This was talked about in the topic "Module X1B: What X1s still need doing?" but deserves its own topic.

The idea is to have a few new types of ships that are variants of existing X1 designs rather than X-conversions of Non-X variants. These ships would have been designed and fielded during the Andromedan War to take advantage of new technology to fight the Andromedans (who are the major menace during the X1 period). From the introduction of X-tech late in the General War (Y180) to the introduction of Second Generation X-tech (Y205), there is a 25 year gap. It seems possible, if not likely, that some new ships were fielded that specifically take advantage of the new technology to fight the Andromedans.


Suggestion 1. RTN Hunters (aka. Heavy Assault PF Tenders).

A PF Tender variant of CX cruisers (or equivalent) would make a good RTN hunter. A standard CX ship would be converted to carry a flotilla of PFs and would be equipped with two special sensors to locate RTN bases. It would not need more than two special sensors as the ship would not use them after the first salvo was fired. The ship retains its original heavy weapons and most of its phasers as these are needed for attacking the base and any defending vessels. Since the mission requires the ship to be operating independently, or at least with a supporting element far in the distance, it would not need command facilities (ie. no Flag, the room would be used for other systems).

They would not replace X-PFTs from (X1) as there is simply too much space and too few ships with scout sensors to look for RTN nodes. They are simply much better at the mission because they are literally designed for it rather than being just 'adequate' for the role.

Why not use X-versions of NCA-PFTs? For the most part NCA-PFTs do not have any heavy weapons or have a reduced armament. This makes them less desirable for the role of an independent heavy assualt tender. The Hydran, Kzinti, and Lyran NCA-PFTs have no heavy weapons at all and the Fed NHV has reduced heavy weapon armament. Couple this with the fact that virtually all of the X-versions of NCAs are less powerfully armed than the X-Command Cruisers/Heavy Cruiser (The Gorn CM is an exception) and X-NCA-PFTs seem less useful. However, NCA-PFTs have the advantage of being produced in larger numbers.

Suggestion 2. Heavy Assault Cruisers

The Andromedans(with PA panels) have a better ability to absorb damage than the Alpha empires (with conventional shields). It is only once the PA panels have been 'filled up' that the Andromedan starts to take significant damage (after which they tend to die quickly). It would be advantageous to design cruisers specifically to attack the Andromedans with massive heavy weapon salvoes. These ships would replace some portion (one or two) of the phaser armament with heavy weapons. They would likely suffer from shock but would be able to rapidly 'fill up' the PA panels of Andromedan motherships.

Ships such as these are not common during the General War indicating some design limit that restricts or prevents their construction. However, X Technology might make such overgunned vessels possible during the Andromedan War.

By Lee Sims (Ssims2) on Thursday, November 17, 2011 - 01:36 am: Edit

>Suggestion 2. Heavy Assault Cruisers

Actually, to balance this better, maybe remove up to half of the Ph-1 armament and all of the Ph-3s, and replace them with an energy/turn equivalent number of heavy weapons. The Andros don't have attrition units or seeking weapons, so ships designed specifically to go against them don't need the lighter armaments as much.

Example: Fed CX converted to HCX(?) - replace 4 Ph-1 (2 FH, 1 LS, 1 RS, leaving 8) with 2 Photon FA (total of 6). Subject to shock if it fires more than 4 overloaded photons within 16 impulses.

By Terry O'Carroll (Terryoc) on Thursday, November 17, 2011 - 03:05 am: Edit

The trouble with the Heavy Assault Cruiser idea is that if you remove a lot of the phasers, they are only useful against Andromedans. Andromedans are not the only enemy in this period: the other empires that you were at war with only a few years before are still there and still a potential threat.

By Lee Sims (Ssims2) on Thursday, November 17, 2011 - 11:22 pm: Edit

In the GW, the Federation produced designs intended only for use against the Romulans. Are you telling me that they would not at least consider a design intended to fight a much more serious threat than the Romulans ever were? Remember, the Galactic Powers were actually allied in this period. Once the Andros were defeated, these ships could be converted back (or used as fleet fire support ships, like maulers).

By Lee Sims (Ssims2) on Thursday, November 17, 2011 - 11:26 pm: Edit

I also like the idea of specifically designed RTN hunters. Several ships have in their descriptions that they were excellent RTN hunters, but these were not designed as such. Once the GPs figured out what worked in this mission, a specialized variant makes sense.