Fri, Feb 19, 2021 at 1:00 PM
Ignatz,
Good thinking! I like design C; it's a great idea. The ship would still work the same way...just never on its own. If you want to go that route, I definitely think it would be an improvement.
I don't really have any plans to develop the design further, since I only came up with it for use in the one adventure. That was only a playtest, anyway, so nothing in it was "official". (I don't actually place a lot of value on canon in storytelling, anyway.)
I want to emphasize again, that you aren't bound by anything I've said or written in Stardrifter; as an artist, your creative vision matters more than anything else here. I'm very appreciative of everything you're doing!
-David
Sat, Feb 20, 2021 at 12:36 PM
David,
Enclosed are some renders of where I am with the GM box hauler.
I've done some work on the supporting rack and thrown in some external tanks. Still have to add in the manoeuvring thrusters. The main locking horn is still missing (but the base for it can be seen) and the thruster nozzles at the rear haven't yet been altered. I have an idea for the main locking horn that works for me in a technical sense. I'll be putting that in next time. Let me know if I'm on the right track with this stuff.
Again some musings of the realities of such a ship. Any identification markings need to be duplicated top and bottom as well as on the sides... and on the flanks of the external fuel tanks. Question: Would this vessel always need the external fuel tanks or only when hauling massive loads? I know that external lighting is probably optional in outer space, but will give some added 'zing' to graphics.
Cheers,
- Ignatz
Sat, Feb 20, 2021 at 2:10 PM
Ignatz,
Wow! That's amazing! I'm so impressed. I really love it! You are definitely on the right track, all right.
External markings for a group of these ships working in concert probably wouldn't be much more extensive than having individual call signs/names, and the company logos. Their electronic transponder signals would cover the majority of their identification to the outside universe. These signals would actually be composed of digital data streams, which would include full ship ID info -- including the details of the actual cruise, not just the ships. The cruise info would list all the other vessels involved as being part of the same operation.
Legally, these cruises would be considered "multi-ship starjumps", as opposed to "single-vessel starjumps" like the supercarriers enjoy. Another reason why this type of ship is being phased out is the legal complexities and costs of registering their cruises with the Route Management Authority and local governments. Supercarriers have had Territorial laws written specifically for them, catering to, and simplifying their legal status (these companies had the best lobbyists hovering around the AIN Senate).
I'm honestly loving what you're doing with this. I'm very excited by — and grateful for — all your creativity and labor!
-David