Dual-Stat "Fat Cat" Far Trader

[mechascorpio]

This is why we can't have nice things in Traveller

I wish there were more efforts like this that pushed the boundaries of everything we've seen and played in the game over the past 35 years. This is one of the "sexiest" ships I've seen for Traveller, presented in a fashion that's above and beyond what we usually get for supplements. I'd hoped that Mongoose was going to be the one to put some new slickness into the game (the way that SJG did), but with so much recycling of what's been done before it's felt like a half-effort at times.

That's why I've put my money where my mouth is, and may even double my pledge to get the printed deckplans. The timing sucks with my current finances, but I'd hate to see this project fall through. I'd like D.B.Game Design to keep putting out more high quality efforts like this, and I'd like others (like Mongoose and perhaps even talents like Ian Stead) to see that and say "Hey, there's a market for this, let's do more."

Besides, if I get this in my hands, this may help finally ease the pain of SJG's GT deckplans so many years ago

 

[traq]

wow... I know there's a bit of discontent around the size of the bridge. I'm more than aware that Traveller deckplans (MGT or otherwise) typically have much smaller bridges. I tried not to let this influence my design process too much, and I hope it won't stop anyone from enjoying the Fat Cat. You will find many other differences between this and existing Traveller designs - but I hope they will all be pleasant surprises.

I don't think it's necessarily a Bad Thing that this ship is a little off the beaten path. It's a culture we've never seen before. I spent a lot of time trying to get the spec'd tonnages to match the deckplans very closely. Even once I translated the design into 3D, most of the "overtonnage" is in the height of the ship, not in the grid squares themselves.

(re: airlocks, there are four main locks: one in each pylon, one at the upper end of the main stairwell and one at the lower end. There is of course the launch bay as well, which can be retrofitted with an actual airlock, and the three hardpoints can be used as secondary airlocks, depending on what you [don't] have installed there.)

 

[PFVA63]

Hi

In addition to the issue that not all deck square represent a space 3m high, another thing to keep in mind is that if a dton is 14 cubic meters but one deck square represents a volume of 3 x 1.5 x 1.5 (or 6.75 cu meters) then 2 deck squares actually only equal 96.4% of a dton.

Put another way, this kind of suggests that for every 100 dtons of ship volume you could really draw it as 207.4 deck squares (assuming a 3m deck height), or basically you have an additional ~3.7% margin on the number of deck squares when drawing your deck plans.

Pat

 

[robject]

basically you have an additional ~3.7% margin on the number of deck squares when drawing your deck plans

Yes -- a little slop either way is not a serious problem.

 

[D.B.GameDesign]

This is why we can't have nice things in Traveller

I blame Grognard the Gamer troll. He's that little troll inside each of us that constantly tries to turn us in to rules lawyers.

I have Brass D20 of Grognard slaying, and i'm not afrade to use it people... ;-)

I wish there were more efforts like this that pushed the boundaries of everything we've seen and played in the game over the past 35 years. This is one of the "sexiest" ships I've seen for Traveller, presented in a fashion that's above and beyond what we usually get for supplements. I'd hoped that Mongoose was going to be the one to put some new slickness into the game (the way that SJG did), but with so much recycling of what's been done before it's felt like a half-effort at times.

That the exact reason I started publishing ships. For me the braking point was when I bought a ship supploment called a "fast courier". I won't say who published it, but I will say they should be ashamed (my finger is wagging at you, you know who you are)... The only thing in it worthy to be in a comertial product was the ONE drawing of the ship flying though an asteroid field. Everything else I could have done myself in 5 min, literally. And the two dollars I spent took longer than 5 min for me to earn!

But rather than just bitching about the problem, I'm doing something about it. I'm raising the bar. I'm gathering the best tallent I can find to make the best product we can. Take this as a challenge Traveller Publishing Comunity! TOP THIS!

That's why I've put my money where my mouth is, and may even double my pledge to get the printed deckplans. The timing sucks with my current finances, but I'd hate to see this project fall through. I'd like D.B.Game Design to keep putting out more high quality efforts like this, and I'd like others (like Mongoose and perhaps even talents like Ian Stead) to see that and say "Hey, there's a market for this, let's do more."

And Adrian and I greatly appreciate it. The 1" scale deckplans are well worth it! Adrian did a beautiful job on them!

Also, we have less than a week to come up with another 1500 bucks in pledges. Kickstarter is all or nothing! But if we don't make our funding mark and the kickstarter fails, We're not giving up! We may not be able to make the fill print run we intended to make, but if you're still willing to honor your pledges, we will too. We'll just have to make other payment arrangements.

Besides, if I get this in my hands, this may help finally ease the pain of SJG's GT deckplans so many years ago

May it be a balm for those old wounds. ;-)

In addition to the issue that not all deck square represent a space 3m high, another thing to keep in mind is that if a dton is 14 cubic meters but one deck square represents a volume of 3 x 1.5 x 1.5 (or 6.75 cu meters) then 2 deck squares actually only equal 96.4% of a dton.

Put another way, this kind of suggests that for every 100 dtons of ship volume you could really draw it as 207.4 deck squares (assuming a 3m deck height), or basically you have an additional ~3.7% margin on the number of deck squares when drawing your deck plans.

As I described to Adrian when we started this project, a ton is represented by 13.5 m3, but a dton is 14 m3. I don't think we have to worry about that unaccounted for space, because I generally just assume that it is taken up between decks with all the ships internal infrustructure.

 

[Sstefan]

! We may not be able to make the fill print run we intended to make, but if you're still willing to honor your pledges, we will too. We'll just have to make other payment arrangements.

Count me in... still trying to find folks to make the target.

 

[D.B.GameDesign]

We are fully Funded!!!!

Well, no more need to even contemplate what to do if we don't meet our goal because as I type we are $140 passed our funding goal.

That means we are fully funded. Our first stretch Goal is $5500. If we hit that stretch goal, every ship booklet will come with an "owners manual". This booklet will cover all the day to day maintenance, operations details and what not. This will be a kickstater only offering. as it stand we are only $600 away from hitting that.

 

[rancke]

Congratulations!


Hans

 

[traq]

Four more days, why not four more goals?

You make it happen, I'll make it worth your while!

 

[traq]

we are at 136%!
we need only another $600 to reach Stretch Goal #2!

kck.st/O02LdQ

 

[traq]

We're on to our last day. Everyone has been amazing with their support.

We still have Goals to hit, and the book is still only $12, so if you haven't checked it out, this is your wakeup call!

Thanks again!

 

[traq]

Final Score: 177 Backers, 230% Funded!

THANK YOU!!!

 

[D.B.GameDesign]

Final Score: 177 Backers, 230% Funded!

THANK YOU!!!

From myself as well!