Centurion Phaser Variant
Star Fleet Universe Discussion Board: Star Fleet Battles: SFB Proposals Board:
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R04: ROMULAN PROPOSALS:
Centurion Phaser Variant
Yes, this is an obvious variant. This is for K2.
Basically, take the Centurion-E, but replace the Pl-Ds with Ph-1s. This gives it three Pl-F FP, one Ph-1 FX, one Ph-1 LS, and one Ph-1 RS. This alleviates the Centurion's biggest weakness (its phaser blind-spot and overall phaser power) and the expense of its number of plasmas. However, three is still a pretty good number of plasmas. Honestly, doing this makes the Centurion overall stronger and is arguably better than the base version.
Assuming it was made, it would likely have a leader version as production could end up completely switching over to this version by at least some houses.
Playing Devil's Advocate for a moment?
The few times I've flown Centurions, I've flown them as flying batteries; two turns of launching two Plasma-F torpedoes at targets before cloaking to rearm.
This variant you're proposing would cut that down to a single, two torpedo salvo in order to give the boats the defensive (LS/RS arcs, for me, have always been defensive) Phaser-1s. While a worthy idea to discuss, I have to ask if the sacrafice made in this modification would be worth it for the benefits obtained.
One of the big reasons for this skepticism is because the Romulans also have the StarHawk. The StarHawk-B can do the two Plasma-F salvo (albeit without the threat of the fifth torpedo), should that be the tactic I wish to employ with it, OR the boat can be quickly converted by its tender to a StarHawk-A, with the improved phaser allotment.
On the other hand, Mike, the inability of the Chickenhawk to operate StarHawks might mean that Houses that use that particular ship might want some of this variant.
IMO, arguments can be made for both sides. 
Depends on how restricted the deployment of Starhawks are. If they are freely usable just about anywhere, then, yes, the justification goes down.
Mike West:
While Kzinti Multi-Role Needles are very restricted, Romulan StarHawks are specifically defined as approximately 50% of all Romulan Fast Patrol Ship production when they were introduced.
(R4.PF2) STARHAWK MODULAR PF (STH): Produced in Y184, the StarHawk replaced about half of the Centurion (R4.PF1) production.
OK, then the big utility goes down some, but 3 phasers plus 3 plasmas is still arguably better than the Starhawk (which is either 3 phasers plus 2 plasmas, or 1 phaser plus four plasmas). So, it still has a place, it just wouldn't be as widely used as I was first thinking.
I still believe the variant is worthwhile, just not as much of an overwhelming choice.
And it is good to see that the Starhawks aren't heavily restricted in their deployment.