Shadowrun

Shadowrun General => Gear => Topic started by: Burn it with Fire on <10-28-12/1206:28>

Title: Help with a transport.
Post by: Burn it with Fire on <10-28-12/1206:28>
So my team has been having an issue, we are spending a ton of money and trusting people with a lot of money in gear when moving around. Have been thinking of getting a transport vehicle, one that could also double as a lifestyle housing. Was leaning towards a boat, one that can hold up to a Roadmaster and other big vehicles for long distance transporting.Any ideas would be helpful, money is not that much of an issue.
Title: Re: Help with a transport.
Post by: farothel on <10-28-12/1252:00>
It can't hold a roadmaster, but what about an 18-wheeler (zugmachine with trailer), like they did with knightrider.  Small fast car in the lower level, appartment in the upper level.  And with some camouflage paint you can make the truck look like whatever you want.
Title: Re: Help with a transport.
Post by: Burn it with Fire on <10-28-12/1307:15>
The team as a lot of ground based stuff, moving the Roadmaster isn't needed. Was looking at planes and boats, not many boats are big enough without requiring an insane crew. Was looking at cargo planes and such, something with storage room for two or three vehicles of a Hotspur size, seating for people, room for ammo and a living space.
Title: Re: Help with a transport.
Post by: ArkangelWinter on <10-28-12/1325:16>
If you've got the steep tag, find a decommissioned SkyTrain. Body 30, IT/L2. Drop Flotation in it, and now it can land anywhere.
Title: Re: Help with a transport.
Post by: JustADude on <10-28-12/1427:44>
Personally, I'd recommend any of the Luftschiffbau Zeppelins. There's one in Arsenal and two in Unfriendly Skies.

if you don't plan to Chameleon Coat it, I'd recommend on taking the 2053-C (from US) since it has both the highest Body score (thus most cargo room) and comes with Improved Economy and Sun-Cell mods pre-installed.

If you do plan on using Chameleon Coating on it, then use the LZ-2065, since you can't use Sun-Cell and Chameleon Coating and it has the second-highest Body score... just be aware that you'll have to stop to refuel eventually.

In either case, slap in an Amenities upgrade... and Chameleon Coating, Improved Economy and an extra Fuel Tank if you go for the LZ-2065... and you've got well over 20 (over 30 for the 2053-C) points of Body to play with for other upgrades.


--- --- ---


As for whether it's worth it to take the SunCell over the stealth... well, that depends on how the GM rules that SunCell works with the Operating Time boosts provided by Improved Economy and Lighter Than Air.

Base is 6 hours, and Sun Cell states that it recharges 1 hr of OT per 2 hours, up to half capacity (in this case, 3 hours). However, IE and LTA combine to turn that 6 hours into 120 hours by reducing how much energy it uses.

Logically, since the increased OT comes from reduced fuel expenditure, that means Sun Cell should be providing 20 hours per 2 hours, up to 60 hours... essentially, allowing the Zeppelin to run indefinitely. However, the rules for Sun Cell say nothing about adjusting for things like Improved Economy, which would mean you'd still have to land and recharge every week or two as power drains away overnight.
Title: Re: Help with a transport.
Post by: farothel on <10-28-12/1434:47>
You have to come down anyways, to do your runs and also to get food and things like that.  So you can do the recharge at the same time: let it recharge while you're away working for Mr. J.
Title: Re: Help with a transport.
Post by: JustADude on <10-28-12/1446:43>
You have to come down anyways, to do your runs and also to get food and things like that.  So you can do the recharge at the same time: let it recharge while you're away working for Mr. J.

Actually, you can just use Lockheed Sparrows, or something else relatively small with VTOL capabilities, that you can launch from the Zeppelin so you can stay airborne 24/7/365.

Better security that way, after all.
Title: Re: Help with a transport.
Post by: Burn it with Fire on <10-28-12/1455:54>
I thought about the Zepplin's, just wasn't sure how much cargo they could carry. One thing I don't like with 4th is there is no information on how much room an how much tonnage can be loaded. I saw some information on like the Hawker-Siddeley Brennus Transport Aircraft in War! I do know my GM is familiar with Zep's since the group he ran with had one that was pimped out. I will bring it up to the group. Thank you.
Title: Re: Help with a transport.
Post by: Redmercury on <10-28-12/1656:52>
You have to come down anyways, to do your runs and also to get food and things like that.  So you can do the recharge at the same time: let it recharge while you're away working for Mr. J.

Actually, you can just use Lockheed Sparrows, or something else relatively small with VTOL capabilities, that you can launch from the Zeppelin so you can stay airborne 24/7/365.

Better security that way, after all.
The Kull is a good option. If your zeppelin has chameleon coating anyway you don't have to worry as much about legal landing zones. Just unload your offlroad capable truck or van in a discreet location and go do whatever errands call. This has me wondering what the cost of refueling is, can anyone point me in the right direction?
Title: Re: Help with a transport.
Post by: JustADude on <10-28-12/1820:03>
You have to come down anyways, to do your runs and also to get food and things like that.  So you can do the recharge at the same time: let it recharge while you're away working for Mr. J.

Actually, you can just use Lockheed Sparrows, or something else relatively small with VTOL capabilities, that you can launch from the Zeppelin so you can stay airborne 24/7/365.

Better security that way, after all.
The Kull is a good option. If your zeppelin has chameleon coating anyway you don't have to worry as much about legal landing zones. Just unload your offlroad capable truck or van in a discreet location and go do whatever errands call. This has me wondering what the cost of refueling is, can anyone point me in the right direction?

Yeah, but Kulls can't actually carry people.

And avoiding the hassle of recharging the batteries for the electric engines (which leaves you oh-so-vulnerable to infiltration and attack) is the other reason I recommend going with a SunCell.
Title: Re: Help with a transport.
Post by: Redmercury on <10-28-12/1934:52>
Stick a rigger cocoon on a kull, heck, stick a few on it. Cheap transpo. James Bond uses a Sparrow, the penny pinching shadowrunner uses more economical means.

As far as preventing infiltration goes you can always tell it to loiter after you get dropped off via ground.
Title: Re: Help with a transport.
Post by: JustADude on <10-28-12/1939:24>
As far as preventing infiltration goes you can always tell it to loiter after you get dropped off via ground.

Right... but, once again, if you go with the Chameleon Coating option, then you have to be on the ground to refuel at some point.
Title: Re: Help with a transport.
Post by: Redmercury on <10-28-12/2028:12>
I was thinking you could go out and get fuel with a ground vehicle. I really have no idea how much fuel any vehicle needs to fill up, or what it specifically is, or how much it costs though. I suppose you may as well go for the suncells. As long as this thing is loitering high enough you shouldn't have to worry about much more than missiles  and cannons. Maybe you could heckle the GM into letting you have both by getting special equipment (ruthenium underside coating). Common sense says the underside of a vehicle doesn't need solar cells. Unless you're paying some guy on the ground to hold a mirror at the right angle.
Title: Re: Help with a transport.
Post by: JustADude on <10-28-12/2041:04>
I was thinking you could go out and get fuel with a ground vehicle. I really have no idea how much fuel any vehicle needs to fill up, or what it specifically is, or how much it costs though. I suppose you may as well go for the suncells.

I generally assume most stuff uses electrical engines of some kind unless otherwise noted... so it's not so much a "pumping from a fuel truck" problem as a "how long it takes to charge the batteries" problem.

As long as this thing is loitering high enough you shouldn't have to worry about much more than missiles  and cannons. Maybe you could heckle the GM into letting you have both by getting special equipment (ruthenium underside coating). Common sense says the underside of a vehicle doesn't need solar cells. Unless you're paying some guy on the ground to hold a mirror at the right angle.

That could work if the GM allows it, definitely, since you're mostly worried about masking your presence from the ground.

Oh, don't forget Signature Masking, too!
Title: Re: Help with a transport.
Post by: Redmercury on <10-28-12/2044:43>
Well, now I know why no one's seen the sky ninjas.
Title: Re: Help with a transport.
Post by: valavaern on <10-29-12/0013:17>
This sounds kinda similar to one of my ideas to have a Zepp as the base/lodge for a free spirit; with sun cell, no real need to land even for supplies, since anything you do need coud just be 'flown' up there~


Also, for a zep, if you can score it, I'd give it a hidden turret mounting a laser rifle; erfect for taking out an nosy drones, plus no need to reload, and totally quiet~
Title: Re: Help with a transport.
Post by: JustADude on <10-29-12/0152:23>
Also, for a zep, if you can score it, I'd give it a hidden turret mounting a laser rifle; erfect for taking out an nosy drones, plus no need to reload, and totally quiet~

Actually, if I've got my physics right, a laser intense enough to do what Shadowrun lasers do would make a very loud noise indeed... very similar in cause and effect to the way lightning produces thunder.
Title: Re: Help with a transport.
Post by: Scotty on <10-29-12/0205:12>
For all intents and purposes, yes.  It would, however, be a much more muted (an order of magnitude lower than a thunderclap, since it's just a high powered laser), there would be a single report, and it would be much shorter in duration.  Roughly comparable to a gunshot, incidentally, which means that at any meaningful altitude, it's not going to sound like much at all from the ground.
Title: Re: Help with a transport.
Post by: Redmercury on <10-29-12/0841:49>
I was thinking a laser would be especially good for missile defense, my biggest concern when flying around.