An experiment in random ship generation:
Step 1: Determine Size
Roll a D6:
| D6 | Result |
| 1 | Small ship: +2 to determine maneuverability in Step 4 -1 to determine fighting power in Step 4 determine maximum number of facilities as for a small base |
| 2-3 | Mid-size ship: +1 to determine maneuverability in Step 4 determine maximum number of facilities as for a mid-size base |
| 4-5 | Large ship: +1 to determine fighting power in Step 4 determine maximum number of facilities as for a large base |
| 6 | Grand ship: -1 to determine maneuverability in Step 4 +2 to determine fighting power in Step 4 determine maximum number of facilities as for a grand base |
Step 2: Determine Purpose
Roll a D6:
| D6 | Result |
| 1-2 | The ship was built and used as a Merchant: -1 to determine maneuverability in Step 4 -1 to determine fighting power in Step 4 use Merchant table to determine facilities in Step 5 |
| 3 | The ship was was purpose-built for the use of one of the Adeptus: use Adeptus table to determine facilities in Step 5 |
| 4 | The ship is was constructed independently for pirates or other rogue elements: Roll a D6 1-3: +1 to determine maneuverability and -1 to determine fighting power in Step 4 4-6: -1 to determine maneuverability and +1 to determine fighting power in Step 4 use Independent table to determine facilities in Step 5 |
| 5-6 | The ship was built and commissioned for the Imperial Navy: Roll a D6 1-3: +1 to determine maneuverability in Step 4 4-6: +1 to determine fighting power in Step 4 use Navy table to determine facilities in Step 5 |
Step 3: Determine Age and Pedigree
Roll a D6:
| D6 | Result |
| 1 | Corrupted design, the inferior product of latter benighted times: -1 to determine both maneuverability and fighting power in Step 4 D3-1 facilities |
| 2 | Artisan construction, vainly trying to replace knowledge lost with craftsmans’ labour: Roll a D6 1-2: sleek, +1 to determine maneuverability and -2 to determine fighting power in Step 4, D3 facilities 3-5: sturdy, -2 to determine maneuverability and +1 to determine fighting power in Step 4, D3 facilities 6: extravagant, -1 to determine both maneuverability and fighting power in Step 4, D3+1 facilities |
| 3-5 | STC, built to spec: D3 facilities |
6 | Venerable vessel, constructed in ancient times: +1 to determine both maneuverability and fighting power in Step 4 D3+1 facilities |
Step 4: Determine Maneuverability and Fighting Power
Roll one D6 each to determine the ship’s modifiers for maneuver and space battles, apply all modifiers from the previous steps
| D6 | Result |
| 1 | -1 |
| 2-5 | 0 |
| 6 | +1 |
Step 5: Determine Facilities
Roll one D6 on the appropriate table for each facility the ship has, if a ship cannot mount the generated facility due to restrictions on size or number of facilities, the facility is lost (do not reroll)
In addition, all ships have one Emergency Stores Cargo Facilities
| D6 | Merchant Facilities |
| 1 | Cargo, Main Hold |
| 2 | Cargo, Secondary Hold |
| 3 | Asteroid Mining Facilities |
| 4 | Cloud Mining Facilities |
| 5 | Medicae Center |
| 6 | Plasma Refinery |
| D6 | Adeptus Facilities |
| 1 | Ancient Library |
| 2 | Forges |
| 3 | Holy Shrine |
| 4 | Teleportatorium |
| 5 | Crew Reclamation |
| 6 | Roll on the Navy Facilities table |
| D6 | Independent Facilities |
| 1 | Munitions Depot |
| 2 | Macro Harpoons |
| 3 | Fighting Pit |
| 4 | Cargo, Secondary Hold |
| 5 | Barracks |
| 6 | Capacitator Vault |
| D6 | Navy Facilities |
| 1 | Castellan Shield Generator |
| 2 | Planetary Assault Ship |
| 3 | Nova Cannon |
| 4 | Shield Capacitators |
| 5 | Lysander Targeting Craft |
| 6 | Extensive Armoury |
Test:
Size:
Roll 6, grand ship (maximum facilities: 10 normal, 6 vast)
Purpose:
Roll 1, merchant
Age:
Roll 2, artisan construction (5, sturdy, 3 facilities)
Modifiers:
Roll 6 -1 (grand) -1 (merchant) -2 (sturdy), final result 2, no maneuver modifier
Roll 5 +2 (grand) -1 (merchant) +1 (sturdy), final result 7, +1 battle modifier
Facilities:
Roll 3, 3, 3
…
Three Asteroid Mining Facilities – together with the +1 battle modifier I imagine a giant vessel that more or less eats entire asteroids – or other ships should they come to near, a capital ship-scale mining drill/ ore crusher
Note: The Facility tables suffer a bit from the limitations of the available facilities – as these were intended as examples instead of a full or exhaustive list, the tables are quite skewed, as, when, and if additional facilities are defined, the tables here could do well with an update and moving to 2D6 or maybe a D100 format.