The thread I started on the FAC-6 Light Scout Car got me thinking that it would be fun to see what we all can come up with (if we don't already have one) for a cheap, low-tech scout utility vehicle as an alternative to the ubiquitous air/raft.
How often has it happened to Scout Shortstraw that he is making his escape from the ferocious Whatsit tribe-things on planet Thatplace III and had one of them put a spear through his air/raft models and bring him down to near-certain doom? Not often enough, I'm sure, but once is enough!
Wouldn't it be better if a Scout had a small, lightly armored vehicle that is easily repaired with a simple wrench, hammer, and swear words? That he can can lose a wheel or two and keep going at good speed? That it can quickly and easily have its power supply modified, replaced, or even completely rebuilt to local standards (like steam, or that small, really fast animal that ran on a treadmill on WhyRWeHere II)?
Of course it would!!
And what better way to amuse and frustrate players than to provide them with a high tech zippy scoutship capable to traversing the stars but equipped with a cranky, battered compact space-pickup truck with a light machine gun spot welded to the roof? Besides, a Scout's life should be an endless stream of projects requiring him to improvise, improvise, and swear a lot, or he will just get bored and listless on those long trips to near-certain insanity and death.
Make a Scout's life an adventurous one - design him a light scout car today!
Hokay - design a small vehicle that is low tech and easy to maintain in nearly any conditions but insidious and corrosive atmospheres (I guess tracked vehicles would work in those atmospheres, though so using those would be OK). You can use Striker, Fire, Fusion & Steel (if you make your Sanity roll), or another official design system compatible with Classic Traveller. A nifty one was in an edition of Space Gamer a long time ago and that would work, too.
The parameters:
It has to fit in the same volume as an air/raft. Figuring some sort of cradle or other parking/loading system so it doesn't roll around on the ship and out the door in Jump space, it has to fit within: 6.25M long X 2.25M wide X 2.8M tall
No Fusion plant (but it can use one if added later) for its power supply.
No anti-grav propulsion.
Wheels are preferred, but tracks OK if it is to be used in corrosive or insidious atmospheres (good luck with that, though).
Speaking of hostile environments, it should provide some level of protection for the crew even if only because they can button up inside and turn on the overpressure system. It shouldn't be just "Suit Safe" for the crew - they have to get out of those suits sometime.
It should have some cargo space, but so long as the drive system can keep it moving the cargo can be strapped to the roof. Just make sure to include that weight involved in the description with any changes to the vehicle's performance.
It has to carry up to 4 crew.
That's it! Keep it cheap and versatile....but, uh, good (enough?) so we can make sure no more scouts die because they loose a grav module!
How often has it happened to Scout Shortstraw that he is making his escape from the ferocious Whatsit tribe-things on planet Thatplace III and had one of them put a spear through his air/raft models and bring him down to near-certain doom? Not often enough, I'm sure, but once is enough!
Wouldn't it be better if a Scout had a small, lightly armored vehicle that is easily repaired with a simple wrench, hammer, and swear words? That he can can lose a wheel or two and keep going at good speed? That it can quickly and easily have its power supply modified, replaced, or even completely rebuilt to local standards (like steam, or that small, really fast animal that ran on a treadmill on WhyRWeHere II)?
Of course it would!!
And what better way to amuse and frustrate players than to provide them with a high tech zippy scoutship capable to traversing the stars but equipped with a cranky, battered compact space-pickup truck with a light machine gun spot welded to the roof? Besides, a Scout's life should be an endless stream of projects requiring him to improvise, improvise, and swear a lot, or he will just get bored and listless on those long trips to near-certain insanity and death.
Make a Scout's life an adventurous one - design him a light scout car today!
Hokay - design a small vehicle that is low tech and easy to maintain in nearly any conditions but insidious and corrosive atmospheres (I guess tracked vehicles would work in those atmospheres, though so using those would be OK). You can use Striker, Fire, Fusion & Steel (if you make your Sanity roll), or another official design system compatible with Classic Traveller. A nifty one was in an edition of Space Gamer a long time ago and that would work, too.
The parameters:
It has to fit in the same volume as an air/raft. Figuring some sort of cradle or other parking/loading system so it doesn't roll around on the ship and out the door in Jump space, it has to fit within: 6.25M long X 2.25M wide X 2.8M tall
No Fusion plant (but it can use one if added later) for its power supply.
No anti-grav propulsion.
Wheels are preferred, but tracks OK if it is to be used in corrosive or insidious atmospheres (good luck with that, though).
Speaking of hostile environments, it should provide some level of protection for the crew even if only because they can button up inside and turn on the overpressure system. It shouldn't be just "Suit Safe" for the crew - they have to get out of those suits sometime.
It should have some cargo space, but so long as the drive system can keep it moving the cargo can be strapped to the roof. Just make sure to include that weight involved in the description with any changes to the vehicle's performance.
It has to carry up to 4 crew.
That's it! Keep it cheap and versatile....but, uh, good (enough?) so we can make sure no more scouts die because they loose a grav module!