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Journeyman Design Bureau Noble Yachts

far-trader

SOC-14 10K
Welcome to JDB, custom builders and restorationists of classic ship designs. So you're interested in a pleasure ship? Well we have a few to choose from and each can be customized to suit the individual's needs. Let me show you around in our virtual simulations...

Part of the collected notes I've been typing up are some designs and rules from the way I had worked out Yachts back in CT ages ago for my mostly OTU TU. The designs are Book 2 with some borrows from Book 5 and house rules.

The standard type Y Yacht in Book 2 is the model most often purchased by the wealthy citizen who has modest interstellar travel needs. This civilian Yacht requires the standard payment and purchase plan but it is often available used which will reduce the re-payment period and avoid the heavy down payment, or allow refinancing the mortgage in whole.

What follows are the Yachts purchased by or for Imperial Nobility, the type YN series, in 5 models. Debate about the code N meaning continues in some circles. The most obvious definition is Noble but there are some who think it may mean Naval. This is from the fact that the ships all have Naval quality Drives and Electronics and some may have other IN gear installed.

The Noble (or Naval) Yachts are a special case as far as acquisition is concerned. They are available only to a Noble of sufficient rank, as noted by the class name, but operate more like the Detached Duty Scout/Courier or Subsidized Ship.

The Noble Yacht is provided free of charge to the recipient. It is given free docking at all Imperial starports and at it's homeport it has a reserved dock and full support without cost. This home port service includes refined fuel, life support recharge, repairs, weaponry service, and routine and annual maintenance as well as drop-tank tenders for those models using them.

The Noble is required to pay the cost for any away expenses (beyond docking at Imperial ports), crew salaries, and repairs. Some or all of these expenses may be reimbursed upon returning home depending on the nature of the trip. Most Noble ports of call will cover, in addition to the docking fees, refined fuel and life support recharge when visited, and be reimbursed through the same courtesy when the local Noble returns the visit.

The Noble may not sell such a ship, or portions of, without incurring a debt of equal value before the mortgage period is completed. They do not own the ship, it is a part of their privilege of rank and duty and they are responsible for it.

After 40 years of service these Yachts are fully paid off by the estate and retired from active use, becoming the property of the estate or Noble, but subject to military mobilization by the Imperium, typically as diplomatic couriers.

I'd apprecitate any feedback on the designs, they never really saw play use. It was in anticipation of Noble PCs that the rules and ships were made up, but I never did referee a game with Nobles. So in fact you are the first to see these ideas. Let loose with the comments and suggestions. Or even better take one (or more) and flesh it out and post it here for the board as a ready resource. Detail the Noble who acquires it and how they outfit the custom portion of the ship(s). Or if your skills are more to the artistic I'd love to see some doodles, sketches, renders or deckplans. Let your imagination go wild on that account, just make them streamlined (sleek?) and cool. They should stand out and look fast even when docked. Easy no? ;)

Descriptives follow, broken down by model. I could also use some suggestions on the class names for a couple. I always had them named simply but when typing I started with adjective forms but was lost for a couple. How does one say as Knightly is to Knight for Counts and Marquis? Anybody know?
 
The first type YN is the TL11 Knightly Class Noble Yacht.

The Knightly Class Noble Yacht is the lowest of the type YN ships. It is the smallest with the poorest range and speed, but still capable of reasonable transport in comfort and style and sufficient for the needs of a Knight and small entourage.

This ship is built on a 200ton streamlined standard hull. It mounts B drives for Jump 2, Maneuver 2 and Power 2 with no room for expansion. The drives are Naval rated to allow use of unrefined fuel via skimming or purchase. It includes 60tons of fuel to support a single J2 and 4 weeks of operation.

Adjacent to the bridge is a model/2 computer. The included programs are Maneuver, Jump 1, Jump 2, Navigate, Generate, and Library. The sensors and communications are Naval range quality.

The ship has 12 staterooms. There are 4 for the crew of Pilot, Engineer, Medic and Steward, and 8 for the Knight and their staff and/or guests. The passenger staterooms may be opened up to create suites if desired. If the ship is armed the gunners typically double up with the Engineer and Steward.

In addition to the 3tons reserved for weapons (2 turrets and a magazine) and 12tons of baggage and stores for the crew and passengers the ship has 24tons left for customization and/or cargo as well as a 6ton hanger with grav speeder.

Total value of the ship is MCr72.200 with no discount as each is a custom crafted ship. This value includes a custom budget allowance of MCr6 for weapons, software or outfitting the remaining 24tons of space. Possession may require a wait of 11 months for construction if not ordered in advance of appointment.
 
Next is the TL12 Baronial Class type YN Noble Yacht.

The Baronial Class Noble Yacht is twice the size of the lowly Knightly Class and gains in both range and speed. It comes standard with about the same level of amenities but the much larger custom space and budget allows more varied and luxuriously tailored configurations if desired.

This ship is built on a streamlined custom 400ton hull. It mounts F drives for performance of Jump 3, Maneuver 3 and Power 3 with no room for expansion. The drives are Naval rated to allow use of unrefined fuel via skimming or purchase. It includes 150tons of fuel to support a single J3 and 4 weeks of operation.

Adjacent to the bridge is a model/3 computer. The included programs are Maneuver/Evade 1, Jump 1, Jump 2, Jump 3, Navigate, Generate, and Library. The sensors and communications are Naval range quality.

The ship has 14 staterooms. There are 6 for the crew of Pilot, Navigator, 2 Engineers, Medic and Steward, and 8 for the Baron and their staff and/or guests. The passenger staterooms may be opened up to create suites if desired. If the ship is armed the gunners typically double up with the Engineers, Navigator and Steward.

In addition to the 6tons reserved for weapons (4 turrets and two magazines) and 14tons of baggage and stores for the crew and passengers the ship has 80tons left for customization and/or cargo as well as a 6ton hanger with grav speeder.

Total value of the ship is MCr222.400 with no discount as each is a custom crafted ship. This value includes a custom budget allowance of MCr20 for weapons, software or outfitting the remaining 80tons of space. Possession may require a wait of 16 months for construction if not ordered in advance of appointment.
 
The middle type YN is the TL13 Marquisan Class Noble Yacht.

The Marquisan Class Noble Yacht is the next up from the Baronial Class. It has slightly better range and speed, with more potential for transport in comfort and style. This is achieved in part by the larger hull but primarily by the use of a drop-tank for full range.

This ship is built on a custom 600ton streamlined hull. It mounts M drives for Jump 4, Maneuver 4 and Power 4 with no room for expansion. The drives are Naval rated to allow use of unrefined fuel via skimming or purchase. It includes 160tons of fuel to support a single J2 and 4 weeks of operation. For jumps greater than 2 parsecs the drop-tank must be employed. This 200ton tank allows J4 if dropped or J3 and M3 if retained. The tank is conformal and does not affect the ship's streamlining and is interchangeable between models.

Adjacent to the bridge is a model/4 computer. The included programs are Maneuver/Evade 1, Jump 1, Jump 2, Jump 3, Jump 4, Navigate, Generate, and Library. The sensors and communications are Naval range quality.

The ship has 26 staterooms. There are 10 for the crew of Captain, Pilot, Navigator, 4 Engineers, Medic and 2 Stewards, and 16 for the Marquis and their staff and/or guests. The passenger staterooms may be opened up to create suites if desired. If the ship is armed the gunners typically double up with the Engineers and Stewards.

In addition to the 9tons reserved for weapons (6 turrets and 3 magazines) and 26tons of baggage and stores for the crew and passengers the ship has 140tons left for customization and/or cargo as well as two 6ton hangers with grav speeders.

Total value of the ship is MCr410.600 with no discount as each is a custom crafted ship. This value includes a custom budget allowance of MCr35 for weapons, software or outfitting the remaining 140tons of space. Possession may require a wait of 24 months for construction if not ordered in advance of appointment.
 
The next to last type YN is the TL14 Count's Class Noble Yacht.

Again the range and speed of the Count's Class Noble Yacht are stepped up from the previous version, with similar potential for transport in comfort and style. This is again achieved in part by the larger hull and the use of a drop-tank for full range.

This ship is built on a custom 800ton streamlined hull. It mounts U* drives for Jump 5, Maneuver 5 and Power 5 with no room for expansion. The drives are Naval rated to allow use of unrefined fuel via skimming or purchase. It includes 250tons of fuel to support a single J2 and 4 weeks of operation with some reserve. For jumps greater than 2 parsecs the drop-tank must be employed. This 200ton tank allows J5 if dropped or J4 and M4 if retained. The tank is conformal and does not affect the ship's streamlining and is interchangeable between models.

* a house rule change of the drives table substituting 6,5,4,2,1 in the column for the 6,4,3,1,1 there.

Adjacent to the bridge is a model/5 computer. The included programs are Maneuver/Evade 1, Jump 1, Jump 2, Jump 3, Jump 4, Jump 5, Navigate, Generate, and Library. The sensors and communications are Naval range quality.

The ship has 28 staterooms. There are 12 for the crew of Captain, Pilot, Navigator, 6 Engineers, Medic and 2 Stewards, and 16 for the Count and their staff and/or guests. The passenger staterooms may be opened up to create suites if desired. If the ship is armed the gunners typically double up with the Engineers and Stewards.

In addition to the 12tons reserved for weapons (8 turrets and 4 magazines) and 28tons of baggage and stores for the crew and passengers the ship has 160tons left for customization and/or cargo as well as three 6ton hangers with grav speeders.

Total value of the ship is MCr608.800 with no discount as each is a custom crafted ship. This value includes a custom budget allowance of MCr40 for weapons, software or outfitting the remaining 160tons of space. Possession may require a wait of 28 months for construction if not ordered in advance of appointment.
 
The final type YN model is the TL15 Ducal Class Noble Yacht.

The Ducal Class Noble Yacht is the ultimate in range and speed, as well as transport in comfort and style. This is achieved like its smaller models by a yet larger hull and the use of drop-tanks for full range.

This ship is built on a custom 1000ton streamlined hull. It mounts Y* drives for Jump 6, Maneuver 6 and Power 6 with no room for expansion. The drives are Naval rated to allow use of unrefined fuel via skimming or purchase. It includes 260tons of fuel to support a single J2 and 4 weeks of operation. For jumps greater than 2 parsecs the drop-tanks must be employed. The dual 200ton tanks allow J6 if dropped or J5 and M5 if retained. The tanks are conformal and do not affect the ship's streamlining and are interchangeable between models.

* a house rule change of the drives table substituting 6,6,5,4,2,1 in the column for the 6,6,4,2,2,1 there.

Adjacent to the main bridge is a model/6 computer. The included programs are Maneuver/Evade 2, Jump 1, Jump 2, Jump 3, Jump 4, Jump 5, Jump 6, Navigate, Generate, and Library. The sensors and communications are Naval range quality. This is the flight bridge.

Adjacent to the auxiliary bridge is a model/6 computer. The included programs are Target, Launch, Gunner Interact, Multi-target 2, and Anti-missile. The sensors and communications are Naval range quality. This is the fight bridge.

While the bridges are designated by function both can be used in either role by simply switching computer routing or physically moving the programs.

The ship has 42 staterooms. There are 18 for the crew of Captain, Executive Officer, 3 Administrative Officers, Pilot, Navigator, 7 Engineers, Medic and 3 Stewards, and 24 for the Duke and their staff and/or guests. The passenger staterooms may be opened up to create suites if desired. If the ship is armed the gunners typically double up with the Engineers and Stewards.

In addition to the 15tons reserved for weapons (10 turrets and 5 magazines) and 42tons of baggage and stores for the crew and passengers the ship has 180tons left for customization and/or cargo as well as five 6ton hangers with grav speeders.

Total value of the ship is MCr807.000 with no discount as each is a custom crafted ship. This value includes a custom budget allowance of MCr45 for weapons, software or outfitting the remaining 180tons of space. Possession may require a wait of 30 months for construction if not ordered in advance of appointment.
 
Fairly reasonable set for a Bk2/Prototraveller setting.

At least the Knightly and Baronial should get the class discount; there are probably thousands.

Also, keep in mind, if the quarters and custom bay are, in fact one large space with modules placed in (like modern large naval craft usually are), the standard discount would still apply; the modules could be relocated at almost no loss in efficiency; that standard discount comes from an efficiency increase by standard plans... Being TL11/12, some versions would date back to pre-imperial days, and thousands of ships apiece, and so there would probably be 50 odd variant hull layouts registered anyway.
 
Book 2 drives? Buffed Book 2 drives? And droptanks?
Munch overload! *eeks*

Regards,

Tobias
 
Originally posted by Aramis:
Fairly reasonable set for a Bk2/Prototraveller setting.

At least the Knightly and Baronial should get the class discount; there are probably thousands.

Also, keep in mind, if the quarters and custom bay are, in fact one large space with modules placed in (like modern large naval craft usually are), the standard discount would still apply; the modules could be relocated at almost no loss in efficiency; that standard discount comes from an efficiency increase by standard plans... Being TL11/12, some versions would date back to pre-imperial days, and thousands of ships apiece, and so there would probably be 50 odd variant hull layouts registered anyway.
I could go with that, reasonable and well thought out. Thanks.

That is pretty much how I pictured the custom space, with large easy access. I just never really thought about making the features modular, silly of me
 
Originally posted by Tobias:
Book 2 drives? Buffed{/i] Book 2 drives? And droptanks?
Munch overload! *eeks*

Regards,

Tobias
Minimally fudged (buffed if you must ;) ). Munchkinized? Overloaded? I don't think so. But that's a personal call I guess. It was a choice to make the table more consistant (in my mind at the time anyway). It only affects 4 of the last 6 columns (U,W,X and Y) and only 4 hull sizes there and minimally imo.

As for droptanks, well, I don't have a huge problem with them if done right. That is:

The tanks cost the same as a hull of the same size. (The tanks are not included in the above designs, and I should edit that and include these notes too. Thanks for the catch!)

They don't add to the overall hull for purposes of hardpoints (like they apparently were for the Gazelle class CE).

They are only available at mid tech (TL12 or TL13) and higher.

And the bridge must be built to support the inclusion of the drop tanks for total tonnage.
 
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