There are more ship designs to be discovered in the Ardemare galaxy galaxy than there are star system. Each ship is designed with a particular purpose in mind, whether that is hauling water to distant outposts, holding its own in a chaotic battle, or exploring dense rock gardens for scientific discoveries. The classification system below is the most commonly used throughout the galaxy, though some cultures use their own naming systems

This system can help players better understand the range of what ships are available to them in their adventures, and how their ship fits into the galactic fleet. Player characters (or NPCs) may wish to customize, improve, or design their own ships. With expert modifications or a sublime ship design, a vessel could exceed its class traits by a level in one or possibly two categories. A ship can be expanded to accommodate more crew/cargo/weapons, but this can impact speed and maneuverability. If players want to improve something on their ship without sacrificing anything, the skill required to design and execute such changes should not come cheap

Game masters may consider granting modifications, or even a legendary ship as a reward in place of money, experience, or keystones. Modifications might include:

• Unique keystone that allows the living engine to boost speed or maneuverability
• Keystone that uses desimancy to lighten the weight of your water tanks for more range
• Modifications from a genius engineer to your sail plan for more speed or control
• Mechanical weapon upgrades
• Keystone based energy weapons (at GM discretion) such as a column of flames or light
• Keystone based binding detection systems with alarms

• Crew Complement - How many crew can operate a typical vessel of the respective class. Minimum crew represents the smallest number of people needed to crew the ship under normal circumstances. Maximum crew numbers represent how many crew a ship can typically bunk without resorting to additional measures
• Ship Size - Small ships are usually crewed by 1 or 2 people, and are typically about 30 feet long. Some smaller ships are not capable of interstellar travel. Medium ships require 2 or more crew and are typically 30-60 feet long. Large ships require 3 or more crew and are typically 60-180 feet long. Huge Ships are typically longer than 180 feet and require significant crew to operate
• Weaponry - Deck cannons, ballista, petramancy/desimancy powered rail guns, etc. Light weaponry includes 1 or 2 smaller models of the basic weapon types. Medium weaponry will typically have 3-6 heavier models, and Heavy weaponry will have several of each model in various sizes
• Speed - Ship speed is how fast ships can travel in within stellar systems, and whether or not the ship can maximize its speed within galactic currents. Medium ships can eventually get reasonably close to the sound barrier within interstellar currents, slow ships cannot. Fast ships can get very close
• Maneuverability - Ships with poor maneuverability cannot navigate in asteroid fields and near planetary surfaces, while Medium ships have difficulty navigating close quarters
• Range - Short range vessels are usually limited to a planet's surface or tethered to a mother ship. Medium range vessels can make most interstellar voyages but must usually resupply at each new system. Long range ships can make multiple stellar jumps without resupply. Extreme range ships can cross the dead space between branches
• Cargo Capacity - All ships require cargo capacity commensurate with their size. Military ships need supplies and armaments, merchant ships need supplies and cargo, and explorers need supplies and equipment. Merchant ships have significantly more cargo than military or exploration counterparts
• Durability - A ship's durability relies more on design and build material than it does on the ship's class. Comparing species' designs is more useful than comparing ship class, since all interstellar ships have reason to be durable. Morokwe and Carragh ships are known for their strong defenses

Crew Complement: 2-5
Ship size: Small to Medium
Weaponry: Light
Speed: Very Fast
Maneuverability: Medium
Range: Very Long
Description: Warden Class Starships are smaller warships built to patrol stellar systems and interstellar space when necessary. These ships are typically equipped with powerful telescopes not typically seen even on larger warships. Warden class ships often have a sizeable map room and a full time crew member dedicated to navigation and record keeping. If still intact, their optical equipment and configuration makes these vessels unique candidates for adventuring crews to repurpose

Crew Complement: 2-5
Ship size: Small to Medium
Weaponry: Light to Medium
Speed: Fast
Maneuverability: Good
Range: Medium
Description: Corvette Class starships are fast warships built with a balance of speed and weaponry in mind. They are designed to be accompanied by larger fleets but do have the capacity for shorter interstellar jumps. While not as fast as the Warden Class, Corvette Class starships have good speed and are the only Small-to-Medium class capable of fitting Medium weaponry. Owing to their small crew requirement and outsized weapons, this class appeals to adventuring crews operating in dangerous areas

Crew Complement: 6-12
Ship size: Medium to Large
Weaponry: Medium to Heavy
Speed: Medium
Maneuverability: Medium
Range: Medium
Description: Destroyer Class starships are a relatively small battleship designed to escort Carrier and Phalanx Class starships, and provide combat mobility. Destroyers have a large weapon complement for their size, and their smaller size can make them difficult targets for larger, slower ships. Destroyer class vessels are sometimes used to provide range extension to small fleets of corvettes

Crew Complement: 12-30
Ship size: Large to Huge
Weaponry: Medium to Heavy
Speed: Slow
Maneuverability: Poor
Range: Very Long
Description: Carrier Class starships are large ships characterized by heavy defensive weaponry and the ability to house, repair, and launch the fighting class vessels. Depending on their size, Carriers can manage anywhere from 2 all the way up to 30 Fighters for the most massive vessels

Crew Complement: 30-60
Ship size: Large
Weaponry: Medium
Speed: Medium
Maneuverability: Poor
Range: Long
Description: Phalanx Class starships are designed to carry personnel and supplies needed to create temporary outposts and forward bases of operation on planets and planetoids. Very similar in specification to Pioneer Class vessels, the Phalanx is usually a little smaller, has fewer crew capacity, and favors quick deployment over permanent living arrangements

Crew Complement: 60+
Ship size: Huge
Weaponry: Very Heavy
Speed: Medium
Maneuverability: Very Poor
Range: Very Long
Description: Dreadnaught Class starships are mobile weapons platform with reasonable speed given their immense size. They are typically the flagship of an armada and serve as forward base of operations. They typically have a complement of fighters, though smaller than that of an average Carrier Class starship. Their accommodations are designed for a large crew operating on a long-term basis

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Crew Complement: 1-2
Ship size: Small
Weaponry: Light
Speed: Very Fast
Maneuverability: Excellent
Range: Short
Description: Striker Class ships are designed for short range combat, supported by air fields, convoys, or Carriers. They are typically capable of mounting any weapon types, and their speed and maneuverability make them difficult targets

Crew Complement: 1-2
Ship size: Small
Weaponry: Medium
Speed: Slow
Maneuverability: Medium
Range: Medium
Description: Bomber Class ships are fighters designed to heavily favor bombardment weaponry, and can be further sub classed into Bombers designed against planetary targets and those designed against larger starships

Crew Complement: 1-3
Ship size: Small
Weaponry: Minimal
Speed: Extreme
Maneuverability: Excellent
Range: Short
Description: The Scout Class are typically included as fighters due to their size and function, but typically have minimal ship weapons. They usually scout for larger fleets, leaving longer term patrols and reconnaissance to the Warden. Due to their unrivaled speed and excellent maneuverability, scouts are often refurbished after military service by smaller adventuring crews prioritizing speed. While the range is a limiting factor, some Scout Class vessels are capable of shorter interstellar journeys

Crew Complement: 1-5
Ship size: Small to Medium
Weaponry: Light
Speed: Very Fast
Maneuverability: Good
Range: Long
Description: The Interceptor Class is a unique vessel class, intended for small-crew missions at long range. The Interceptor is a sister ship to the Scout that trades a bit of speed and maneuverability for range, weaponry, and a larger crew capacity. Like the Scout, the Interceptor is a favorite of adventuring crews, and has less limitations on its range

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Crew Complement: 3-12
Ship size: Medium
Weaponry: Light
Speed: Fast
Maneuverability: Excellent
Range: Medium
Description: Marauder Class starships are designed to board and capture other vessels. Designed and used by militaries and repurposed by pirate crews. Their relatively shorter range is complemented by the Corsair Class for pirate crews with wider areas of operation

Crew Complement: 6-18
Ship size: Large
Weaponry: Medium to Heavy
Speed: Medium
Maneuverability: Good
Range: Long
Description: Corsair Class starships are designed to provide longer term support and firepower to pirate armadas. Corsairs have similar specs to Enterprise Class vessels, but with a stronger focus on combat and with the additional benefit of ship-to-ship resupply infrastructure

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Crew Complement: 1-2
Ship size: Small
Weaponry: Minimal
Speed: Very Fast
Maneuverability: Excellent
Range: Long
Description: Sprinter Class starships are small even within their size class, highly specialized to transport special cargo with a minimal crew over long distances if needed. They typically have evasion as a core design tenet, rarely engaging with assailants. The Sprinter is second to the Scout and Voyager in speed, and second only to the Sherpa in maneuverability

Crew Complement: 2-6
Ship size: Medium to Large
Weaponry: Minimal to Light
Speed: Slow
Maneuverability: Poor
Range: Long
Description: Tanker Class starships are cargo ships that are specially designed to transport liquids across the vast wilderness of space. While most tankers are designed to carry water to refueling outposts, they can be designed to carry other liquids. Tankers construction typically heavily favors metal to avoid interference from Hydromancers. Tankers typically have minimal defenses, relying on convoys with Frigate Class starships for defense

Crew Complement: 2-6
Ship size: Medium to Large
Weaponry: Light
Speed: Medium
Maneuverability: Poor
Range: Long
Description: Freighter Class starships are designed for general cargo hauling. Freighters are often designed for efficiency and specialized for the sector of the galaxy in which they operate. Freighters typically have minimal defenses, relying on convoys with Frigate Class starships for defense

Crew Complement: 6-12
Ship size: Large
Weaponry: Medium
Speed: Medium
Maneuverability: Medium
Range: Long
Description: Frigate Class starships are designed to serve as merchant marines, protecting convoys of Tanker, Freighter, and Envoy Class ships. Their weaponry and general design is skewed heavily in favor of defense, and will occasionally accommodate docking a single fighter or a pair of fighters. Frigates are also typically outfitted with ship-to-ship refueling apparatus

Crew Complement: 6-12
Ship size: Medium
Weaponry: Minimal
Speed: Fast
Maneuverability: Good
Range: Medium to Long
Description: Envoy Class starships are designed primarily as luxury passenger vessels. They typically rely on escort ships in dangerous regions as they have little to no combat capacity. Many Envoy vessels never leave their planet or star system, but some are outfitted for interstellar travel

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Crew Complement: 1-3
Ship size: Small
Weaponry: Minimal
Speed: Fast
Maneuverability: Extreme
Range: Long
Description: Sherpa Class starships are unmatched in their ability to comfortably navigate cluttered regions of space and tight canyons when planetside. They serve as guide ships for larger fleets, scouts, and mapping ships for treacherous skies. Sherpas have complicated rigging and sail plans to help them navigate with alarming precision and speed. Some Sherpas even have grapping hooks and telescopic push poles. Their complex design has its drawbacks, sacrificing open sky top speed to gain their legendary maneuverability

Crew Complement: 1-3 (+ up to 5 scientists)
Ship size: Small to Medium
Weaponry: Minimal
Speed: Very Fast
Maneuverability: Excellent
Range: Medium to Long
Description: Venture Class starships are designed primarily for scientific study and exploration, prioritizing crew quarters, working/laboratory space, and specialized scientific equipment. Venture class ships also regularly serve as mobile medical facilities serving remote locations. Their design is also a good fit for adventuring crews whose work does not require ship combat

Crew Complement: 2-5
Ship size: Small to Medium
Weaponry: Light
Speed: Extreme
Maneuverability: Excellent
Range: Long
Description: Voyager Class starships are designed to prioritize speed without losing range or maneuverability. They are second only to the Scout Class for speed, sacrificing crew space and weaponry to achieve maximum speed in a larger form factor. The Voyager is a favorite among adventuring crews looking for maximum speed

Crew Complement: 3-9
Ship size: Medium
Weaponry: Light
Speed: Fast
Maneuverability: Excellent
Range: Very Long
Description: Outlander Class starships are similar to Voyager Class vessels, trading the Voyager's intense speed for additional crew capacity, longer range, and better maneuverability. Outlander ship layout focuses on crew comforts for long-haul expeditions in a wide range of climates and conditions, without the need to rely on resupply stations

Crew Complement: 6-12
Ship size: Medium
Weaponry: Light
Speed: Fast
Maneuverability: Good
Range: Extreme
Description: Pathfinder Class starships prioritize range to an extreme degree. Sister to the Outlander Class, the pathfinder sacrifices some maneuverability and comfort for increased range and crew capacity. Pathfinders are often purpose built to handle specific voyages, though generalized Pathfinder designs do exist to cope with exploration of the unknown

Crew Complement: 6-18
Ship size: Medium to Large
Weaponry: Medium to Heavy
Speed: Fast
Maneuverability: Medium
Range: Long
Description: Enterprise Class starship design prioritizes heavy weaponry and crew capacity over speed and maneuverability. They are designed with long-term living and comfort in mind, and in many cases they have a luxury aesthetic not usually found in ships designed for frequent combat. The Enterprise Class is a favorite among larger adventuring crews that operate in combat zones or regions known for piracy

Crew Complement: 60+
Ship size: Large to Huge
Weaponry: Medium
Speed: Medium
Maneuverability: Poor
Range: Long
Description: Pioneer Class starships are niche vessels designed to carry large passenger complements as well as ample cargo capacity to accommodate everything needed for a community of people to relocate and establish a small village on a distant world. Pioneer Class vessels often convoy together to accommodate larger communities, and are often accompanied by combat ships which can serve as defense once the community has settled, or be repurposed as working ships