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RobCaswell — Beowulf Class Profiles (updated)
Published: 2013-05-30 21:57:52 +0000 UTC; Views: 28978; Favourites: 280; Downloads: 773
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Description
This is sort of a reprint... but more a re-execution of some of the technical art found in the centerfold of DGP's "Starship Operator's Manual" (circa 1988). I'd created the original art on a synthetic velum sheet. It's help up OK, being essentially plastic and all, but as a piece of art it's nasty in it's utilitarian aspect. It got the job done, back in the day, with pasted up text and all
Anyway, this version drops the alternate views on the Type A and just offers a profile presentation. Those Traveller geeks among you will notice the reference to the ship's fusion drive. Mwaahaaahaa - vengeance is mine!!!!!! Tom Peters, Karl Martin, and myself were strong believers in the idea that the typical drive arrangement in Traveller ships was anti-grav for landings, fusion drives for relativistic travel, and jump drives for star travel. But we were told to go stand in the corner and not make any more noise.... 'TIL NOW! It's my art and them's fusion drives, love it or leave it!
Anyway, I hope the Traveller fans out there will enjoy the updated past blastage, and the SF starship fans will groove on it for its SF shippiness. Of note, the look of the Beowulf was originally created by William H. Keith, and later tweaked by Tom Peters and myself. For some juicy 3D scenes of this ship in action, check out the Traveller gallery of Drell-7: [link]
UPDATE INFO: Corrected a few graphics glitches, added a few more key technical callouts, adjusted layout, added scale air raft.
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Comments: 144
An oldie but goodie. Very nice to see it dusted off and brought back out.
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Happy to pry it from the crypt!
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Keep on going with those oldies but goodies.
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I loved this when it first came out and enjoy seeing it again.
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It was worth resurrecting, I thought. It was a personal fave.
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*nostalgic table top years*
i wasnt good enough in english to understand Traveller (that was scarce in france anyways).
our fellow french creators came up with Empire Galactique [link]
faster than light travels were achieved by (a sci-fi gimmick) *Cheating Light*, were the pilot (and anyone on board with his brains about) experience something like a LSD trip. Anti-matter is the fuel.
*sigh* memory lane
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It sounds like it might have had even greater adventure potential than Traveller!?
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it had potential but after those 2 cyclopedia galactica they did (which where very high quality, thus expensive to make & expensive to buy) the editor droped dead. Neverless we had some nice gaming evenings.
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and oh, that game was illustred 90% by Manchu [link]
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Oh man, I'd buy it JUST for that! I love Manchu. It's sad his work doesn't make it outside of France very much...
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actually you can download the whole thing for free and legaly !
empiregalactique.fr has a download section (bottom right *Telechargements*) with .pdf of the different books that were published.
I would recommand *2. Encyclopedie Galactique* with was a real piece of art even at the time. Plenty of food for the eyes & if you get a friend to translate it to you, plenty to daydream on in galaxies far far away.
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NEAT!!!! Thanks!!!!!!!!!
Cool stuff!
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Remember when we were little fanboys and wrote a letter to GDW about the use of fusion and anti-grav drives in Traveller. When they wrote us back...it was nerdtastic!
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BTW, don't forget to, as you read the call out, roll your eyes as you get to "Typical Human...."
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Yup. And Loren confirmed that they WERE fusion drives.
Who's that Fugate guy think he is, anyway?....
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*adjusts his glasses*
Well a "fusion drive" does not mean much in itself.
Assuming it is a drive that uses a reactionchamber for a fusion action and then creates thrust by a noozle. I remember when Megatraveller came out I think, and it stated that the ships used a kind of thrusterplaes? to generate thrust. But if the energy is created by a fusion powerplant you could still label it a fusion drive. Maybe the higher TL used that.
Personally I too like the noozles sticking out of the aftsection
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>> I remember when Megatraveller came out I think, and it stated that the ships used a kind of thrusterplaes? to generate thrust.
Yup. That was when we lost the battle....
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Plus..it has an awesome name...
"Hwæt! We Gar-Dena in gear-dagum"
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Dude! Don't type with your mouth full!!!
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You've got Drell-7s mail addy!
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Hey, but it's more fun to pester you. 
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Reminds me of Darkstar!
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Hm. Dark Star? Maybe... a bit... from this angle.
No planet buster bombs, though
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Yeah, it's got the hull shape and the dome thing on top.
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Well... the dome is turret. But I can sorta see where you're comin' from.
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See [link] the Darkstar is just sleaker/longer.
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Ah the "good ol' days" when "cut and paste" was literal...lol.
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Absolutely fantastic! The Beowulf Free Trader has always been one of my absolute favorite ships. It has the look of a working spacecraft, sleek and streamlined but still a freighter. Totally awesome
As for geek revenge.... Vengence!!
but yah... Fusion drives rule
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I think most of the ship names were via Drell-7. And yeah, the Beowulf was always nice because it made sense - it was a working starship, within the tech framework of the Traveller 'verse.
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As a Traveller fan, I most definitely enjoy this. LOVE it! Completely cool, and I agree with your statement about the engines. And of course if there's anti-gravs for landing, that *has* to meant the ship has internal gravity ~ none of this zero-g crap
Well done!
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Yep, the decks had grav generators built in. Of course cutting them rolling the ship and strobing the lights could cause would be pirated a few problems. 'Specialy when the crew of ex-scouts know the drill
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