 and A:13 list a minimum crew of nine; pilot, navigator, medic, three engineers, and three stewards. I'd suggest adding another five crewmen; a relief pilot, three gunners/security types, and a trader/admin type.

These numbers will give you three shift coverage on the bridge, pilot, relief pilot, and navigator, three shift coverage in engineering, the engineers, and three shift coverage in pax services, the stewards, with five "floaters".

The pilot is the captain. He has the all of the crew under him naturally. The navigator, relief pilot, trader/admin, chief engineer, and lead gunner/security chief report directly to him. The remaining engineers report to the chief, the remaining gunner/security types report to their chief, and the stewards and medic report to the trader/admin type.

Of course, in a vessel this small, people routinely help out in other departments.

I'd place the captain, chief engineer, and trader/admin type off limits to the players and develop those NPCs fully with skills and personalities. All the other crew would be available to the players. In those cases, I'd list the required skills for each position as in A:4 Leviathan. For any remaining NPCs, I'd only list the skills their position requires and leave the rest as "skill points" the players or GMs can then use to customize the scenario. The personalities of these remaining NPCs should not be fixed either, instead a matrix or list of available personalities should be provided for the players or GM to select from.


Regards,
Bill

 

[Max]

RKFM,

the subsidized liner had problems from the get go. The 1977 version of LBB2 used 560 tons of a 600 ton hull and had 80!!!! low berths. Several variations in a variety of officialness were created to "fix" the design in the early years (FASA had one "fixed" type R, Judge's Guild had a different "fixed" type R and there was at least one other). Signal GK is late enough that it should have the finalized version but you might want to double check the design you are using to ensure it is a legit design and your numbers work with it.

 

[aramis]

Max: the Liner is the type M, not the R. (The R is the 400Td Sub. Merchant.)

Type M Subsidized Liner (1983 TTB version)
Main Drvs Price Item
0515 0085 048.0 Std 600Td Hull
0000 0050 090.0 JD J
0000 0005 012.0 MD C
0000 0028 072.0 PP J
==== ==== ===== ====================
0000 0083 222.0 Subtotal 1
==== ==== ===== ====================
0020 0000 003.0 Bridge
0180 0000 000.0 JFuel
0030 0000 000.0 PP Fuel
0003 0000 000.3 3 Hard Points + Fire Control
0003 0000 018.0 Model 3 computer
==== ==== ===== ====================
0216 0000 021.3 Subtotal 2
0216 0083 243.3 Running Subtotal
==== ==== ===== ====================
0010 0000 001.0 20 Low Berths
0120 0000 015.0 30 Staterooms
0020 0000 014.0 Launch
0129 0000 000.0 129 Cargo tons
==== ==== ===== ====================
0299 0000 030.0 Subtotal 3
0515 0083 273.3 Running total = Final

2 tons remain for additional drive elements; if combining with Bk5, a FPP makes perfect sense.
Version taken from TTB; there is a missing line in the book; it works out to a model 3 and 30 staterooms, which matches the 9 crew and 21 H/M passengers. TTB also calcs the price wrong; it should be 245.97, but is listed as 236.97. Someone had happy fingers, and took a 9MCr reduction that shouldn't be there! Design done with TTB.

That 2 ton loss is due to the Bk2-only Drive/main compartment distinction of Bk2 designs (which TTB includes); The Mongoose variant will have 18Td PP Fuel, the computer won't take space, there is no drive/main distinction, and the sensors will add cost...so it will have an extra 14Td of cargo... although it might use that for some repair drones.

 

[Max]

righto, type M, sorry.

I wonder if there is a curse on the design if TTB had problems. 197 tons of cargo (Binges' number) reminds me of the original 1977 liner "fixed" by making the missing 40 tons cargo and converting 60 of the 80 low berths to cargo (at 1/2 ton each, the low berth number then). Too many different sets of stats exist for the ship, if TTB botched the design process it just reinforces the need for a caveat about comparing liners across products.


9MCr difference in price doesn't have too much of an effect on the economic plan since the payment is subsidized but will have an effect on the price of maintenance. Should change maintenance to reflect the corrected price (assuming it isn't already based on the correct price) and also payments for the subsidized/unsubsidized comparison.

An FPP would change the economic plan which called for purchasing refined fuel. It might be better to ignore the 2 tons. If an FPP is included be sure to add the price for the economic plan, it will still need to be maintained.

 

[aramis]

TTB didn't botch the design process, just gave it an MCr 9 discount. That's a fail, not a fumble. (Many of the standard designs in TTB are off on the prices. Otherwise, it's a perfectly legal design.)

The typsetter missed a line of text.

That 2 tons is in the drive compartment, and is either up the MDrive to D, or install an FPP... nothing else fits.