Alright, people. I need your help once more, this time in deck layout. I have a prototype layout done, and boy was I right about the layout's inefficiencies. Even with retracting turrets, more cabins, more toilets/laundry/baths split out, a two-deck bridge, and the like; the deck-by-deck deck plan fits almost everything in just 4 of the six decks.
I have thus created a number of images of deck by deck plans. Marked plans, unmarked plans, plans with transparency, and blankish plans. Each has a colored view of the decks from top down (1-3) and from bottom up (6-4), as well as a deck plan. The parts of the deck plan that are stuck due to the structures of the vessel are always represented by solid lines, in all pictures.
I'm asking people to look at what I've done, look at the design ideas, and help with the planning. Make your doodles and recommendations, and upload them! MS Paint is fine if it's all you have. The images are found here:
https://wiki.stararmy.com/doku.php?id=wip:plumeria_refit_scratch#plumeria_refit_early_deck_plans
Please note that there are a few guidelines I'm trying to follow.
1. Increase ship compliment (more crew cabins and facilities, armories, medbays, escape pods)
2. Easy independent access to Armory and Medbay for separated PA Bay (Deck 1) and larger Shuttle Bay (Decks 2 and 3)
3. Leave upper bow of ship empty of essential combat systems (Decks 1 and 2)
4. Make most Crew Cabins at least 5m x 5m (current ones are a bit larger, assume each pixel to be 1 foot)
5. Make Isolated Cabins roughly 3m x 4m and isolated from rest of vessel (thinking that this is where prisoners or other unexpected people are kept. Evacuees or extra soldiers for PA might be kept here in a pinch)
6. Keep essential things and crew out of pylons if possible (Isolated Cabin occupants are either prisoners, PA-clad soldiers in a pinch, or evacuees with no other options available)
7. Place essential areas like Engineering and Bridge in center of ship for increased protection, maybe have quarters near them for key personnel and enlarge bridge?
8. Make Fabrication Area and Corridors between Fabrication Area and Shuttle/Vehicle Bays wide enough to move a T7 (or refugees) through if necessary, also allows for quicker boarding of refugees or extra forces.
9. More Zesuaium shutters, perhaps "strainers" (thin Zesuaium wires or blades across a corridor, concealed by volumetrics)?
The whole isolated section of the ship think might be abandoned or at least highly simplified into a brig later, not sure. I didn't like the fact that the Plumeria had to use its med bay to hold its prisoners. There's enough demonstrated need in the ship's history for that to be changed. On the other hand, sticking rooms in the pylons when the whole intent of making them thicker was to improve their structural integrity might not be the best of ideas.
Additional room types not found in the original Plumeria are possible if there is a need, though that should be discussed.