So, I was wondering about how streamlining, partial streamlining, and non-streamlining (or streamlined, standard, and distributed configurations) affect operations. There's a lot of confusion there, starting with the main book saying wedge, cone, sphere or cylinder hulls are 'standard' (p106, middle left) where High Guard lists Wedge and Cone as being 'streamlined' (table on top right). In either case, a sphere is Standard, though, and here's my dilemma:
My copy of Mongoose 2008 says:
So, how many rolls are 'all movement'? At least the landing, but what else and at what stages?
Specifically, what roll is required for skimming fuel?
Specific to landing, it says:
So how does a spherical-hulled ship (such as the Tigress class) refuel? Only at Highports? Does it chance landing? I suppose if your Tigress pilot flubs their landing roll and you take 2d6 damage, even a 12 is a double-hit, is pretty trivial when you have 2000 Hull. Oh no, 1998 Hull left! This seems pretty trivial given the main book's text on 'standard' configuration:
That sounds a lot more serious than a -2 to landing! Nowhere describes what the launch setup and expense are. Likewise,
My copy of Mongoose 2008 says:
'A standard-configuration ship can also enter a planet’s atmosphere,
but is reliant on its thrusters to keep it aloft at all times and is
extremely ungainly. Pilot checks are required for all movement and
suffer a –2 DM.'
So, how many rolls are 'all movement'? At least the landing, but what else and at what stages?
Specifically, what roll is required for skimming fuel?
Specific to landing, it says:
Landing at a starport is a Routine (+2) task for
most ships taking 10–60 seconds (so most pilots will take extra time
and get a +1 or +2 DM on top of this – see page 50).
That would be a net +0 roll for landing a spherical ship, modified for extra time, but with a target number of 8, you're going to fail sooner or later. What does a failed landing entail? I find no guidance beyond 'Failing a landing roll means that the ship has landed improperly or even crashed' on page 137. Searching for Crashing gets me crashing into space junk and crashing ground vehicles, neither of which seems right, or even never investigates 'landing improperly'. So how does a spherical-hulled ship (such as the Tigress class) refuel? Only at Highports? Does it chance landing? I suppose if your Tigress pilot flubs their landing roll and you take 2d6 damage, even a 12 is a double-hit, is pretty trivial when you have 2000 Hull. Oh no, 1998 Hull left! This seems pretty trivial given the main book's text on 'standard' configuration:
A standard-hull ship may still enter atmosphere but is very ungainly
and ponderous, capable only of making a controlled glide to the
surface. Getting it back into space requires an elaborate launch
setup and considerable expense.
That sounds a lot more serious than a -2 to landing! Nowhere describes what the launch setup and expense are. Likewise,
A standard-hull ship may have
scoops for gathering fuel from a gas giant but the process will be
much more difficult and less efficient. Larger ships of this type
will often carry a specialized sub-craft (such as a modular cutter,
see page 135) to perform the actual atmospheric skimming.
But nowhere is the piloting requirements for skimming discussed. I am at a loss.