Archive through April 27, 2003
Star Fleet Universe Discussion Board: Star Fleet Battles: STELLAR SHADOWS: Stellar Shadows proposals : 02-Stellar Shadows Feds: Federation Battle Disk: Archive through April 27, 2003
By Robert Cole (Zathras) on Thursday, April 24, 2003 - 11:42 pm: Edit

Well... problems at home have kept me away from the topic all day... and will probably do so most of tomorrow.

However, I do have some thoughts to add... see below.

Quote:

Roger Dupuy
Everyone, this battle-disk idea is really fresh! Great work Robert. Now this is wow.



Glad you think so. Maybe after it's fully fleshed out, SVC will think so as well. :)

Quote:

John Trauger
I was hit with an interesting use for the wings today.

Carriers.

So I reworked Robets SSD really quick. (quick thanks to Mike Raper. I stole the F-18's off of one of his SSDs)

Wings-open the entire shuttle-bay is open to space, effectively turning it into a balcony with positions equal to the number of shuttle boxes. It might be an interesting limitation to say that this is the only way to launch/land from the fighter bays.

Besides, the designation, while not completely accurate, makes for another disk-pun. I call it the DVD.

http://www.vorlonagent.com/sfb/DVD.gif



Interesting design, John. Others posted below (and I agree) that 12 FTRs on a FF-sized vessel it too much. However, it did inspire me to create my own VD (go ahead and laugh). I'll post a link "down-below".

Quote:

Christopher E. Fant
That would be spiffy. Scramble the pilots to the flight deck, then extend the wings to launch the squadron in one jump.

You could always jump tracks and call it a VD. :)



See... the laughs have already started. :)

Quote:

John Trauger
Chris,

The actual designation would probably be something like BVD, which I in the same neighborhood...



Ba Dum Dum.

Quote:

Glenn Hoepfner
Hmmm, 12 is nice but 6 (or 8) would leave enough room for lets say a pair of sensors, or a pair of gats or a couple APR or something to support the fighters with.
I only bring this up because (though I don't participate in fighters too much) I don't know if there are any SC4 ships that have 12 fighters.

.02



Agreed. 12 is too much. However, I also feel that adding on Sensors or GATS would also be too much. I approached my Carrier version (note I specifically didn't say "... my VD") with a different point of view, but it keeps the same feel (IMHO).

Quote:

Loren Knight
8 fighters would probably be better unless you were thinking they couldn't be serviced at all so they can be jammed real close like.

Glenn has a good point, what about having sensors for a totaly cool Black-Ops raider.

Could almost see these Disks painted in Black and other schemes fitting of their mission (like the Ground Assault version painted in cammo).

What if these ships were owned and opperated by the Federation Marines and not Starfleet regular.



SpecOps is the only place these would exist... at least in "our" SFB Universe. A thought on the back burner (which is coming to a boil) would be to create the "Empire Earth" alternate history. Then the Humans would field these early on against the Vulcans / Andorians / Rigellians / whomever. Hmmmm...

If the Marines operated Disks, they would definately need a Ground Assault version. Remember though, these are small. They'd still be restricted to SpecOps / MiniOps.

Quote:

Loren Knight
Ya, imagine four barracks in the middle and 12 non-sevicable shuttles (the shuttle bay reamains in the middle for sevicing)in the wings. They consist of two HTS and eight GAS.

Good lord, talk about a serious ground assault. Sure the Feds wouldn't use such a thing against someone but for taking back a system or just once war has started, that's another story.



12?!?

Quote:

John Trauger
Glenn,

You want sensors, there's two photons that can be traded out. Not to mention the fact that a carrier can lend EW to fighters without any special sensors.

Want Gats? Do what they did with the DE and replace one or both of the LS/RS P-1's with gats.

The whole class needs a G-rack or two, not just this design. Given that this critter is frigate sized (and therefore phaser-heavy), we could reduce the LS/RS phasers to 1 each, and change the other two out for G-racks.

The carrier version would change the remaining LS/RS P-1's for gats.



True. If a CV version wanted SpecSens, they should probably replace the Torps. It might have some GATs, but personally I doubt it - the Disk is just too small.

As for adding a G-rank universaly... still not quite convinced. While the Disk is phaser-heavy for a FF, it has big opponents.


Quote:

Jay K Gustafson
By fAE standereds is the battle disk cheap to build.


Yep. My current thinking has the Disk as a 5/2 unit costing 3.5 EP (or is it 2.5? same cost as a FF) to build. An optional rule would allow a dead CA which had its Saucer survive become a Disk for 2 EP.

Quote:

Les LeBlanc
These are different enough that if you come up with a new weapon other than a photon you have a new race.



Don't tell, but that's exactly what I'm gonna do. My webpage has a section I am developing for New Races. Extension Wings will be the "gimmick" for the Siinda Alliance. Of course, that's in the future, as I have yet to design a single ship for them. :)

By Robert Cole (Zathras) on Thursday, April 24, 2003 - 11:46 pm: Edit

Federation Carrier Disk (VD): The Carrier Disk was designed similar to the FiCon PFs seen by other races. The difference here, though, was that the Disk could provide cover for the fighters (using both EW and phasers). While it wasn't much, a Carried Disk used in conjunction with a Combat Disk or two could really make a difference.
The Carrier Disk mounts its 6 fighters on special tractor Mech Links, though it's two (small) shuttle bays were equiped to re-arm and repair the fighters in long engagements (though the Admins would have to be moved. Also note the small number of Deck Crews, though players are able to purchase more with Commanders Options.

42

By Robert Cole (Zathras) on Friday, April 25, 2003 - 01:16 pm: Edit

Quote:

Donovan A Willett
Of course, looking at Robert's notation in the 'rules' section (link in the opening post), I see that other races considered wing expantions. Makes me wonder what the Klingons, Roms or Lyrans might have done. Or, better yet for they need every combat surprise and trick to survive, the LDR.



Indeed.

Quote:

Loren Knight
The VD has a fatal flaw. There is no operable tractor beam when the wings are closed. I haven't found a good solution yet and I'd hate to see it loose a battery.



I noticed that as well... after I posted the design. An earlier version I did had no operable TRANs while the Wings were closed, so this is a little better. I'm still looking, though.

42

By John Pepper (Akula) on Friday, April 25, 2003 - 02:09 pm: Edit

Robert- Any chance of getting an escort version?? Perhaps by changing the combat disk to remove phasers 3 and 5 and replaceing them with ph-g and replacing 4 and 6 with shuttle boxes?? I think it needs to keep the photons, nothing is as bad as an escort with out at least some heavy weapons. That being said the escort may need to add a drone rack???

By Robert Cole (Zathras) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 07:13 pm: Edit

Quote:

John Pepper
Robert- Any chance of getting an escort version?? Perhaps by changing the combat disk to remove phasers 3 and 5 and replaceing them with ph-g and replacing 4 and 6 with shuttle boxes?? I think it needs to keep the photons, nothing is as bad as an escort with out at least some heavy weapons. That being said the escort may need to add a drone rack???



While I hadn't planned one, I think I can whip one up. Probably won't have quite the load-out mentioned here, but I'll post it when it's done.

42

By Robert Cole (Zathras) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 08:31 pm: Edit

The Extension Wing webpage

OK. I've consolidated the Extension Wing rules and the Extension Wing ships all into one webpage.

I've updated the rules (clarified systems allowed in Wings, restricted cargo capacity in the Wings, added names of those who have contributed), modified the Carrier Disk (added TRAC outside of the Wings, lost some Cargo), and uploaded the Escort Disk.

All told, I feel that we've delved into the depths of the Federation Disks, but that doesn't mean we can't find some other applications for the Extension Wings.

Thanks for all the input on this, and if I come up with anything else really odd, but cool, I'll make sure to develop it here.

42

Administrator's Control Panel -- Board Moderators Only
Administer Page | Delete Conversation | Close Conversation | Move Conversation