Judges Guild Mercenary Cruiser Reimagined
- Thread starter navanod
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Starviking
SOC-13
It is lovely, though the only area I have reservations about is the bridge. I recall the Bill Keith making some designs with what looked like 'wrap-around' bulging windows for the bridge (perhaps the Type-Y Yacht?). I think that would suit the design well.
Nice, really nice. You've really put it together.
One question (I haven't read all of the posts thoroughly) -- does the middle section only have room for those specialized pinnaces, or does it seem like there are grapples there for some add-on payload pods?
One question (I haven't read all of the posts thoroughly) -- does the middle section only have room for those specialized pinnaces, or does it seem like there are grapples there for some add-on payload pods?
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The pinnaces dock above and below the central truss; the area between is occupied by modular pods that can be configured as need (the current default is as cargo pods). I may change those so they're all the same size to make them truly modular and design some different pod types to fit there, but that is still down the road a bit.
I'm currently working on texturing - I've currently got bump maps and the tranparency map done, and the actual paint on the forehull in progress. I spent a couple of hours in poser and photoshop working up the nose art, which ties into the ships' backstory.
Well....
I've discovered along the way that when doing a new ship (especially the texturing), it helps if I have some idea who owns it and what it's used for. 'Generic' paint jobs are harder for me (no real inspiration behind them), so one of the things I'm always considering is how the ship fits into the universe.
My long-term goal is to get a play by post game set in the Islands subsectors going sometimes in the (relatively) near future, and maybe eventually a web comic or some animation based on that. So, most of my modeling work lately has been geared toward that end, mostly ships for interesting NPCs and Islands naval vessels.
That said, the (very rough and incomplete) backstory on this one is about a man born on the fringes of the Imperium (maybe the Borderworlds?) whose wife was killed in an Imperial raid. He started wandering through Imperial space, wreaking what havoc he could along the way, until he collected a small group and managed to hijack an old Type C research vessel just outside Imperial space (District 268 perhaps). He turned pirate, targeting only Imperial ships until they turned up the heat on him. He figured laying low for a while might not be a bad idea, so he headed out to the Islands to work as a mercenary and wound up working for whichever side paid the most.
Like I said, it's still only a rough concept.
I've discovered along the way that when doing a new ship (especially the texturing), it helps if I have some idea who owns it and what it's used for. 'Generic' paint jobs are harder for me (no real inspiration behind them), so one of the things I'm always considering is how the ship fits into the universe.
My long-term goal is to get a play by post game set in the Islands subsectors going sometimes in the (relatively) near future, and maybe eventually a web comic or some animation based on that. So, most of my modeling work lately has been geared toward that end, mostly ships for interesting NPCs and Islands naval vessels.
That said, the (very rough and incomplete) backstory on this one is about a man born on the fringes of the Imperium (maybe the Borderworlds?) whose wife was killed in an Imperial raid. He started wandering through Imperial space, wreaking what havoc he could along the way, until he collected a small group and managed to hijack an old Type C research vessel just outside Imperial space (District 268 perhaps). He turned pirate, targeting only Imperial ships until they turned up the heat on him. He figured laying low for a while might not be a bad idea, so he headed out to the Islands to work as a mercenary and wound up working for whichever side paid the most.
Like I said, it's still only a rough concept.
The window layout is moderately close to the original design; I did tinker with some different style of windows there, but never found any I was real happy with. The whole thing is so damn square that any round surfaces look out of place. Even the cylindrical pods for the thrusters are almost too much - the round turrets and greebles are about all that let's them fit with the rest of the ship.
Patron Zero
SOC-13
Absolutely love the nose art, such detail brings a ship to life.
Too much?
Well, since this Type C is going to be a pirate/merc cruiser, I decided to get a little wild with the paintjob. Going with the lightning motiff on the nose art, I simply expanded it into a full-on lightning job (as opposed to a flame job). What do you think? Too much? Too not-Traveller?
Well, since this Type C is going to be a pirate/merc cruiser, I decided to get a little wild with the paintjob. Going with the lightning motiff on the nose art, I simply expanded it into a full-on lightning job (as opposed to a flame job). What do you think? Too much? Too not-Traveller?
Yeah too much.
It looks like a rock band's tour bus. With a paint job like that you also need to make sure you install a set of big subwoofers in the back.
While the lightning motif looks really great, it’s not suited to the role of the ship, which in essence is a ship of war. All military vessels are functional, nothing more nothing less. By that I mean that the ship will have only what is required for it to get the job done. In terms of the paint job, if the ship is trans-atmospheric and will find itself often landed as a base of operations for ground troops, then it will likely be painted with a neutral camouflage. If it is only ever going to be in orbit nuking the enemy, it will have a plain flat paintwork, or may even be unpainted as there is no need to protect the metal from things like rust, etc.
Anyway, that's my 2 cents. Keep up the good work.
It looks like a rock band's tour bus. With a paint job like that you also need to make sure you install a set of big subwoofers in the back.
While the lightning motif looks really great, it’s not suited to the role of the ship, which in essence is a ship of war. All military vessels are functional, nothing more nothing less. By that I mean that the ship will have only what is required for it to get the job done. In terms of the paint job, if the ship is trans-atmospheric and will find itself often landed as a base of operations for ground troops, then it will likely be painted with a neutral camouflage. If it is only ever going to be in orbit nuking the enemy, it will have a plain flat paintwork, or may even be unpainted as there is no need to protect the metal from things like rust, etc.
Anyway, that's my 2 cents. Keep up the good work.
Also, from a real world standpoint, black is not the best colour to have in space. Things in space exposed to direct sunlight get very hot, that is why the space shuttle, spaceshuits, etc are painted white so as to reflect some of that energy. But hey, this is scifi, even pirates have good air conditioning.
shadowcat20
SOC-12
Ok, we have a old surplus ship being used for convoy raiding. Said ship will not be landing on worlds due to its design and will be avoiding larger highports because of it's mission. This means it should not look like a new ship with sharp corners and fresh paint. I would expect some damage and wear on the ship and also a more mundane paint job. Anything flashy will be easy to spot and ID if anyone gets away from a raid or survives it. The owner will WANT to blend in and not draw attention as a raider. The nose art is still neat though.
far-trader
SOC-14 10K
On the other hand, if they're close enough to visually see the nose art, they are already too close if they aren't friendly
They would likely have already collected enough longer range sensors data to positively identify you.
Nose art is more traditionally for the morale and identity of the crew among their own. A bit of unit cohesiveness. I think this fits that role fine.
They would likely have already collected enough longer range sensors data to positively identify you.
Nose art is more traditionally for the morale and identity of the crew among their own. A bit of unit cohesiveness. I think this fits that role fine.
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Well, one of the things I was thinking about was the liquid crystal skin mentioned in G:T Starships. Makes the hull 'paint job' programmable, so you can change the color scheme. I figured a hijacked ship like this would have the original research ship scheme, a pirate scheme, and maybe another for 'honest' merc work. Does any other version of Trav mention liquid crystal skins, or is that just a GURPS abberation?
far-trader
SOC-14 10K
It's mentioned at least once before GT (I think). Though I'm not sure the method is spelled out. I recall a note to the effect that Vilani Pirates will sneak up on their prey (playing the innocent trader or under cover of a black hull against black space) and then raise their true colours (as in days of old when pirates would hoist a Jolly-Roger or other pirate flag after getting in nice and close under the disguise of a "safe" flag) by turning on their Flaming-Eye display art.
Might have been in a MT adventure, maybe even "The Flaming Eye" which I had at the time but no longer to check it.
I seem to recall SOM also mentions it.
Andrew Boulton
The Adminator
The details are in MTJ#4.
Gray Lensman
SOC-13
Two Thumbs Up
Andrew beat me to it, I have used stuff from that article since it first came out.
Nicely done man, but with the liquid crystal skin you can have the lightning too, but have the lighting start circling the ship FROM the nose art lightning.
a very well thought out and imaged redesign, again.
Two thumbs up from this corner.
(Hey Mr. Adminator, can we get the Thumbs Up and Down symbols in the smiley list so we can put them within the text?)
Andrew beat me to it, I have used stuff from that article since it first came out.
Nicely done man, but with the liquid crystal skin you can have the lightning too
, but have the lighting start circling the ship FROM the nose art lightning.a very well thought out and imaged redesign, again.
Two thumbs up from this corner.
(Hey Mr. Adminator, can we get the Thumbs Up and Down symbols in the smiley list so we can put them within the text?)