Re: Are Attached files ok?

From: "Charles Taylor" <nerik@?????????.?????.??.uk>
Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2007 1:25 PM
Subject: [SPELLJAMMER] Are Attached files ok?


> Is it ok to send attached files to this list? (I've noticed that it is
> possible, I just thought I'd check if it was acceptable).

Most mailing lists block attachments to stop the transfer of computer 
viruses. Even if they don't block all attachments, Microsoft Office formats 
are all known to harbour macro viruses, so could still be blocked.

> The reason is I've finally finished my spreadsheet of ship size data, it
> includes overall dimensions including mast and wing lengths, hull
> dimensions, and, in some cases, ceiling heights.

Have you compared these numbers with Mr Suitcase?

:-)

> It also contains sheets with corrected dimensions to make the hull volume
> match the listed size in tons (as ship tonnage in Spelljammer is rather
> important; determining hull points, cargo space, and helm types needed, I
> decided to keep the ship tonnages fixed, and vary the dimensions). It
> includes all the ships listed in the War Captain's Guide, plus many of the
> ships from Hackjammer. There are also a few unofficial alternative size
> versions of some ships.

Are these alternative ones, the versions that Night Druid proposed for elven 
ships?

> There are three sets of corrected dimensions; 1 using 1 ton = 100 cubic
> yards, one using 50 cubic yards, and one using the Hackjammer measurement
> of 1 ton = 1000 cubic feet.

You realise that you are describing units of volume. While tons are actually 
units of weight.

Volume = tonnage - measured by the amount of usable space within a ship.

Weight = tons - measured by the amount of water displaced when a ship is in 
water.

I would be interested to see what sort of numbers you get if you tried to 
calculate the relative size of ships based on the amount of weight each 
design would have.

(Actually, given the fact that ships can be measuered using volume or 
weight, there is one thing that makes me side with the volume argument - the 
"Stronger Materials" rules on page 44 of CoAS. These rules say that you can 
change a wood ship into a metal ship, without manouverabity, hull points or 
AR being effected. Only saving throws change. If SJ tons were based on 
weight then tons *would* change when a wooden ship was transformed into a 
bronze ship.)

> So if its ok, I'll post it to the list (its a 529 KB Excel worksheet),
> otherwise, I can post it to whoever requests a copy.

Could this not be turned into an table and put into a Beyond the Moons 
article on the subject? I'd love to see how 100 cubic yards and 50 cubic 
yards alter the spectrum of ship sizes. I'm assuming that large and small 
ships would be affected differently.

I'm also assuming that the Hackjammer ton would have a different effect on 
large and small ship sizes. I'm pretty sure that Adam, Paul and Rian changed 
this for a reason, so it might be worth asking them what they wanted to 
achive with their change.

"Pay no attention to the kender behind the curtain."
David "Big Mac" Shepheard
Virtual Eclipse Role Playing Club
http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/virtualeclipselrp/links/d20_system_001071937434/Spelljammer_001071430476
http://www32.brinkster.com/virtualeclipse/