I'm in the process of doing the Citadel cruiser. It's a pretty small ship and a basic design, so it's not too interesting on its own. BEcause of this, I'm creating a custom symbol set that has a more star wars look to it than the default symbols.

Question One: Should I use the stock symbols, which would allow me to put deck plans out faster, or should I build a custom symbol set?

Here is a sample of the stock set (from the Wayfarer map):

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9cFgom2aSYHSXh1Q0NLYThEVUE/edit?usp=sharing

With Option 1, every deck plan will look pretty much like that.

And here are some custom symbols I've been putting together:

Beds:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9cFgom2aSYHLXBaT2haQVcyTFU/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9cFgom2aSYHNzdXdDYtMEwzZWM/edit?usp=sharing

Deck Plating:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9cFgom2aSYHMWcxZFJIUlkwUE0/edit?usp=sharinghttps://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9cFgom2aSYHMWcxZFJIUlkwUE0/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9cFgom2aSYHbTU0a0JEVl9CQ1k/edit?usp=sharing

Seating:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9cFgom2aSYHdWFSYXlCZXRnSGc/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9cFgom2aSYHWkUyQmQ0Q24zejg/edit?usp=sharing

As you can imagine, It wouldn't look so good mixing the two styles, and it will take more time to create all of the furnishings.

Question 2: I published the first deck plans with a white background. I can put fancy crap in there, but I just figured I'd save everyone's ink/toner this way. Will that be fine?

I will also try to do simplified B&W layout versions of the decks for those that prefer them.

Thanks!

I'm in the process of doing the Citadel cruiser. It's a pretty small ship and a basic design, so it's not too interesting on its own. BEcause of this, I'm creating a custom symbol set that has a more star wars look to it than the default symbols.

Question One: Should I use the stock symbols, which would allow me to put deck plans out faster, or should I build a custom symbol set?

Here is a sample of the stock set (from the Wayfarer map):

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9cFgom2aSYHSXh1Q0NLYThEVUE/edit?usp=sharing

With Option 1, every deck plan will look pretty much like that.

And here are some custom symbols I've been putting together:

Beds:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9cFgom2aSYHLXBaT2haQVcyTFU/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9cFgom2aSYHNzdXdDYtMEwzZWM/edit?usp=sharing

Deck Plating:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9cFgom2aSYHMWcxZFJIUlkwUE0/edit?usp=sharinghttps://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9cFgom2aSYHMWcxZFJIUlkwUE0/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9cFgom2aSYHbTU0a0JEVl9CQ1k/edit?usp=sharing

Seating:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9cFgom2aSYHdWFSYXlCZXRnSGc/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9cFgom2aSYHWkUyQmQ0Q24zejg/edit?usp=sharing

As you can imagine, It wouldn't look so good mixing the two styles, and it will take more time to create all of the furnishings.

Question 2: I published the first deck plans with a white background. I can put fancy crap in there, but I just figured I'd save everyone's ink/toner this way. Will that be fine?

I will also try to do simplified B&W layout versions of the decks for those that prefer them.

Thanks!

Honestly I say faster deck layouts == better... use stock where possible imo.

Secondly, I prefer white backgrounds

I like the look of the Wayfarer just fine.

This is up to you. If YOU aren't happy with the way the stock stuff looks, you should change it sooner rather than later- otherwise you'll be unhappy with all your earlier creations. If you're happy with the way the stock stuff looks, don't worry about it.

This is up to you. If YOU aren't happy with the way the stock stuff looks, you should change it sooner rather than later- otherwise you'll be unhappy with all your earlier creations. If you're happy with the way the stock stuff looks, don't worry about it.

Good point. I'm happy with the stock stuff for making the deck plans readily accessible. The art is fine, but you'll begin to see a bit of repetition, and hulls with features like wings won't look as good as those that are blocky. I suppose I'll make new symbols as needed, and rotate the old stuff out slowly. Revising older layouts also isn't as time consuming as it sounds, once you have the new symbols.

Dude, you're work is so good, I honestly don't care which way you do it, as long as you do it. The stock stuff looks very good to me, but I am really impressed with the stuff you made, it is EVEN BETTER.

There are so many starships out there, I say make more now that you feel fit the stock set of symbols, and leave the ones that you feel really NEED the new symbols for later, and just slowly build up your symbol set.

I used the Chris West Wayfarer with my players for our first "test play throughs" doin Trouble Brewing, and now with their long term characters I am really excited to get them off of Mos Shuuta and into your Wayfarer. I am expecting a ton of compliments on it.

The size of the file works really well with Roll20 and Dynamic Lighting, blocking off the walls and stuff, really feels like walking around a ship moving their tokens around. Very cool ship to have adventures IN IT, not just flying it. I will let you know how it goes.

and ya white background all the way. I usually remove it and use transparent background anyway.

Your Wayfarer is the best I've seen. I've been downloading tons of deck plans, and even bought a few.

I'd stay with stock graphics, unless you feel a particular need to do something different. Don't go overboard on that at all.

This fellow seems to do a lot from scratch;

http://ki-ryn.deviantart.com/art/Gunboat-interior-31402664

http://www.rpgnow.com/index.php?cPath=1607_9905

The Venture really works for a YT-1930;

http://www.rpgnow.com/product/18912/Future-Armada-Venture

What Kiryn does is use a 3D render and blur that up as his 'background' in the areas around the rooms. I find that helps visualize the ship a lot better.

I find that packing things down to one page is useful if you want to take it to a printer. I like having room descriptions on the main map, and I like the cross section a lot. (You can free form that with the greyed ship outline.)

I'd love to see deck plans for many of the 'affordable' stock ships. The Jump Master would be nice, as would a decent rendition of a Firespray. Providing a few variants would probably please a lot of people, like a Firespray with room for 4 adventurers and cargo.

Adventurers are an odd lot and have many needs. A popular ship would do a little bit of everything. Brig for bounty hunters, Med bay for big holes in characters, mechanical bay for tech's, turrets etc, Everyone wants a shuttle (the Venture's bridge is also a shuttle), cargo is nice.

One thing that I desire personally is direct access to the engines, even if just a bit of them. It makes for for of a TV feel for your engineering characters in the group.

Stock is better than anything I've been using, but you should go with what you like using. White background is perfect. Looking forward to seeing your next floorplan!

As the person who initially requested the citadel, I say take your time. Quality over quantity. You obviously felt the need to do new symbol sets. If it makes the ships look more like they belong in the star wars universe, I say go with it.

That being said, there is no reason you couldn't use both the old and new symbols, just keep certain sets for different ship manufacturers.

Your work is really good, and when it comes down to it I say do what makes you feel the best. If that is putting out as many ships as possible do that, if its trying to make the definitive version of a deckplan that people use for years, do that.

I would keep the white background however. Less ink used is great.

Keep up the great work... the force will lead you down the correct path. Trust your instincts.

I'd love to see just how the Citadel lands and loads/unloads cargo on a planetary surface.

Apparently, it is supposed to form a tripod with the side wings and the lower "wing" folds slightly about 1/3rd up from the tip. I've never agreed with this. I make the side wings pivot 90 degrees and the lower wing fold behind giving it a very long profile when landed. Also if any fighters are docked they have to disengage before landing.

I'd love to see just how the Citadel lands and loads/unloads cargo on a planetary surface.

Yeah, I was kinda curious about that too. Some deep digging rendered this:

http://holonet.swrpgnetwork.com/showthread.php?15655-Citadel-Cruiser-Question&p=186349#post186349

So there's the answer from the horses mouth! If only it was always this sanctioned.

Neat how he thought of the starfighters being slung under the belly, but that's got to be one helluva ramp! I can imagine the conversation in the cockpit:

"We're coming up on Mos Shuuta now."

"They got an elevated gantry?"

"Occupied."

"What are we picking up again?"

"30 crates of ore."

...

"We've got to talk about my pay rate."

I'd just do a reality edit and trim away the portion of the central fin that extends past the side fins since the "hinge" idea sounds terribly stupid to me. I'd be somewhat more open to the idea of the entire central fin being dramatically shorter (dropping down no more than it sticks out above the top).

As for loading cargo with that crazy construction... Well, now we know why it has a tractor beam.

Wow. Life is so much easier when you're not a purist. :-)

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/ILH-KK_Citadel-class_civilian_cruiser

You know what... I'd slide\collapse the lower fin up into the body (that means blocking that area internallly, I'd do it to all decks), and roll the side fins back to make a landing. You need a good one story of clearance after you land if you want to attach ships. You may want to create a more complex docking mechanism\bay which would allow droids and pilots to get into the attached ships. A dual airlocks seems so ugly..

I came across this but its clearly missing some stuff;

http://www.cartographersguild.com/finished-maps/12515-star-wars-deckplans-battlemaps.html

Hmm... Some custom mapping objects;

http://rpgmapshare.com/index.php?q=gallery&g2_itemId=1802

Another great deck plan maker, HOORAY!!!