[FT][DS][SG] Interface

There has been some discussion on the list recently about the interface
between Full Thrust and Dirtside II. With the changes in the FB this interface
needs a little rework. The following are some suggestions on how to modify the
interface in MT to bring it in line with the FB.

This is not official, but its probably all you’re going to get for a
while...

1. FB ships designs are more "massive" than equivalent designs in FT/MT.
An analysis of the 7 "standard" ship classes shows that, on average, a FB ship
design is 2.4 times the mass of
an equivalent FT/MT ship design. For simplicity and ease of calculation,
lets call it a factor of 2.5.

2. The primary conversion factor in the MT interface to DS2 is the
mass/cargo space ratio.
In MT this is 1 MASS = 50 CS. If 1 FB mass = 2.5 FT mass then:
1 FB MASS = 50/2.5 = 20 CS

3. In the FB it is SUGGESTED that 1 MASS is equivalent to 100 tonnes. This is
background dependent and just happens to be what we have chosen for the GZG
background. If you use a different background then this factor may well be
different....

Assuming then that 1 MASS = 100 tonnes, then 1 CS = 5 tonnes. A Size 3 vehicle
takes up 12 CS. This equates to 60 tonnes which seems about right.

4. The other factor required in the interface is "How many CS can a dropship
of given mass carry?" In MT it states that it takes 1 MASS to transport 10 CS
from orbit to surface. This means that to transport 50 CS would require a drop
ship of 5 MASS. Put another way, dropship efficiency is 20%. This ratio should
also be background dependent (although it doesn’t say so in MT).

For use with FB designs, I would suggest that dropship efficiency be increased
to 25%. A
MASS 5 dropship can now transport 25 CS - room for 2 size 3 vehicles or
a leg platoon of 24
men - a standard "platoon lander"

The Assault Transport shown on FB p42 therefore has a troop capacity of 32 *
20 = 640 CS and has 4 MASS 5 platoon landers. This ship can comfortably carry
a mechanised infantry company complete with its vehicles and stores.

As an aside, please note DS2 Capacity points (CP) and FT Cargo Spaces
(CS)
are NOT the same thing: A Size 3 vehicle requires 12 CS but has 15 CP.
Therefore 1 CS = 1.25 CP

To summarise:

1 FB Mass = 20 CS Dropship efficiency = 25% ( It takes 1 MASS to transport 5CS
from orbit to surface).

These are the ONLY changes needed to the interface. Everything else in MT
still applies.

Mike.Elliott@bull.co.uk spake thusly upon matters weighty:

> There has been some discussion on the list recently about the

Good idea.

> 2. The primary conversion factor in the MT interface to DS2 is the

Okay. I'll buy that.

> 4. The other factor required in the interface is "How many CS can a

Hmm. Probably not stores for that long of a period if some of what I'm led to
believe by our resident logistics folk are true.

> As an aside, please note DS2 Capacity points (CP) and FT Cargo Spaces

But wait! (This might be SG2, but I think it is DS2 as well) It says our Size
3 vehicle takes 24 CPs to be carried inside another vehicle (size *8). So if
it takes twelve Cargo Spaces, then the ratio works out to 2 CPs per CS which
is more palitable than a fractional result.

If I've misread, please correct me.

Tom.
/************************************************

> Thomas Barclay wrote:

Let's also not forget that the CS for a troop in a lander is different from a
ship of same size. Ship is intended to transport for extended period of time.
Lander is maybe half an hour. You can pack a LOT of troops into a SMALL area
if it's for a limited amount of time.

> Hmm. Probably not stores for that long of a period if some of what

Depending--Grav tanks with HELs might need very, very few stores.

> As an aside, please note DS2 Capacity points (CP) and FT Cargo Spaces

> But wait! (This might be SG2, but I think it is DS2 as well) It says

> If I've misread, please correct me.

> Thomas Barclay

Oh and this applies to both DS2 and SG2 as the vehicle design system is
essentially the same in each case.

Mike Elliott

________________________________________________________________________
___