d20 FUTURE
STARSHIPS - LIGHT STARSHIPS
Light starships include corvettes, frigates, destroyers, haulers, and industrial ships, such as garbage barges and fuel carriers.
Light starships are somewhat better armed and armored than ultralight starships, but sacrifice a little in the way of speed.
A light starship measures 251–500 feet long. It has a 500-footby- 500-foot fighting space and occupies a single 500-foot square. In addition, all light starships share the following design specs.
Engines: All light starships have thrusters plus one other type of engine (see Starship Engines).
Armor: A light starship has one type of armor (see Starship Armor).
Defensive Systems: A light starship has a maximum of one defensive system per 10 Hit Dice (see Starship Defense Systems).
Sensors: A light starship has a maximum of two sensor systems (see Starship Sensors).
Communications: A light starship has up to two external communication systems (see Starship Comm Systems).
Weapons: A light starship has one beam, projectile, or missile weapon per 10 Hit Dice (see Starship Weapons). These weapons are often fire-linked. A light starship cannot be armed with mines.
Grappling Systems: A light starship may have up to two grappling systems (see Grappling Systems). Each grappling system takes away one of the ship’s weapon slots (see above).
LIGHT SHIP DESCRIPTIONS
Specific subtypes of light starships are given here.
CORVETTE (PL 6)
| Type: Light | Size: Colossal (–8 size) |
| Subtype: Corvette | Tactical Speed: 3,500 ft. (7 sq.) |
| Defense: 7 | Length: 320 ft. |
| Flat-footed Defense: 5 | Weight: 3,200 tons |
| Autopilot Defense: 5 | Targeting System Bonus: +3 |
| Hardness: 30 | Crew: 16 (trained +4) |
| Hit Dice: 40d20 (800 hp) | Passenger Capacity: 32 |
| Initiative Modifier: +4 | Cargo Capacity: 150 tons |
| Pilot’s Class Bonus: +3 | Grapple Modifier: +16 |
| Pilot’s Dex Modifier: +2 | Base Purchase DC: 56 |
| Gunner’s Attack Bonus: +2 | Restriction: Military (+3) |
Attack: 2 fire-linked fusion beams –3 ranged (15d8) and 2 fire-linked CHE missiles –8 ranged (9d12/19–20); or 2 fire-linked CHE missiles –3 ranged (9d12/19–20) and 2 fire-linked fusion beams –8 ranged (15d8)
Attack of Opportunity: Point-defense system +3 ranged (2d12×10)
Standard PL 6 Design Specs:
Engines: Ion engine, thrusters
Armor: Vanadium
Defense Systems: Autopilot system, improved damage control (3d10), magnetic field, point-defense system, radiation shielding
Sensors: Class III sensor array, targeting system
Communications: Laser transceiver, radio transceiver
Weapons: 2 fire-linked fusion beams (range incr. 3,000 ft.), 2 firelinked CHE missile launchers (8 missiles each)
Grappling Systems: Grapplers
DESTROYER (PL 6)
Destroyers take their name from the torpedo-boat destroyers of the late 19th century. They are integral to the defense of a task force, screening it against small craft and attack ships. Destroyers are often armed with one or two bombs or missiles useful against much larger ships. A destroyer is usually about 450 to 600 feet long and masses about 8,000 tons. It carries a crew of 150 to 200.
| Type: Light | Size: Colossal (–8 size) |
| Subtype: Destroyer | Tactical Speed: 3,000 ft. (6 sq.) |
| Defense: 11 | Length: 450 ft. |
| Flat-footed Defense: 7 | Weight: 8,000 tons |
| Autopilot Defense: 7 | Targeting System Bonus: +3 |
| Hardness: 30 | Crew: 80 (expert +8) |
| Hit Dice: 80d20 (1,600 hp) | Passenger Capacity: 48 |
| Initiative Modifier: +4 | Cargo Capacity: 400 tons |
| Pilot’s Class Bonus: +4 | Grapple Modifier: +16 |
| Pilot’s Dex Modifier: +4 | Base Purchase DC: 60 |
| Gunner’s Attack Bonus: +4 | Restriction: Military (+3) |
Attack: 4 fire-linked heavy neutron guns –1 ranged (20d8) and 2 fire-linked nuclear missiles –6 melee (24d8/19–20) and needle driver –6 melee (8d12); or 4 fire-linked nuclear missiles –1 ranged (24d8/19–20) and 2 fire-linked heavy neutron guns –6 melee (20d8) and needle driver –6 melee (8d12)
Attack of Opportunity: Point-defense system +3 ranged (2d12×10)
Standard PL 6 Design Specs:
Engines: Fusion torch, thrusters
Armor: Vanadium
Defense Systems: 1 chaff launcher (16 chaff bundles), 1 decoy drone launcher (4 drones), improved autopilot system, improved damage control (3d10), magnetic field, point-defense system, radiation shielding, self-destruct system
Sensors: Class II sensor array, targeting system
Communications: Laser transceiver, radio transceiver
Weapons: 4 fire-linked heavy neutron guns (range incr. 6,000 ft.), 2 fire-linked nuclear missile launchers (8 missiles each), 1 needle driver (range incr. 4,000 ft.)
Grappling Systems: Grapplers
FRIGATE (PL 6)
A military vessel used for scouting and escort duties, the frigate is primarily intended to act as a screen for larger vessels against attacks by small craft.
| Type: Light | Size: Colossal (–8 size) |
| Subtype: Frigate | Tactical Speed: 3,000 ft. (6 sq.) |
| Defense: 11 | Length: 360 ft. |
| Flat-footed Defense: 7 | Weight: 4,800 tons |
| Autopilot Defense: 7 | Targeting System Bonus: +3 |
| Hardness: 30 | Crew: 60 (expert +8) |
| Hit Dice: 60d20 (1,200 hp) | Passenger Capacity: 32 |
| Initiative Modifier: +4 | Cargo Capacity: 200 tons |
| Pilot’s Class Bonus: +5 | Grapple Modifier: +16 |
| Pilot’s Dex Modifier: +4 | Base Purchase DC: 60 |
| Gunner’s Attack Bonus: +4 | Restriction: Military (+3) |
Attack: 2 fire-linked heavy neutron guns –1 ranged (15d8) and 2 nuclear missiles –6 ranged (16d8/19–20) and needle driver –6 ranged (8d12); or 2 fire-linked nuclear missiles –1 ranged (24d8/19–20) and 2 unlinked heavy neutron guns –6 ranged (10d8) and needle driver –6 ranged (8d12)
Attack of Opportunity: Point-defense system +3 ranged (2d12×10)
Standard PL 6 Design Specs:
Engines: Fusion torch, thrusters
Armor: Vanadium
Defense Systems: Improved autopilot, improved damage control (3d10), magnetic field, point-defense system, radiation shielding, self-destruct system
Sensors: Class II sensor array, targeting system
Communications: Laser transceiver, radio transceiver
Weapons: 2 fire-linked heavy neutron guns (range incr. 6,000 ft.), 2 fire-linked nuclear missile launchers (8 missiles each), 1 needle driver (range incr. 4,000 ft.)
Grappling Systems: Grapplers
HAULER (PL 6)
The hauler is a space-going tug that drags heavy, nonpowered loads and modular cargo containers, though they have precious little cargo space of their own. Haulers are fitted with big power plants and huge engines, at the expense of crew quarters and armaments.
| Type: Light | Size: Colossal (–8 size) |
| Subtype: Hauler | Tactical Speed: 2,500 ft. (5 sq.) |
| Defense: 5 | Length: 450 ft. |
| Flat-footed Defense: 5 | Weight: 6,000 tons |
| Autopilot Defense: 5 | Targeting System Bonus: +3 |
| Hardness: 20 | Crew: 8 (trained +4) |
| Hit Dice: 36d20 (720 hp) | Passenger Capacity: 8 |
| Initiative Modifier: +2 | Cargo Capacity: 3,300 tons |
| Pilot’s Class Bonus: +3 | Grapple Modifier: +16 |
| Pilot’s Dex Modifier: +2 | Base Purchase DC: 56 |
| Gunner’s Attack Bonus: +2 | Restriction: Restricted (+2) |
Attack: 2 fire-linked heavy lasers –3 ranged (12d8)
Attack of Opportunity: Point-defense system +3 ranged (2d12×10)
Standard PL 6 Design Specs:
Engines: Fusion torch, thrusters
Armor: Alloy plating
Defense Systems: Autopilot system, damage control system (2d10), point-defense system
Sensors: Class II sensor array, targeting system
Communications: Laser transceiver, radio transceiver
Weapons: 2 fire-linked heavy lasers (range incr. 4,000 ft.)
Grappling Systems: Grapplers
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