 July 20, 2013 - 6:16pm | While doing some research on the USS/CSS Water Witch because the full scale model in front of the Civil War Naval Museum makes you curious I found it had an extensive and interesting history see here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Water_Witch_(1851) Other ships like the USS Hunchback a civilian ferry brought into the war and returned to civilian life might be thought of as combat ships but were. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Hunchback_(1852) In SF even the merchant ships are armed unlike the merchant shipping of the 19th century. We can easily imagine that the star ships our PCs find themselves could have served in the Sathar wars or brought in for other actions. Considering the Mil Falcon had a history which came back to haunt it a little, has anyone ever done any background story for the ships they use? Sounds like a great job but where did you say we had to go? |
 August 4, 2013 - 11:18am | Rat, I used your idea. I had a party of 10 that I pooled together from across the Frontier (Athor, Prenglar, Cassadine, Truane's Star). After several adventures, I finally got them to Gran Quivera. They had rescued a PGC VP on Lacos that Streel had contracted the Red Devil pirates to kidnap. The team went to Red Devil Canyon (hence the name) and rescued him. They got into orbit, pursued by pirates, to meet with a couple of PGC privateers and ran into a Streel carrier with 8 fighters. To complicate it - a UPF Minelayer pulled in for resupply AND 2 SAV Destroyers hopped out of the void. Needless to say, everone fought the Sather. Afterwards, everyone limped away. Second part was returning some artifacts to Athor that was robbed from a tomb there. There were...accidents that happened on the way. These two things, and selling shares, allowed the party to purchase a merchant ship that was mothballed from PGC. They got loans from PGC and a bank on Athor (GVMPI bank - interesting being owned by both PGC AND Streel). The ship, the Trafalgar, was an Assault Scout with the UPF in SW I. It was then provided to the militia at Truane's Star. Then it was sold to PGC as an escort. Finally, PGC mothballed it. The VP told the Engineering department to pull it out and the Client Relations team sold it to the party for 750,000 credits. No assault rockets, ADF-MR & DCR at half due to glitches with the programs, plumbing needed to be replaced, one crew cabin had a door that would not open, the elevator to the bridge got stuck, life support went out on the first mission to Morgaine's World, insurance, registration, had to pay dividends - it was a NIGHTMARE. The party HATED it. but, after they repaired it, found out the history and started to make money - they loved it. It brought character to the ship and the adventures. "Where's Klobo?" "He's with Carl in Engineering." "Why?" "Um...well, the PGC sold us the ship but, they just found out - there is no pellets in the engines." "What! Oh my goodnes! What else can go wrong with this hunk of crap!" "Did Vax get the cargo on board?" "You mean the cows for Gran Quivera? Well, yes." "What now!" "He spooked them and the airlock got damaged. Skystar is down there trying to fix it. We can't lift off with the hatch seal broken." "!@#% it! What else can go wrong!" "Captain, Zixa was looking for you, Gor came down with..." |
August 4, 2013 - 12:15pm | Glad to hear it helped thanks for sharing Sounds like a great job but where did you say we had to go? |
August 4, 2013 - 12:39pm | They did runs from Gran Quivera to Morgaine's World then they included Yast and Exhib after one (game) year. They sold everything off after 16 months and went to Gollywog to join the Militia. I used the abridged spaceship skills (Tech 2 + Comp 1 and you can pilot a shuttle (Pilot 1). Some of the party had skills but, others did not. A few wanted to keep their Assault Scout (and after 10 months) the Fair Trader but, they couldn't run it alone and didn't trust NPCs. So everything was sold, debt settled and off to the militia they went. We're running that now. |
August 11, 2013 - 10:03am | Somewhere...I cannot find it, someone was asking for the stats on a Star Frontier version of an oiler/coaler. I collect a lot of stuff and found the below. It's between a Destroyer and a Light Cruiser. The crew size - I don't even know...somewhere between 40 and 100? Say - 60. Someone said they should carry extra Engineers. They can go to a damaged ship and help repair it. I think when it says it carries 24 star drives - it means pellets. It just needs a "class" name...suggestion - UPF Protecteur class Supply Ship. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protecteur_class_replenishment_oiler) Supply/Repair Vessel:
These craft serve as support to a fleet detachment, not engaging directly in
the battles but rather assisting damaged vessels along with rearming depleted
systems and serving refueling missions as well. Any other ship that docks with
a Supply/Repair Vessel may utilize its services.
Reloads: 8 torpedoes, 36
rocket battery salvos, 16 assault rockets They talk about a "fast combat support ship". I would suggest...maybe the UPF Supply class Fast Support Ship.
Crew: 30 (including additional engineers) Reloads: 4 torpedoes, 18 rocket battery salvos, 8 assault rockets It's the size of a corvette with a crew size of a Frigate. The hull points, Laser Cannon and Masking Screens are reduced to increase the ADF and MR. This lets it outrun anything that is bigger then an Assault Scout. I did not make the Supply ship. The Fast Supply Ship - I just made a Corvette version of it - scaled it down in half. Enjoy |
 August 11, 2013 - 11:07am | I like the idea of a resupply fleet support ship. That would be fun to do a detailed writeup and deck plans of I think. Ad Astra Per Ardua! My blog - Expanding Frontier Webmaster - The Star Frontiers Network & this site Founding Editor - The Frontier Explorer Magazine Managing Editor - The Star Frontiersman Magazine |
