Forlorn hope

history of the ship

The Ship

BATTLECRUISER

Name : Forlorn Hope

Past History : Wrestled From A Space Hulk.

Machine Spirit Oddities : Ancient & Wise

Hull : OVERLORD

SP cost : 90.

Speed : 6 Manoeuvrability : +10 Detection : +10

Armour : 21 Turrets: 2 Shields : 2 Hull points : 66 Space 78/78 Power :90/90

Crew : 102/102. Morale 102/102

Essential Components

Saturnine Class 4a plasma Drive, Miroslav H-616 b. warp drive, Warpsbane Hull, Repulsor Double Void Shield Array, Ship's master Bridge ; Voidsmen Quarters ; M1r pattern life Sustainer, BG15 Assault Scanners.

Armement

1 Port Lathes Launch Bays ; 1 Squadron of Starhawks, 1 Squadron of Fury, rooms left for 4 other squadrons.

1 Starboard Lathes Launch Bays ; 1 Squadron of Support, 1 Squadron of Aeronautica (I suggest a mix of Vendettas/Vultures), room left for 4 other squadrons.

1 port Hecutor Plasma Broadside ; Strengh 5, Range 11, Crit 4, Vapourisation

1 starboard Hecutor Plasma Broadside; Strengh 5, Range 11, Crit 4, Vapourisation

1 Prow Hecutor Plasma Battery ; Strengh 3, Range 11, Crit 4, Vapourisation

1 Dorsal Hecutor Plasma Battery; Strengh 3, Range 11, Crit 4, Vapourisation

Supplemental Components

Arboretum, Barracks, Cargo Hold & Lighter Bay, Luxury Passenger Quarters, Melodium, Observation Dome, Power Ram, Small Craft repair Decks, Temple Shrine of the God Emperor, Trophy Room.

Achievement Points

TRADE :50 (Trophy Room)+50 (Cargo Hold)+ 100 (Luxury Passengers Quarters) = 200, +100 if Support aircraft is involved.

WAR : 100 (Barracks), +50 if planetary targets, +100 if Aeronautica involved.

CRIME : 50 (Trophy Room)+50 (Cargo Hold)+ 100 (Luxury Passengers Quarters) = 200

EXPLORATION : 50 (Trophy Room) +50 (Observation Dome)= 100.

CREED : 100 (Luxury Passenger Quarters)+100 (temple Shrine) = 200.

Bonus & Notes

+ 5 to all Piloting & Navigation tests on the bridge.

+10 to Warp Navigation tests. the Warp encounter table is rolled twice, and the Navigator choose which one happens. The time spent in the Warp is reduced by half. Warp encounters happens every three days instead of 5.

+10 BS to fire shipboard weapons ; +5 BS (total +15) against planetary targets.

+10 to any manoeuvre Action (including out of combat & ramming)

+10 to all Social Skill tests on board (melodium)

+ 20 to all command Tests involving Boarding actions and Hit & Run.

Increases all Morale loss by 1.

no penalties to Manoeuvers actions when travelling through Nebulae, ice rings, plasma clouds, and other celestial phenomena consisting primarily of small particules.

the ship may remain at void for a year without suffering Crew population or Morale Loss.

Inflict 3D10+21 when ramming.

when suffering a Misfortune, the GM rolls twice & choose the worse.

Ship Layout

The Bridge

The bridge is a technological marvel, built in circles. From there, one can benefit from a stunning view of the whole prow and the surrounding void by large Gothic arches. Enclosed between by powerful cogitator units, the bridge is a giant astronomical clock. The ground is transparent to allow anyone to see automatons and the perpetual motion of gears. Banners, ex voto and censers are hung or float in the air.

The first circle shows the day, according to both the administrative and traditional calendar, as well as the saint of the day. The second circle consists of twelve pits, surrounding a central core. Each of the twelve pits is devoted to managing one aspect of the ship, but also symbolizes a month in the year of the traditional calendar, and a sign of the zodiac. In order, starting from the prow:

- TIMONIS: the helm.

- NAVIGATIO: Navigation & Cartography. It is linked directly to the Navis Blister through a tunnel.

- ASTROPATHICA: long distance communications, but also in charge of the hexagrammatic protections on the hull, and the Geller Field, as well as Witch hunting on board.

- AUGURARIUM: Etherics, Augers, Vox & Sensors.

- AERONAUTICA: The control tower and liaison with Forlorn Hope Attack crafts. It is these officers that are in charge of the reckless small craft pilots.

- MEDICAE: in charge of health, both mental and physical. From this post also works in secret the Master of Whispers and its propagandists.

- ENGINARII: Engineering. The first access to the Main Cogitator and the Realm of the Mechanicus.

- COMMISSARIATUS: Commissariat & Stewardship. In charge of supplies, inventory, and human resources.

- COMMERCIA: Business & passengers. They are the ones who look after the needs of passengers, and also the underlings of the High Factotum, managing the Rogue Trader’s assets.

- FIDES: Faith. In charge of the Morale on board, they ensure that His Creed is worshipped adequately in every corner of the Ship.

- ARMATA: Security & Tactics. They control sergeants-at-arms, ship provosts & armsmen, boarding troops, and any army carried on board.

- ORDINANTIA: Strategy & Ordnances. The very brain of the ship in a battle, calculating & plotting moves & broadsides of the ship’s weapons.

The main tower centre stands at the center of the twelve pits. At the top lies the main Astronomical clocks. It indicates Terra’s ecliptics, the moon fullness, sunrise and sunset, and more prosaically the hour on board. A secondary dial showing signs of the zodiac is moving upon it, and includes the command post for the Lord Captain’s retinue. there are also many holo projectors, allowing to project pictures and information in the very air above the whole bridge?

The Captain throne sits directly on the needle indicating the hour and the sun position. The First Officer throne sits on the needle indicating the state of the Moon. The Axis is hollow, allowing the rogue trader to climb to his command throne, an to access directly to the Profit Express.

To have a better idea of how it looks like, you have the schematic at the beginning of this section. Please give a look also here : Prague Astronomical Clock