Now updated!

Here are some more vehicles for the Traveller roleplaying game, designed (as before) using the Cepheus Engine rules from Moon Toad Publishing. As before, the entries are followed by some notes about the design.

TL9 GRAV CRANE

This is a heavy cargo mover, capable of picking up containers or whole vehicles up to 20 tons mass. The built-in cargo crane system can only raise loads a few meters — the entire vehicle rises in order to lift anything higher than that. Speed and range are for the unloaded vehicle; divide max speed and range by the carried mass in tons to figure out how far and fast it can move something. “Tons” in this context refers to either metric tons or Traveller ship displacement tons, whichever is greater. This reduction is not mitigated by low gravity, as inertial forces can still affect handling or even snap the hoist cables. The open cargo bed is upside down: an open section underneath the vehicle for the crane and cargo. It can operate on airless worlds but not in Corrosive or Insidious atmospheres. An unloaded grav crane can reach orbit in about two hours and return in the same amount of time, but it requires some tricky piloting.

Heavy Grav vehicle, 20 spaces, shipping volume 10t.

Speed: 400 kph (reduced by load), range 2000 km., Agility +1

Controls: Basic controls, Basic navigation, Distant range comm,

Accomodations: Seats for driver, crane operator, and 2 passengers; short term life support, vacuum protection for the cockpit and controls.

Armor: 4 overall, Hull 10, Structure 10 (Open cargo bed).

Features: Cargo crane rated for 20t

Cost: 1.7 MCr.

Design: A bubble cockpit 6 meters long and 2 meters wide, suspended at the front of a heavy truss holding power, propulsion, and the cargo crane unit, which can move forward or back to maintain a proper center of lift.

Notes: I had to make up the rule about reducing speed based on load, and the maximum load was more or less arbitrary. (Update: I reduced it since this vehicle wouldn’t be able to carry more than 20t internally.) Still, this seems like something that would be very common in a setting with antigrav technology.

TL10 GRAV CARGO PALLET

Intended for use in warehouses or freightyards, this light grav vehicle can carry a standard 4-dton space shipping container. It can be piloted, operated by someone nearby using a hand controller, or controlled remotely, and is capable of limited autonomous operation. A grav pallet can be programmed with travel limits to keep it within a particular building or property, and a built-in computer aids in inventory control. Speed and range are divided by the mass in metric tons of what is being carried, and the controls have a safety cap of 50 kph. It is fairly easy to disable that cap using Computer or Electronics skill, but the utter lack of navigation, safety systems, and passenger protection makes it very dangerous to use a cargo mover as an improvised air/raft. They do occasionally get pressed into service as improvised work platforms, but require an operator to keep the unit in position while work is in progress. The pallet can operate in airless environments, but is not intended for zero gravity.

Light Grav vehicle, 4 spaces. Shipping volume 2 dtons.

Speed: 200 kph, Range: 1600 km. Agility +1

Controls: Basic controls, Basic Drone controls, Autopilot-3, Computer mod/1, Very Distant range comm.

Armor: None. Open Top, Open Cargo Bed, Open Frame. Hull 2, Structure 2.

Crew: 1 operator.

Cargo: 8 spaces/4 dtons, max 8000 kg.

Cost: 18,500 credits.

Design: A sturdy platform 3 meters wide and 6 meters long, with a swivel-mounted operator seat and control systems at one end, and power and propulsion in narrow nacelles along the sides of the platform. Roller bearings on the deck allow easy loading and unloading of cargo containers, and there are many tie-downs for safety. With the seat and controls folded down, the whole thing is a meter tall.

Notes: This is basically a grav forklift. I used the same speed reduction based on mass, which seems appropriate. By cutting range and speed, and using open frame and open top design, the cost almost got into negative numbers. I could imagine most merchant starships carrying something like this in the cargo hold to use in loading and unloading.

TL11 UTILITY GRAV VEHICLE

A multipurpose flyer, with many variants. The basic vehicle can be either a cargo hauler or a passenger bus, often used for tourist flights over natural wonders or a short-hop air transport. Some get modified for use as personal recreation vehicles. A firefighting variant carries extinguishing foam. This default version is for breathable atmosphere worlds, and is not intended for use in space. A space-rated version has an airlock and life support, at the cost of reduced payload.

10-space Light Grav Vehicle, shipping volume 5 dtons.

Speed: 400kph, range 1650 km, Agility +1

Controls: Basic controls, Autopilot-2, Basic navigation +1, Distant-range comm.

Armor: 5 overall, Hull and Structure 5.

Crew: Driver and 1 passenger.

Cargo: 10 spaces/2500 kg. cargo, or 10 passenger seats.

Cost: 364,500 credits.

Design: Very straightforward, a 6-meter box with sloped front and rounded corners.

Firefighter variant: Adds a remote chin turret holding a Water Cannon and 8 spaces (2000 liters) of Bulk Liquid tankage, at a cost increase of 35,000 credits to 400,000.

Recreation variant: Adds Mod/2 computer, bunks for 4 people, Mini Fresher, Mini-galley, water purifier, 1kW solar panels, Entertainment System, 2 passenger seats and 500kg. storage at a cost increase of 10,550 credits, for a total of 375,050.

Vacuum variant: Adds an Airlock, Vacuum Protection, and Short-Term Life Support. Payload is reduced to 7 spaces/2000 kg. or 7 passenger seats. Cost increases to 547,000.

Notes: This is about the most vanilla grav vehicle possible. I reduced the range because the operating ranges in Cepheus are enormous. Apparently everybody in the future has infinite bladder capacity. The recreation variant is a flying Winnebago, and the price seems pretty good for that. Paint it up in your school colors for the ultimate pregame tailgate party.

TL13 PERSONAL AIR CAR

A sturdier, faster, and considerably more expensive air car with better range and thicker skin. It is capable of reaching orbit and operating in space, but passengers need vacuum suits. The autopilot is good enough to operate autonomously. Powered by closed-cycle fuel cells.

4-space Light Grav Vehicle, shipping volume 2 tons.

Speed: 480 kph, Range 1200 km., Agility +1

Controls: Basic controls and navigation, Autopilot-3, Distant-range comm, Computer Model/2, Basic Sensors.

Accomodations: Driver, 3 passengers. Short-term life suppport.

Armor: 5 overall, Hull 2, Structure 2.

Cargo: 250 kg.

Cost: 155,200 credits.

Design: A bulbous egg shape 3 meters long, 2.5 meters wide, and 2 meters high. The passenger compartment is forward, while propulsion is at the rear. The entire skin of the vehicle can selectively be made black, reflective, or transparent at the driver’s option.

Notes: If you thought my TL11 Air Car was too cheap flimsy, here’s a solid and expensive model.

TL13 GRAV LIMOUSINE

The ultimate in airborne luxury, the grav limo is big, fast, and well-appointed, with room for six people, a wet bar, an entertainment system — and the ability to reach orbit in a pinch. The advanced controls make it surprisingly nimble, and can drive the vehicle without human attention. The outer skin can be made transparent or opaque wherever the driver selects. Unsurprisingly, it’s pretty expensive, but part of the appeal of a grav limo is letting people know you can afford one. An even more costly version with improved armor and defenses is available.

8-space Light Grav Vehicle, shipping volume 4 tons.

Speed: 600 kph, range 2800 km., agility +2

Controls: Advanced controls, Autopilot-3, Computer mod/2, Standard navigation, Encrypted Very Distant range comm, Basic sensors.

Accomodations: Seats for Driver, Assistant/Guard, 4 passengers; Short term life support, Luxury outfitting for passenger section (+3 reaction), Wet Bar, Entertainment System.

Cargo: 250 kg.

Armor: 5 overall, 4 Hull, 4 Structure.

Cost: 490,000 credits.

Design: A sleek ellipsoid 2.5 meters wide, 2 meters high, and 6 meters long. There is a partition between the luxury passenger section and the more utilitarian pilot section. The seats in back are arranged in two facing pairs.

High-Security Grav Limousine: Increase armor to 15, add Fire Extinguisher system, reduce speed to 550 kph. Cost: 570,000 credits.

Notes: If the standard air/raft is too plebian for you, get one of these babies instead. I didn’t do anything to reduce the cost, but I did try to keep the size within reason. The armored version can’t stand up to heavy weapons, but it can shrug off grenades and small arms fire. If you want to add a sunroof and a pintle-mount weapon, that’s your affair.