Starship Cargo Containers

Option A: Hull wall mounting

Containers attach to external hardpoints around the starship's hull.

• Pros:

1. Containers are independent of one another. There is no vertical stacking or occlusion. When loading for multi-destination runs, you have full flexibility without planning unloading order.

2. No need to build large deck platforms.

• Cons:

1. The total number of hardpoints is limited, so maximum cargo capacity is relatively low.

2. Large amounts of external containers alter the starship's appearance. Curved hull surfaces make neat arrangement of many boxes difficult.

Option B: Deck racking

Players build rack modules on the starship deck, then place containers onto those racks.

• Pros:

1. Large rack structures can be constructed to support multi-layer stacking for much higher total cargo capacity.

2. It integrates deeply with starship construction gameplay. Players can lay out their own deck cargo zones.

3. It resembles traditional cargo ships, bringing stronger immersion when loading and unloading containers at large space stations.

• Cons:

1. Vertically stacked containers create unloading order restrictions. Example: The bottom container needs delivery to Galaxy A, while two stacked above are bound for Galaxy B and C. When arriving at the large space station in Galaxy A, you must unload the two upper containers first before you can access the bottom one.

2. Poor loading planning creates headaches later. Adding new containers to the top of a stack locks all containers underneath.

Questions for you

1. Do you prefer wall-mounted containers or deck racking?

2. If deck racking is chosen, what do you think of this "unload from top down" stacking rule? Is it interesting strategic planning, or unnecessary hassle?

3. For multi-destination freight runs, would you prefer unrestricted unloading, or advance route and loading planning?

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. I will read and consider all feedback.