I consider myself pretty good at making fighters and smaller ships that actually look like a proper ship. I could probably spare some time to come on and try putting together some smaller ships for the catalog sometime.
A suggestion with regards to the current \"starting point\" of the RP backstory. Perhaps it would work a little more smoothly to alter it a bit so its kind of like a cross between the Oregon Trail and the Alaskan gold rush.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klondike_Gold_Rush
An example of how this could be described for the game setting (you don\'t need to actually use this, naturally):
Stardate so-and-so: The first long distance hyperspace jump gate is constructed. This operation was a substantial endeavor which required significant resources to accomplish, due to it by necessity having to be a good way outside the sphere of influence of our race. An unforseen issue arose, however, which made it unsafe for living beings to travel through them for some time. As a result, the only vessels which could be sent through were automated drones. The plan was to work out a proper method of allowing living things to make the journey unharmed. Unfortunately, this did not come to pass, due to the gate being badly damaged when a major conflict broke out. In the coming years, the project was mostly forgotten.
Stardate current day so-and-so: Since that time, we have fought, made peace, and generally been the way we are as we expanded outward. As a result, the damaged gate was soon in a spot that could be considered \"barely accessible.\" Advances in defensive shielding technology had conveniently also given us the means to send living beings through as well. After realizing some of the implications of the gate, someone made efforts to repair it and get it started up again. A small expeditionary mission returned with some intriguing information: the automated drones sent through when the gate had first been built had successfully constructed supply stations and small structures as they spread outward to pave the way for humanity. Furthermore, it turned out that the space beyond the gate was located in a cluster of stars that had formed from clouds unusually rich in a variety of valuable materials. Most of the stars also had a good surprising number of planets as well. In short, the gate now connected to a new place.
News spread quickly of the new frontier that lay in wait, and it wasn\'t long before various people began making their way for a new life there. Some may desire riches. Some may desire adventure. Some may want a new home away from negative aspects that plague their current one (such as war or other problems). Some may simply be criminals on the run. The only real issue is that its often a bit of a long trek through what has actually become some of the most notorious, dangerous space (due to dangerous elements that are rife in the area such as pirates) to reach the jump gate. Trying to reach it in a larger ship, which are slower to react and easily spotted by these elements, is pratically suicide.
Therefor, there are two main options available once you get to the end of \"lawful space\" before the final stretch to the gate:
1. Obtain a small, fast ship that can outrun most enemies, and which is also just too small to detect at longer ranges. Hope for the best, and fly that to the gate and beyond.
2. Find some of the dangerous elements in question. Maybe some of the less backstabby pirates, some mercenary group that is very familiar with the region, etc. Most of the dangerous elements have some form of code with a couple others, such that any given pirate or mercenary group can usually travel safely through narrow sections of space without trouble from each other. Point is, if you find the right shady people, you can pay them to take you and some supplies to the gate without having to worry about how dangerous it may be. They will then drop you off on the other side and leave to do whatever their next thing to do is.
Anyway, here are a pair of ships I made.
