This week, we take a look at the Nova Eclipse - the highly customized AR-37 Paragon-class light transport from Christopher West's maps and, and his personal game.
But first, a brief note that I was sorry to hear that Lucasfilm laid off Bonnie Burton (aka @bonniegrrl) this week, their long-time social network liason (and likely other duties I know nothing about). I only had brief contact with Bonnie, several years ago when she interviewed me for an article on my blog at starwars.com. Starwars.com announced that it was revamping the official blog, with their ongoing reworking of all things starwars.com that has been underway for awhile. The latest blog post is looking for feedback on what people want to see on the site, so now is the time to comment, if you want to see particular types of content, etc.
Now, on with the Nova Eclipse. We'll start once again with Chris' description, followed by my stats for Saga and d6 systems, as usual.
Oh, speaking of d6...Rodney Thompson is running a d6 mini-game. For those who don't know or remember, previous to working at Wizards, Rodney did some non-Star Wars d6 freelance for the later incarnation of WEG.
Now, really, on with the Nova Eclipse. Note, that I reversed a map reference last week. The stock version lower level is on Offworld Docking port, and the lower level of Nova Eclipse is on Borading Action. Both have the same upper deck on the Kickstarter Nova Eclipse map.
The Nova Eclipse is a highly customized and refitted Paragon-Class Transport. The current captain of the Nova Eclipse (a human woman named Jenara Faine) has added a concussion missile pod to the dorsal turret, with a 6-missile payload. Also, that turret has been modified to be detachable, with a self-contained life support package and maneuvering thrusters to serve as a mini lifeboat--though it lacks any planetary reentry capability. The ship's armor has been reinforced in places, and the shields have been substantially upgraded. The Eclipse also has a backup power generator mounted in the ceiling, rigged to key systems through conduits running along the outer hull of the ship. These are prone to disruption from hull damage and very attractive to mynocks--but when it works, the backup system is quite a lifesaver.
The Nova Eclipse also has a pair of hidden smuggling compartments created by the restructuring of the ship. One is adjacent to the cargo bay, in a former auxiliary bay redesigned to open towards the cargo module. It's all but invisible to inspection because most AR-37 cargo pods don't even have an opening there. The other smuggling area is in an add-on junction box adjacent to the roof-mounted auxiliary power generator; it is reached through a ceiling vent in the main deck corridor, and can, itself, be vented into space in an emergency.
Which brings us to, perhaps, the Nova Eclipse's most unusual customization: a network of bulky ventilation ducts half-recessed into the hull surface. These were added to allow the ship to maintain separate atmospheric controls in different compartments, with variable pressures and atmosphere composition for different species. Though this was probably installed for the comfort of a previous crew member accustomed to a low-oxygen environment, it has the added advantage of enabling the ship's atmosphere to be vented into the vacuum of space, in whole or in part, in a matter of moments--and re-pressurized almost as quickly. The ducts are spacious enough for a small creature to move about comfortably, or a medium creature to crawl along. By disabling (or completely opening) the network of pressure seals, an occupant can even use the ducts to move about though the ship.
The stock AR-37 Transport is not a stylish or streamlined ship, and the Nova Eclipse even less so, but it's a solid and often-underestimated workhorse of galactic transportation. It can be operated under normal circumstances by a piloting crew of four, or even handled in a limited capacity by just a pilot and engineer, but the ship works best with a team of 6: one pilot, a copilot/navigator, a mechanical engineer, a computer systems operator, and two gunners.
Nova Eclipse - AR-37 Paragon-Class Light Transport CL 10
(Boarding Action (lower level) & Kickstarter Nova Eclipse (upper level))
Colossal space transport
Init -1; Senses Perception +6
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Defenses Ref 16 (flat-footed 13), Fort 28; +13 armor
hp 150; DR 15; SR 45; Threshold 78
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Speed fly 14 squares (max. velocity 950 km/h),
fly 4 squares (starship scale)
Ranged 1 laser cannon +4 (see below) and
1 double ion cannon +4 (see below) and
1 concussion missile launcher +4
Fighting Space 21x16 or 1 square (starship scale); Cover total
Base Atk +2; Grp +40
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Abilities Str 46, Dex 16, Con —, Int 14
Skills Initiative -1, Mechanics +6, Perception +6, Pilot -1, Use Computer +6
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Crew 4 (skilled); Passengers 6 (+16 with passenger module)
Cargo 10 tons (+120 tons with cargo module); Consumables 2 months; Carried Craft None (+1 or more with escort module)
Hyperdrive x1 (backup x12), navicomputer
Availability Unique; Cost not available for sale
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Laser cannon (gunner)
Atk +4 (-1 autofire), Dmg 4d10x2
Double ion cannon (gunner)
Atk +4 (-1 autofire), Dmg 4d10x2 ion
Concussion missile launcher (gunner)
Atk +4 , Dmg 9d10x2, 4 square splash
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D6 / WEG
Craft: Nova Eclipse - AR-37 Paragon-class Light Transport
Type: Stock light freighter
Scale: Starfighter
Length: 32 meters
Skill: Space transports: Paragon Light Transport
Crew: 4 (2 can coordinate), gunners 2, skeleton: 2/+10
Crew Skill: Space transports 5D+2, starship gunnery 4D+1, starship shields 3D+2
Passengers: 6 (+16 with passenger module)
Cargo Capacity: 10 tons (+120 tons with cargo module)
Consumables: 2 months
Cost: 110,000 (new), 35,000 (used)
Hyperdrive Multiplier: x1
Hyperdrive Backup: x10
Nav Computer: Yes
Maneuverability: 2D
Space: 6
Atmosphere: 350; 950 kmh
Hull: 4D+2
Shields: 3D
Sensors:
Passive: 10/0D
Scan: 25/1D
Search: 40/2D
Focus: 2/3D
Weapons:
Laser Cannon
Fire Arc: Turret
Crew: 1
Skill: Starship Gunnery
Fire Control: 2D+1
Space Range: 1-3/12/25
Atmosphere Range: 100-300/1.2/2.5 km
Damage: 4D
2 Light Ion Cannons (fire-linked)
Fire Arc: Front, Side
Crew: 1
Skill: Starship Gunnery
Fire Control: 2D+1
Space Range: 1-3/12/25
Atmosphere Range: 100-300/1.2/2.5 km
Damage: 4D
1 Concussion Missile Launcher
Fire Arc: Turret
Crew: 1
Skill: Missile weapons: concussion missiles
Fire Control: 2D+2
Space Range: 1/3/7
Atmosphere Range: 50-100/300/700
Damage: 9D