ship lists (rosters)

Jon has pointed out there are many other classes in service, so what we see in
the FB is a representative sample. I'd guess no more than 50% of the total of
active ships.

Doug said this seemed like a big economic powerhouse. Even if we assumed a ZPG
from now until 2185, NAC population would be 700 million or more and it would
have many times the economic strength we have today. At a loose guess, even
with conservative expansion of the economy and a zero population growth, the
NAC would easily have 60 times the current GDP of the USA at 300 million. Good
growth rates could result in 200 x. Even with pathetic growth, it'd be 10 x.

And the USA has quite a few hundred ships now, in peace time! If they
were at war pretty steadily for the last 50+ years (various Solar
Wars), they'd be much heavilier committed. And FT ships crews, even at 150,
are still a fraction of the size of today's crews. The ships aren't even that
large.

If the population grows correspondingly, you're looking at a tax base
of 5-30 billion (depending on pop math) high-tech taxpayers. That is a
LOT of resources.

So don't be surprised if the FT universe allows for a LOT of ships, big
fleets, and armed conflict in large proportion. It'll help Jon sell minis! And
it justifies all of us one day getting together for a
scenario called The Battle To End All Battles (Ragnarok-ish!). We can
all bring our minis, and know we aren't treading on anyone.... <grin>