Build:Vessel Size Scale
3.1 Vessel Size Scale
Starships can be categorized by size, based upon their mass. The following table details the Size scale, Length, Beam and Height ranges and Structural Unit (SU) amount, according to the ship’s mass.
Note: Length is generally the deciding dimension, but all four may be considered for the final decision.
Table
| Mass Range (mt) | Size | Length (m) | Beam (m) | Height (m) | Max SU | Year* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 2 | 1 | 1 - 5 | 1 - 4 | 0 - 1.9 | 325 | |
| 2.1 - 30 | 2 | 6 - 50 | 4 - 10 | 2 - 5 | 300 - 625 | |
| 31 - 60,000 | 3 | 51 - 100 | 11 - 25 | 6 - 20 | 600 - 1,000 | |
| 60,001 - 200,000 | 4 | 101 - 150 | 26 - 50 | 21 - 30 | 800 - 1,300 | |
| 200,001 - 400,000 | 5 | 151 - 300 | 51 - 100 | 31 - 50 | 900 - 1,900 | 2231 |
| 400,001 - 1,875,000 | 6 | 301 - 400 | 101 - 200 | 51 - 80 | 1,300 - 2,500 | 2245 |
| 1,875,001 - 4,000,000 | 7 | 401 - 600 | 201 - 400 | 81 - 125 | 1,500 - 2,750 | 2284 |
| 4,000,001 - 5,000,000 | 8 | 601 - 700 | 401 - 550 | 126 - 200 | 2,000 - 3,250 | 2322 |
| 5,000,001 - 6,000,000 | 9 | 701 - 800 | 551 - 700 | 201 - 300 | 2,250 - 3,500 | 2362 |
| 6,000,001 - 8,000,000 | 10 | 801 - 1,000 | 701 - 800 | 301 - 400 | 2,500 - 3,750 | 2384 |
| 8,000,001 - 10,000,000 | 11 | 1,001 - 1,500 | 801 - 1,000 | 401 - 600 | 2,750 - 4,000 | n/a |
| 10,000,001 - 12,000,000 | 12 | 1,501 - 2,000 | 1,001 - 1,200 | 601 - 800 | 3,000 - 4,500 | n/a |
| 12,000,001 - 14,000,000 | 13 | 2,001 - 3,000 | 1,201 - 1,500 | 801 - 1,000 | 3,500 - 5,000 | n/a |
| 14,000,001 - 17,000,000 | 14 | 3,001 - 4,000 | 1,501 - 2,000 | 1,001 - 1,200 | 4,500 - 6,500 | n/a |
| 17,000,001 - 20,000,000 | 15 | 4,001 - 5,000 | 2,001 - 2,500 | 1,201 - 1,500 | 5,000 - 8,000 | n/a |
| 20,000,001 - 23,000,000 | 16 | 5,001 - 6,000 | 2,501 - 3,000 | 1,501 - 1,800 | 7,000 - 11,000 | n/a |
1) SU amounts are directly proportional to the starship’s mass. For example, a 400,001 mt starship would have 1,300 SUs, while a 1,875,000 mt starship—also a Size 6—would have 2,500 SUs.
2) SU weight varies according to (named) ship class, so that on the lighter Size 6 starship above, a SU would weigh 308 mt, while on the heavier Size 6, a SU would weigh 750 mt. Equipment, systems and spaces for a starship are "purchased" with allotted SUs.
- Formulas to determine max SUs (for the class' target mass):
Method 1:
- A = mass of lower-end of range (ex: 31 mt)
- B = target mass of design (ex: 25,000 mt)
- C = mass of upper-end of range (ex: 60,000 mt)
- D = SU of lower-end of range (ex: 31 mt is 600 SUs)
- E = SU of upper-end of range (ex: 60,000 mt is 1,000 SUs)
- F = difference of SUs between E and D (ex: 1,000 - 600 = 400)
- X = max SU of design (to be determined)
- Y = difference of mass between B and A (ex: 25,000 - 31 = 24,969)
- Z = difference of mass between C and A (ex: 60,000 - 31 = 59,969)
- - Divide Y by Z, to get percentage amount (ex: 24,969 / 59,969 = 41.64%)
- - Multiply F by the percentage amount and round the result (ex: 400 x 41.64% = 166.56, rounded to 167)
- - Add the result to D to get X, the design's max SU (ex: 167 + 600 = 767)
Method 2:
- X = D + (E - D) x {B - A}/{C - A}
Where:
- A = Lower-end mass (e.g., 31 mt)
- B = Target mass (e.g., 25,000 mt)
- C = Upper-end mass (e.g., 60,000 mt)
- D = SU at lower-end mass (e.g., 600)
- E = SU at upper-end mass (e.g., 1,000)
- X = Max SU for the target mass
Remember: multiplication & division before addition
Divide the design mass by the (determined) max number of SUs to get the mass of each SU (record both rounded and unrounded values).