[Spaceships] statting life pods and drop capsules

[Langy]

Originally Posted by Brett

Don't forget the the drop pod is TL10. That allows you to substitute nanocomposite armour.

Nanocomp armor doesn't help - it still provides the same 1 dDR per system (well, 1.5 dDR rounded down instead of a straight 1.0) as the Advanced Metallic Composite, since drop pods (like life pods) are streamlined (which is nearly required for it to re-enter the atmosphere safely, IIRC).

[Agemegos]

Originally Posted by Langy

Nanocomp armor doesn't help - it still provides the same 1 dDR per system (well, 1.5 dDR rounded down instead of a straight 1.0) as the Advanced Metallic Composite, since drop pods (like life pods) are streamlined (which is nearly required for it to re-enter the atmosphere safely, IIRC).

So use the rules for smaller armor systems on SS7 p.4 to put 2/3 of a system of nanocomposite in each hull section.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Brett

According to the description it is used to create high-visibility colours and patterns on the surface to aid rescue. It strikes me that this would be a very silly suggestion unless chamaeleon surfaces were very cheap and surprisingly robust.

It seems to me that a surface that does that could be much less sophisticated compared to one designed to provide real-time multi-spectral combat camouflage. Perhaps a Cheap one?

[Agemegos]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

It seems to me that a surface that does that could be much less sophisticated compared to one designed to provide real-time multi-spectral combat camouflage. Perhaps a Cheap one?

Perhaps a coat of blaze orange enamel and a few blinking LEDs.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Brett

Perhaps a coat of blaze orange enamel and a few blinking LEDs.

I guess the worry is, what if you happen to crash on the Orange Planet of Blinking Lights?

[Langy]

You go out and toss a can of paint on the orange?

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Langy

You go out and toss a can of paint on the orange?

My point is it's not a serious problem. Chameleon surface is overkill for this application.

[Agemegos]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

My point is it's not a serious problem. Chameleon surface is overkill for this application.

It is. And besides, cuttlefish surface is way more fun.

I wonder whether this feature is based on a description in some piece of source material, the way the "stealth" capsule seems to be based on the mobile infrantry drop capsules in Starship Troopers. And by the way, where is my copy of Starship Troopers?

[Agemegos]

A few more statting exercises spring to mind.

• In another thread, martinl suggested what I might call the clandestine capsule, intended to land an operator actually undetected, rather than simply "not shot down" (which the so-called "stealth capsule" is for). This would be launched using a cold gas system, perhaps de-orbited using an electrodynamic tether, then aerobrake slowly at very high altitude to avoid incandescence, with the operator making final descent on a parachute (with the lander gliding on autopilot to an undetected crash-landing in the sea, perhaps).
  Anyone like to take a swing at that? It's a pity that Spaceships 7 doesn't include tether propulsion.
• A sensible lifeboat, actually capable of bringing people down from a crippled spaceship or orbital station (in perhaps geosynchronous orbit or an interplanetary orbit), using Spaceships capabilities in a rational fashion without attempting to match the life pod.
• A militarily useful TL 10 or TL 11 commando capsule, designed using Spaceships to land a single commando in a commando battlesuit or military cybersuit (Ultra-Tech p.183, p.185), with assault kit gear, from low orbit, on a paratrooper-like operation.
• A militarily useful TL 10 or TL 11 assault capsule, designed using Spaceships to land a single 700-lb SM+1 infantryman in a heavy battlesuit or dreadnought battlesuit (Ultra-Tech p.184, p.185), with full field kit, from low orbit, directly onto a battlefield.
• For Molokh, specially, a "drop ship" infantry lighter. For bonus marks, make it capable of SSTO after landing, like the one in Aliens.

[Daigoro]

Originally Posted by Brett

Should these things be streamlined?

I'd say yes if they're expected to maneuvre or do anything but plummet.

But note the Air Performance section on SS1p35- the table gives max speed for streamlined vehicles based on their drive acceleration, which is divided by 10 for unstreamlined craft. For dropcraft, you may essentially want them to be anti-streamlined, i.e. designed for maximum drag and aerobraking.