Playable approximation for Buying a Spaceship - Page 2

SCAR · 05-18-2012, 06:40 AM

In a Space setting, owning a spaceship is a fairly common character trait, but the existing GURPS rules don’t support such a concept that well.
These rules attempt to create a playable approximation which can be used as a starting point for such a character concept.

I’ve used the sample spaceships in Spaceships 2-6 to get a rough cost for ‘average’ spaceships, and PK’s House Rule for Trading Points for Money to get a point cost from $ value.

The Rule:

An ‘average’ SM+6 Spaceship at a Campaign TL of 9 costs [50] points.
Note, the TL is that of the Campaign used to calculate the Starting Wealth, not the TL of the Spaceship!
Each +1 to SM costs an additional [10] points.
Each +1 to Campaign TL reduces the cost by [5] points.
Subtract the Points spent on Personal Wealth (e.g. [20] points for a Wealthy character), to a minimum of [5] points.

For Example:

A TL10 Character with Comfortable Wealth, could own an SM+8 personal Yacht for [55] points (on top of their [10] points for Comfortable Wealth).
A TL10 Wealthy Character could own an SM+9 Tramp Freighter for [55] points.

The inner workings:

Cost for an ‘average’ spaceships (which primarily means not military or highly specialised spaceships) roughly scales with Size (SM): $6M will get you an ‘average’ SM+6 Spaceship, $20M for an SM+7, $60M for an SM+8, and $200M for an SM+9.
I figure SM+6 to SM+9 is the likely size range for a privately owned vessel.

Examples:
The Maltese Falcon-Class Yacht [SS2.p15] is SM+8, TL10^ and Costs $52.2M (close to our $60M)
The Kiev-Class Farhauler [SS2.p6] is SM+9, TL10^ and Costs $139.7M (within the $200M approximation)

Using PK’s Trading Points for Money, the point cost from various Wealth Levels, and TL Starting Wealth gives an average point cost, and the variance for each SM and TL Step.

Examples:
A TL10 Character with Comfortable Wealth, could get $52.2M as starting wealth for [54] points.
A Wealthy TL10 Character could get $139.7M as starting wealth for [55] points.

These figures are significant approximations, with very specific break points – e.g. if you’re paying points for a $200M Spaceship, you might want something close to that value (which $140M maybe isn’t). If the GM is supplying the list of ‘allowed’ spaceships with point costs, they can modify the spacecraft or point costs if desired.

These rules also assume the PC(s) are buying a new full cost spaceship, but it’s simple to modify them – the +1 to SM, equates to x3 in Cost for [10] points. Reversing this, a ‘used’ spaceship could sell for 1/3 Cost and reduce the point cost by [-10], for 1/10th the Cost reduce the point cost by [-20]. Such ‘cheap’ spacecraft probably have more than a few problems and quirks which will need constant maintenance and repair (Spaceships 2 Chapter 2 for further details and ideas).

The point cost can be split between the PC’s.
If they have different starting Wealth levels, you could split the cost and then subtract each PC’s personal wealth level cost (still Min [5] points each) to get the cost of their share – assuming they have an even share.
(I’m not sure how balanced this last might be for different starting Wealths!, use GM’s judgement).

05-18-2012, 06:40 AM	#1
SCAR Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Yorkshire, UK	Playable approximation for Buying a Spaceship In a Space setting, owning a spaceship is a fairly common character trait, but the existing GURPS rules don’t support such a concept that well. These rules attempt to create a playable approximation which can be used as a starting point for such a character concept. I’ve used the sample spaceships in Spaceships 2-6 to get a rough cost for ‘average’ spaceships, and PK’s House Rule for Trading Points for Money to get a point cost from $ value. The Rule: An ‘average’ SM+6 Spaceship at a Campaign TL of 9 costs [50] points. Note, the TL is that of the Campaign used to calculate the Starting Wealth, not the TL of the Spaceship! Each +1 to SM costs an additional [10] points. Each +1 to Campaign TL reduces the cost by [5] points. Subtract the Points spent on Personal Wealth (e.g. [20] points for a Wealthy character), to a minimum of [5] points. For Example: A TL10 Character with Comfortable Wealth, could own an SM+8 personal Yacht for [55] points (on top of their [10] points for Comfortable Wealth). A TL10 Wealthy Character could own an SM+9 Tramp Freighter for [55] points. The inner workings: Cost for an ‘average’ spaceships (which primarily means not military or highly specialised spaceships) roughly scales with Size (SM): $6M will get you an ‘average’ SM+6 Spaceship, $20M for an SM+7, $60M for an SM+8, and $200M for an SM+9. I figure SM+6 to SM+9 is the likely size range for a privately owned vessel. Examples: The Maltese Falcon-Class Yacht [SS2.p15] is SM+8, TL10^ and Costs $52.2M (close to our $60M) The Kiev-Class Farhauler [SS2.p6] is SM+9, TL10^ and Costs $139.7M (within the $200M approximation) Using PK’s Trading Points for Money, the point cost from various Wealth Levels, and TL Starting Wealth gives an average point cost, and the variance for each SM and TL Step. Examples: A TL10 Character with Comfortable Wealth, could get $52.2M as starting wealth for [54] points. A Wealthy TL10 Character could get $139.7M as starting wealth for [55] points. These figures are significant approximations, with very specific break points – e.g. if you’re paying points for a $200M Spaceship, you might want something close to that value (which $140M maybe isn’t). If the GM is supplying the list of ‘allowed’ spaceships with point costs, they can modify the spacecraft or point costs if desired. These rules also assume the PC(s) are buying a new full cost spaceship, but it’s simple to modify them – the +1 to SM, equates to x3 in Cost for [10] points. Reversing this, a ‘used’ spaceship could sell for 1/3 Cost and reduce the point cost by [-10], for 1/10th the Cost reduce the point cost by [-20]. Such ‘cheap’ spacecraft probably have more than a few problems and quirks which will need constant maintenance and repair (Spaceships 2 Chapter 2 for further details and ideas). The point cost can be split between the PC’s. If they have different starting Wealth levels, you could split the cost and then subtract each PC’s personal wealth level cost (still Min [5] points each) to get the cost of their share – assuming they have an even share. (I’m not sure how balanced this last might be for different starting Wealths!, use GM’s judgement).