A big book of primitive jumpships

[Liam's Ghost]

I made another thing: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DYINEAG9pK5Mv_lmzX0jKuTGMUjqKrjd/view?usp=sharing

This is a whole bunch* of primitive jumpship record sheets, following the format I'm using in my other record sheet book. Actually, it's intended to be part of a whole volume intended to cover from the dawn of space travel to the reunification war, but the rest of that will be a while yet. This file includes most of the primitive jumpships I've posted here in the past, plus a few new ones.

*While there are over a hundred record sheets in the book, I feel compelled to disclose that a lot of this is because how tech progresses for primitive jumpships, so a lot of them are the same ship with slightly different cargo capacity. There are still twenty nine separate classes covered, and even the classes that have a lot of variants at least have some variety.

[VhenRa]

What's the jump range on these ships out of curiosity?

[Red Pins]

...*

You just have me another job this holiday Monday - remove all the recent can stuff and burn another disk.  Two terabytes goes so fast!   

[Liam's Ghost]

What's the jump range on these ships out of curiosity?

Absalom: 15 light years
Ark: 15 light years
Bowen: 15 light years
Erikson: 20 light years
Kestrel: 20 light years
Packet: 15 light years
Pathfinder: 15 light years
Raven: 27 light years
Raven (2300): 28 light years
Type 51: 15 light years
Vritra: 15 light years
Nemed: 20 light years
Hanako: 20 light years
Kaiser: 15 light years
Aquilla: 15 light years
Sarnath: 15 light years
Crucis: 20 light years
Chidori: 15 light years
Defiant: 15 light years
Tegetthoff: 15 light years
Acheron: 18 light years
Aurora: 22 light years
Tea Clipper: 25 light years
Cassiopeia: 20 light years
Belloc: 15 light years
Harlech: 20 light years
Picket: 20 light years
Saint Barbara: 15 light years
Excalibur: 20 light years
City: 20 light years
Admiral: 15 light years
Eagle: 20 light years
Keagan: 25 light years
Orion: 20 light years
Sultan: 20 light years

I may have to put in a request to see if the Megamek people will put that information on the record sheet.

[Liam's Ghost]

Also updated version that actually has all those classes that are on that list but weren't in the prior version:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yHCqCRD8FjpnogqRwLgdOZXJctmicxOF/view?usp=sharing

(Look, I'm on round three of probably-a-cold-but-maybe-the-covid isolation and I'm too tired for social interaction. I can quit whenever I want. )

[Red Pins]

 

[David CGB]

Thanks for the information, jump ship wise!

[mikecj]

Thank you!

[Korzon77]

Also updated version that actually has all those classes that are on that list but weren't in the prior version:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yHCqCRD8FjpnogqRwLgdOZXJctmicxOF/view?usp=sharing

(Look, I'm on round three of probably-a-cold-but-maybe-the-covid isolation and I'm too tired for social interaction. I can quit whenever I want. )

This is great!

Also, take care of yourself!

[Hairbear541]

Liam , i love your primitive js . i've already got most properly cataloged and saved . these are the ones i've never seen before , so if you can direct me to where to find them .
Absalom , Packet , Raven , Vritra , Aquilla , Sarnath , Chidori , Defiant ,Tegetthoff ,Acheron, Aurora , Tea Clipper , Belloc , St. Barbara , City , Eagle & Sultan

[Liam's Ghost]

New Version: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ol9sJLLTpIs-QibuEAwGHUY_RqizS_hz/view?usp=sharing

This adds the Predator class Sloop, two never built battlecruisers, and the Sirius class Megafreighter.

Liam , i love your primitive js . i've already got most properly cataloged and saved . these are the ones i've never seen before , so if you can direct me to where to find them .
Absalom , Packet , Raven , Vritra , Aquilla , Sarnath , Chidori , Defiant ,Tegetthoff ,Acheron, Aurora , Tea Clipper , Belloc , St. Barbara , City , Eagle & Sultan

Sorry, forgot to answer this. The Tegetthoff, Aurora, Defiant, Tea Clipper, and City should be on this board. My versions of later upgraded Aquillas too. The rest are all new and only appear here. I may do extended fluff entries for them at a later date, but no promises.

[truetanker]

Where's those blasted Like! and Throw money at it! buttons again?

TT

[Liam's Ghost]

New update! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vKdTiMwELP_GgTiAoklXEzZs9lRyKhmn/view?usp=sharing

In this version we have added:
*The unique Kestrel class Jumpship the Black Revenge; a pirate vessel making up for the lack of proper naval weapons with more machine guns and rockets
*The Liberty class Raider. A ship built by anti-Alliance separatists who thought the crew of the Black Revenge was on to something.
*Atalanta class Frigate (not a typo). A sensor picket built by post-outer reaches rebellion navies that probably originated in an Alliance dockyard.
*Rapier class Assault Ship: A combination gunship/troop transport operated by the Sarna Supremacy back when nobody in the Capellan sector had warships but everybody's fleet was still shooting at everybody.
*Ares class Cruiser: A Capellan Hegemony design whose operating manual was copied from a claymore mine.
*Electra class Merchant Cruiser: Popular escort for the trading fleets in Capellan and Davion space. Not really intended as a front line combat vessel, ended up as one anyway.
*Jupiter class Transport: An attempt at a rival to the Aquilla, reasonably popular in Capellan and Davion space, and the civilian counterpart to the Electra.
*Standard class Cruiser: First generation "heavy" cruiser of the post rebellion era. Known as the standard because everybody who built it was copying a standard set of plans.
*Xing Ying class Cruiser: Fresh off the Capellan/Sarnese War, the St Ives Mercantile Association was one of the few combatants able to learn from it and prep for the next war.
*Lancer class battlecruiser: Davion boondoggle, important stepping stone to creating the Defender, or another sign of the author's unhealthy obsession with HMS Furious? You be the judge!

[Wrangler]

Tag!  Wow, what cool book! I didn't know this existed!

[Wrangler]

I just noticed, some of the transports don't list their passenger bays.  Example the Tea Clipper. Is this not included when a record sheet is generated?

[NathanKell]

Well this is absolutely wonderful! And I have to say, I love your approach to treating the CHARGERS as the military predecessors to the AQUILLA class, a concept I hope you don't mind if I borrow. It explains a great deal.

Also the KAISER class is on this board too. I well recall that misbegotten monstrosity (a rival for CURIOUS, SPURIOUS, and OUTRAGEOUS for sure).

[DOC_Agren]

very nice

[Wrangler]

I have added the Big Book to Fanon wiki so people have second place search it on the web.

EDIT: I was trying used my stupid tiny button phone to write this. Sorry :S

[Red Pins]

Tagged again forgot to download this.

[Liam's Ghost]

I bring this back from the dead!

Today I have a preview for the next section of this record sheet books. Specifically record sheets for small craft and dropshuttles.

Link!

To do, write a fluff section for them, merge them with the original Jumpships document, polish up a title and disclaimer page, contemplate additional units (there's room for both primitive aerofighters and early WarShips).

And decide if I want this to be an aerospace only standalone book, or if I want to merge it into a mega massive book with early mechs, infantry, and vehicles.

Thought for the day, if a Japanese person says yes to a German, does the German think they're being warned about sharks?

[idea weenie]

Today I have a preview for the next section of this record sheet books. Specifically record sheets for small craft and dropshuttles.

Link!

To do, write a fluff section for them, merge them with the original Jumpships document, polish up a title and disclaimer page, contemplate additional units (there's room for both primitive aerofighters and early WarShips).

And decide if I want this to be an aerospace only standalone book, or if I want to merge it into a mega massive book with early mechs, infantry, and vehicles. 

My idea of the break-point would be if you have two categories where each has less than 50 of that design (if the designs are close), then put them into the same book.  If a design has over 100 examples, it should be in its own book.

One idea would be to go with multiple books: one for small craft, one for Dropships, one for Jumpships, and one for Warships.  This way the separate categories each have their own book.  Combining might be possible between Small Craft, Dropshuttles, and Dropships, with a separate book for the Jumpships/Warships.  This would split the strategic movement FTL-capable and non-FTL-capable vessels.  This way if you need to make a rule change for Jumpships, then only the Jumpship/Warship book needs to be updated, instead of people needing to download a new massive file.

Some groupings might be:
* Infantry + Battlearmor (both are deployed in squads/platoons)
* Infantry + Vehicles (infantry are deployed from vehicles)
* All land vehicles (treaded, wheeled, hover)
* All naval vehicles (hydrofoil, standard, submarine)
* Support Vehicles + Mobile Structures
* Battlearmor + ProtoMechs (non-Battlemech individual armor units)
* Conventional Fighters and ASF (they both fly and have no strategic fuel consumption)
* Jumpships + Warships + Space Stations (all strategic items)

If not sure, make up a list of how many are of each design, and try to eyeball it so the groupings that are fit together result in a book with about the same number of designs

[Wrangler]

I bring this back from the dead!

Today I have a preview for the next section of this record sheet books. Specifically record sheets for small craft and dropshuttles.

Link!

To do, write a fluff section for them, merge them with the original Jumpships document, polish up a title and disclaimer page, contemplate additional units (there's room for both primitive aerofighters and early WarShips).

And decide if I want this to be an aerospace only standalone book, or if I want to merge it into a mega massive book with early mechs, infantry, and vehicles.

Thought for the day, if a Japanese person says yes to a German, does the German think they're being warned about sharks?

Please keep us informed.  I will update the wiki storage once you sort out how you want it be. Separate book would be fine too or new volume.  I will have wait on adding new program add art work again to your pdf.

[marauder648]

This is bloody awesome

[DevianID]

I really liked reading through these, and was putting together some generic ships for Battletech 2300--these will fit right in.

Instead of doing separate ships based on year, I did standard 'block' upgrades that can apply equally to any ship.  Thus a 2140 Primitive Jumpship would be 'block ii' in 2201+, with a jump sail and the bonus tonnage to fuel (I use a lot more fuel than you, 10% is the base for me), and 'block iii' in 2301+ would be +1 thrust, with the fuel efficiency equaling the 'block ii' but using less tonnage.

As for weaponry, I figured the main weaponry before aerofighters get popular 2300+ and experimental versions of the Naval Auto cannon hit general production would be drones and manned boarding small craft.  Drones can be '1 way' designs to emulate a primitive capital missile, programed to fire a salvo of rockets and then ram an enemy ship--expensive, vulnerable to the standard ECM all these ships have, and you can pack them in cargo for 'reloads', but also a good weapon system for capital weapons to replace.

[Liam's Ghost]

Updated!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pUtawVkZVsNELSxn_Irl4ju4PtLxxOrq/view?usp=sharing

This version adds the Yamanashi, Dilligence, Xanthus, and Typhoon class jumpships, as well as a listing of the jump range of every jumpship in the book, and a list of design quirks that mostly serves to identify when they pick up the Obsolete quirk.

This should also be considered the final version of the Big Book of Primitive Jumpships, as I intend to fold this entire book into a larger tome that will also cover early aerofighters, small craft, and warships.

[CVB]

Thanks for sharing, and looking forward the the Large Tome of Everything Early in Vacuum!

[Wrangler]

This is a seriously good book.  I love how so much of the past is given some logical space for early Jumpships, with guns that had existed at the time in canon.  Ranges is really handy. 

Thanks again for updating the book. I've updated the link on the Book's Fanon wiki page.

The Black Revenge is really interesting! I love the thing! I like the Xanthus Repair Ship, it's nice addition and gives a lot options for players using your ships.
Typhoon is a Wrecking ball, even for modern ships.

[idea weenie]

Updated!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pUtawVkZVsNELSxn_Irl4ju4PtLxxOrq/view?usp=sharing

This version adds the Yamanashi, Dilligence, Xanthus, and Typhoon class jumpships, as well as a listing of the jump range of every jumpship in the book, and a list of design quirks that mostly serves to identify when they pick up the Obsolete quirk.

This should also be considered the final version of the Big Book of Primitive Jumpships, as I intend to fold this entire book into a larger tome that will also cover early aerofighters, small craft, and warships.

On page 13 where it lists the ships, their jump ranges, and year they become obsolete, what order are the ships in?  Should they be in alphabetical order to make them easier to find?

[Liam's Ghost]

On page 13 where it lists the ships, their jump ranges, and year they become obsolete, what order are the ships in?  Should they be in alphabetical order to make them easier to find?

They should be in the order that the record sheets appear in the book, so primarily by tonnage. If it's a problem it should be an easy fix to switch the list to alphabetical.

[idea weenie]

They should be in the order that the record sheets appear in the book, so primarily by tonnage. If it's a problem it should be an easy fix to switch the list to alphabetical.

They likely are in order of tonnage, but that means you have to memorize the tonnages of the different ships to try and find the one you are looking for.  If they were in alphabetical order you could just glance at the list, spot the name, and read the range.

For example, in the current setup if you wanted to look up the jump range for the Electra-class Merchant Cruiser, you would first have to look up the Electra in the record sheets, find out that it is 150 ktons, then look through the list to spot the Electra's range (20 ly).  For an electronic document this is a simple matter of Ctrl-F to find "Electra" and going from highlight to highlight, but for a physical document it would take a little longer (compare how paper TROs would group units by type, then alphabetically by name).


Of course I would also like the Ship Record sheets to have capacity for typed notes to be present, so stuff like this could be added easily.