Requires the use of the d20 Modern™ Roleplaying Game, published by Wizards of the Coast, Inc.

Welcome to Ronin Arts’ Future: Starship 1 –The Nova Star, the first in a new series of PDFs foruse with futuristic D20 System campaigns. Thisseries makes some assumptions about your cam-paign; the starship designs in this series will bemost useful in campaigns in which the followingstatements are true:

• The campaign is not a “hard” science setting.Campaigns that are more space opera/adven-ture movie are the intended target for thisseries.

• Starships are not rare or unusual. All of thestarships in this series assume that spacetravel is a standard and common occurrence– individuals either fly their own ships orride on passenger ships. Starships and spacetravel are as common for characters as aplane ride is for people of our reality.

• Space combat is not uncommon. It’s justanother exciting adventure when the playercharacters have to engage the enemy whilefleeing from some world or other.

• The campaign is packed with action. If thingsaren’t exploding, how much fun can thegame really be?

Most of the starships in this series are designedto fill 4 pages. This is so that you can print the pages– back-to-back if you wish – and drop them into abinder. This introduction, and the page of new star-ship equipment and assorted information, can also

be printed separately and added to your binder. Theschematic and silhouette page is designed to beused as a player handout – it’s what flashes up ontheir ship systems when they attempt to ID a ship –and GMs need only give the players the page whenthey encounter a ship from this series.

About the AuthorPhilip Reed has been working professionally in

the roleplaying game industry since 1995. In thattime he has worked for such companies as West EndGames, Privateer Press, and Steve Jackson Games.Today Philip spends his days at home runningRonin Arts, writing and designing new games, andreading whatever books interest him at the time. Tolearn more about Philip Reed – and Ronin Arts –please visit www.creationcrash.com andwww.roninarts.com.

e-Future Tiles: Star FreighterThe Nova Star design is based on SkeletonKey

Games’ e-Future Tiles: Star Freighter tile set.While this PDF can be easily used on its own youwill get a lot more use out of it in your game ses-sions if you construct the ship – at miniatures scale– using the printable tiles. The only tiles you willneed that are not available in e-Future Tiles: StarFreighter are the wings – which have been thought-fully included at the end of this PDF.

To learn more about SkeletonKey Games pleasevisit their website at www.skeletonkeygames.com.

2

The Nova Star

Introduction

NEW SHIP SYSTEMSThe following are new items that have been

installed on the Nova Star. They are included hereso that you may easily use them to modify existingstarships or when designing your own originalships.

Gravitic Enhancement Drive(PL 7)

This engine upgrade – usable with PL 6 and PL7 engines only – reroutes the ship’s power througha gravitic flux module that slightly boosts theengine’s power output. A gravitic enhancementdrive is an activated system that must be turned on– counts as an action – in order to operate. The driverequires 1d4 rounds after being turned on before itbegins to have an effect on the engine’s power; after1d4 rounds the ship’s tactical speed is increased by+500 ft. (+1 sq.). Unfortunately, gravitic enhance-ment drives are unreliable devices – each roundafter the drive first boosts the ship’s speed there is achance that the drive will fail and burn out theship’s engines, leaving it without power. Thischance is equal to 10% + 5% for each round afterthe first that the gravitic enhancement drive is leftrunning. A DC 25 Repair check is required to repairan engine that is burned out by a gravitic enhance-ment drive.

Minimum Ship Size: Huge.Tactical Speed Bonus: +500 feet (+1 square).Purchase DC: 30 + one-half the base purchase

DC of the starship.Restriction: Licensed (+1)

Punisher Targeting Computer(PL 7)

This military-grade targeting computer was firstinstalled in battleship’s and cruisers. A starshipequipped with a Punisher targeting computer gainsan equipment bonus on attack rolls depending onthe ship’s size: Huge +4, Gargantuan +5, Colossal+6. This system replaces the ship’s existing target-ing system..

The purchase DC of the improved targeting sys-tem depends on the size of the ship.

Purchase DC: 25 (Huge), 30 (Gargantuan), or35 (Colossal).

Restriction: Military (+3).

ILLEGAL CARGO ITEMSWhile many of the freighters in service in the

galaxy run honest, legal goods, a number of pilotsuse their ships to transport illegal substances, gear,and other objects between worlds. The followingare just a small sampling of possible illegal cargoitems a pilot could agree to transport.

Weapons: On worlds undergoing civil war orrebellion, those in control will do their best to limitthe introduction of new weapons to the world.Pacifist worlds, resort worlds, and governmentalcomplexes will also have restrictions on weapons ofany type. The risk in running weapons, while great,is usually not life threatening.

Drugs: Not the medical type. Sci-fi tales arepacked with various illegal substances – spices,beverages, hypnotic devices designed to induceeuphoria, all are “drugs” to be delivered.

Slaves: Only the most morally corrupt of pilotsagree to transport slaves between worlds. Somepilots even go so far as to become slavers, landingon isolated worlds and rounding up the locals to sellon some other planet.

STARSHIPS ANDPURCHASE DCS

According to the rules as presented, starshipsare extremely expensive pieces of equipment. Thisis appropriate for many types of games but, when itcomes to a space opera setting where several peopleown and operate starships, the printed purchaseDCs are far too high.

To make starships more prolific in a campaignsetting, especially one in which it’s preferable forthe player characters to own their own starships,reduce the printed purchase DCs of all non-militarystarships by 15. This change brings starship pur-chase DCs to a range closer to that of civilian landvehicles in a Modern campaign.

This is an optional rule and one that must beapproved by the GM.

3

The Nova Star

New Rules and Ideas

Throughout the galaxy, light freighters travel thespacelanes. These small ships are mostly involvedin running legal and illegal cargo between thenumerous populated worlds of the known universe.Freighters – many of them decades old and withmore stories behind them than the most grizzled ofout-of-work spacers – are typically heavily cus-tomized by their owners. It’s not an uncommon fortwo freighters of the same model to, after a fewdecades of service, look nothing alike.

The Nova Star is a Comet-class freighter origi-nally manufactured on the high-industry world ofDiaophin Alpha Six. First used in the ByssanianMercantile Wars, the Nova Star saw extensive com-bat as she transported medical supplies, foodstuffs,and water to a remote Byssanian outpost in theXixith Asteroid Belt. The captain and owner of theNova Star during the Mercantile Wars, a humannamed Stavros Rennelli, started the first in whatwas to eventually become many custom modifica-tions to the ship’s Comet-class design.

Rennelli lost the Nova Star to the mechanicalbounty hunter VtX-09a shortly after the MercantileWars. Since that time, the ship has had almost adozen different owners, each one of which hasmade some modification or other to the ship’s orig-inal design. The ship’s last owner, Cryyss theDishonest, upgraded the ship’s engines with agravitic enhancement drive and the ship’s armor tocerametal.

The starship lot where the Nova Star is current-ly being displayed for sale also made a new modifi-cation to the freighter: a military-grade “Punisher”targeting computer was mounted in place of theship’s original targeting system. Where the starshiplot owners found a “Punisher” is unknown, butthey’re proud of the improvement to the ship (andthey’re charging for it).

The Nova Star would make an excellent “homebase” for a team of star heroes. The ship is armedand armored and has enough cargo space to make itan excellent tool for smuggling, pirating, or honesttrade.

4

The Nova Star

Basic Information

Game Statistics THE NOVA STAR (PL 7)

Type: UltralightSubtype: Light freighterDefense: 7Flat-footed Defense: 5Autopilot Defense: 5Hardness: 30Hit Dice: 16d20 (320 hp)Initiative Modifier: +2

Pilot’s Class Bonus: +3Pilot’s Dex Modifier: +2Gunner’s Attack Bonus: +2Size: Colossal (-8 size)Tactical Speed: 3,000 ft. (6 sq.),

3,500 ft. (7 sq.) with graviticenhancement drive activated

Length: 102 feet

Weight: 400 tonsTargeting System Bonus: +4Crew: 3 (trained +4)Passenger Capacity: 3Cargo Capacity: 270 tonsGrapple Modifier: +16Purchase DC: 53Restriction: Military (+3)

Attack: 2 fire-linked heavy lasers –3 ranged(12d8) and 2 fire-linked rail cannons –8 ranged(9d12)

Attack of Opportunity: None

Nova Star Design Specs:Engines: Ion engine, thrusters, gravitic

enhancement driveArmor: CerametalDefense Systems: Autopilot system, shielded

cargo hold, damage control system (1d10),

magnetic field, radiation shielding, sensorjammer

Sensors: Class II sensor array, Punisher target-ing computer

Communications: Laser transceiver, radiotransceiver

Weapons: 2 fire-linked heavy lasers (rangeincr. 4,000 ft.), 2 fire-linked rail cannons(range incr. 3,000 ft.)

Grappling Systems: Grapplers

1. Cockpit: The Nova Star’s cockpit seats three– a pilot, co-pilot, and navigations/communi-cations specialist. This cramped cockpit istypical of light freighters. The cockpit doorcan be closed with the touch of a button andis quite durable (hardness 20, 50 hit points)and has a sophisticated lock (DC 40 DisableDevice check required to open the doorwhen locked).

2. Personal Cargo: This small hold is used forpassenger and crew cargo. In an emergencythe space could be used to carry more pas-sengers – previous owners of the Nova Starhave been known to stack bunks in this smallspace so that they could ferry survivors andrefugees.

3. Med Suite: This compact medical facilityhouses a cryosleep chamber and a minimalselection of basic drugs, bandages, and med-ical supplies. Treat Injury checks made whilein the Med Suite gain a +2 equipment bonus.

4. Galley: The ship’s galley carries enoughfoodstuff to feed up to six people for a two-week period.

5. Lavatory: A typical shipboard restroom facil-ity.

6. Sleeping Quarters: These double bunks canfit up to 8 comfortably.

7. Weapon’s Storage: The ship’s personalweapons and armor are stored in this area.The weapons are kept in wall-mountedcases, each one locked (DC 35 DisableDevice check required to break into thesecases).

8. Engineering 1: This area offers access to theship’s port engines, the translight drives, andvarious other technical components of theNova Star. A secondary gunner’s station hereis tied to the ship’s rail cannons. Firing theweapons from this position does not give thefirer the ship’s targeting system bonus (thePunisher is only wired into the cockpit con-trols).

9. Engineering 2: Identical to engineering 1except without the gunner station and allow-ing access only to the starboard engines.

10. Passageway: This area is usually kept clear.It can be used to store more cargo if the NovaStar’s primary cargo holds are filled tocapacity.

11-12. Cargo Holds: Large bay doors allowaccess to these two large cargo bays.

5

The Nova Star

Starship Key

Hey, That’s My Ship!Shortly after purchasing the Nova Star, the play-

er characters are confronted by a man claiming thatthe ship was stolen from him. He manages to pro-duce evidence of ownership and the local authori-ties approach the group, arresting them for starshiptheft.

The individual is an experienced con man whospends his time traveling between worlds and run-ning this same scheme. How the PCs clear theirnames, and re-acquire their ship before the realthief escapes off-planet, should prove to be anexciting evening of game play.

Alternately, the individual is telling the truth.The Nova Star was stolen from him several monthsago by thieves working for the starship lot wherethe PCs purchased the ship. How the PCs deal withdishonest starship salesmen should be fun to watch.

More Fun than a Cargo HoldFull of Bennian Hounds

A wealthy noble requests that the PCs transporther prized bennian hounds to the upcoming canineshow on Teirjon Theta Seven. The pay is adequate,the job seemingly simple, and the temptation toogreat to pass up.

Unfortunately for the player characters, thewoman forgot to mention that bennian hounds areprone to space-sickness and very, very loud.Throughout the trip the PCs must deal with sickdogs, noisy dogs, and dogs always underfoot – nomatter how hard they try to keep the hounds con-fined to the cargo hold they find a way to escape.

The woman has promised a bonus if the dogsare safely delivered to the show. This annoyanceshould be a fun diversion during the course of amore serious adventure.

Adventure Hooks

6

The Nova Star

TOP VIEW

SILHOUETTE VIEW – FRONT

Nova StarModified Comet-class Light Freighter

7

The Nova Star

1. Cockpit2. Personal Cargo3. Med Suite4. Galley5. Lavatory6. Sleeping Quarters7. Weapon’s Storage8. Engineering 19. Engineering 210. Passageway11. Port Cargo Hold12. Starboard Cargo Hold

DECK PLAN

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15 COPYRIGHT NOTICEOpen Game License v 1.0 Copyright 2000, Wizards of theCoast, Inc.

Modern System Reference Document Copyright 2002-2004, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Bill Slavicsek, JeffGrubb, Rich Redman, Charles Ryan, Eric Cagle, David Noonan,Stan!, Christopher Perkins, Rodney Thompson, and JD Wiker,based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, SkipWilliams, Richard Baker, Peter Adkison, Bruce R. Cordell, JohnTynes, Andy Collins, and JD Wiker.

Future: Starship 1 – The Nova Star, copyright 2004 PhilipReed. Published by Ronin Arts www.roninarts.com. Based onSkeletonKey Games’ e-Future Tiles: Star Freighter –www.skeletonkeygames.com.

8

The Nova Star

Future: Starship 1 – The Nova Star is copyright © 2004 Philip Reed. All text in this book is designated as open game content.You may not distribute this PDF without permission of the author. d20 Modern™ is a trademark of Wizards of the Coast, Inc., asubsidiary of Hasbro, Inc., and is used with permission. Wizards of the Coast® is a registered trademark of Wizards of the Coast,Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc., and is used with permission.

e-Future Tiles: Star Freighter roninSF01

All artwork is © 2004 - Edward Bourelle and may be reproduced for personal use only.

e-Future Tiles: Star Freighter roninSF02

All artwork is © 2004 - Edward Bourelle and may be reproduced for personal use only.