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[Haspen]

"Materials! We need better structural materials and perhaps some sort of protective armor."

"Got it, Chief Designer. Here at Europa Megalab we will do our best to come up with new materials - perhaps high power chemistry field will bring benefits from fusion power, too."

Mid-August 2220

You learn through official channels that UEG has authorized the creation of two first extrasolar colonies - at Mu Arae IIc and Rho Cancri. Two convoys of Everspamens filled with supplies, colonists and pre-fab infrastructure will be sent out there.

The first convoy is due to leave Solar System in December this year.

September 2220

Your secretary notifies you that the SFHQ has sent you new design specifications.

You download the data to your pad, and blink at the specs in disbelief.

NEW LIGHT CRUISER DESIGN REQUIREMENTS:
Cost: Maximum 18 MegaCredits, preferred less than 15 MegaCredits
Uses Fusion-Driven Warp Torus
Impulse at least 1
Weaponry at least 5; uses Red Laser Array(s)
Point Weaponry at least 2.5
Average Design Rating: 1.8 (preferred 2.2)

You remind yourself how Average Design Rating works: it takes ratings of all 6 Categories (Warp, Impulse, Weaponry, Point Defense, Cargo, Science), then divides them by 6.

You quickly calculate the ADR for Spammibal, Everspamen and Spamterprise: 1.08 for the escort, 0.66 for the scienceship, and 0.83 for the armored cargoship, while pulling up the current list of Components available for your Bureau.

Spoiler: SPAMSHIP Component List August 2200 (click to show/hide)

WARP:
Fusion-Driven Warp Torus (Rate/Cost: 1/3)

IMPULSE:
Fissile Pulse Thrusters (Rate/Cost: 1/1)
Fusion Pulse Thrusters (Rate/Cost: 1.5/2)

WEAPONRY:
Slug Battery (Rate/Cost: 1/1)
Salt Missile Launcher (Rate/Cost: 2/3)
Red Laser Array (Rate/Cost: 1.5/2.5)

POINT DEFENSE:
Red Point Laser (Rate/Cost: 1/1)
Scrap Flak (Rate/Cost: 0.5/0.5)

CARGO:
Cargo Hold (Rate/Cost: 1/1)

SCIENCE:
Generic Lab (Rate/Cost: 1/2)

You also remember that multiples of each component will drive their costs up very, very quickly - just two Red Laser Arrays will require 10 MegaCredits to sink into the design.

You do some sloppy, quick math in your head and instantly come to a conclusion that the SFHQ is asking for something almost impossible to build with current technology.

A) (DESIGN SPACESHIP HERE ANYWAY)
B) "I can't possibly meet these specifications with such a tight budget! I need more MC's for this!"
C) "I can't possibly keep this budget with such demanding specifications! They need to ask for less!"

[m1895]

C
I'm pretty sure even with more money this thing is going to be a nightmare to make

[Strik3r]

C
I'm pretty sure even with more money this thing is going to be a nightmare to make

Agreed.

But we should + send this

Spamgionnaire(Light Cruiser. D.2200)
Warp: 1 (Fusion-Drive Warp Torus x1) 3
Impulse 1 (Fissile Pulse Thrusters x1) 3+1 = 4
Weaponry: 5.5 (Red Laser Array x1, Salt Missile Launcher x1, Slug Battery x2) ((1+1)*2 =4)+3+2.5=9.5+4=13.5
Point Defence: 2.5 (Red Point Laser x2, Scrap Flak x1) ((1+1)*2 =4)+0.5 = 4.5 + 13.5 = 18
Average Design Rating: 1.666...
Cost:18

to them anyway, just to prove the point. Maybe they'll take it anyway

(Now, this was made with the assumption that the cost of duplicate compontents is multiplied by the number of duplicates present after being added together, as this is how i assume this works. If the cost were to be always multiplied by two in the case of duplication, this design would work if you were to swap the point defence for 1x laser + 3x scrap flak and swap the thrusters for fusion ones.)

[Kashyyk]

I have some insider knowledge on this. The cost of duplicate modules is "[MCreds cost for 1] * [Num duplicates]^2". That's why the original ship spent 9 MC on three thrusters.

Anyway,  B. We'll need a bigger ship, and it needs to be strong.

[Strik3r]

The cost is squared? Ouch. That's brutal.

Anyway, B or C, doesn't matter. We just need a little bit of slack and this design will work. Admittedly it would be pretty nice if we could secure a bit of extra budget. With even just 1 extra MegaCredit, we could swap the thrusters to plasma ones on the proposed Spamgionnaire design, and it would nicely bump the ADR up to 1.8333... and it would make for a pretty nice ship, i'd think.

So y'know what? i'm switching my vote to B+A

[King Zultan]

B

[Haspen]

You send a reply to the SFHQ, in a form of request for additional funds for the design, along with the 'mockup' of what can be accomplished under these limits and requirements.

Few days later

6

The response from Headquarters is rather swift, and very delightful

The Council has reviewed your request, and approved a new budgetary ceiling for the light cruiser, and even went lower on expected design rating!

NEW LIGHT CRUISER DESIGN REQUIREMENTS:
Cost: Maximum 23 MegaCredits, preferred less than 20 MegaCredits
Uses Fusion-Driven Warp Torus
Impulse at least 1
Weaponry at least 5; uses Red Laser Array(s)
Point Weaponry at least 2.5
Average Design Rating: 1.7 (preferred 2.0)

A) (DESIGN SPAMSHIP HERE)
B) "Those requirements are still too high! I can't work with these, even with extra money!"

[Strik3r]

Spamgionnaire(Light Cruiser. D.2200)
Warp: 1 (Fusion-Drive Warp Torus x1) 3
Impulse 3 (Fusion Pulse Thrusters x1, Fissile Pulse Thrusters x1) 3+2+1=6
Weaponry: 5.5 (Red Laser Array x1, Salt Missile Launcher x1, Slug Battery x2) (1*2^2=4)+3+2.5=9.5+6=15.5
Point Defence: 2.5 (Red Point Laser x2, Scrap Flak x1) ((1*2^2 =4)+0.5 = 4.5 + 15.5 = 20
Average Design Rating: 1.91666...
Cost:20

Yes i did just simply slap some Fusion Pulse Thrusters in there. I think the design is now a good tradeoff between cost and design rating.

[m1895]

Spamgionnaire(Light Cruiser. D.2200)
Warp: 1 (Fusion-Drive Warp Torus x1) 3
Impulse 3 (Fusion Pulse Thrusters x1, Fissile Pulse Thrusters x1) 3+2+1=6
Weaponry: 5.5 (Red Laser Array x1, Salt Missile Launcher x1, Slug Battery x2) (1*2^2=4)+3+2.5=9.5+6=15.5
Point Defence: 2.5 (Red Point Laser x2, Scrap Flak x1) ((1*2^2 =4)+0.5 = 4.5 + 15.5 = 20
Average Design Rating: 1.91666...
Cost:20

Yes i did just simply slap some Fusion Pulse Thrusters in there. I think the design is now a good tradeoff between cost and design rating.

+1

[Kashyyk]

+1 to the Spamgionnaire

[King Zultan]

Spamgionnaire(Light Cruiser. D.2200)
Warp: 1 (Fusion-Drive Warp Torus x1) 3
Impulse 3 (Fusion Pulse Thrusters x1, Fissile Pulse Thrusters x1) 3+2+1=6
Weaponry: 5.5 (Red Laser Array x1, Salt Missile Launcher x1, Slug Battery x2) (1*2^2=4)+3+2.5=9.5+6=15.5
Point Defence: 2.5 (Red Point Laser x2, Scrap Flak x1) ((1*2^2 =4)+0.5 = 4.5 + 15.5 = 20
Average Design Rating: 1.91666...
Cost:20

Yes i did just simply slap some Fusion Pulse Thrusters in there. I think the design is now a good tradeoff between cost and design rating.

+1

+1