d20 FUTURE
STARSHIPS - MEDIUMWEIGHT STARSHIPS
MEDIUMWEIGHT STARSHIP SUBTYPES
Mediumweight starships encompass cruisers, clippers, and most transports. They balance firepower and defense with speed and maneuverability.
A mediumweight starship measures 501–1,000 feet long. It occupies a 1,000-foot-by-1,000-foot fighting space (4 500-foot squares). In addition, all mediumweight starships share the following design specs.
Engines: All mediumweight starships have thrusters plus one other type of engine (see Starship Engines).
Armor: A mediumweight starship has one type of armor (see Starship Armor).
Defensive Systems: A mediumweight starship has a maximum of one defensive system per 25 Hit Dice (see Starship Defense Systems).
Sensors: A mediumweight starship has a maximum of three sensor systems (see Starship Sensors).
Communications: A mediumweight starship has up to two external communication systems (see Starship Comm Systems).
Weapons: A mediumweight starship has one beam, projectile, or missile weapon per 25 Hit Dice (see Starship Weapons).
These weapons are often fire-linked or arrayed in batteries. A minelayer is considered a single weapon. Although it weighs no more than a few thousand pounds, each mine consumes 100 tons of a ship’s cargo capacity (most of it taken up by the launch system and radiation shielding).
Grappling Systems: A mediumweight 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).
MEDIUMWEIGHT SHIP DESCRIPTIONS
Specific subtypes of mediumweight starships are given here.
BULK FREIGHTER (PL 6)
Bulk freighters usually carry cargo in bulk containers, and carry out regular runs between densely populated systems.
| Type: Mediumweight | Size: Colossal (–8 size) |
| Subtype: Bulk freighter | Tactical Speed: 2,500 ft. (5 sq.) |
| Defense: 7 | Length: 800 ft. |
| Flat-footed Defense: 5 | Weight: 32,000 tons |
| Autopilot Defense: 7 | Targeting System Bonus: +3 |
| Hardness: 20 | Crew: 8 (trained +4) |
| Hit Dice: 125d20 (2,500 hp) | Passenger Capacity: 8 |
| Initiative Modifier: +2 | Cargo Capacity: 20,000 tons |
| Pilot’s Class Bonus: +3 | Grapple Modifier: +16 |
| Pilot’s Dex Modifier: +2 | Base Purchase DC: 60 |
| Gunner’s Attack Bonus: +2 | Restriction: Restricted (+2) |
Attack: 4 fire-linked heavy lasers –3 ranged (16d8)
Attack of Opportunity: Point-defense system +3 ranged (3d12×10)
Standard PL 6 Design Specs:
Engines: Fusion torch, thrusters
Armor: Alloy plating
Defense Systems: Improved autopilot system, improved damage control (4d10), point-defense system, radiation shielding, sensor jammer
Sensors: Class II sensor array, targeting system
Communications: Laser transceiver, radio transceiver
Weapons: 4 fire-linked heavy lasers (range incr. 4,000 ft.)
Grappling Systems: Grapplers
CLIPPER (PL 6)
| Type: Mediumweight | Size: Colossal (–8 size) |
| Subtype: Clipper | Tactical Speed: 3,500 ft. (7 sq.) |
| Defense: 7 | Length: 850 ft. |
| Flat-footed Defense: 5 | Weight: 27,000 tons |
| Autopilot Defense: 7 | Targeting System Bonus: +3 |
| Hardness: +3 | Crew: 32 (trained +4) |
| Hit Dice: 150d20 (3,000 hp) | Passenger Capacity: 80 |
| Initiative Modifier: +2 | Cargo Capacity: 10,000 tons |
| Pilot’s Class Bonus: +3 | Grapple Modifier: +16 |
| Pilot’s Dex Modifier: +2 | Base Purchase DC: 60 |
| Gunner’s Attack Bonus: +2 | Restriction: Restricted (+2) |
Attack: Battery of 5 lasers +1 ranged (6d8/19–20)
Attack of Opportunity: Point-defense system +3 ranged (3d12×10)
Standard PL 6 Design Specs:
Engines: Ion engine, thrusters
Armor: Vanadium
Defense Systems: Damage control (3d10), 1 decoy drone launcher (2 drones), improved autopilot system, magnetic field, point-defense system, radiation shielding
Sensors: Class II sensor array, targeting system
Communications: Laser transceiver, radio transceiver
Weapons: 1 battery of 5 lasers (range incr. 3,000 ft.)
Grappling Systems: Grapplers
CRUISER (PL 6)
The cruiser is a warship that serves several roles. It may be part of a task force, escorting capital ships or laying mines. It may operate independently as a scout and raider. Conversely, it may serve in diplomatic and scientific tasks. Light cruisers frequently have outstanding endurance and can operate with little or no resupply for months on end. A cruiser hull could serve equally well as an escort carrier or assault transport.
| Type: Mediumweight | Size: Colossal (–8 size) |
| Subtype: Cruiser | Tactical Speed: 3,000 ft. (6 sq.) |
| Defense: 7 | Length: 720 ft. |
| Flat-footed Defense: 5 | Weight: 28,800 tons |
| Autopilot Defense: 5 | Targeting System Bonus: +3 |
| Hardness: 30 | Crew: 120 (trained +4) |
| Hit Dice: 200d20 (4,000 hp) | Passenger Capacity: 80 |
| Initiative Modifier: +6 | Cargo Capacity: 7,200 tons |
| Pilot’s Class Bonus: +3 | Grapple Modifier: +16 |
| Pilot’s Dex Modifier: +2 | Base Purchase DC: 64 |
| Gunner’s Attack Bonus: +2 | Restriction: Military (+3) |
Attack: Battery of 3 fusion beams –1 ranged (10d8/19–20) and battery of 3 CHE missiles –6 ranged (6d12/18–20); or Battery of 3 CHE missiles –1 ranged (6d12/18–20) and battery of 4 fusion beams –6 ranged (10d8/19–20)
Attack of Opportunity: Point-defense system +3 ranged (3d12×10)
Standard PL 6 Design Specs:
Engines: Fusion torch, thrusters
Armor: Vanadium
Defense Systems: Autopilot system, 1 chaff launcher (8 chaff bundles), 1 decoy drone launcher (8 drones), improved damage control (4d10), magnetic field, point-defense system, radiation shielding, self-destruct system
Sensors: Class III sensor array, targeting system
Communications: Laser transceiver, radio transceiver
Weapons: 1 battery of 4 fusion beams (range incr. 3,000 ft.), 1 battery of 3 CHE missile launchers (24 missiles each), 1 minelayer (36 fusion mines with magnetic fields and stealth screens; 5d10×10 damage)
Grappling Systems: Grapplers
STRIKE CRUISER (PL 7)
These armored cruisers often serve as the centerpiece of raiding or patrolling task forces, especially if heavier warships are unavailable. Many strike cruisers are configured for task force command functions; the command cruiser is a common variant of this hull type. A strike cruiser hull could easily serve as a light carrier or assault carrier.
| Type: Mediumweight | Size: Colossal (–8 size) |
| Subtype: Strike cruiser | Tactical Speed: 3,500 ft. (7 sq.) |
| Defense: 11 | Length: 950 ft. |
| Flat-footed Defense: 7 | Weight: 38,000 tons |
| Autopilot Defense: 7 | Targeting System Bonus: +5 |
| Hardness: 40 | Crew: 160 (expert +8) |
| Hit Dice: 250d20 (5,000 hp) | Passenger Capacity: 40 |
| Initiative Modifier: +8 | Cargo Capacity: 1,200 tons |
| Pilot’s Class Bonus: +5 | Grapple Modifier: +16 |
| Pilot’s Dex Modifier: +4 | Base Purchase DC: 68 |
| Gunner’s Attack Bonus: +4 | Restriction: Military (+3) |
Attack: Battery of 4 antimatter guns +4 ranged (10d8/19–20) and battery of 3 plasma missiles –2 ranged (18d8/18–20); or Battery of 3 plasma missiles +3 ranged (18d8/18–20) and battery of 4 antimatter guns –1 ranged (10d8/19–20)
Attack of Opportunity: Point-defense system +5 ranged (3d12×10)
Standard PL 7 Design Specs:
Engines: Particle impulse engine, thrusters
Armor: Neutronite
Defense Systems: 1 chaff launcher (16 chaff bundles), improved autopilot system, improved damage control (4d10), light fortification, magnetic field, particle field, point-defense system, radiation shielding, repair drones, self-destruct system
Sensors: Class V sensor array, improved targeting system
Communications: Drivesat comm array, mass transceiver
Weapons: 1 battery of 4 antimatter guns (range incr. 5,000 ft.), 1 battery of 3 plasma missile launchers (16 missiles each), 1 minelayer (8 gravitic mines with displacers, magnetic fields, and particle fields; 10d10×10 damage)
Grappling Systems: Grapplers, tractor beam emitter
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