check your math on the compartment the Aurek's design is a negative number so it would be 10+15+5=30-10=20/50 compartment used same with cost 10+5+10=25-10=15/35 leaving 30 compartments and 20 cost to play with later
I looked at a few things again and think that when we build military ships, we build something similar to a Valkyrie Class Battlestar. Just armor around it and all the other star wars tech. View: https://youtu.be/Tt7oLIXcwUA
This should serve as a (heavy) cruiser.
I've always had a soft spot for the lines on the Hiigaran interceptor. Scale might need to be adjusted (ditto the cockpit) but as a courier it has potential.
Here are pics for sleeker advanced and standard versions from the resurgence mod for Homeworld remastered on moddb.
check your math on the compartment the Aurek's design is a negative number so it would be 10+15+5=30-10=20/50 compartment used same with cost 10+5+10=25-10=15/35 leaving 30 compartments and 20 cost to play with later
Huh? I'm well aware that it was -10 at the beginning, and no I didn't do my math wrong. Two fusial thrust engines for 15 compartment each, two layers of armor for 5 compartment each, 10 compartment for hyperdrive. (15+15+10+5+5)-10=40
Besides, this is the math for the old version anyways lol
I'll say, for a second there I even thought that Aurek might win over the Aurek Design. That would have been a true travesty.
Oh, also, I managed to complete that 3d model of what I imagine the Aurek to look like—keeping in mind that it is the more freighter oriented design of the two that were proposed—it's pretty amateur, the textures are incredibly basic, and I made it on a positively ancient version of Blender... but let me know what you guys think!
I'll say, for a second there I even thought that Aurek might win over Aurek Design. That would have been a true travesty.
Oh, also, I managed to complete that 3d model of what I imagine the Aurek to look like—keeping in mind that it is the more freighter oriented design of the two that were proposed—it's pretty amateur, the textures are incredibly basic, and I made it on a positively ancient version of Blender... but let me know what you guys think!
Well I can confirm it isn't that large, I think it might kind of look that way due to how close I had to put the camera to actually pick up the details… but it's not even a double digit compartment ship.
And yeah, sorry about the textures, but they're what I had on short notice.
Well I can confirm it isn't that large, I think it might kind of look that way due to how close I had to put the camera to actually pick up the details… but it's not even a double digit compartment ship.
And yeah, sorry about the textures, but they're what I had on short notice.
I think it's just that all the thin strips of light sections along the hull give the impression that each one is a floor, almost like a skyscraper. And when a lot light freighters like the YT-1300 are small enough that the cockpit is clearly visible, I don't really get the feeling that that model is of a small ship.
I think it's just that all the thin strips of light sections along the hull give the impression that each one is a floor, almost like a skyscraper. And when a lot light freighters like the YT-1300 are small enough that the cockpit is clearly visible, I don't really get the feeling that that model is of a small ship.
Very possibly the cause of that, those lights are nothing but exterior lights so that the profile of the ship is visible in low light. I could certainly cut back on them, and likely will as I work on polishing it up a bit in later versions.
Funny that the YT-1300 seems smaller, because it is a almost definitely bigger than the V3 here (the damn thing is over 110 feet long, the size of an actual highrise, and nearly again that wide)… I suppose perspective really matters for things like this and it's really hard to see scale when it's just a 3D model spinning in an infinite void.
The layout of the ship itself, in a more 2 dimensional sense, is very different from the YT-1300 with its starboard-side cockpit. The 'cockpit' of this ship is actually not directly on the edge of the ship itself but actually overlooks the bow (which is that little extension with the domes and glowing purple ring to indicate airlocks and docking equipment). More like a command deck, really, and it isn't immediately apparent from the exterior because that is a major design flaw for a ship that might see combat.
I'll see if I can rip a 2D floor plan of the thing as well for demonstration purposes.
Very possibly the cause of that, those lights are nothing but exterior lights so that the profile of the ship is visible in low light. I could certainly cut back on them, and likely will as I work on polishing it up a bit in later versions.
Funny that the YT-1300 seems smaller, because it is a almost definitely bigger than the V3 here (the damn thing is over 110 feet long, the size of an actual highrise, and nearly again that wide)… I suppose perspective really matters for things like this and it's really hard to see scale when it's just a 3D model spinning in an infinite void.
The layout of the ship itself, in a more 2 dimensional sense, is very different from the YT-1300 with its starboard-side cockpit. The 'cockpit' of this ship is actually not directly on the edge of the ship itself but actually overlooks the bow (which is that little extension with the domes and glowing purple ring to indicate airlocks and docking equipment). More like a command deck, really, and it isn't immediately apparent from the exterior because that is a major design flaw for a ship that might see combat.
I'll see if I can rip a 2D floor plan of the thing as well for demonstration purposes.
I think a lack of scale is definitely the problem here. You say that it's meant to be a small ship, and I believe you. But when I look at it I can't see a visible cockpit, or some kind of entry hatch, or anything that tells me "this is how big a person is." Instead, with a lack of anything else to scale it to, I see all those stripes of lights running the length and the first thing my brain throws back at me is some kind of generic sci-fi skyscraper like this:
I think a lack of scale is definitely the problem here. You say that it's meant to be a small ship, and I believe you. But when I look at it I can't see a visible cockpit, or some kind of entry hatch, or anything that tells me "this is how big a person is." Instead, with a lack of anything else to scale it to, I see all those stripes of lights running the length and the first thing my brain throws back at me is some kind of generic sci-fi skyscraper like this:
Yeah, I can certainly see now why that is and I'm working on it... slow going as that process is when you're dealing with UVs and texture painting. To give a rough idea of the scale I was imagining, the Aurekv3 is definitely longer than the YT-1300—somewhere in the ballpark of 50-60 meters long (so on the extremes as far as light freighters go) but considerably thinner in profile than other light freighters as well; 15-25 meters in both width and height (on average, that is).
More or less the same volume, 23,000 to 24,000 cubic meters, so comparable in a lot of ways for comparison purposes.
Would you all like me to make a version of the spinning ship without the lights in the meantime, while I work on fixing that?
Woo, and I finally return with what I've been working on in my spare time as far as the model goes. It took considerably longer than I expected, mostly because I decided that I didn't like having the model float in an endless void of nothingness and decided to make a proper environment for it... but also because rendering is a pain and takes forever when you're doing it on a laptop.
Kill me.
Anywho, I reworked the lights on the exterior of the ship a bit to make sure they looked less like genuine windows (though I still don't feel strongly about the texture I whipped up), and I also added proper viewports along the ship to give some real sense of scale. The 4 viewport compartments are the ones actually for human habitation, and each represents the approximate size of a floor. I kept them as heavily tinted because this is a spaceship and some shielding from solar shenanigans is a must. I also turned the 'domes' into proper viewports as well, though they are more for gunnery and other such tasks that might require a 360 degree view of the exterior of the ship.
On top of all that, I didn't like the flat single color exhaust texture so I just decided to model a proper animated ion/plasma engine exhaust. I think the result looks pretty cool, and I hope at least some of you agree with me because good god did sticking them to the ship in a way that didn't arrest their animation but still moved in sequence with the rest of the model took me... I don't want to say how long.
I made a version with the lights and one without, just in case. Now off to sleep for me!
Eh, guess I can't please everyone. Didn't take inspiration from Babylon 5, that's for sure, just sort of went to work on a 'space truck with guns' and ran with that.
Those ball things are 360 degree viewports for coordinating the blasters at the very front of the ship, and for coordinating docking and loading/unloading procedures when landing anywhere.
Your father snorted at your comment as the two of you watched Chancellor Valorum defend his actions. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't redirect the attention of his opposition in the Senate to more pressing concerns. It wasn't even the Trade Federation attacking him – it was the Core Faction. The very people the Chancellor often relied upon to control the Senate. And now it seemed they used his new blunder to remind him who he should play nice with.
"Maybe," your father finally said. He shrugged when you looked at him. "He might just survive. He only needs to stick it out, then they will let it go in a few days. The problem is that the Trade Federation and its allies will use it to further their own agenda. But I have to admit, sending Jedi to Naboo without informing the Senate first … a bold move. One I wouldn't have guessed Valorum could do. Too much of a political animal."
"I don't know. Maybe he was pushed by something or someone. But still, it was a dumb decision. He should've prepared his allies for that move. Maybe if Valorum had done that, they wouldn't be at his ankles like this. We will see another phase of blocking any progress in the chamber, won't we?"
"For some time, yes. But the Chancellor will survive it. Valorum made a big blunder with this Jedi Mission to Naboo. Nevertheless, the Core relies heavily on him to get their policies through, so they will forgive him. Eventually. He just has to be careful and not stumble into another folly or let one of his opponents gain the upper hand over him," your father gave his two credits after shrugging. He fell silent for a moment, then peeled his eyes from the holoprojector and glanced over to you. "How is the courier coming along?"
"What? Didn't you read my report on the matter?"
Your father chuckled and made a vague gesture towards his desk. On it, you could see several pads that had been stacked up. "Believe it or not, I trust you. And I'm still running the whole company. Also, I had a long discussion today with Hego Damask from the Banking Clan. Pleasant fellow, if it isn't about money. Then he gets downright nasty. Let's just say that I bought you some more time, but I will need to trim your budget a bit in the next month."
You took a deep breath to gather your thoughts. You wanted to ask your father how bad it was. But one look at him and the stubborn expression on it made it clear that he wasn't willing to talk about it. Instead, you decided to talk about the courier, as he had asked.
"Well, we've decided on the Aurek design. It's the slower one of the two designs Gaath came up with. Mostly because it has a larger internal space, which will allow us to put a few more things in and concentrate on the cargo space. We expect our design to be a bit slower than the competition," you make a short pause and take a sip from your drink. "To counter the speed loss, we will slap more engines on. No shields, but armor from that contract we still have. You remember? That mad scientist and his vessel? The one who wanted to prove that time travel was possible if you just flew close enough to a star?"
Your father chuckled. "Yeah, I do. What a mad man, but he paid us enough for that crazy refit. Nice to see that the contract won't gather any more dust. But with no shields, won't it be seen as vulnerable?"
"Well, it's a courier, not a warship. Sure, it might encounter some pirates in the sector but let's be honest – our sector hasn't seen any major pirate attacks in the last ten years. Besides, there should still be more than enough room to install one later if the customers want a shield generator. For now, just armor and a fast engine should be enough."
"It sounds as if your team has a plan, or at least the bare bones of one. My advice, though? Have Thor look into some additional parts, at least some basic form of defense. Not because the ship will need it, but because it will make it easier to market it. No matter how pointless a fixed blaster canon is, people will pounce on that fact if the design is completely unarmed. Or if the gun isn't feasible, then at least add some shields."
You furrowed your brows and gave it a moment to sink in. It made sense, even if the installation of a fixed gun or some shields would add nothing to the actual combat capabilities. After all, it was just a courier that you were building. Not some pirate's wet dream.
"Maybe we could add it as an additional feature? An update pack the customer needs to buy if they truly want it?" you offered after your consideration. "That way, we don't need to get the parts just yet for the competition, but offer them in the product sheet for anyone interested."
"That could work, but it could also be used against us. Just think about it. Our competition might spin it in a way that makes us look bad. 'The company refuses to include a means of defense' or some rubbish like that."
"Sure, that is possible. But if we offer the upgrade package from the start and heavily advertise it, it should be possible. CEC gets away with their basic ships that lack any features, and people like them. I'm not saying that we can break into the same market, but it might work if Marketing words it right. You can buy the courier cheaply, and if your route is dangerous? Guess what, we have the pack for you. And if it isn't? Save the credits."
"Maybe," your father replied.
Total Budget: 8
Design Department
[ ][Design][1B] Upkeep
Progress: n.a.
Description: You pay the bills and assign working orders, generally ensuring that the department isn't losing brainpower. If this option is not taken, the cost will grow in the next turn.
[ ][Design][1B] Plans for a Light Freighter
Progress: 0 of 100
Description: Light Freighters come in all shapes and forms. Some fast, others with a great range, and so on. It is time to design your own.
[ ][Design][1B] Plans for a Heavy Freighter
Progress: 0 of 100
Description: Heavy Freighters are the backbone of interstellar trading. They are, in theory, easy to build. You've never built one, just repaired them, so you don't know for sure.
[ ][Design][1B] Plans for a Utility Craft
Progress: 0 of 50
Description: In the orbital industry, not only in shipbuilding, small craft are used every day. They are called Utility Craft, and there never seems to be enough despite how many models are on the market.
[ ][Design][1B] Plans for a Corvette
Progress: 0 of 150
Description: Corvettes are used by every military in the galaxy to some extent. The market is hard fought over by such names as Kuat Drive Yards and CEC. Entering this arena will be risky, but the profits…
[ ][Design][1B] Plans for a Fighter
Progress: 0 of 100
Description: The new lovechild from the Deep Core to the Mid Rim if it comes to "new" and "hip" military "geniuses." The market hasn't been cornered yet. Maybe you can corner a bit of it.
Research Department
[ ][Research][1B] Upkeep
Progress: n.a.
Description: You pay the bills and assign working orders, generally ensuring that the department isn't losing brainpower. If this option is not taken, the cost will grow in the next turn.
[ ][Research][1B] Class 5 Hyperdrive
Progress: 0 of 500
Description: A Class 5 Hyperdrive is the slowest drive seen on the market, often built-in as an emergency drive should the main one fail. If we want to start building our own hyperdrives, Class 5 is our entry point.
[ ][Research][1B] Basic Sublight Engines
Progress: 0 of 250
Description: Every starship needs sublight engines for travel outside hyperspace. We should start learning how to build basic ones ourselves before we go for larger and better sublight engines.
[ ][Research][1B] Basic Hull Plating
Progress: 0 of 100
Description: Most people in the galaxy won't give two thoughts about the hull plates that protect them from the void through which they travel. But the truth is, it is hard to come up with the right mixture of metals and other materials to make these plates. We should start with something basic.
[ ][Research][1B] Basic Shielding
Progress: 59 of 200
Description: Most weapons used in the galaxy are either blaster or laser-based. Accordingly, any ship manufacturer worth his name will provide basic protection against these. In theory, it shouldn't be too hard to come up with one ourselves.
[ ][Research][1B] Basic Blaster
Progress: 42 of 100
Description: Blasters are the ideal weapon for close combat situations, making them perfect for civilian ships. We should take a look into building our own.
[ ][Research][1B] Basic Laser
Progress: 0 of 200
Description: Most military ships use lasers, thanks to their ability to fight at longer distances. If we wish to push into the military market, we should first develop basic laser weapons.
Production Department
[ ][Production][1B] Upkeep
Progress: n.a.
Description: You pay the bills and assign working orders, generally ensuring that the department isn't losing brainpower. If this option is not taken, the cost will grow in the next turn.
[ ][Production][1B] Ask for Hyperdrives
Progress: 0 of 50
Description: Currently the company doesn't have the knowledge or the facilities to produce something like a hyperdrive themselves. That means you need offers from other companies that do build hyperdrives.
[ ][Production][1B] Ask for Sublight Engines
Progress: 0 of 50
Description: Any ship requires some form of sublight engine. It shouldn't be too hard to come up with something of your own, but until that is the case, you will need to buy somewhere else.
[ ][Production][1B] Ask for Plating
Progress: 0 of 25
Description: It shouldn't be too hard to find someone willing to produce hull plates that your ships require.
[ ][Production][1B] Ask for Shielding
Progress: 0 of 150
Description: Some of your designs require shields, not the navigational but actually protective ones. Even civilian variations cost a lot. Hopefully, there are some cheap offers.
[ ][Production][1B] Ask for Weapons
Progress: 0 of 200
Description: Weapons are restricted on most Republican worlds and not easily bought in bulk. Still, there are plenty of companies that offer ship-grade weapons. The absolute nightmare is the bureaucracy behind it.
[ ][Production][2B] Begin the Prototype construction
Progress: n/a
Description: Begin the assembly of the Courier Prototype. This will take some time, but we should have a ship that works in the end.
The [?B] gives you the cost of the option, you can increase the number if you wish that more dice are rolled.
Run any Write-In by me first.
Please Use [ ] Plan to vote!
There will be a Moratorium! Voting will be opened by me!
"Well, we've decided on the Aurek design. It's the slower one of the two designs Gaath came up with. Mostly because it has a larger internal space, which will allow us to put a few more things in and concentrate on the cargo space. We expect our design to be a bit slower than the competition," you make a short pause and take a sip from your drink. "To counter the speed loss, we will slap more engines on. No shields, but armor from that contract we still have. You remember? That mad scientist and his vessel? The one who wanted to prove that time travel was possible if you just flew close enough to a star?"
Your father chuckled. "Yeah, I do. What a mad man, but he paid us enough for that crazy refit. Nice to see that the contract won't gather any more dust. But with no shields, won't it be seen as vulnerable?"
"Well, it's a courier, not a warship. Sure, it might encounter some pirates in the sector but let's be honest – our sector hasn't seen any major pirate attacks in the last ten years. Besides, there should still be more than enough room to install one later if the customers want a shield generator. For now, just armor and a fast engine should be enough."
"It sounds as if your team has a plan, or at least the bare bones of one. My advice, though? Have Thor look into some additional parts, at least some basic form of defense. Not because the ship will need it, but because it will make it easier to market it. No matter how pointless a fixed blaster canon is, people will pounce on that fact if the design is completely unarmed. Or if the gun isn't feasible, then at least add some shields."
You furrowed your brows and gave it a moment to sink in. It made sense, even if the installation of a fixed gun or some shields would add nothing to the actual combat capabilities. After all, it was just a courier that you were building. Not some pirate's wet dream.
Alright, kudos QM I was not expecting to see the discussions/ideas we were having in the thread be played out by the actual characters in the Quest. Think that's the first time I've ever seen that done quite that way.
Also, woof, asking around for Blasters we could get manufactured for our ships out of house is a hefty drop as far as budget goes. An average of about 4, now I'm wondering if we would be better off trying to finish the in-house blaster ourselves and see what it takes to produce it… if only so we don't go bankrupt!
Lastly, what would asking around for miscellaneous ship parts like… say, an Astromech or maybe refrigerated storage cost?
1 Budget most likely, the broader you look the cheaper it is. If you go for a special request such as Astromech from manufacturer XYZ it will cost more but get better stats.
