This work includes material taken from the XD6 System Reference Document by Stellagama Publishing. This Reference is published under the Creative Commons Attribution License v4.0. You can read more about this license here: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Hyperspace Mappers
To transit between stars, Nomad ships simply punch in some numbers and go. What if it wasn’t so simple? What if earlier generations of ships had to discover hyperspace routes by trial and error?
Manned Hyperspace Probe
Technology Age: Late Space, Early Interstellar
Manned Hyperspace Probes carry a single pilot/engineer who can ride a ship through a hyperspace route in cryostasis, note the solar system in which the ship emerged, then turn around and take the same route home. It’s dangerous work, and many pilots in that era failed to return.
| Hull Type | End. | Armor | Crew | Cargo | Guns | Agility | Mods | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Micro | 1 Month | 14/17 | 1 | 2 | - | +2 | |||
| base | 1 Day | 7/9 | 1 | 2 | 2d6 | +4 | |||
| steps | -2 | -1 | +2 | +2 | -1 | ||||
| cost | +20% | +20% | -20% | -20% | +15% | +15% |
Travel Multiplier: x1.5 (+1 Payload)
Modifications:
- Advanced Sensors (-1 Payload, +5% Cost)
- FTL Engine (-1 Payload, +10% Cost)
Cargo:
| Cargo | Spaces | Number | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cryo-Tube | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Food, tools, etc. | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Cost: 700,000 + 15% = 805,000 Cr
Monthly Cost: 7200 Cr
Automated Hyperspace Probe
Technology Age: Late Interstellar and up
By this era automation could take over the pilot’s role. Mapping hyperspace routes became less costly in terms of human lives but more costly in lost probes due to malfunctions.
| Hull Type | End. | Armor | Crew | Cargo | Guns | Agility | Mods | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pod | 1 Month | 2/4 | 0 | - | - | +4 | |||
| base | 12 Hours | 2/4 | 1 | 0.5 | 1d6 | +4 | |||
| steps | -3 | +1 | +1 | +1 | -0 | ||||
| cost | +30% | -5% | -10% | +25% | +20% |
Travel Multiplier: x1.5 (+1 payload)
Modifications:
- Advanced Sensors (-1 Payload, +5% Cost)
- Automation (+1 Crew, +10% Cost)
- FTL Engine (-1 Payload, +10% Cost)
Cost: 60,000 + 20% = 72,000 Cr
Monthly Cost: 4660 Cr
Small Courier Ships
Without some sort of FTL communications, all messages must travel by ship. To brave the dangerous routes from one star to another, most interstellar societies choose to not risk their large vessels unless they need to project power. Most “routine” messages between ambassadors and their governments or corporate strongholds and their subsidiaries use one or more variations of the following ships.
FTL Data Runner
Technology Age: Early Interstellar
Video and holo producers employ a great number of these ships to “broadcast” their content to other star systems. They carry little if any valuables, and their instructions are to either run (having no armaments) or surrender peacefully.
| Hull Type | End. | Armor | Crew | Cargo | Guns | Agility | Mods | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Micro | 1 mo. | 7/9 | 1 | 0.5 | - | +2 | |||
| base | 1 day | 7/9 | 1 | 2 | 2d6 | +2 | |||
| steps | -2 | +1 | +2 | -1 | |||||
| cost | +20% | -5% | -20% | +20% | +15% |
Travel Multiplier: x1
Modifications: Easy To Maintain (+10% cost), FTL Engine (+10% cost, -1 Payload)
Cost: 700,000 + 15% = 805,000 Cr
Monthly Cost: 7200 - 312 (half maintenance) = 6888 Cr
FTL Document Courier
Technology Age: Early Interstellar
This ship carries documents and equipment needed at another branch. Most such documents are routine, and the lag in getting them is factored into business planning. All documents, encoded on synth-paper to avoid electronic hacking, are rigged to be dissolved in acid at the touch of a button.
| Hull Type | End. | Armor | Crew | Cargo | Guns | Agility | Mods | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scout | 1 mo. | 18/21 | 4 | 8 | 4d6 | +3 | |||
| base | 1 mo. | 18/21 | 4 | 16 | 5d6 | +2 | |||
| steps | +1 | +1 | -1 | -1 | |||||
| cost | -5% | -10% | +20% | +20% | +25% |
Travel Multiplier: x1
Modifications: Easy To Maintain (+10% cost), FTL Engine (+10% cost, -1 Payload)
Cost: 8,000,000 + 25% = 10,000,000
Monthly Cost: 39,000 - 3000 (half maintenance) = 36,000 Cr
FTL Secure Courier
Technology Age: Early Interstellar
This ship carries documents and people to guard those documents. Crew consists of a standard complement (Pilot, Gunner, Sensor Operator, Engineer) plus passengers: one V.I.P., two staff, and three marines.
| Hull Type | End. | Armor | Crew | Cargo | Guns | Agility | Mods | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scout | 1 mo. | 18/21 | 4 (6) | 0.5 | 4d6 | +3 | |||
| base | 1 mo. | 18/21 | 4 | 16 | 5d6 | +2 | |||
| steps | -1 | +3 | +1 | -1 | -2 | ||||
| cost | +10% | -15% | -10% | +20% | +30% | +35% |
Travel Multiplier: x1
Modifications: Double FTL Engine (+20% cost, -2 Payload), Easy To Maintain (+10% cost)
Cost: 8,000,000 + 35% = 10,800,000 Cr
Monthly Cost: 39,000 - 3000 (half maintenance) = 36,000 Cr