By request: BNS II Starship Construction sneak peek

Example of Starship Creation

Shell Therrin, a 6th level character (Smart 3/Starship Designer 3) decides to build a new class of heavy fighter to aid the Sons of Jove in the their conflict against the United Earth Government. She has informs the game master that she has begun to draw up the plans for this vehicle in preparation of the building of a prototype.

Shell has 9 ranks in the Craft (Structural) and Craft (mechanical) skills.

Starship Hull

First Shell designs the hull. Since this is a fighter she decides the craft will be an ultralight starship, which has a base purchase DC of 16 and a base invention point cost of 160. Since Shell wants these fighters to be tough and survivable as the main attack craft of the rebellion she ups their hit dice from the base of 4d20 to 10d20. Adding 6 HD increases the wealth cost by +9 and the invention point cost by +90, resulting in a final purchase price of 25 and a final invention point cost of 250. Shell decides to take 10 on all her Craft checks, meaning the prototype will take 13 days to construct.

Shell decides to purchase the fighter’s engines and defensive systems on the black market, leaving her more time to design a unique weapon for the craft.

Starship Weapons

Since the craft will operate in the rock-filled surrounding of the Jovian moons, Shell designs a new weapon that will capture small micro-meteors and then fire them at high speed at enemy vessels.
Since her fighters are small to more easily hide from UEG military vessels, she makes the number of dice for her starship weapon 6, the maximum that can be installed on a Huge hull. This has a base purchase DC of 18 and a base invention point cost of 180. Because of the extreme speeds generated by these weapons (and because her fighters will often have to engage much larger vessels) Shell makes the attack die of the weapon d12, increasing the purchase cost by +8 and the invention point cost +80. The costs for the weapon being a direct fire weapon and inflicting physical damage cancel out, leaving the purchase price of the prototype at 26 and the invention point cost 260. Taking 10 on all her Craft (mechanical) checks means that Shell can complete the weapon in 14 days.

SOJ-Fighter (PL 6)
This fighter designed by Shell Therrin, technical wizard behind many of the craft and weapons used by the terrorists (or freedom-fighters) the Sons of Jove is the size of a small shuttle, but is incredibly tough and durable.
Type: Ultralight
Size: Huge (–2 size)
Subtype: SOJ Fighter
Tactical Speed: 3,500 ft. (7 sq.)
Defense: 13
Length: 24 feet
Flat-footed Defense: 11
Weight: 24,000 lb.
Autopilot Defense: 9
Targeting System Bonus: +1
Hardness: 20
Crew: 1 (trained +4)
Hit Dice: 10d20 (200 hp)
Passenger Capacity: 4
Initiative Modifier: +2
Cargo Capacity: 2,400 lb.
Pilot’s Class Bonus: +3
Grapple Modifier: +8
Pilot’s Dex Modifier: +2
Base Purchase DC: 62
Gunner’s Attack Bonus: +2
Restriction: Illegal (+4)

Attack: 3 Slingshot Mass Drivers +1 ranged (6d12)
Attack of Opportunity: None

Standard PL 6 Design Specs:
Engines: Ion engine, thrusters
Armor: Polymeric
Defense Systems: Autopilot system
Sensors: Class II sensor array, targeting system
Communications: Laser transceiver, radio transceiver
Weapons: 3 Slingshot Mass DriversGrappling Systems: None