Traveller and modern electronics

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by warellis

Considering the difficulties of space travel in the Traveller OTU setting, and general Traveller ruleset/concept, how would something like colonists being transported somewhere be done?

By massive superfreighters or passenger ships?

Low berths and big ships. There are examples here and there. In Sword Worlds I think for one.

[robkelk]

Originally Posted by Fred Brackin

Low berths and big ships. There are examples here and there. In Sword Worlds I think for one.

Definitely in Sword Worlds, yes. There's also mention in Rim of Fire of STL low-berth colony ships sent off before the Terrans invented jump drive.

[jason taylor]

Originally Posted by warellis

Considering the difficulties of space travel in the Traveller OTU setting, and general Traveller ruleset/concept, how would something like colonists being transported somewhere be done?

By massive superfreighters or passenger ships?

I'd picture a dedicated colony ship to be something more along the lines of a troop transport. Not with slave-ship like conditions(unless it's a space botany bay of course) but matter of fact with little room for amenities. Most of the colonists will spend most of the time in low passage and there will be extra space for such things as seed, agricultural equipment, livestock, whatever. Probably small arms too, unless it is known for a certainty that there is no one else on the planet and even then you never know when someone else might hop along.

In 100 Parsecs the Astron Project considered buying a worn down ore LASH tender to convert into a colony ship for founding a new Sword Worlds. That was because the region was settled and the only virgin territory was a year away. Probably during times of settlement ships which were used for one colonial project would be sold off as soon as a colony thinks it has reached the capacity to attract immigration.

At first glance I would have not thought using passenger ships for the purpose probable. On the other hand they did use luxury liners for troopcraft at one time. However the colonists have to have enough potential profit to justify diverting from the profitable and safe business of shuttling VIPs around and getting them fat and drunk.

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by jason taylor

In 100 Parsecs the Astron Project considered buying a worn down ore LASH tender to convert into a colony ship for founding a new Sword Worlds. k.

Come to think of it there are plans for that sort of ship in Alien Races 3 in the Aslan section. they do a lot of this sort of thing.

[jason taylor]

Originally Posted by Fred Brackin

Come to think of it there are plans for that sort of ship in Alien Races 3 in the Aslan section. they do a lot of this sort of thing.

I imagine the Astron Project was hard up otherwise they would have tried for a used one of those. At that, making an alliance with some Ihati would be worthwhile as there is probably enough room in the area they are headed for their respective posterities not to butt heads for some centuries.

[cptbutton]

I am picturing a colony ship on the cheap which is a LASH tender with the cradles stuffed with however many cutter modules will fit, connected as best can be managed.

[dcarson]

Unlike ocean going liners you can't just cram several times as many people in on a spaceship. Life support doesn't consist of stocking high density soldier food instead of higher quality bulkier stuff. You need air, heating, cooling etc.

You can use low berths but those are probably easier to install in a cargo hold then in staterooms. And a lot cheaper.

[Flyndaran]

Air, heating, and cooling are almost entirely power generation concerns. Food and water purification and generation are bit more complex than just throwing energy to make things work.

[jason taylor]

Originally Posted by dcarson

Unlike ocean going liners you can't just cram several times as many people in on a spaceship. Life support doesn't consist of stocking high density soldier food instead of higher quality bulkier stuff. You need air, heating, cooling etc.

You can use low berths but those are probably easier to install in a cargo hold then in staterooms. And a lot cheaper.

Most passenger ships contain a low passage section, so one must assume they already thought of it, and if they stay in business have a way to do it better then in an ordinary cargo hold. As it is assumed they stay in business because of their existence, someone or other must figure out why as it suits them.

A lot of the products aboard won't just be the rations for the trip but the material for founding a new colony. Seed is the most compact form assuming it is fit for the planet you are headed too.

[SteveS]

An interesting point about seed is that some plants are dependent on symbiotic soil bacteria or fungi. The can't be transplanted to virgin soil; they'll wither of nutrient starvation if the microflora are absent. The microflora are often dependent on the plants too. For such plants, the most compact transport package would be a potted plant with the necessary microflora, and a box of seeds for the genetic diversity.