Hey peeps! First topic post here and I'm curious. I want to store either Swoops/speeder bikes on my light freighter, and perhaps a beast for our beast rider. I know there's the retrofitted hanger bay, but that seems like something used to actually launch ships, especially fighters and such. Do I need one for swoops? Is there a conversion? I feel like 10 x silhouette makes sense, but then again, I don't know!
Help me friends, you're my only hope!
You don't need a hanger to store vehicles as cargo. As for the ENC of them, what you have sounds like a good conversion rate for an unpacked vehicle that is just waiting to be used.
If it fits the story and isn't abused then you're estimation seems fine. And the hanger bay is designed for "quick deployment" so no unloading swoops mid flight (without some difficult checks involved!) but if it helps the party have a bit more fun when you get where your going then carry enough swoops/beasts for everyone!
Welcome to the forums. I think RB hit the nail on the head:
If it fits the story and isn't abused then you're estimation seems fine.
In fact, "not abused" and "does it fit the story" are probably some of the best guidelines you'll get for this system in general.
I like the idea of silhouette x 10, mostly because swoops/speeder bikes are really ungainly in a small ship. Speeder bikes/swoops all have a silhouette of 2, so at 20 Encumbrance each they add up quick. With beasts, I would say the space taken up would include everything to care for them (feed, water, stall/bedding).
I've been toying around with the idea of a Collapsible attachment for swoops/speeder bikes that would take up 1 HP and allow an Average (♦♦) Mechanical check to break down/assemble them into compact crates over approx 30 minutes (x2 reduce breakdown/assemble time by 10 minutes mod). If we go with the 20 Enc for Silhouette 2, then I would probably have the break down reduce Enc to 5. This would allow a crew/party to take planetary transport with them without having to use up all their cargo space.