Difference between revisions of "DropShips and JumpShips"
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The content largely matches the original, but there are some minor variations: | The content largely matches the original, but there are some minor variations: | ||
* The back cover text is greatly reduced. | * The back cover text is greatly reduced. | ||
| − | * It contains an explanation box ''Sprung- und Landungsschiffhersteller'' (''Manufacturers of Jump/DropShips'') on page 15, which is listed in the | + | * It contains an explanation box ''Sprung- und Landungsschiffhersteller'' (''Manufacturers of Jump/DropShips'') on page 15, which is listed in the Table of Contents. |
* The [[Space Station|space stations]] are described in alphabetical order (''[[Alliance]]'', ''[[Bastion]]'', ''[[Olymp]]'') | * The [[Space Station|space stations]] are described in alphabetical order (''[[Alliance]]'', ''[[Bastion]]'', ''[[Olymp]]'') | ||
| − | * The book's second part (rules) is organized as ''Annex 1'' in | + | * The book's second part (rules) is organized as ''Annex 1'' in Table of Contents. |
| − | * The original chapter ''Game Additions'' is organized as ''Annex 2'' in | + | * The original chapter ''Game Additions'' is organized as ''Annex 2'' in Table of Contents, containing 8 blank German record sheets (2x aerodyne Dropship, 2x spheroid DropShip, 4x JumpShip). |
===Spelling and Names=== | ===Spelling and Names=== | ||
Revision as of 17:43, 6 August 2020
| 280px | |
| DropShips and JumpShips | |
|---|---|
| Product information | |
| Type | Sourcebook/Technical Readout |
| Author | Clare W. Hess |
| Development | Jordan K. Weisman L. Ross Babcock III (Editor-In-Chief) Donna Ippolito (Editor) C. R. Green (Editorial Assistant) |
| Pages | 80 + 64 |
| Cover Artwork | Steve Venters |
| Illustrations | Dana Knutson Jim Nelson |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | FASA |
| Product code | 1619 |
| First published | 1988 |
| ISBN-10 | 0931787335 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0931787331 |
| MSRP | 15.00 US $ |
| Content | |
| Era | early spaceflight history Star League era Succession Wars era |
| Agency | ComStar |
| Universe Date | 17 May 3025 |
Purportedly a declassified ComStar document, the DropShips and JumpShips book describes the various spaceships in use during the Succession Wars era of BattleTech. It covers the most common JumpShips in use at the time—Scout, Merchant, Invader, Star Lord, and Monolith—as well as the most common DropShip designs available, from the small Fury to the monstrous Behemoth, and finally assorted Small Craft.
Contents
Description
The book is split into two sections, effectively comprising two separate books back-to-back with 80 and 64 pages, respectively. The first section, presented in a style reminiscent of a Technical Readout, was almost the only early (pre-Fourth Succession War) source on BattleTech's large spacecraft (except for the three DropShips in Technical Readout: 3025), and it provided information on numerous DropShips, small craft, several space stations, and several JumpShips.
The second section provides a great deal of information on BattleTech's history of spaceflight and extensive rules for an aerospace-intensive campaign, like crew skills, maintenance, JumpShip recharging, DropShip transit times, and more. The rules for recharging and system transit are the most extensive published in BattleTech, supporting transit times at accelerations other than 1G and detailed charts including flight distances rather than flight times. While the roleplaying rules have altered owing to the huge changes in BattleTech's roleplaying rules over time, the recharge and system transit rules are virtually identical to those of the latest rulebook publications (Strategic Operations).
Technical Readout: 3057 Revised (compiled by WolfNet in 3067) remarks in its preface that ComStar's declassified FB-60 document (i.e. DropShips and JumpShips) was found to contain numerous errors or possibly deliberate misinformation. This is a convenient explanation for deviations from this book's contents in later publications that had to be made because of rule changes.
From the back cover
| “ | Here is the definitive work describing mankind's method of transportation between the stars. Bound into this single volume are ComStar Intelligence Summary FB-60 and excerpts from the standard DropShips and JumpShips Operations Manual.
ComStar Intelligence Summary FB-60 discusses the five major types of JumpShips and 20 major types of DropShips as well as examples of small craft and even space stations. Each entry includes an illustration of the ship as well as detailed descriptions and statistics. Also included is a short history of humanity in space, from the construction of Crippen Station, through the work of Kearny and Fuchida and mankind's exodus from Terra, to the modern Succession War era. The Operations Manual includes essays on the designs of DropShips and JumpShips, descriptions of the general components of each type of vessel, and extensive game rules covering all aspects of their operation and maintenance. |
” |
Contents
FB-60 ComStar Intelligence Summary
- Introduction
- Space Travel in the Successor States
- History
- Rise of the Western Alliance
- The Magellan Program
- Vindication of Kearny and Fuchida
- To Reach Tau Ceti IV
- Exodus
- Formation of New States
- The Modern Age
- JumpShips
- DropShips
- Small Craft
- Space Stations
Operations Manual
- Space Vehicle Design
- Ship Operations
- Ship Costs and Servicing
- Making a Living
- Game Additions
German Edition
| |
| Raumfahrthandbuch | |
|---|---|
| Product information | |
| Language | german |
| Contribution | Reinhold H. Mai (translation & editing), Werner Fuchs, Robert Simon (editing), Thomas Römer (setting) |
| Pages | 104 |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Fantasy Productions |
| First published | 1992 |
| ISBN-10 | 3890649092 |
A German edition under the title Raumfahrthandbuch (Space Faring Compendium) was released by Fantasy Productions in 1992. Unlike many other geman editions from FanPro, this contains only minor alterations to the original content (see below). The German version is printed as DIN A4, a standard European paper size, which is a little larger then north american Letter.
From the back cover (translated from German)
| “ | Space Faring Compendium:
The ultimate compendium on human space faring. Material on the state of space faring technology in 31st century compelled by ComStar-members. This book contains: "For a space traveller the The Space Faring Compendium is, what a Technical Readout is for the MechWarrior - an indispensable reference!" Tharkad Tech Review, 28th August 3030 Battletech Fully compatible to: |
” |
Alterations
The content largely matches the original, but there are some minor variations:
- The back cover text is greatly reduced.
- It contains an explanation box Sprung- und Landungsschiffhersteller (Manufacturers of Jump/DropShips) on page 15, which is listed in the Table of Contents.
- The space stations are described in alphabetical order (Alliance, Bastion, Olymp)
- The book's second part (rules) is organized as Annex 1 in Table of Contents.
- The original chapter Game Additions is organized as Annex 2 in Table of Contents, containing 8 blank German record sheets (2x aerodyne Dropship, 2x spheroid DropShip, 4x JumpShip).
Spelling and Names
As with other German products prior to 1997 spelling and names (especially places and units) as well as most abbreviations were regularly adjusted. For instance the Mech unit Archer was renamed to Schütze, the Planet Gotterdammerung was respelled to Götterdämmerung, the DCMS (Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery) became VSDK (Vereinigte Streitkräfte des Draconis Kombinats) and so on.
Errata
Andurien Industries is listed as a DropShip manufacturer for the Capellan Confederation. [2] This was stated to be an error by the BattleTech Line Developer, Ray Arrastia. Production of the Triumph, Excalibur, and Avenger DropShips should be assigned to Rashpur-Owens Incorporated, as it was later in Objective Raids.[3]
References
- ↑ Raumfahrthandbuch: Das definitive Nachschlagewerk über die menschliche Raumfahrt. Von ComStar-Mitgliedern zusammengetragenes Material über den STand der Raumfahrttechnik im 31. Jahrhundert. Dieser Band enthält: Geschichte der Raumfahrt, Sprungschiffe, Landungsschiffe, Raumboote, Raumstationen, Schiffsunterhalt. "Das Raumfahrthandbuch ist für den Raumreisenden das, was das Hardware-Handbuch für den MechKrieger ist - ein unentbehrliches Nachschlagewerk!" Tharkad Tech Review, 28. August 3030. Battletech. Voll kompatibel zu: BattleTech, AstroTech, MechKrieger.
- ↑ Dropships and JumpShips, p. 15
- ↑ Line Developer Ruling on Andurien Industries