New Ship Building System for T4

[Commander Drax]

This is my take at replacing the awful QSDS published in T4 - download it here and please post some feedback/comments as this is only the Alpha.
It has been deliberately designed to integrate what I've considered to be the best aspects of previous traveller versions. (no Heplar yet!)and is broadly compatible with Classic Traveller, MT and some aspects of T20, whilst fully supporting T4

http://www.the-children-of-earth.org/T4DL.html

Post Your Playtest/Feedback comments at the Children of Earth Forums here - http://www.the-children-of-earth.org/forums/Blah/Blah.cgi?b=022,m=1153848350

 

[TheDS]

Since I don't feel like trying to memorize a one-use forum login, I'll put my comments here, Drax.

Page 1:
It took a moment to realize that second chart was simply a precalculation table for a few hull sizes, since I never used QSDS myself. A sentence or two may be useful to be sure this point comes across.

Later in the page, you have a table with "Semi-Streamlined". I've not seen this elsewhere, so there may be need for a brief description of what each level represents. (Were it not for Airframe, it would be obvious.)

Page 2:
Your example is incorrect, stating the multiplier for Streamlining is 10% when it's really 3%. Also, it would be a good idea to maintain a consistent number scheme. Though any gearhead knows 0.03 = 3%, QSDS isn't aimed at gearheads.

I also don't think I'd describe internal components as "lost to". I would suggest "consumed by", except there's not really any difference between the two. So consider this a nit with no good suggestion for fixing it.

Again, a nomenclature discrepancy; you mention volume measured in tons, knowing that everyone else measures mass in the same units. Non-gearheads will get confused unless you use Dtons or something like that. But let me also say I found it interesting that you never once mention mass (at least, I didn't find it after skimming thru). I can agree that this is probably a better approach, but you DO need some mention of ship's mass so that when I set my ship down on a bridge, I know if it'll hold or not.

Other comments:
After skimming thru, it looked mostly like just charts, so nothing much for me to do except build a ship or 10, and unfortunately I'm not especially imaginative right now. So not much point in my further scrutiny, since I have to assume your charts are right.

Overall, this looks good, and I'm glad it's short and to the point, and laid out in a way that doesn't make me cringe (FFS2 *cough*) or go into an epileptic seizure.

 

[Commander Drax]

I can agree that this is probably a better approach, but you DO need some mention of ship's mass so that when I set my ship down on a bridge, I know if it'll hold or not.

Yes mass is out of the equation for this one, it being the quick ship design system - alpha version. I am working on a seamless integration of a complete vehicle/starship design system for T4/MT/CT which wil include mass - also I was planning to post additional rules in the QSDS Beta Version allowing a player to estimate the mass of their completed vessel, so those things are coming soon.

As for the 10% streamlining figure, that's a typo and will be changed. As for additional explanations and write ups etc, they are planned for integration around the charts and tables later on probably on the Beta-3 version which will be very close to final publishing.

Also the Classic Traveller idea of a 'Bridge' has been dropped in favour of command and control (although with no minimum tonnage, as I feel this is more realistic, as volume consumed by drives and other components include access to those components.

Hence lots of things have changed from earlier design sequences.

Thanks for your feedback, comments have been noted.

Also why have a one use forum login?, it's not as if I am asking you to validate your membership or anything, come and join the fun. If it wasn't for trolls I would'nt even bother with a login requirement on the forums, so feel free to join and spread your wings a bit!

 

[Icosahedron]

I'm pretty sure that when TheDS mentioned a 'bridge' he meant a roadway over a river. Quite what tactics would persuade him to park his ship on one I'm not sure, but if he did, he'd certainly want to know it wouldn't collapse under the weight of his ship. I believe that was the point he was making.

 

[Granpafishy]

As someone that uses the T4 systems almost exclusively, there is one nit pick that I saw on a quick scan and that is the turrets. In every 'official' building system of T4 (QSDS, SSDS, FFS2), the minimum turret size is 3 DTons. And then they can only hold (1) weapon system (i.e. 1 laser or 2 missles canisters). This is also the same for TNE. Only CT, MT, & T20 use the 1 DTon turrets which can hold up to (3) weapons systems depending on type. I've downloaded the file and will take a closer look at it, but as it is now, at least that one aspect is not compatible with T4. Will let you know what else I find.

 

[Commander Drax]

Hi Grandpa fishy - the turrets have been changed quite deliberately to make them compatible with other versions of traveller, thus there is a selection of 1 ton (light turrets) followed by a selection of 3 ton heavy turrets and 6 ton barbettes, thus allowing all possibilities whilst promoting maximum use of pre existing designs without too much converting.

I'm pretty sure that when TheDS mentioned a 'bridge' he meant a roadway over a river. Quite what tactics would persuade him to park his ship on one I'm not sure, but if he did, he'd certainly want to know it wouldn't collapse under the weight of his ship. I believe that was the point he was making.

I am aware that The DS mentioned a bridge as a structural construct over a river or ravine etc. My mentioning of the ship's bridge volumes was not related to his mentioning of load bearing structures designed to allow ground vehicles to cross formally inaccesible terrain, but was indeed a separate aspect of the design rules.

 

[TheDS]

I didn't mean to start a fight! I'm sorry!

But other than that, I'm glad I could be of at least some help; I don't get to do stuff like this nearly as often as I used to.

Nothing against your site or anything, Drax, but I would have only signed up for leaving that bit of feedback, and then completely forgotten it 5 minutes later. I now have like 4 forums I check with some semblance of regularity, down from about a dozen a few years ago. That's about all I can handle any more. My sympathy about the spammers; I had a guestbook ruined by the bastards.

 

[Commander Drax]

Same here, All the goodies are posted for free on the main site in any case, so you don't need a forum login, just check out the main site every now and then as all pdf's are posted there.

http://www.the-children-of-earth.org