Pondering starship evolution

[aramis]

Custom LBB:2 ship hulls are still split into an engineering compartment for drives and a main compartment for everything else.

A standard hull for each drive combo AAA, BBB, CCC is far too much to ask for

True... but due to the table, that's way too many... we only need the 6 performances, or more sanely, 3 performances (1 1 1, 2 2 2, or 3 3 3)
The standards
100: A A A for 2 2 2, MCr18 savings (due to min MCr20 for custom)
200: A A A for 1 1 1, MCr12 savings
400: D D D +5 T for 2 2 2, MCr24 savings (D E E for 2 2 2 is possible. Or C F F for 1 3 3.)
600: H H H for 2 2 2, MCr12 savings
800: R R R for 4 4 4, No cash savings
1000: R R R for 3 3 3, No cash savings.
Note that 100, 400, 600 use 2 2 2 performance,
Expanding that table to be 1 1 1, 2 2 2, 3 3 3, 4 4 4 would make it half a page; adding 300, 500, 700, and 900 would be nice, too...
but...

I think that standards really should have been in both 1 1 1 and 2 2 2 versions.
My biggest issue with Bk2 is the hull and bridge minimums. (min cost non-standard hull MCr20 [TTB 56], min bridge 20 Td

As a matter of starship security, are passengers supposed to "have the run of the ship" to be able to go anywhere and do anything while aboard at any time?

• Are passengers "welcome" on the bridge?
• Are passengers "welcome" in engineering?
• Are passengers "welcome" to wander into turrets or the cargo hold(s)?
• Are passengers "welcome" to visit the vehicle berth (to just hang out?) whenever they feel like it?

Anti-hijack protects the ship against potential takeovers
by hijackers. This program constantly monitors conditions
within the starship, and automatically locks the access
doors to the bridge and controls when a hijack situation
occurs. Because this system is not foolproof, would-be
hijackers may gain access in spite of the program on a
throw of 5 or less.

The March Harrier details in TTA make it clear Passengers are usually limited to the forward lounge, the passenger hallway, and the passenger staterooms. The access to the aft lounge is at captain's discretion, but is designed so it can be crew only if desired.

It's pretty clear that passengers are not typically welcome in ANY locations on a March class Type R other than forward lounge, their quarters, and the passenger hall; on some, also the aft lounge.

Other locations would be only during embarkation and debarkation.
No sane merchant is going to let passengers in the engineering spaces, nor the cargo bay, nor crew quarters. CQ are off limits for sanity and to prevent hostage taking of a key crewmember. Turrets are off limits because of risks of sabotage by pirates' agents.
The Bridge is likely to be occasionally allowed on a tour, but unlikely to be any time, simply because there's too much of import there.

 

[Spinward Flow]

It's pretty clear that passengers are not typically welcome in ANY locations on a March class Type R other than forward lounge, their quarters, and the passenger hall; on some, also the aft lounge.

The same can be said for the Marava-class, so it's not a "unique feature" for specific merchant starships. Rather, it is standard practice.
LBB S7, p26:

Peculiarities: The design of the far trader has ship security in mind, and so all passengers are segregated onto a passenger deck. Their access to the bridge and to other areas of the ship is limited. Unfortunately, when a seventh passenger is carried, he or she is berthed adjacent to the bridge. Original specifications did not envision more than six passengers, but the profit motive has led to them being overridden.

 

[Grav_Moped]

Custom LBB:2 ship hulls are still split into an engineering compartment for drives and a main compartment for everything else.

A standard hull for each drive combo AAA, BBB, CCC is far too much to ask for

Agreed, but I still think that for in-universe reasons that the Standard Hull needs to be built for the drives of the most-common ship of any given standard tonnage. Typically, that'd be whatever gives J1/1G, but it might be for J2/2G (J2/1G for LBB5-based build systems, or LBB2'77).

In a build-system with fractional drives, "1/2-A" drives (J1/1G/Pn-1 in 100Td) should have a 100Td Standard Hull available for them, just because of how common it would be.