OK, first draft time...
Docking Bay Template
Name: [e.g. 'Millennium Falcon' - if your personal ship has already been approved, link to it]
Model: [link to an approved model of starship, e.g. 'Washburn-class Transport']
It's Working: [a quick look at what you're gaining - keep this brief]
What A Piece Of Junk: [a quick look at what you're losing, or what the disadvantages are - keep this brief]
New Description: [include information on the strengths and weaknesses you've just described, and flesh out your personal ship's other details]
Prior Modifications: [if your ship has come through the Docking Bay before, please link to those threads; if not, put 'N/A' or 'None']
Q: What is The Docking Bay?
A: The Docking Bay is a subforum of the Factory's Starship forum, designed to help RP'ers modify their starships more easily.
Q: Why wasn't the Starship Modification Request Thread enough?
A: That thread still has its place. For example, that thread would be used when making changes to entire lines of starships, and any starship modification that can be fleshed out in the Docking Bay can be run through the Starship Modification Request Thread. However, the Factory team feels that it's very important for RP'ers to have all the tools and incentive they need to be as creative as possible. Also, being able to look back at a ship's Docking Bay modification requests can be important or nostalgic.
Q: So when do I use The Docking Bay?
A: When you want to take a stock mass-produced, minor production, or even limited production starship, and make it your own. Customize it. Turn a YT-1300 into the Millennium Falcon, or a Firespray patrol ship into Slave One. You can do that with a Starship submission already, but working on a ship modification by modification, piece by piece, is something that many find rewarding.
Q: How does the Docking Bay work?
A: Pick a stock starship model from the Approved section of the Factory. (Although the Docking Bay is suitable for any size of ship, and we'd love to see personal starfighters and capital ships, we've made a fairly complete quick-reference list of approved freighters, yachts, and other ships around the same size.) Name your thread after your ship. Post a copy of your stock starship model (with Unique under Production), then fill out the little Docking Bay template afterward. A Staff member or Starship Judge will work with you and then approve the submission. Approved Docking Bay submissions will go in with Approved Starships.
Q: What if my unique/modified ship is already in the Approved Starship forum, from a previous submission or from being put through the Docking Bay before?
A: We don't want have two submissions for that exact ship. Just make a thread where you post only the Docking Bay template, which will include a link to your ship, and once you've worked with the Staff member or Factory Judge, your changes will be added to your approved ship.
Q: Is the Docking Bay mandatory?
A: Absolutely not. If you want to customize your ship by submitting a custom ship to the Starship portion of the Factory, or by using the Starship Modification Request Thread, that is totally fine. The Docking Bay is meant to put a spotlight on modification and personalization.
Q: Do my modifications have to stick to the Starship Guide?
A: For military ships, yes, please keep your tradeoffs and quid-pro-quos within the scope of the Guide. Neither Guide 1.0 or Guide 2.0 made hard-line rules for freighters, yachts and so forth, and that's on purpose, to encourage creativity. Heavily modified ships are just fine. There may even be prizes -- special quirky starship components -- given out for the most creative starship modifications.
Q: So I can get away with more in the Docking Bay than in Starships?
A: Let's say you have more wiggle room, with enough development threads. Most modified starships got that way bit by bit, component by component. It may not be the best idea in the world to throw a high-performance reactor, military shield generators, and a bunch of lasers into a bulk freighter, but there are many canon examples of modifications just like that. For example, Talon Karrde's 'Wild Karrde,' a 125-metre bulk freighter, boasted high-end shielding and engines, and three military-grade turbolaser cannons. (Granted, the 'Wild Karrde' had a lot of time, work, and money behind its customization.) What's important is that every modification has a proportionate cost. For example: More powerful guns? You might have power drain issues. Bigger reactor? Now you might be less maneuverable, or have less cargo space. Lots and lots of advanced systems? You're probably going to have all kinds of electrical issues and/or need a better reactor and/or lose some guns. Nothing is free -- but with enough work and enough creativity, your ship can wind up much better than it started out.
