A question about Hydran ships (or: how to serve up Hydran)

Rick Smith · Post by **Rick Smith** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 9:11 pm

So this is a little bit of a strange question (excuse me if it's been asked before):

Do Hydran ships have windows?

Adam's art shows them with not a single window - even for their bridge. Only the Stingers have windows, which are blacked out. I was wondering if there was a reason for this...engineering or otherwise.

Even the Andromedans have windows, and they're a huge mystery as to who or what they really are. Or is it that the Hydrans just so hideous that they don't want anyone looking at them?

I'd like to finish up my Hydran ships and want to see if I can save some time by not painting on tiny portholes. Heh!

Thanks!

(PS - Scoutdad, if you see this, I expect a witty answer. Don't let me down!)

Dan Ibekwe · Post by **Dan Ibekwe** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 9:29 pm

They do...if you want them to.

The original line-drawing painting guides that came with the SL2200 blister packs - back in the lower mesolithic - showed scuttles (oh all right then, windows) on Feds, Klingons, and Kzintis, but not on Hydran ships.

I've painted them without ever since, but it's entirely a matter of personal choice. Perhaps Hydran ships are constructed from smart metamateriels that seamlessly seal up any unecessary openings in the hull when the shooting starts.

Having portholes (that's properly a merchant navy term, BTW) on a warship exopsed to directed-energy weapons always seemed...questionable...in any case.

Now over to Mr Thomas for the usual abuse

Scoutdad · Post by **Scoutdad** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 9:36 pm

Oooooh... my ears are burning...

Hydrans don't use windows because.... wait for it...

Since they are only 1 meter tall (and allowing for between deck space for utility lines/returns) the average deck height is something on the order of 1.2 meters.
Trying to add windows that frequently along the length of the hull weakens the structural integrity of the ship to the point of instability!

Or, maybe it's cause they get tired of looking straight ahead and seeing nothing but Klingon derrieres...

Or, 'cause they can't see out of they noxious, green cloud that they call and atmosphere so why bother with windows...

or maybe they have all migrated to Linux and thet's why they don't use windows...

Or... maybe they are actually a race of 3 meter tall humanoids and they only want us to think they're 1 meter tall tripods. The lack of portholes would lend credence to the illusion.

Rick Smith · Post by **Rick Smith** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 9:36 pm

Thanks Dan. Makes sense to me. I believe I'll just leave them off, since - as you said - all of the art depicts them without.

Rick Smith · Post by **Rick Smith** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 9:39 pm

Hahhahaha! I'm so glad you commented. I needed a good chuckle.

If you ever make it to the MD area Scoutdad, we'll have to play a game, as I find your humor entertaining. That and I want you to face down my windowless Hydran fleet!

Scoutdad wrote:Oooooh... my ears are burning...

Hydrans don't use windows because.... wait for it...

Since they are only 1 meter tall (and allowing for between deck space for utility lines/returns) the average deck height is something on the order of 1.2 meters.
Trying to add windows that frequently along the length of the hull weakens the structural integrity of the ship to the point of instability!

Or, maybe it's cause they get tired of looking straight ahead and seeing nothing but Klingon derrieres...

Or, 'cause they can't see out of they noxious, green cloud that they call and atmosphere so why bother with windows...

or maybe they have all migrated to Linux and thet's why they don't use windows...

Or... maybe they are actually a race of 3 meter tall humanoids and they only want us to think they're 1 meter tall tripods. The lack of portholes would lend credence to the illusion.

Scoutdad · Post by **Scoutdad** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 9:39 pm

Dan Ibekwe wrote: Now over to Mr Thomas for the usual abuse

Hey.. I represent that!

Dan: You'll be glad to know that I'm currently painting Vudar, but once those are cpompleted - it's back to the Hydran fleet.
I have a special Pegasus in the works. I think it's be identified as the HKS Ibekwe in honor of my favorite Hydran supporter.

Dan Ibekwe · Post by **Dan Ibekwe** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 9:50 pm

Scoutdad wrote:
Dan Ibekwe wrote: Now over to Mr Thomas for the usual abuse
Hey.. I represent that!

Dan: You'll be glad to know that I'm currently painting Vudar, but once those are cpompleted - it's back to the Hydran fleet.
I have a special Pegasus in the works. I think it's be identified as the HKS Ibekwe in honor of my favorite Hydran supporter.

HKS? Not one of ours...and I rather doubt the Kingdom would name anything as big as a Peg after me.

I'll look forward to seeing your Vudar.

Scoutdad · Post by **Scoutdad** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 10:16 pm

HKS... ha!
mistyped that. Of course I meant the HMS Ibekwe.

Scoutdad · Post by **Scoutdad** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 10:27 pm

Rick: Unfortunately, it's been about 10 years since I was last in MD (College Park).
I keep hoping that the company will send me to Gaithersberg for another round of certifications and if so, them I'm definitely up for a game.

Until then, maybe Origins or something (possibly FCOL if I ever get enough free time to think about re-upping my account)

Oh! I forgot the real reason Hydran ships dont have windows:
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Scoutdad · Post by **Scoutdad** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 10:29 pm

w/o windows... those low-down, dirty-rotten, methane-breathing, trashcan-looking Hydrans are not quivering from the ends of all three legs to the tips of all three tentacles as they watch Scoutdad's Vudar fleet approach!!!

Kang · Post by **Kang** » Fri Jul 09, 2010 6:00 am

Scoutdad wrote:Since they are only 1 meter tall ... the average deck height is something on the order of 1.2 meters.

Geez. Imagine being a Gorn, Kzinti or Lyran fighting a boarding action on one of those ships....

Space armour optimised for a trooper crawling on all fours: all the heavy bits on the helmet and shoulders

Weapons with specially designed handles so they fire 'upwards' (really forwards but the troopers are crawling so it feels like upwards)

Cricks in all Marines' necks as standard

Scoutdad · Post by **Scoutdad** » Fri Jul 09, 2010 12:45 pm

Kang wrote:
Scoutdad wrote:Since they are only 1 meter tall ... the average deck height is something on the order of 1.2 meters.
Geez. Imagine being a Gorn, Kzinti or Lyran fighting a boarding action on one of those ships...

And now you've hit on the real reason why the Kzinti allied with them during the General War.
It wasn't so much the common enemies (Klingns and Lyrans) as it was a lack of desire to have to board Hydran ships during combat actions!

Rick Smith · Post by **Rick Smith** » Fri Jul 09, 2010 5:48 pm

@Scoutdad - Yeah, MD is a long way from TN. Well, if you ever have a reason to come up here you're welcome to drop by and play.

Poor Hydrans, so short and weird.

pinecone · Post by **pinecone** » Fri Jul 09, 2010 6:09 pm

Do you think the Kzintis like the hydrans, or do you think it's just an alliance of convienience?

Scoutdad · Post by **Scoutdad** » Fri Jul 09, 2010 6:10 pm

pinecone wrote:Do you think the Kzintis like the hydrans, or do you think it's just an alliance of convienience?

They like them just fine... as long as they're BBQ'ed