Tugs

[JonA]

Okay - I know this has been discussed before but I've still not come across any hard and fast rules. Last I heard Doug was gonna speak to Don and get back to us. So i'll ask again.

This kind of links in with the following thread:

http://forum.trek-rpg.net/showthread...&threadid=8487

Tugs are small vessels but are capable of pulling vessels much larger than themselves. For example - in the first episode of S6 of DS9 you see a small Tug pulling an Excelsior Class vessel. The CODA rules don't allow for this in the Tractor Beam section when creating a Tug type vessel.

So what is everyone's take on this. Special tractor beams, multiple tractor beams etc.

Just looking for thoughts.

[KillerWhale]

There's an edge in Expanded Spacecraft Operations designed just for that (thanks to Tobian for giving me the idea )

p.8
Enhanced Tractor Beams
The ship or station has oversized graviton generators installed, allowing it to tow much bigger craft than itself. This system is commonly used on tugs and similar auxiliary craft.
Effect: The craft can tractor craft up to twice its size. This edge can be taken a second time, allowing the vessel to tow craft up to three times its size.

[Doug Burke]

Originally posted by JonA
Okay - I know this has been discussed before but I've still not come across any hard and fast rules. Last I heard Doug was gonna speak to Don and get back to us.

Well, I talked to Don. His ruling was that for each additional tractor beam used on a single target, the size that can be towed goes up by 1. Thus a size 6 tug would be able to pull a size 5 ship with one beam, a size 6 with two, and a size 9 with five.

Note that this is also in line with the rules for purchasing additional impulse and warp systems in Starships.

[Sea Tyger]

Coolness. That even helps me, Doug...looks like I have to go adjust some stuff on my tugs and tenders...

[KillerWhale]

So this means each ship comes with five tractor beams? How many do we have?

[Tobian]

Well that's good to a point, because I don't think there is a cost given for Tractor beams? (for construction) you are just allocated a number.

Or did I miss that part?

[KillerWhale]

'kay, I got it, NG p.139: you got one tractor beam free, and then each additional beam costs one space. That and Don's ruling solve the problem (and render my edge useless, I'll have to change that and precise instead Don's rule in ESO).

[Tobian]

Hmm it makes it seem rather cheap. I know we often see ships towing others but rarelly as big as them selves or larger.

With relativelly few points you could have a shuttle towing a D'Deridex

I think I prefer the edge idea, especially when the ship goes beyond a few points larger than the ship, to imply it's a dedicated vessel designed to do that.

I think it would be a good idea to cap conventional tractor beams in that instance. (and then have manouvers when you risk burning them out when you try to tow something too big!)

[KillerWhale]

Well... this is a ruling from an official person so I'd say we should follow it.

It would be easy to add a ruling like "no more tractor beams than half the vessel's size can be bought".

[JonA]

Originally posted by KillerWhale
Well... this is a ruling from an official person so I'd say we should follow it.

It would be easy to add a ruling like "no more tractor beams than half the vessel's size can be bought".

With an exception.

If the ship's classification is a Tug or some other kind of support/auxilary craft where you could argue the ship only has one task to do. Pull ships around.

I'm now in the process of creating two types of tugs for use by Starfleet.

Lake Class Tug (small and used in numbers within a solar system to pull ships in to docks).

Ocean Class Tug (a deep space, warp drive tug which is a bit bigger).