Subtopic	Posts		Updated
	Archive through November 11, 2020	25		11/12 12:43pm
	Archive through November 14, 2020	25		11/14 04:00pm

Andromedan Viper-E:

Replace TRL-FH with 2xPhaser-2-FH.
All phaser-2s converted to pulse phaser-2s (see below).
Install Limited Aegis (increase BPV by 6 points). In Y175 install full aegis (increase BPV by a further 3 points)..
No ready racks or internal hangar (no room).

Andromedan Cobra-E.

Replace TRL-FHs with four (4) pulse phaser-2s by installing two boxes in front of the existing TRL box and converting the TRLs. The title of the phasers and the firing arc (still FH) will be outside of the hull outline.
Install limited aegis (increase BPV by 10 points), in Y175 install full aegis (increase BPV by a further 6 BPV).
No Hangar: No room on SSD, and if a larger Cobra has no room, I am not putting such a thing on the Viper.

Andromedan Mamba-E

Replace TRL-FH with pulse phaser-2 FH.
Add one (1) impulse box.
Swap position of probe launcher and APRs, convert APRs to Hangar.
Swap position of Emergency bridge and Transporter.
Ship can recover aboard by transporter two fighters or one heavy fighter, but cannot recover a bomber.
Install Limited Aegis (increase BPV by 10 points), in Y175 install full aegis (increase BPV by 6 points).

Andromedan Python-E

Convert TRL-FH to pulse-phaser-2 with the same firing arc.
Convert APR to Hangar.
Ship can recover aboard by transporter two fighters or one heavy fighter, but cannot recover a bomber.
Install Limited Aegis (increase BPV by 10 points), in Y175 install full aegis (increase BPV by 6 points).


Pulse Phaser-2s: able to fire twice a turn as phaser-3s. You do not have to decide if a shot will be a phaser-3 shot until the first time the given phaser is fired, but once the decision is made it cannot be changed for purposes of the 1/4 turn delay rule, if a pulse phaser-2 fired only a single phaser-3 shot in the previous quarter turn, it is eligible to fire as a phaser-3 during the overlap of the following turn, but not if it fires that phaser-3 shot you are committed to firing only another phaser-3 shot on the current turn. Pulse phasers are waiting on Confirmation by SVC, as indeed are the proposed ships.

By Steve Petrick (Petrick) on Saturday, November 14, 2020 - 11:47 am: Edit

John L. Stiff:

See Module C3A: Andromedan Threat File.

The A-1 has a phaser-2 and a charge for a TRL-FA.

The A-2 is no better armed, but of course is faster and tougher.

The A-3 has an extra phaser-2 in addition to being faster and tougher carries an additional charge for its TRL.

The A-H is armed with 2xphaser-2-FX, 1xphaser-2-RX, and has 2xTRL-FA each with two charges.

The A-HF only gained a second Phaser-2-RX.

The AB-1 has 2xphaser-2-FX, 1xPhaser-2-RA, 1xTRH with two charges and 1xTRL with two charges.

The AB-2 has the same general armament (the rear phaser-2 gains an RX arc), but gains a second TRL with two charges.

The AB-3 has the same armament but is faster.

The AB-H has 3xPh-2-FX, 2xPh-2-RX, 2xTRH-FH each with two charges, and 2xTRL-FA each with two charges.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Saturday, November 14, 2020 - 01:41 pm: Edit

I approve SPP's plan.

By John L Stiff (Tarkin22180) on Saturday, November 14, 2020 - 03:40 pm: Edit

Ah, C3A...

Sounds like a Christmas present from me to me.

So, beam the FTR/Bomber/PF "pod" out, launch all fighters/Bombers/PFs, beam the "pod" back aboard and wait for the outcome of the battle. If victorious, it will not matter how long it takes to recover the FTR's aboard the "pod".

Uh, I did not see what PF's have. I have visions of a flying gigantic PA panel that has weapons.

Dumb question: Does the "pod" have the ability to rearm FTRS? As I do not have C3A, I am unsure if the "pod" is a true satellite ship (with PA panels, and warp movement) or just a non-mobile platform (like an Energy Module) for launching FTRS.

By Jeff Anderson (Jga) on Saturday, November 14, 2020 - 04:00 pm: Edit

As I undertand the pod, it's not normally beamed out. The mothership is able to beam out an entire squadron at once (one transporter operation), but each fighter or bomber must be beamed back aboard, into the pod (which occupies hangar space), individually. This makes recovery a long process.

The pod itself is immoble and incapable of independent operations. If beamed out (or beamed from one Andromedan ship to another), it reverts to inactive cargo until its proper connections to the mothership are made; something outside of the scope of SFB and can NOT be accomplished during a scenario.

It can rearm fighters (unless inactive as cargo for reasons explained in the last paragraph) and indeed that is its purpose.

(And between us, John, there's a LOT of other cool stuff in C3A; IMO, it's worth getting. )

By John L Stiff (Tarkin22180) on Saturday, November 14, 2020 - 04:54 pm: Edit

Goodness, so that is how it works. I only see a partial picture based on the discussion and the lack of having C3A.

So both the Jindarian and Andro may carry bombers. Do you suppose the GP will now want the "Super-Carrier", an idea proposed by me a while back.

Thanks for the recommendation for C3A.

By Steve Petrick (Petrick) on Saturday, November 14, 2020 - 05:36 pm: Edit

1.) If the Galactic Powers want to use Mobile Bomber Bases like the Andromedans, they can get their opponents to agree to let them unit the Bomber Barges that were in Stellar Shadow Journal. No other mobile carrier (this includes pods even though they do not have their own engines) can operate bombers.

2.) The Andromedans can launch one (1) squadron in a single transporter operation. A Carrier Pod might have two squadrons [P-V pod carries two squadrons of up to 12 fighters each, P-VH pod carries one (1) squadron of up to 12 size-1 fighters and one (1) squadron of up to six Size 2 fighters], or a single squadron of bombers (P-VM carries one squadron of medium bombers, P-VH carries one squadron of heavy bombers).

3.) The fighters/bombers are launched from the Hangar, and recovered into the Hangar. While the Launching process is expeditious, the recovery process can be slow, particularly if you are on the losing end of battle and want to leave before the enemy gets in some good shots.

4.) No mothership can carry more than one (1) Hangar pod.

5.) Hangar pods provide all of the needed stuff to service the fighters/bombers, to include 14 APRs to provide power to arm them. The pod has two (2) PA panels and two (2) batteries, and whole it can survive in space, it has no sensors, scanners, damage controls, or excess damage. The Power Absorber panels are just there to provide some protection when enemy damage penetrates the Mothership and has to be resolved against the Mothership's hangar. (It can be embarrassing when a random internal touches off a fighter and you have a fully loaded strike group waiting to be transported into space.)

By Gary Carney (Nerroth) on Sunday, November 15, 2020 - 07:29 am: Edit

Could an alternate option be for these "threat file" escorts to be programmed with phaser cannons in place of pairs of TRLs? I could picture the Hydrans running simulations in which the Andromedans were inspired by contact with the (simulator) Borak Star League to consider adopting such a weapon for their (simulator) escorts.

Perhaps, in that case, the added ability to fire a phaser cannon as a single phaser-1 under (RB100.R3) could be tied to the broader phaser-1 refit offered under (RC10.R1) in Module C3A. As in, if a "threat file" Andromedan force was not programmed to use their own phaser refit, they would not be able to fire the phaser cannons as phaser-1s either.


In any case, I should note that the term "pulse phaser" is currently being used for (EN102.0) in Module E2; though I suppose that weapon could be re-named if necessary, were there to be an opportunity to move forward with the Triangulum project at some later point in time.

By Mike Grafton (Mike_Grafton) on Sunday, November 15, 2020 - 12:36 pm: Edit

"1.) If the Galactic Powers want to use Mobile Bomber Bases like the Andromedans, "

Actually you can probably lease/ hire one from a random Jindarian.

You gotta figure that there must be some Jindos that have been kicked out of a caravan and need to make some money from the other powers.

Wonder how much a Jindo caravan would demand for a rock ship... Double economic BPV?

By Jeff Anderson (Jga) on Sunday, November 15, 2020 - 04:24 pm: Edit

With regards to Jindarian Bombers, it is my understanding that there are only two situations where they're able to make any use of them. The first is if they've been sedentary in a system for so long that, in many respects, their asteroid ships are effectively bases. Sure, if they wish to get the heck outta there, they can power up their warp drives and skedaddle, but only by leaving their expensive bombers (and irreplaceable people) behind.

The other is for the bombers to occupy the construction drydocks on their shipyard cruisers.

As far as Jindarians USING bombers goes, I feel that they would regard them in a similar fashion to fighters; a platform ill suited to anything useful (i.e.: asteroid mining operations), expensive, and take valuable shuttle bay space away from the much more useful Prospecting Shuttles (or, in the case of bombers, large transport shuttles).

Again, that's my guess on how Jindarians might feel, so it's likely to be off-base.


That said, Mike, I see it more likely that bombers would be shipped to a planet as cargo aboard some sort of freighter (I think a Free Trader could carry a full squadron packed down, but I'm not 100% sure) and once at the planet they're supposed to protect, they can be set up and made ready to defend in a couple weeks IF there're facilities there for them.

Still, the idea of Jindarian mercenary bomber crews is interesting, even if I do see it as unlikely.

By Gregory S Flusche (Vandar) on Sunday, November 15, 2020 - 08:09 pm: Edit

Jindarians would never rent out a rock ship. The rock ships are their homes. They have families on board.

Bombers are used to escort the prospecting shuttles. To raid other prospecting operations. As well as protect the rock ships themselves.

Placed on asteroids in areas to protect expensive claims or on the out side of a rock ship. The only time they would be carried internally would be in transit. Then placed were needed when arriving in system.

So Mercenary Jindo Bombers not likely. I would try for some regular Merc units or Orions.

By John L Stiff (Tarkin22180) on Monday, November 16, 2020 - 09:40 am: Edit

Actually, Jindarian Bombers are based on Rock ships. Traditionally this occurs when the fleet leaves one asteroid field for another, i.e. for richer mining opportunities. They are another layer of protection. All those WRG, carrier based FTRS or casual FTRS or PFT are not enough protection apparently.

Who is to say that a desperate Galactic Power would head for a known Jindarian mining area and ask for sanctuary? There could be Jin Bombers present to fend off an attack by the pursuing force.

By Steve Petrick (Petrick) on Monday, November 16, 2020 - 11:23 am: Edit

Gary Carney:

Tech Sloshing. If we are going to do tech sloshin, why not just fit the Andromedans with Phaser-Gs? For that matter, type-G drone racks and plasma-Racks, or a mix of all three?

I tried to work with the Technology the Andromedans have and SVC's suggestion.

By Mike West (Mjwest) on Monday, November 16, 2020 - 06:48 pm: Edit

I was going to point out that prior precedent seems to show that TRL boxes are about the same size as non-Ph-2s, so replacing each of them with two enhanced non-Ph-2s seems excessive.

However this is all super-conjectural (like "conjectural to the second level" conjectural), so I guess it just doesn't matter?

By Jeff Anderson (Jga) on Saturday, July 16, 2022 - 11:41 am: Edit

Been giving some more thought (?) to the idea of Andromedan escorts and have come up with a couple questions; what sort of communication system to the Andromedans have between octants, how quickly can Andromedans convert (or build) SatShips, and have the Andromedans seen UP CLOSE a Chlorophon DDE in action...

Why? Imagine the Andromedans taking one of their Commando SatShips (Rattler and Diamondback) and exchanging the DisDev and barracks with a mine rack or two and a quantity of T-Bombs that exceeds normal rules (i.e.: T-bomb quantity like the aforementioned Chlorophon DDE).

While such a ship might seem to be a little overspecialized, it seems not unreasonable. Your thoughts?

By Jeff Anderson (Jga) on Saturday, July 16, 2022 - 11:53 am: Edit

Went through the archives of this discussion. November 13, 2020, SPP posted the rejection of the idea of Andromedans having this peculiar T-bomb excess, so I wish to withdraw the proposal.

(Should have gone through the archives first!)