Hatches and Cargo Bay Doors

SFAndroid's picture
SFAndroid
May 9, 2016 - 9:47am
Good Afternoon All,

I'm designing an HS 4 ship for my group. The design rules say that HS 4 has 2 hatches/airlocks. Do cargo bay doors count as one of these hatches? They really aren't airlocks, IMO.

Thanks =)
You can't argue with the invincibly ignorant. - William F. Buckley
Comments:

Shadow Shack's picture
Shadow Shack
May 9, 2016 - 10:53am
I have never counted bay doors toward the outer hull hatch compliment. On a related not, I have also rarely seen the need to meet the maximum amount of hatches either, one or two usually suffice on any ship. Granted the largest ship I rendered deck plans for was HS:8, the larger the diameter the tougher it becomes to utilize all that space on each deck...I gave up on a UPF Light Cruiser because I could have feasibly used three decks for everything (compared to my 17 deck HS:6 destroyer).
I'm not overly fond of Zeb's Guide...nor do I have any qualms stating why. Tongue out

My SF website

SFAndroid's picture
SFAndroid
May 9, 2016 - 11:20am
Awesome, Thanks Shack.

My ship design isn't "stock". I'm making a a single-decked convex lens style of ship. The engines are on tapered struts that puts the thrust in the center of the disk. It kinda looks like a flying mushroom. My GM is going canon to the original rules on the number of engines, but says that we can add things at either an extra cost or some other oddity/weakness. I'm putting on an atomic engine and an ion. Using the atomic, we get full ADF for hull size. Using the ion engine, we get lots of jumps w/o overhauls.

But, back to the original question. One hatch up front near the bridge/cabins and one in engineering, along with the cargo door (which will resemble PacMan when open).
You can't argue with the invincibly ignorant. - William F. Buckley

JCab747's picture
JCab747
May 9, 2016 - 5:49pm
I would think if you need to have more than "x" number of hatches for a particular sized ship and you have room for it, go for it. I think it would be the minimum number... granted, there may be an extra cost for installing extra hatches/airlocks.
Joe Cabadas

Shadow Shack's picture
Shadow Shack
May 9, 2016 - 10:38pm
Considering how the number of drives is all over the map on the hull specification chart, I really wouldn't have a problem tailoring the number of outer hatches (as I did with the drives).

I've made numerous multi-drive ships as well, one that comes to mind is the PGC scout ship from my revamped Port Loren Raiders game that has two ion drives and a quartet of chemical thrusters for atmospheric use (along with an extra burst of acceleration in emergencies). While it can get costly --- drive programs for each system plus the cost of extra drives themselves --- I only see it as a financial obstacle...something PGC shouldn't have trouble negotiating with their own shipyards. ;) 
I'm not overly fond of Zeb's Guide...nor do I have any qualms stating why. Tongue out

My SF website