I had been thinking that with the Kizinti front and the Hydran front being mutually exclusive and having very different combat requirements that some theater specific varients would emerge. The basic bobcat is pretty well built for the hydran theater as is so I thought i would post a few possibilities for the Kizinti theater since it does not do so well up there.

The area that needs to be improved most is drone defence.


Varient 1. Replace each p-2 with 2 p-3 same arcs.

Varient 2. Replace each p-3 with an add-6. Could be combined with varient 1.

Varient 3. Replace each p-3 with a Fi con Mech link. Carries 2 Z-Y with packs. Z-Y drone load out is 6 tpe VI. Could also be combined with varient 1.

Varient 4. Replace the 2 p-2 with type E drone racks.

By Michael C. Grafton (Mike_Grafton) on Saturday, April 14, 2007 - 04:37 pm: Edit

Lyrans don't use ADD or E racks.


PERSONALLY what I'd like to see is a version of the ESG just for Lyran small ships and PFs.

Perhaps the ESG needs 48 Impulses to cool down after activation? A smaller capacitor? No capacitor? Shorter duration? dunno

By William G. Matthews (Billm) on Sunday, April 15, 2007 - 10:36 am: Edit

They could very easily use add or e rack. The Klingons have them and it would be very easy for them to provide them. ESG are to big for PFs. At least for the time period that the General war occurs in. The add or e rack would be a very effective way of improving the PFs anti drone capability. The Lyrans already use drones on there fighters for Anti drone operations (the only thing they are good for ) so they would be fully aware of how effective they could be. The fact that PFs do not have ESGs is what makes these options logical.

By John Wyszynski (Starsabre) on Sunday, April 15, 2007 - 12:31 pm: Edit

I don't think you understood. Your proposal for ADD or any type of drone rack on any Lyran ship is forbidden by the Anti-Tech Sloshing Act. (And PFs are ships.) The concept is DOA.

By William G. Matthews (Billm) on Sunday, April 15, 2007 - 12:37 pm: Edit

Which is fine if that is what the designer has decided. In this case I would argue that the tech has already been sloshed (Lyrans do use drones) and the tech is easily available to them. Of course just because somthing is a sensible option dosn't mean it happens.

By William G. Matthews (Billm) on Sunday, April 15, 2007 - 01:59 pm: Edit

While I am interestedin comments about the varients I posted I am also interested in comments about the broader idea of varients that are built for a specific theatre of combat. The Lyrans are fighting 2 very different enemies in mutually exclusive areas, so it would make sense that designs would emerge that are specialised for fighting Kizintis and Hydrans

By Greg Ernest (Grege) on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 09:52 am: Edit

As a long-time Klingon playter, one could make a good argument for the use of ADD racks on PF's being a _good thing_ on they Hydran boarder. Ever seen what these things can do to Stingers?

IMHO, the main reason the Lyrans might not want these weapon systems on their PF's is the limited amount of ammo. The beauty of the current Bobcat is that unless it wants repairs, it never needs to land and reload. With disruptors and phasers, they can charge one or the other and maintain a high speed, which is vital against Stingers or drones.

I like the idea, but the already published Bobcat varient with Ph-2 in place of the disruptors does it for me.

By William G. Matthews (Billm) on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 02:23 pm: Edit

The problem with the Bobcat phaser varient is it has no offensive fire power beyond range 3. It worked in the commanders edition when it had 4 Ph-1s but with the PH-2s it sucks. The Captains edition Bobcat gets all of it's offensive fire power from it's disruptors, the phasers in the Kizinti theatre are all for drone defense. A bobcat flottilla can't afford to give up any of it's disruptors. If I can help it wouldn't want to get close enough to Stingers to use ADDs if I can help it. Standard Disruptors at range 10 or overloads at range 8 are the 2 primary attack options for the Bobcat.