Continued Changes to Astra Imperia Tech

In line with my previous post about potential changes in the Astra Imperia technology research section, I’m going to detail some additional changes affected by the change.

One frequent frustration I have heard, and experienced it myself in ship design is the back and forth that comes about because the final size is fluid up until the point the designer says, “Enough!”

In hopes to alleviate this, I am putting in a Superstructure component. This component costs 1MCr per ton. It adds no structure (for damage purposes); it does not affect the number of hardpoints. It will increase the signature, and the power cost per thrust.

Hopefully, this will allow a ship designer to say “This ship is going to be X tons” and when it comes out to less, the designer can just add superstructure for a minimal cost to get the tonnage where it is needed.

As an example, the science ship from the rules:

Science Vessel – 844 tons, 16,715 MCr. LPV 226
Picket Class, Sig 38m/137m, Structure: 422
Primitive Fission (5), Radiators: 2
Sensor Class I
Channel Class I
Signature Class I
Resolution Class I
Science Instruments I
Alpha Shields
Alpha Armor
FTL Class I
Basic Nuclear Torch Engine (Thrust 8)
Prototype Inertial Compensators
Streamlined
This ship generates 5 Survey points per day. This ship requires 50 power to enter FTL; this may be accomplished by shutting N-Space engines down.

As you can see, this is a fairly non-descript ship built on starting technologies. Using the revamped technology rules, the ship turns out like this:

Science Vessel – 1,500 tons, 16,701 MCr. LPV 226
Picket Class, Sig 67m/121m, Structure: 712
Primitive Fission, Radiators: 2
Sensor Class I
Channel Class I
Signature Class I
Resolution Class I
Science Instruments I
Alpha Shields
Alpha Armor
FTL Class I
Basic Nuclear Torch Engine (Thrust 8)
Prototype Inertial Compensators
Streamlined
This ship generates 5 Survey points per day.

As I am writing this, I noticed the ship in the rules (or the one I based my original calculations on) is incorrect. Regardless, the second ship is inline with the revised tech rules. The ship is nearly twice the size, for less cost, same speed, and a higher signature while not under power. But under power, the signature is lower. The ship does not need to come to a halt to enter FTL, which is a big tactical advantage. In fact, the second ship generates 1250 power while only using 438.

Of course, with the single item for power, the DAC might need some looking at.