OK, perhaps I’m jumping the gun here, given that I’ve only seen three pages of the new spaceship rules…and given that I have no idea how the full rules work…but I thought I’d sneak in early with a few new draft vessels for your rogue traders to use.

Feel free to create your own and add them to this thread!

Cobra-class Destroyer

Dimensions: 900m long, 0.2 km abeam approx
Mass: 3 megatonnes approx
Crew: 17, 000 crew, approx
Accel: 6 Gravitites max acceleration
The fastest escort vessel in the Imperial armoury, the Cobra destroyer has a long history of honoured service to the Imperium of Man. A sleek, predatory warship, its relative fragility actually makes it a second rate escort vessel, but an excellent attack ship, especially when armed with torpedoes. The speed and reputation of these craft make them popular with Rogue Traders, but they rarely come onto the open market, as the Imperial Navy places great store in them, and prefers to pool them into large attack squadrons. They are not ideal Rogue Trader vessels, as their small size severely limits transport capacity, and their relatively large crew (for their size) precludes very long missions of exploration. Such drawbacks have not affected their popularity…
Speed: 11 Manoeuvrability: +27
Detection: +12 Hull integrity: 25
Armour: 13 Turret Rating: 1
Space: 25 SP: 35
Weapon capacity: Prow 1, Dorsal 1

Hound-class corvette

Dimensions 1.1km long, 0.3km abeam approx
Mass: 4.8 megatonnes approx
Crew: 19,000 crew, approx
Accel: 4.5 Gravities max acceleration
Corvettes are a much maligned class of escort vessel, midway in size between the sleek Destroyers and the reliable Frigates. They are often criticised as lacking the fortitude and firepower of frigates while simultaneously lacking the speed and glamour of the torpedo destroyers. There is much to be said for this view. The typically squat and utilitarian aspect of these vessels also does their reputation no good: few Naval officers have politicked or duelled to win the right to command a Corvette. Yet many senior Naval officers respect the Hound-class Corvette very much: they prize the ship’s reliability, ease of repair, tenacity, economy… Unglamorous they may be, perhaps even a little dull…but they have saved many battlefleets over the millennia by throwing themselves between Flag-vessels and incoming danger. Manufactured in large numbers by all Segmentum battlefleets, many have found their way into the hands of the more practical type of Rogue Trader.
Speed: 8 Manoeuvrability: +20
Detection :+14 Hull integrity: 33
Armour: 16 Turret Rating: 2
Space: 35 SP: 35
Weapon capacity : Dorsal 2

Penitent-class raider

Dimensions 1.7km long, 0.4km abeam approx
Mass: 6.5 megatonnes approx
Crew: 25,000 crew, approx
Accel: 5 Gravitites max acceleration
Nearly 500 years ago, the Tellurian combine was perhaps the largest heavy industrial manufacturer in the Calixis sector. Dominant in hundreds of fields, it expanded into ship manufacturing with the introduction of the Penitent-class armed trader, a sophisticated and powerful vessel ostensibly designed specifically for Rogue Traders and free captains operating in hostile sectors. A phenomenally successful design, produced in the dozens, its reputation never recovered from the mysterious fall of the Tellurian combine. The precise cause of the combine’s fall remains obscure, yet those familiar with intergalactic ship design have openly speculated that a major cause was the revelation that the popular Penitent-class was in fact a variation on the infamous Infidel class raider, scourge of the Imperium. This remains something of a trade secret amongst the voidborn communities of the Calixis sector, as the two classes are sufficiently dissimilar in appearance to preclude casual discovery of this dark secret. However, the Penitent-class now has a grim reputation across the sector, and despite its obvious advantages as a Rogue Trader vessel, many mutter that the class is cursed…
Speed: 10 Manoeuvrability:+ 23
Detection: +10 Hull integrity: 35
Armour:+ 18 Turret Rating: 1
Space: 40 SP:42
Weapon capacity: Dorsal 2, Prow 1
Special rules: All Penitent-class raiders have the haunted complication in addition to any other complications drawn up during the course of ship creation, due to the weird rituals and sacrifices conducted deep within the ship’s holds during its creation….

Corvettes are traditionally smaller hulls than destroyers. Otherwise, very nice.

-=Brother Praetus=-

Brother Praetus said:

You're right, but the comparative scale of the vessels sort of depends what era of naval history you're talking about. Early destroyers were very small vessels designed to deal with ("destroy") small torpedo boats. At this stage they were very small vessels. To quote from Wikipedia:-

"At first, the danger to a battle fleet was considered only to exist when at anchor, but as faster and longer range torpedoes were developed, the threat extended to cruising at sea. In response to this new threat more heavily-gunned picket boats called "catchers" were built which were used to escort the battle fleet at sea. They needed the same seaworthiness and endurance, and as they necessarily became larger, they became officially designated "torpedo boat destroyers", soon contracted to destroyer in English. The anti-torpedo boat origin of this type of ship is retained in its name in other languages, including French (contre-torpilleur), Italian (cacciatorpediniere), Portuguese (contratorpedeiro), Polish (kontrtorpedowiec), Czech (torpédoborec), Greek (antitorpiliko,αντιτορπιλικ?) and so on.

Once destroyers became more than just catchers guarding an anchorage, it was realized that they were also ideal to take over the role of torpedo boats themselves, so they were fitted with torpedo tubes as well as guns. At that time, and even into World War I, the only function of destroyers was to protect their own battle fleet from enemy torpedo attacks and to make such attacks on the battleships of the enemy. The task of escorting merchant convoys was still in the future."

You're absolutely right that destroyers later grew into larger vessels, but early destroyers were used "to protect their own battle fleet from enemy torpedo attacks and to make such attacks on the battleships of the enemy." This is exactly how Cobra destroyers are used in BFG.

So I would suggest that BFG is working from a sort of Jutland-era concept of the scale of vessels. Bear in mind that modern era frigates are SMALLER than destroyers, the opposite of what is the case in BFG. To quote again from Wikipedia:-

"At the dawn of the 21st Century, destroyers are the heaviest surface combatant ships in general use."

So in modern navies, destroyers are larger than frigates...but in BFG frigates are larger than destroyers. In modern navies corvettes are smaller than both: I'm positing that in BFG Corvettes form an intermediate class of escort vessel between the scale of a frigate and destroyer.

I've specifically got in mind a dull but worthy escort vessel based on the the Flower-class corvette of WWII era, a distinctly unglamourous but important convoy escort that was used to protect allied shipping, and which went on to be used for decades in Navies across the globe because they were so reliable (and cheap.)

This seems to me a nice concept for a useful "tub" or "bucket of bolts" style vessel that can be bought cheap and souped up by an ambitious rogue trader...

Lightbringer said:

LB,

True enough in a general sense. I went a little further, as I was going to work up a couple of my own hull classes for my DH campaign. However, if you compare the characteristics of the F125 class frigate to those of a Lütjens class destroyer of the German navy. Differences in the dimensions of the hulls are not extreme. However, the frigate masses ~2500 tons more than the destroyer. Admittedly, the Lütjens class were launched in the '60's and the F125 is a modern hull; but it was the best I could do for finding destroyer and frigate hulls used by the same nation.

Honestly, the differences between the hull classifications seem more a matter of purpose/role within a fleet. But again, well written and thought out.

-=Brother Praetus=-

Noblesse-class Star Yacht

Dimensions: 1km long, 0.25 km abeam approx
Mass: 3.5 megatonnes approx
Crew: 19, 000 crew, approx
Accel: 3 Gravitites max acceleration
A beautiful and superbly appointed vessel with fine lines and decadently luxurious handcrafted interiors, the Noblesse class is representative of star yachts as a whole. Typically owned by the heads of major noble houses, planetary governors and mercantile princelings, these stately and imposing vessels offer little to the average Rogue Trader: they are not particularly roomy, lack cargo facilities, and tend to have power generators unsuited to weapons upgrading. In many ways, they are little more than "star taxis," useless toys capable of taking small groups of personnel on wasteful short warp journeys in conditions of sybaritic luxury. However, some of the more style obsessed Rogue Traders argue that the Imperium expects a certain level of impracticality from its maverick class of traders, and point to the effect the opulent marbled corridors and silk tapestried throne room has in cowing opponents during business negotiations...
Speed: 9 Manoeuvrability: +21
Detection: +9 Hull integrity: 20
Armour: 10 Turret Rating: 1
Space: 20 SP:35
Weapon capacity: Prow 1,

I'm taken aback by the professionalism of your writing. Of course the numbers and statistics mean nothing to me (yet), but you have a knack for making things that should be a little on the mundane side very interesting, that the DH fluff writers also seem to have...

Thanks Lightbringer - great stuff - most useful

I migth even have to stat them up BFG style as well

I can't help but feel this is massively premature. It looks fun enough, but there may well be ships in the main book that fulfill a similar to identical role to the ones you've invented

Don't YOU start calling me premature. I get enough of that in my personal life!

Goliath-class Factory ship

Dimensions: 5km long, 1.5 km abeam approx
Mass: 40 megatonnes approx
Crew: 12, 000 crew, approx
Accel: 1.1 Gravities max acceleration
The Goliath class is (apart from a few unique monstrosities like the Miserichord) one of the largest non-military vessels active in the Imperium. A gigantic ship designed for the transport and refinery of a variety of fuels, it is a lynchpin of Imperial civilisation, and when used properly is capable of forming the basis for the economy of entire sectors. Despite their importance, these vessels have a number of drawbacks as ships. They are incredibly slow and hard to manoeuvre, lightly crewed for their size due to high levels of automation (and as such highly vulnerable to boarding actions) difficult to up-gun, and prone to catastrophic explosions if damaged whilst transporting fuel. They are usually carefully guarded by Naval convoys. However, they are popular with Rogue Traders due to their immense storage capabilities. Once thoroughly scrubbed, each of their colossal fuel tanks (and the ship may have up to 30) is capable of holding a small Imperial cathedral. Furthermore, their warp engines are the very model of fuel efficiency and reliability, often making the risk of flying such a highly explosive craft worthwhile.
Speed: 2 Manoeuvrability: -20
Detection: +5 Hull integrity: 50
Armour: 13 Turret Rating: 1
Space: 80 SP:45
Weapon capacity: Prow 1, Dorsal 1, Starboard 1, Port 1, Aft 1
Special rules: This hull comes pre-equipped with three Main Cargo Hold components (see page 203 Rogue Trader corebook.) The ship must be able to provide 2 Power to each hold.

Babylon Class Colonization Vessel
Dimensions: 6 km long, 0.5 km abeam approx.
Mass: 20 megatonnes approx.
Crew: 20,000 crew, 60,000 pass approx.
Accel: 0.5 gravities max acceleration

An ancient design originally intended for establishing new colonies. This class of vessel has been adapted to everything from cargo hauling and troop transport to resupply and refit for Explorator/Crusade/Rogue Trader fleets. Unlike most Imperial vessels Babylon class vessels make use of a gravic drive. These drives produce a large gravic sheath which evenly accelerates all objects inside the drives grav sheath. As result ships with grav drives are favored by limpet, and other non-warp ships. The sheath is able to tow up to 10 additional megatonnes of shipping, but no ship larger than 5 megatonnes. This is favored by deep voiders*, and long voiders* for it's cargo capacity, and grav drive.

Speed: 1 Manoeuvrability: –15
Detection: +5 Hull Integrity: 70
Armour: 10 Turret Rating: 1
Space: 75 SP: 25
Weapon Capacity: 1 Prow, 2 Port, 2 Starboard
Special rules: This hull comes pre-equipped with 2 Main Cargo Hold components (see page 203 Rogue Trader corebook.) The ship must be able to provide 2 Power to each hold

*Deep Voiders, and Long Voiders are clannish spacefarers generally lacking warrants of trade or other imperial authorization. Cybernetics, and warp mutations are prevalent among their crews. Long Voiders rightly fear the dangers of warp travel, and the possibility of mutation. Instead using gravic drives to accelerate to relativistic speed for the long haul across real space. Both groups prefer to do their business in deep space rather Imperial controlled systems. (A specialize subgroup of Long Voiders specialized in trade with system occluded by warp storms. They will use warp travel to reach the edge of a warp storm.) Long voiders, and to a lesser degree deep voiders make extensive use of cold sleep.

Lightbringer said:

If you're getting complaints like that in your personal life, you know you can correct it with some pills and cremes, right? ;-)

Though that is some mighty fine and envocative descriptions :-D

Once Rogue Trader is released, you should think about submitting some of these ships (if they aren't already in the book) to Dark Reign. We'd be glad to host them!

(Shameless Plug )

Lightbringer said:

No, your not premature, just that we should see how they stat up the ships first. Now what I am thinking about is stating my favorite exorists Class Heavy Battle Cruiser from BFG.

The ship i want to see in the book (and one i'm certain won't be there as i think its only mentioned in one book...a ciaphas cain book) is the falchion class frigate. It's a proper imperial copy of the Ironclad

Yes BFG Stats please!!!

Depending on whats in that book I already have some campaigns planned around a sort of "Grand Ramilies" that I just put together for our BFG games:

picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/WloxYvQb8mDnnsnPHQ54BA

picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/juJ5IPbeMVYRMhBg0-WdCQ

I'll need to stat that out.

Talex said:

Well Talex, as you've been especially good this year, here's some rules for a Falchion class hull, based on the Falchion class escort from page 19 of Battlefleet Gothic: Armada. I hope it's the one you mean, I've not read that Caiphas Cain novel!

Falchion class frigate

Dimensions: 1.5km long, 0.3 km abeam approx
Mass: 6 megatonnes approx
Crew: 25,500 crew, approx
Accel: 4.5 Gravitites max acceleration
One of the newest vessels in the Imperial armoury, the Falchion class bears the distinctive prow and prominent ventral spine of the Voss forgeworld. Still very rare, the perception of these vessels is affected by Imperial society’s obsession with the past. For the average Imperial citizen, that which is old is by definition good; novelty and innovation are frowned upon. Many sector battlefleets prefer the ancient Sword class simply because it is what they know. Those few who are brave enough to ignore Naval society’s hidebound traditions discover a sterling vessel, however, with characteristics very similar to the Sword class, but with quirks and strengths of its own. The Falchion is slightly more robust than the Sword class, but with fewer defensive turrets and an emphasis upon a more aggressive attacking profile than the “all rounder” Sword. Few indeed of these vessels have fallen into the hands of Rogue Traders, but those that have bear a cachet disproportionate to their firepower amongst the innovative mavericks and knaves of the trader fleets…
Speed: 8 Manoeuvrability: +20
Detection: +14 Hull integrity: 36
Armour: 19 Turret Rating: 1
Space: 40 SP: 40
Weapon capacity: Prow 2

Hey thanks!

mite just use this. Had to go and find the Falchion in the BFG source matterial, guess thats an Oops on my part, but at least i ws rite about a falchion being in... The Traitors Hand i think

Morkalg said:

Be honest- it's a Cylon Base Star. Highly awesome.

@Talex- yup, that is the same Falchion class from Traitor's Hand. I always found it (and the other Voss escorts) interesting for the way they shoved a massive plate out as armour and then did away with a lot of the structural cross-bracing in favour of long axial compartments. I can see some serious problems with that design, as any serious hits from 'above' or 'below' are going to do far more damage than in a Sword, and result in far greater air loss, not to mention the fact that the ship is in greater danger of damaging itself via torquing or straining the hull when maneuvring radically. On the other hand, I can see how it may have certain benefits (easier loading/cross-loading from magazines aft to batteries for'ard and visa-versa, easier movement from bunks to stations and easier maintenance).

Overall, however, I'm going to have to say I prefer the Sword class over the Falchion (and the Cobra over both ).