The Universal Starport facility Profile

[Liam Devlin]

This topic is for The Universal Starport facility Profile (henceforth the USFP), and what besides heading the type of port (class that is) should follow, based on the parts/portions/units that make up a starport.

 

[notagoodusername]

Okay, O' HIC...

My two cents on this.

It should tie in closely woth however we do the modules, so effectively telling you how extensive each type of facility is. It should also cover both highport and downport seperately, but in the same way.

An idea layout:

AAAA-B-C-DDDD(..)-EEEE(..)-FFFF(..)

A = 4-digit hex grid of system, or maybe planet/system name.

B = Starport Type (A, B, etc)

C = Law Level (used for indep or corp ports)

D = Highport details

E = Downport details

F = Special details

This could be a long code....


Shane

 

[mad13142000]

I vote for a smaller code:
A99999 Or To Co

The first is the Starport code (A, B, etc..)
The next five are capacity in dtons as an exponent of ten for the following things-
1 dock size
2 ship repair facilities ( > 9 = shipyard )
3 fuel available
4 living area
5 cargo handling

Followed by facility classifications:
Or - orbital facility
Sa - orbital satellite
Be - surface beacon instead of downport
To - tourist facilities
Li - living cargo facilities
Co - commercial facilities

OR something like it...(No, It's not my idea.)
-MADDog

 

[notagoodusername]

Nice thought, but I'd prefer to stay away from assigning capacities in tons, but more vague. We are trying to avoid "exciting adventures in accountancy" to (probablty mis-)quote Martin, and make a quick easy to use book.

But a shorter code is better.

For example:

Living Areas

0 = None
1 = Almost none
2 = Basic (shared dorms, rations)
3 = Basic (shared dorms, kitchen)
4 = Comfortable (small shared rooms, kitchen)
and so-on up to F = Extensive (hotels, quartering, the whole lot).


Shane

 

[trader jim]

I see we have to be very careful. this is supposedto be a FAST system. we cant "Bog" it down with admin details. we also MUST keep it SIMPLE, so even a rookie can understand it at first glance. therfore i strongly suggest we have a section with "suggested Optional rules", and
the profile could/should be one of the, yes it is important....But???...

 

[Liam Devlin]

Excellent ideas, Shane, Maddog..

though I might add:

Legal &/ or Brokerage Facilities

Medical Facilities

Search & Rescue Facilities* (if any, TL notwithstanding)

AMenities Available.

--I really like the two letter code for Orbital Or dirtside! add Uw for underwater/ submerged ports on Water worlds!

 

[Liam Devlin]

Originally posted by trader jim:
I see we have to be very careful. this is supposedto be a FAST system. we cant "Bog" it down with admin details. we also MUST keep it SIMPLE, so even a rookie can understand it at first glance. therfore i strongly suggest we have a section with "suggested Optional rules", and
the profile could/should be one of the, yes it is important....But???...

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
yes, TJ, we have planned for JUST such a chapter under "Optional Details"
GMTA (Great Minds Think ALike)

 

[notagoodusername]

Originally posted by Liam Devlin:

--I really like the two letter code for Orbital Or dirtside! add Uw for underwater/ submerged ports on Water worlds!

Yep, a strke of genius MD! Remenicent of the extended UWP, and simple.


Shane

 

[Liam Devlin]

Harkening to another good TJ-idea, whether or not the Port is Public/ Private/ or corporate owned/operated.

 

[notagoodusername]

Originally posted by Liam Devlin:
Harkening to another good TJ-idea, whether or not the Port is Public/ Private/ or corporate owned/operated.

That was part of the original remit, but I'm glad TJ pinted out pure private ports to us - I'd forgotten them!

Thanks Jim!


Shane

 

[Liam Devlin]

Shane-Tne-HiT:
cross posting this:
Originally posted by MADDog:
Almost forgot...
There is also the possibility of having naval or scout bases attatched to a starport...(Like those ANG bases you see at some airports...)

-MADDog
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Liam-AYe, good idea! It can be added as a part of the USFP in its Alphabetyic Code (N, D, or S, W, Or A for both ScT & Nv bases.)

Let us also not forget Pr for Prison--another form of *private* starport!!

 

[Antares Administration]

Originally posted by Liam Devlin:
Harkening to another good TJ-idea, whether or not the Port is Public/ Private/ or corporate owned/operated.

Handle that the same way as the planetary databases. Within a sector/subsector, assign a one, two or three letter alphanumeric code to designate Affiliation, e.g. ISA - Imperial Starport Authority, TL - Tukera Lines, Xx - freeport!

Paul Nemeth
AA

 

[Smiling DM]

I think you need to add some type of reference to the econimics of the system to help infer the level of business going through the port. This could be as simple as the Basic Trade Number for the main-world of the system (per step 14 of the World Design Sequence in T20), or something as complex as the WTN from G:FT.

It could be a simple digit in any of the codes suggested above (and I agree, shorter is better). I think it will need to be a key variable in determining the size and activity of the port, especially the down-ports which are more likely to involve trade involving the main-world rather than trade just passing through.

 

[Antares Administration]

Originally posted by Smiling DM:
I think you need to add some type of reference to the econimics of the system to help infer the level of business going through the port. This could be as simple as the Basic Trade Number for the main-world of the system (per step 14 of the World Design Sequence in T20), or something as complex as the WTN from G:FT.

I agree, but I understand that there's a project being proposed to cover economics/trade, so the trade reference for starports needs to be very simple. G:FT used world trade number (WTN) as the unilateral number describing the size of a world's economy and its trade activity, and bilateral trade number (BTN) as the measure of trade between two specific worlds. When I applied BTN to Starfall, for example, I came up with over 30 significant BTNs.

T20 uses World Trade Balance (WTB) to describe whether a world is a net importer or exporter and the magnitude of the surplus or deficit, but not the trade classification of the port. In other words, you'll know whether it's a buyer's or seller's market, but not what type of goods. It's inherently a more concise description of a world's trade.

We also have to remember that a planet, particularly a major trading world, is likely to have several starports/spaceports, so applying the world's WTB or WTN to each port is misleading.

I'd suggest that we leave the mechanics of trade to a different project, and simply add the T20 WTB for quick reference.

By the way, should whether the world is a net importer or exporter make a difference to the design of the port?

Paul Nemeth
AA

 

[mad13142000]

I don't think it matters whether the items going through a port are coming or going, unless you are on a border and have to deal with customs...(Imperial worlds don't have to go through customs, do they?)
But also, customs could be an integral part of any warehousing module...
-MADDog

 

[Antares Administration]

Originally posted by Antares Administration:
By the way, should whether the world is a net importer or exporter make a difference to the design of the port?

Paul Nemeth
AA

I actually work in the transportation and distribution industry, so I guess that the question is also to partially focus my own thinking. Hmmmmmm.....

Generally, exporting ports have more storage, as cargos wait for ships. At a starport, this storage would probably be outside the extrality line. Importing ports often have throughput, as the shipments tend to get broken down moving inland, rather than built up to move offshore.

Let me sit on that for a bit.

Paul Nemeth
AA

 

[mad13142000]

As someone who has been a transporter in said industry, the difference in import/export space is a transparent one to the crew of the transporting vessel. ie - a warehouse is a warehouse to me, the far trader...Maybe if I had to wait for space, but that wouldn't be a function of import vs export, but a function of not enough warehouse space period...
that's my .02Cr

-MADDog

 

[Antares Administration]

Originally posted by MADDog:
As someone who has been a transporter in said industry, the difference in import/export space is a transparent one to the crew of the transporting vessel. ie - a warehouse is a warehouse to me, the far trader...Maybe if I had to wait for space, but that wouldn't be a function of import vs export, but a function of not enough warehouse space period...
that's my .02Cr

-MADDog

You're right, MAD Dog. To you (the trader) it has to be transparent. It's the starport that has to be flexible.

The starport infrastructure is a fixed cost, it has to be there all of the time. The ships on the other hand, only pay off if they're full the maximum possible amount of time. Starports need to have cargo on hand when ships arrive, not ships on hand when cargo arrives. That requires storage somewhere in the supply chain.

Inbound, I want to clear the ship as quickly as possible. If my planet is a net importer, many ships are going to leave empty. So I need to get them on their way as quickly as possible, ergo material handling and clearance is more important than storage.

Paul Nemeth
AA

 

[Liam Devlin]

Maddog, AA, SMilingDM..
All great ideas on the importer/ export world stuff! remember also the planet main port could have been built for bigger amounts of traffic ONCE UPON A TIME..and recession/ trade rte changed..and space goes begging..its not the numbers.. its the descriptives. the reverse is equally true- an economic BOOM could be affecting the port-and they're scrambling to get more warehousing built!

We work up a table for that crunchiness, and things will gel. Paul, are you up to handling that?

 

[Antares Administration]

Originally posted by Liam Devlin:
Maddog, AA, SMilingDM..
All great ideas on the importer/ export world stuff! remember also the planet main port could have been built for bigger amounts of traffic ONCE UPON A TIME..and recession/ trade rte changed..and space goes begging..its not the numbers.. its the descriptives. the reverse is equally true- an economic BOOM could be affecting the port-and they're scrambling to get more warehousing built!

We work up a table for that crunchiness, and things will gel. Paul, are you up to handling that?

[saluting the Imperial Officer] Sir, Yes Sir! [crisp right turn, and march off]

Paul Nemeth
AA