/
vehicle-design.html
5559 lines (5511 loc) · 168 KB
/
vehicle-design.html
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711
712
713
714
715
716
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741
742
743
744
745
746
747
748
749
750
751
752
753
754
755
756
757
758
759
760
761
762
763
764
765
766
767
768
769
770
771
772
773
774
775
776
777
778
779
780
781
782
783
784
785
786
787
788
789
790
791
792
793
794
795
796
797
798
799
800
801
802
803
804
805
806
807
808
809
810
811
812
813
814
815
816
817
818
819
820
821
822
823
824
825
826
827
828
829
830
831
832
833
834
835
836
837
838
839
840
841
842
843
844
845
846
847
848
849
850
851
852
853
854
855
856
857
858
859
860
861
862
863
864
865
866
867
868
869
870
871
872
873
874
875
876
877
878
879
880
881
882
883
884
885
886
887
888
889
890
891
892
893
894
895
896
897
898
899
900
901
902
903
904
905
906
907
908
909
910
911
912
913
914
915
916
917
918
919
920
921
922
923
924
925
926
927
928
929
930
931
932
933
934
935
936
937
938
939
940
941
942
943
944
945
946
947
948
949
950
951
952
953
954
955
956
957
958
959
960
961
962
963
964
965
966
967
968
969
970
971
972
973
974
975
976
977
978
979
980
981
982
983
984
985
986
987
988
989
990
991
992
993
994
995
996
997
998
999
1000
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
<title>Cepheus Engine SRD - Vehicle Design</title>
<link href="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/bootstrap@5.2.0/dist/css/bootstrap.min.css" rel="stylesheet" integrity="sha384-gH2yIJqKdNHPEq0n4Mqa/HGKIhSkIHeL5AyhkYV8i59U5AR6csBvApHHNl/vI1Bx" crossorigin="anonymous">
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdn.rawgit.com/afeld/bootstrap-toc/v1.0.1/dist/bootstrap-toc.min.css"/>
<link href="cepheus-engine-srd.css" rel="stylesheet">
</head>
<body data-bs-spy="scroll" data-bs-target="#toc">
<header>
<nav class="navbar navbar-expand-xxl navbar-dark bg-dark fixed-top">
<div class="container-fluid">
<a class="navbar-brand" href="index.html">Cepheus Engine SRD</a>
<button class="navbar-toggler" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#navbarSupportedContent" aria-controls="navbarSupportedContent" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Toggle navigation">
<span class="navbar-toggler-icon"></span>
</button>
<div class="collapse navbar-collapse" id="navbarSupportedContent">
<ul class="navbar-nav me-auto mb-2 mb-lg-0">
<li class="nav-item">
<a class="nav-link" href="introduction.html">Introduction</a>
</li>
<li class="nav-item dropdown">
<a class="nav-link dropdown-toggle" data-toggle="dropdown" href="" role="button" data-bs-toggle="dropdown" aria-expanded="false">Book 1: Characters</a>
<div class="dropdown-menu">
<a class="dropdown-item" href="character-creation.html">Chapter 1: Character Creation</a>
<a class="dropdown-item" href="skills.html">Chapter 2: Skills</a>
<a class="dropdown-item" href="psionics.html">Chapter 3: Psionics</a>
<a class="dropdown-item" href="equipment.html">Chapter 4: Equipment</a>
<a class="dropdown-item" href="personal-combat.html">Chapter 5: Personal Combat</a>
</div>
</li>
<li class="nav-item dropdown">
<a class="nav-link dropdown-toggle" data-toggle="dropdown" href="" role="button" data-bs-toggle="dropdown" aria-expanded="false">Book 2: Starships and Interstellar Travel</a>
<div class="dropdown-menu">
<a class="dropdown-item" href="off-world-travel.html">Chapter 6: Off-World Travel</a>
<a class="dropdown-item" href="trade-and-commerce.html">Chapter 7: Trade and Commerce</a>
<a class="dropdown-item" href="ship-design-and-construction.html">Chapter 8: Ship Design and Construction</a>
<a class="dropdown-item" href="common-vessels.html">Chapter 9: Common Vessels</a>
<a class="dropdown-item" href="space-combat.html">Chapter 10: Space Combat</a>
</div>
</li>
<li class="nav-item dropdown">
<a class="nav-link dropdown-toggle" data-toggle="dropdown" href="" role="button" data-bs-toggle="dropdown" aria-expanded="false">Book 3: Referees</a>
<div class="dropdown-menu">
<a class="dropdown-item" href="environments-and-hazards.html">Chapter 11: Environments and Hazards</a>
<a class="dropdown-item" href="worlds.html">Chapter 12: Worlds</a>
<a class="dropdown-item" href="planetary-wilderness-encounters.html">Chapter 13: Planetary Wilderness Encounters</a>
<a class="dropdown-item" href="social-encounters.html">Chapter 14: Social Encounters</a>
<a class="dropdown-item" href="starship-encounters.html">Chapter 15: Starship Encounters</a>
<a class="dropdown-item" href="refereeing-the-game.html">Chapter 16: Refereeing the Game</a>
<a class="dropdown-item" href="adventures.html">Chapter 17: Adventures</a>
</div>
</li>
<li class="nav-item dropdown active">
<a class="nav-link dropdown-toggle active" data-toggle="dropdown" href="" role="button" data-bs-toggle="dropdown" aria-expanded="false">Vehicle Design System</a>
<div class="dropdown-menu">
<a class="dropdown-item" href="vds-introduction.html">Introduction</a>
<a class="dropdown-item active" href="vehicle-design.html">Chapter 1: Vehicle Design</a>
<a class="dropdown-item" href="common-aircraft.html">Chapter 2: Common Aircraft</a>
<a class="dropdown-item" href="common-grav-vehicles.html">Chapter 3: Common Grav Vehicles</a>
<a class="dropdown-item" href="common-ground-vehicles.html">Chapter 4: Common Ground Vehicles</a>
<a class="dropdown-item" href="common-watercraft.html">Chapter 5: Common Watercraft</a>
<a class="dropdown-item" href="uncommon-vehicles.html">Chapter 6: Uncommon Vehicles</a>
<a class="dropdown-item" href="updated-common-vehicles-table.html">Appendix A: Updated Common Vehicles Table</a>
</div>
</li>
<li class="nav-item dropdown">
<a class="nav-link dropdown-toggle" data-toggle="dropdown" href="" role="button" data-bs-toggle="dropdown" aria-expanded="false">Tools</a>
<div class="dropdown-menu">
<a class="dropdown-item" href="tools/subsector-generator.html">Subsector Generator</a>
</div>
</li>
<li class="nav-item">
<a class="nav-link" href="legal.html">Legal</a>
</li>
</ul>
<form class="d-flex" action="search.html">
<div class="input-group ml-sm-2">
<input class="form-control" type="search" placeholder="Search" aria-label="Search" name="q">
<button class="btn btn-outline-light" type="submit">Search</button>
</div>
</form>
</div>
</div>
</nav>
</header>
<main class="container w-75">
<div class="row">
<div class="col-sm-3">
<nav id="toc" data-toggle="toc" class="sticky-top"></nav>
</div>
<div class="col-sm-9">
<h1>Chapter 1: Vehicle Design</h1>
<p class="lead">
This section describes some of the watercraft that can be commonly encountered in Cepheus Engine campaigns. These are not the only types of vessels that exist, and creative Referees are encouraged to integrate vehicles of their own creation or from other sources as they see fit.
</p>
<h2 id="standard-designs-vs-new-designs">Standard Designs vs. New Designs</h2>
<p>
An interstellar economy provides an excellent opportunity for the use of standardized and modular vehicle designs, as well as a wide range of markets. Components can be crafted on different worlds, taking advantage of available resources, and then put together to create a final product. Manufacturers take advantage of modular components and standardized designs to reduce costs in production, leading to a 10% discount on vehicles constructed using common designs, such as those described in the other chapters of this supplement. The Referee may designate other vehicle designs as standard designs, as befits their universe. Fuel and weapon ammunition are not covered by the Std Design Discount.
</p>
<p>
New and unique vehicle designs cannot take advantage of standardized and modular design. These vehicles must be designed by a vehicular design specialist, who creates detailed design plans based on a set of specifications provided by their client. Such plans take a month to create, and costs approximately 1% of the final price of the vehicle, to a minimum of Cr100.
</p>
<h2 id="displacement-tons-and-spaces">Displacement Tons and Spaces</h2>
<p>
Chassis and other vehicle components are measured by their displacement volume. For ships and small craft, displacement volume is measured in the volume of space that is displaced by one metric ton of hydrogen, referred to in this design sequence as displacement tons or simply tons.
</p>
<p>
Because the components for vehicles are often fractions of a ton, the Cepheus Engine Vehicle Design System (VDS) uses an artificial measure of volume to make things a little easier. A space in this design system is equal to one-twelfth of a displacement ton; i.e. there are 12 spaces in one ton.
</p>
<h2 id="design-considerations">Design Considerations</h2>
<p>
When designing a vehicle, it is important to consider two things: the vehicle’s purpose, and the Tech Level at which it will be produced. The design process flows more smoothly when you keep these two factors in mind
</p>
<h2 id="price-impact-of-modifications">The Price Impact of Modifications</h2>
<p>
Some modifications to a vehicle component, often classified under Options that can be applied to that component, modify the original price of that component. Modifications that decrease the price of a vehicle component cannot lower it below 25% of the original price.
</p>
<h2 id="vehicle-design-checklist">Vehicle Design Checklist</h2>
<p>
The Cepheus Engine Vehicle Design System (VDS) follows a very methodical process.
</p>
<ol>
<li>
<a href="#vehicle-chassis">Choose Vehicle Chassis</a>
<ol type="a">
<li><a href="#vehicle-configuration">Determine open or closed chassis</a></li>
<li><a href="#vehicle-configuration-options">Determine chassis configuration</a></li>
<li><a href="#vehicle-armor">Install armor (optional)</a></li>
</ol>
</li>
<li><a href="#vehicle-drives">Choose locomotion/propulsion</a></li>
<li>Choose power supply</li>
<li><a href="#vehicle-fuel">Determine fuel requirements</a></li>
<li><a href="#vehicle-controls">Choose vehicle’s controls</a></li>
<li><a href="#vehicle-communication-systems">Choose vehicle’s communications system (optional)</a></li>
<li><a href="#vehicle-sensors">Choose vehicle’s sensor package (optional)</a></li>
<li>
<a href="#vehicle-computer">Choose vehicle’s computer system (optional)</a>
<ol type="a">
<li>Choose computer software</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li>
<a href="#vehicle-crew-and-passengers">Determine number of required crew</a>
<ol type="a">
<li>Choose accommodations (cockpit, cabin, extended accommodations)</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li><a href="#additional-vehicle-components">Determine additional components (optional)</a></li>
<li>
<a href="#vehicle-armaments">Determine turrets, fixed mounts, etc. (optional)</a>
<ol type="a">
<li>Determine weapons (optional)</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li>Allocate remaining space to cargo</li>
<li>
Calculate final price and construction time
<ol type="a">
<li>Apply Std Design Discount of 10% (optional)</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
<h2 id="vehicle-chassis">Vehicle Chassis</h2>
<p>
The vessel’s chassis is the shell in which all other components are placed. An unarmored vehicle’s construction time is based on its chassis size, as outlined on the <a href="#vehicle-chassis-by-displacement">Vehicle Chassis by Displacement table</a>. To find the construction time for armored vehicles, simply multiply the vehicle’s base construction time by the amount of <b><i>additional</i></b> armor the vehicle will possess. For example, a 10-ton Armored Fighting Vehicle (AFV) with a total of 12 Armor would take (base of 90 hours, times 12, equals) 1080 hours, or 45 days, assuming round-the-clock construction.
</p>
<p>
<b>Custom-Made Vehicles:</b> The construction time listed is for mass production of a standard design. A custommade vehicle takes approximately ten times as long to construct.
</p>
<table class="table table-bordered table-striped table-hover table-responsive-md" id="vehicle-chassis-by-displacement">
<caption>Table: Vehicle Chassis by Displacement</caption>
<thead class="thead-light">
<tr>
<th>Chassis Code</th>
<th>Tons</th>
<th>Spaces</th>
<th>Price (Cr)</th>
<th>Construction Time (hours)</th>
<th>Size</th>
<th>Example</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tr>
<th>1</th>
<td>0.1</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>1,450</td>
<td>1</td>
<td></td>
<td>8 Standard Moving Boxes</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>2</th>
<td>0.25</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>1,600</td>
<td>2</td>
<td></td>
<td>Motorcycle</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>3</th>
<td>0.5</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>1,850</td>
<td>5</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>4</th>
<td>0.75</td>
<td>9</td>
<td>2,100</td>
<td>7</td>
<td></td>
<td>Compact Car</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>5</th>
<td>1</td>
<td>12</td>
<td>2,400</td>
<td>9</td>
<td></td>
<td>Mid-Size Car</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>6</th>
<td>2</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>3,550</td>
<td>18</td>
<td></td>
<td>Passenger Van</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>7</th>
<td>3</td>
<td>36</td>
<td>4,850</td>
<td>27</td>
<td>20-ft</td>
<td>Standard Freight Shipping Container (1CC)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>8</th>
<td>4</td>
<td>48</td>
<td>6,250</td>
<td>36</td>
<td></td>
<td>Air/Raft</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>9</th>
<td>5</td>
<td>60</td>
<td>7,800</td>
<td>45</td>
<td></td>
<td>Military Tank</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>A</th>
<td>6</td>
<td>72</td>
<td>9,550</td>
<td>54</td>
<td></td>
<td>Speeder</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>B</th>
<td>7</td>
<td>84</td>
<td>11,350</td>
<td>63</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>C</th>
<td>8</td>
<td>96</td>
<td>13,350</td>
<td>72</td>
<td></td>
<td>Semi Trailer</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>D</th>
<td>9</td>
<td>108</td>
<td>15,450</td>
<td>81</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>E</th>
<td>10</td>
<td>120</td>
<td>17,750</td>
<td>90</td>
<td></td>
<td>ATV</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>F</th>
<td>11</td>
<td>132</td>
<td>20,150</td>
<td>99</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>G</th>
<td>12</td>
<td>144</td>
<td>22,650</td>
<td>108</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>H</th>
<td>13</td>
<td>156</td>
<td>23,350</td>
<td>117</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>J</th>
<td>14</td>
<td>168</td>
<td>28,150</td>
<td>126</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>K</th>
<td>15</td>
<td>180</td>
<td>31,100</td>
<td>135</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>L</th>
<td>16</td>
<td>192</td>
<td>34,200</td>
<td>144</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>M</th>
<td>17</td>
<td>204</td>
<td>37,400</td>
<td>153</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>N</th>
<td>18</td>
<td>216</td>
<td>40,750</td>
<td>162</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>P</th>
<td>19</td>
<td>228</td>
<td>44,250</td>
<td>171</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Q</th>
<td>20</td>
<td>240</td>
<td>47,900</td>
<td>180</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</table>
<h3 id="vehicle-configuration">Vehicle Configuration</h3>
<p>
A vehicle may have one of two configurations – Closed or Open.
</p>
<dl>
<dt>Closed Vehicles:</dt>
<dd>
<p>
Closed vehicles grant cover to the occupants – unless the description mentions otherwise civilian vehicles grant ½ soft cover and military vehicles full hard cover. Only a few people in a closed vehicle can shoot out, depending on the number of windows or other firing ports and the internal space available. Unless the description mentions otherwise, up to two people can fire into each arc from a civilian vehicle and one person in each arc in a military one.
</p>
<p>
Note that closed vehicles are not sealed or airtight. They are just enclosed, offering some basic protection to the occupants within the vehicle. In order to provide complete atmospheric protection, the appropriate Environmental Protection System(s) must be installed, as provided in under Vehicle Configuration Options.
</p>
</dd>
<dt>Open Vehicles:</dt>
<dd>Open vehicles possess an open passenger area, which reduces the final price by 10% of the Base Price. Airplanes, jets and hypersonics cannot have an Open configuration. Open vehicles grant no cover to the passengers. Any passenger in an open vehicle can shoot (or otherwise attack) in any direction.</dd>
</dl>
<table class="table table-bordered table-striped table-hover table-responsive-md">
<caption>Table: Vehicle Configuration</caption>
<thead class="thead-light">
<tr>
<th>Configuration</th>
<th>Chassis Price Modifier</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tr>
<th>Closed</th>
<td>x1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Open</th>
<td>x0.9</td>
</tr>
</table>
<h3 id="vehicle-configuration-options">Vehicle Configuration Options</h3>
<p>
The following are options that can be added to a vehicle’s configuration.
</p>
<dl>
<dt>Corrosive Environmental Protection System (TL 9)</dt>
<dd>The Corrosive Environmental Protection System can be installed in any vehicles with a closed chassis to safeguard the vehicle and its crew in corrosive environments. Corrosive Environmental Protection protects against corrosive environments, very hot or very cold environments, radiation, poisons and bacteriological threats. This system takes up 6 spaces and costs Cr10,000 per Space of chassis. This system requires the purchase of Life Support.</dd>
<dt>Hostile Environmental Protection System (TL 7)</dt>
<dd>The Hostile Environmental Protection System can be installed in any vehicles with a closed chassis to safeguard the vehicle and its crew in hostile environments. Hostile Environmental Protection protects against very hot or very cold environments, radiation, poisons and bacteriological threats. This system takes up 3 spaces and costs Cr5,000 per Space of chassis. This system does not require Basic Life Support, although it can prove highly useful.</dd>
<dt>Hydrofoils</dt>
<dd>Hydrofoils may be applied to any aquatic surface vessel. Hydrofoils increase the chassis price by 300%, and multiply the base speed of the vehicle by 3.</dd>
<dt>Insidious Environmental Protection System (TL 9)</dt>
<dd>The Insidious Environmental Protection System can be installed in any vehicles with a closed chassis to safeguard the vehicle and its crew in insidious environments. Insidious Environmental Protection protects the vehicle and crew from insidious atmospheres for 5 days, before Hull/Structure integrity begins to fail at one point per day, as well as providing protection against very hot or very cold environments, radiation, poisons and bacteriological threats. This system takes up 6 spaces and costs Cr50,000 per Space of chassis. This system requires the purchase of Life Support.</dd>
<dt>Open Cargo Bed</dt>
<dd>Reduces the chassis price by 20%. Airplanes, jets and hypersonics cannot have Open Cargo Beds. Open configuration vehicles with an Open Cargo Bed combined reduce the chassis price by 25%.</dd>
<dt>Open Frame</dt>
<dd>Reduces the chassis price by 20%. Airplanes, jets and hypersonics cannot have Open Cargo Beds. Open configuration vehicles with an Open Cargo Bed combined reduce the chassis price by 25%.</dd>
<dt>Self-Sealing (TL 9)</dt>
<dd>A self-sealing chassis automatically repairs minor breaches, and prevents chassis hits from leading to explosive decompression in vacuum environments (if the Vacuum Environmental Protection System is installed). It costs Cr10,000 per ton of chassis.</dd>
<dt>Streamlined</dt>
<dd>Streamlining a thrust-based vehicle increases the chassis price by 300%. Streamlining multiplies the Base Speed of the vehicle by 5. Streamlining can be applied to any thrust-based vehicle with a closed configuration. Streamlining may not be retrofitted; it must be included at the time of construction.</dd>
<dt>Submersible</dt>
<dd>
<p>
Submersible may be applied to any aquatic vessel, allowing it to submerge below the ocean’s surface. The Submersible configuration option increase the chassis price by 500%. Base Speed for a submersible reflects the vessel’s speed underwater. The vehicle’s Base Speed is halved when the vehicle is travelling on the ocean’s surface in good weather conditions.
</p>
<p>
Submersibles are rated by their Safe Dive Depth and Crush Depth, as determined by the vessel’s Tech Level. These values are calculated for a Size 8 world. For every point of world size difference, up or down, add or subtract (respectively) 10% from the Safe Dive and Crush Depth values.
</p>
<p>
When increasing Safe Dive/Crush Depth for a submersible, for every doubling of the Safe Dive and Crush Depth, the vehicle loses half of its remains spaces (rounded off) to ballast to bring the vehicle lower into the ocean. Each doubling costs of 100% of the chassis price of the submersible.
</p>
<p>
An open chassis submersible, such as a dive sled, does not protect its drivers or passengers from the pressures of the depths of the ocean.
</p>
<p>
All submersibles get Basic Life Support and Hostile Environment Protection for free.
</p>
</dd>
</dl>
<table class="table table-bordered table-striped table-hover table-responsive-md">
<caption>Table: Submersible Safe Dive Depth and Crush Depth by Tech Level</caption>
<thead class="thead-light">
<tr>
<th>Tech Level</th>
<th>Safe Dive Depth (m)</th>
<th>Crush Depth (m)</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tr>
<th>4-5</th>
<td>50</td>
<td>150</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>6-8</th>
<td>200</td>
<td>600</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>9-11</th>
<td>600</td>
<td>1,800</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>12-14</th>
<td>2,000</td>
<td>6,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>15-16</th>
<td>4,000</td>
<td>12,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>17+</th>
<td>8,000</td>
<td>24,000</td>
</tr>
</table>
<dl>
<dt>Vacuum Environmental Protection System (TL 6)</dt>
<dd>The Vacuum Environmental Protection System can be installed in any vehicles with a closed chassis to safeguard the vehicle and its crew under vacuum conditions. Vacuum Environmental Protection protects against vacuum conditions, very hot or very cold environments, radiation, poisons and bacteriological threats. This system takes up 3 spaces and costs Cr10,000 per Space of chassis. This system requires the purchase of Life Support.</dd>
<dt>Wave-Piercing Hull</dt>
<dd>The Wave-piercing Hull puts the payload of a watercraft on streamlined pillars above the water that connect to power/fuel modules that run underwater. Interface friction is much reduced, allowing the Wave-piercing Hull to be much more efficient and stable. This increases its Base Speed by 10%. The Wavepiercing Hull uses 5% of a vehicle’s Spaces (round up) and costs 200% of the chassis price.</dd>
</dl>
<h2 id="vehicle-armor">Vehicle Armor</h2>
<p>
All vehicles start with a base amount of armor, depending on their construction materials, as outlined in the Vehicle Armor by Type table. All additional vehicle armor, regardless of armor type, is added in 5% increments of the vehicle’s volume, in Spaces. A vehicle’s armor decreases ambient radiation exposure by 10 rads per point of armor. (This does not apply to meson attacks and nuclear missiles, which bypass the armor or breach the chassis to deliver their radiation hits.) Note that these armor values are measured on the Personal Combat scale. The maximum armor a vehicle can carry is 20% of the chassis.
</p>
<table class="table table-bordered table-striped table-hover table-responsive-md">
<caption>Table: Vehicle Armor by Type</caption>
<thead class="thead-light">
<tr>
<th>Armor Type</th>
<th>TL</th>
<th>Base</th>
<th>Additional Protection</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Max Armor</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tr>
<th>Wood</th>
<td>1</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>1 per 5% chassis, min. 1 space</td>
<td>10% of base chassis</td>
<td>5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Iron</th>
<td>4</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>2 per 5% chassis, min. 1 space</td>
<td>10% of base chassis</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Titanium Steel</th>
<td>7</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>3 per 5% chassis, min. 1 space</td>
<td>10% of base chassis</td>
<td>15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Crystaliron</th>
<td>10</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>4 per 5% chassis, min. 1 space</td>
<td>20% of base chassis</td>
<td>20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Superdense</th>
<td>12</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>5 per 5% chassis, min. 1 space</td>
<td>20% of base chassis</td>
<td>25</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Bonded Superdense</th>
<td>14</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>6 per 5% chassis, min. 1 space</td>
<td>50% of base chassis</td>
<td>30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Coherent Superdense</th>
<td>17</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>8 per 5% chassis, min. 1 space</td>
<td>50% of base chassis</td>
<td>40</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>
For example, a heavily armored TL14 grav tank might take Bonded Superdense armor twice. This would take up 10% of the chassis volume (in spaces, minimum 2 spaces) and cost 100% of the base price of the chassis, but give 12 additional points of armor.
</p>
<h3 id="vehicle-armor-options">Vehicle Armor Options</h3>
<p>
The following are options that can be added to a vehicle's armor.
</p>
<dl>
<dt>Electrostatic Armor (TL 9)</dt>
<dd>This armor can be set to generate an electrostatic field that, when triggered by a person or creature, inflicts 6D6 damage. The armor may discharge twice before needing to recharge, and completely recharges after six seconds without a discharge. Electrostatic Armor requires one Space for the supporting capacitor and associated electronics, and costs Cr10,000.</dd>
<dt>Reflec (TL 10)</dt>
<dd>Reflec coating on the chassis increases the vehicle’s armor against lasers by 3. Adding Reflec costs Cr100,000 per ton of chassis and can only be added once.</dd>
<dt>Reinforced Hull</dt>
<dd>A vehicle’s Hull can be reinforced through enhanced structural engineering, increasing its Hull rating in Personal Combat by +1. This costs 20% of the vehicle’s chassis price. This can be selected twice for a total of +2 to the vehicle’s Hull.</dd>
<dt>Reinforced Structure</dt>
<dd>A vehicle’s Structure can be reinforced through enhanced engineering designs, increasing its Structure rating in Personal Combat by +1. This costs 20% of the vehicle’s chassis price. This modification can be selected twice for a total of +2 to the vehicle’s Structure.</dd>
<dt>Stealth (TL 11)</dt>
<dd>A stealth coating absorbs radar and lidar beams, and also disguises heat emissions. This imposes a –4 DM on any Comms rolls to detect or lock onto the vehicle. Adding Stealth costs Cr100,000 per ton of chassis, and can only be added once.</dd>
</dl>
<h3 id="vehicle-hull-and-structure">Vehicle Hull and Structure</h3>
<p>
Initial damage is applied to the Hull value of the chassis; once the chassis has been breached (i.e. the Hull value of the vehicle has reached zero), further damage goes to the Structure. When all Structure Points have been lost, the vehicle has been smashed to pieces. On the Space Combat scale, every vehicle has 0 Hull Points and 1 Structure Point. On the Personal Combat scale, a vehicle has one Hull Point per 5 tons of displacement (rounded down) and one Structure Point per 5 tons of displacement (rounded up). This is summarized in the Vehicle Hull and Structure, Personal Combat Scale table.
</p>
<table class="table table-bordered table-striped table-hover table-responsive-md">
<caption>Table: Vehicle Hull and Structure, Personal Combat Scale</caption>
<thead class="thead-light">
<tr>
<th>Tons</th>
<th>Hull</th>
<th>Structure</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tr>
<th>0.1-4</th>
<td>0</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>5</th>
<td>1</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>6-9</th>
<td>1</td>
<td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>10</th>
<td>2</td>
<td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>11-14</th>
<td>2</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>15</th>
<td>3</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>16-19</th>
<td>3</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>20</th>
<td>4</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
</table>
<h2 id="vehicle-drives">Vehicle Drives</h2>
<p>
All vehicles are generally built with at least one source of power (commonly referred to as the engine or power plant) and one source of propulsion or locomotion to provide movement for the vehicle. Propulsion is defined as either contact-based (requiring contact with the ground to provide motion) or thrust-based. Within the Cepheus Engine VDS, all engines, power plants and propulsion systems are categorized as drives.
</p>
<dl>
<dt>Power Plants</dt>
<dd>Within this design system, the values of the <a href="#vehicle-drive-costs">Vehicle Drive Costs</a> tables make certain assumptions. Power plant values represent the fusion engine. The <a href="#vehicle-power-plant-types">Vehicle Power Plant Types</a> table offer adjustments to represent the impact of alternate power sources.</dd>
<dt>Propulsion Systems</dt>
<dd>The contact-based propulsion system values represent the transmission and suspension of wheeled vehicles. The thrust-based propulsion system values represent the suspension of grav vehicles. The Vehicle Propulsion Types table offers adjustments to represent alternate propulsion systems.</dd>
<dt>Base Speed</dt>
<dd>
<p>
The base speed of a vehicle is determined by its propulsion drive performance and its propulsion type, as outlined in the <a href="#vehicle-base-speed-by-drive-performance">Vehicle Base Speed by Drive Performance</a> table. Base speed is measured in kilometers per hour (kph), unless otherwise specified.
</p>
<p>
A vehicle with a propulsion system must have a power source with a drive code equal to or greater than that of the vehicle’s propulsion. When determining the drive performance of a power plant or a contact-based propulsion system using the <a href="#drive-performance-by-chassis-volume">Drive Performance by Chassis Volume</a> tables, treat a zero (0) entry as a ‘—’ entry. For a thrust-based propulsion system, a zero (0) means that the thrust from the propulsion system is capable of supporting the vehicle itself in position, hovering in place, but cannot perform any actual propulsion. This allows vehicle designers to create vehicles that only move down or remain stationary, but can’t move up or forward at any significant speed. This is primarily used for robots and drones that need to remain stationary in turbulent circumstances.
</p>
</dd>
<dt>Animal-Powered or Wind-Powered Vehicles</dt>
<dd>Vehicles that possess no internal power plant or engine, such as those propelled by wind or pulled by living creatures, do not require a power plant as defined in this section, since their power comes from an external source. In this case, the vehicle must possess a drive capable of achieving a drive performance of at least 1. For more details on wind-powered or animal-powered vehicles, see <a href="#non-powered-vehicles">Non-Powered Vehicles</a> in the <a href="#special-rules">Special Rules</a> section of this chapter.</dd>
</dl>
<table class="table table-bordered table-striped table-hover table-responsive-md" id="vehicle-power-plant-types">
<caption>Table: Vehicle Power Plant Types</caption>
<thead class="thead-light">
<tr>
<th>Power Plant Type</th>
<th>TL</th>
<th>Space Mod</th>
<th>Price Mod</th>
<th>Fuel</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tr>
<th>External Combustion</th>
<td>3</td>
<td>x15</td>
<td>x0.20</td>
<td>Coal or Wood</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Internal Combustion</th>
<td>5</td>
<td>x6</td>
<td>x0.05</td>
<td>Hydrocarbons</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Fission</th>
<td>6</td>
<td>x2</td>
<td>x2</td>
<td>Radioactives</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Fuel Cell (Closed)</th>
<td>7</td>
<td>x1</td>
<td>x1</td>
<td>Hydrogen</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Fuel Cell (Open)</th>
<td>7</td>
<td>x2</td>
<td>x0.25</td>
<td>Hydrogen</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Gas Turbine</th>
<td>7</td>
<td>x1</td>
<td>x1</td>
<td>Hydrocarbons</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Early Fusion</th>
<td>9</td>
<td>x1</td>
<td>x1</td>
<td>Hydrogen</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Fusion</th>
<td>12</td>
<td>x0.75</td>
<td>x1</td>
<td>Hydrogen</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Advanced Fusion</th>
<td>15</td>
<td>x0.5</td>
<td>x2</td>
<td>Hydrogen</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Antimatter</th>
<td>17</td>
<td>x1</td>
<td>x1</td>
<td>Hydrogen</td>
</tr>
</table>
<table class="table table-bordered table-striped table-hover table-responsive-md" id="vehicle-propulsion-types">
<caption>Table: Vehicle Propulsion Types</caption>
<thead class="thead-light">
<tr>
<th>Propulsion Type</th>
<th>TL</th>
<th>Type</th>
<th>Space Mod</th>
<th>Price Mod</th>
<th>Examples</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tr>
<th>Sails, Non-Powered</th>
<td>1</td>
<td>Thrust</td>
<td>x1</td>
<td>x0.2</td>
<td>Sailing Ship</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Wheels, Non-Powered</th>
<td>1</td>
<td>Contact</td>
<td>x1</td>
<td>x0.5</td>
<td>Stagecoach</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Rails</th>
<td>3</td>
<td>Contact</td>
<td>x2</td>
<td>x1</td>
<td>Train</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Screw Propeller</th>
<td>3</td>
<td>Thrust</td>
<td>x1</td>
<td>x0.1</td>
<td>Motor Boat, Steamship</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Airship</th>
<td>4</td>
<td>Thrust</td>
<td>x1</td>
<td>x0.5</td>
<td>Dirigible</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Rotor</th>
<td>4</td>
<td>Thrust</td>
<td>x2</td>
<td>x0.5</td>
<td>Biplane, Helicopter</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Tracks</th>
<td>4</td>
<td>Contact</td>
<td>x1</td>
<td>x2</td>
<td>Tank</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Wheels</th>
<td>4</td>
<td>Contact</td>
<td>x1</td>
<td>x1</td>
<td>Ground Car</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Jet</th>
<td>5</td>
<td>Thrust</td>
<td>x2</td>
<td>x2</td>
<td>Twin-Engine Jet</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Mole</th>
<td>5</td>
<td>Contact</td>
<td>x2</td>
<td>x8</td>
<td>Mole</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Air Cushion</th>
<td>7</td>
<td>Thrust</td>
<td>x1</td>
<td>x0.5</td>
<td>Hovercraft</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Hypersonic</th>
<td>8</td>
<td>Thrust</td>
<td>x1.5</td>
<td>x4</td>
<td>Passenger Air Liner</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Legs</th>
<td>8</td>
<td>Contact</td>
<td>x2</td>
<td>x4</td>
<td>Walker</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Grav</th>
<td>9</td>
<td>Thrust</td>
<td>x1</td>
<td>x1</td>
<td>Air/Raft, Speeder</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Advanced Grav</th>
<td>12</td>
<td>Thrust</td>
<td>x0.75</td>
<td>x2</td>
<td>Grav Bike</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Extreme Grav</th>
<td>15</td>
<td>Thrust</td>
<td>x0.5</td>
<td>x4</td>
<td>G/Carrier</td>
</tr>
</table>
<table class="table table-bordered table-striped table-hover table-responsive-md" id="vehicle-drive-costs">
<caption>Table: Vehicle Drive Costs</caption>
<thead class="thead-light">
<tr>
<th>Drive Code</th>
<th colspan="2">Power Plant</th>
<th colspan="2">Contact-Based</th>
<th colspan="2">Thrust-Based</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th>Spaces</th>
<th>Price (Cr)</th>
<th>Contact-Based</th>
<th>Price (Cr)</th>
<th>Thrust-Based</th>
<th>Price (Cr)</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tr>
<th>A</th>
<td>0.11</td>
<td>125</td>
<td>0.15</td>
<td>150</td>
<td>0.12</td>
<td>6,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>B</th>
<td>0.26</td>
<td>300</td>
<td>0.4</td>
<td>400</td>
<td>0.3</td>
<td>15,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>C</th>
<td>0.4</td>
<td>450</td>
<td>0.55</td>
<td>550</td>
<td>0.5</td>
<td>25,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>D</th>
<td>0.4</td>
<td>450</td>
<td>0.55</td>
<td>550</td>
<td>0.5</td>
<td>25,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>E</th>
<td>1.25</td>
<td>1,425</td>
<td>1.6</td>
<td>1,575</td>
<td>1.4</td>
<td>70,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>F</th>
<td>1.75</td>
<td>1,975</td>
<td>2.3</td>
<td>2,250</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>100,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>