Tailkinker's RPG Site

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====== Streamlining ======

In space, a starship's shape is largely irrelevant.  It could be a perfect sphere, an irregular mess of random shapes, or an ungainly blob, and it will work as well outside of an atmosphere.  Spacecraft are typically designed with maximum efficiency in mind, focusing on functional and operational aspects rather than aesthetics or aerodynamic considerations.

If a starship must enter an atmosphere, it requires a streamlined design to ensure safe re-entry and landing. This involves a symmetrical, aerodynamic hull and additional features such as lift rockets, landing gear, and heat shielding.

Achieving this aerodynamic efficiency comes with a significant trade-off. Streamlining a ship requires five slots, which account for the necessary aerodynamic shape, additional systems and shielding. However, most of these slots represent inefficiencies inherent to the streamlined design, with the actual functional components being a smaller portion of the total.