Advanced Technology Harpy Eagle (HEX)
Star Fleet Universe Discussion Board: Star Fleet Battles: SFB Proposals Board:
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R04: ROMULAN PROPOSALS:
Advanced Technology Harpy Eagle (HEX)
The proposed ship is a Unique variation on the KEX. R4.209 states that only two King Eagles were converted to KEXs by Rolandus but "There is some indication that a third may have been converted later." This third conversion would have to have been done by the Romulan Republic, and I propose they actually converted it to the "HEX" rather than the straight KEX.
Three advanced technology heavy cruisers designs were used during the Romulan Civil War. The Republic used the Firehawk-X and Rolandus used both the KEX and the K7X. Note that, though the KEX has some specific advantages over the FHX and K7X (better shields, for example), they are more powerful overall. But they are advanced heavy cruisers with CR9; and the KEX, while less powerfully individually, is an advanced command cruiser with CR10.
Historically, the Romulan Republic subsequently built the Novahawk-X, which has the same shields and weapons as the FHX but has better power and is a CR10 advanced command cruiser. Based on the R4.209 passage quoted above, my proposal is that the Republic completed a third KEX, but to the HEX pattern, as a backup in case the NHX design didn't work. Since the NHX was a successful design. Only one HEX was ever built.
The HEX differs from the standard KEX only in armament. The Romulans downgraded the Type-R plasma to a Type-M. This was partly for ease of logistics supportability as the Type-M was already the heavy torpedo for both the FHX and the Sparrowhawk-X. But it was also done because the Romulans believed the phaser battery for the KEX was insufficient. Replacing the Type-R with a Type-M allowed them to upgrade both the FA+L and FA+R phaser banks from two phasers each to three each.
Total weapon suites:
KEX - 1xType-R plasma, 2xType-L plasma, 8xphaser-1.
HEX - 1xType-M plasma, 2xType-L plasma, 10xphaser-1.
One additional thought on the previous post; I didn't say anything about BPV. Of course, if ADB likes this idea, they would have final say on the BPV. My own "gut feeling" (obviously not based on actually playing the HEX) is that the HEX is slightly better than the KEX. I think the Type-M plasma torpedo plus two additional phaser-1s is a bit more useful than a Type-R. But the difference is pretty small.
I WANT to like the idea, and perhaps this is just because, "It's what I've always thought," but my understanding is that the Romulans stuck through with the whole WB/WE/KE/KEX family through its evolution because of the (perceived) value of the Plasma-R.
Even with the KEX.
That, unfortunately, leads me to ask why the Romulans would have a ship that sacrafices the "Reason for Being" of the ship class (the Plasma-R) for a weapon type (Plasma-M) that the X-tech version of the Firehawk has two.
HOWEVER, in defense of this ship, I'd like to share something I had in my twisted imagination; a WE variant that downsized its Plasma-R in order to add another weapon. In this case, though, it was a Mine Rack.
My thought at the time was that all the First Generation Romulan ships carry a NSM as part of their standard equipment. The threat of a fleet (or even a squadron) with a number of these ships deploying them can have a serious psychological impact on their enemies.
Now, imagine a ship being able to do that in a duel.
(Hey, like I said, it was kind of a dumb idea, which is why I never shared it until now... 
)
I bring this up to ask/suggest that, if the Romulans were to have a ship like this, what about if they, instead of adding two additional Ph-1, were to add a Mine rack as a compensation for the smaller plasma torpedo.
The impact on an opponents willingness to maneuver could greatly increase the capabilities of the plasma torpedoes in the rest of the squadron.
Anyhow, that's my 0.02 Quatloos worth.
To me, I thought the whole deal with all of the Eagle class ships was that the ship was built around the R torp. So, "refitting it" to have a different main torp was "not worth it" C.f. (FP2.13).
On the other hand, there's been so many variants of the Eagle over the years, maybe it doesn't matter any more. Also, I could be mis-remembering.
Anyhoo, I think it works from a game perspective - and there's value to 2 more phasers for just 10 less warhead.
Let's go back to the King Eagle itself for a moment. It has a twin called the Regent Eagle. The difference is that the Regent Eagle has two Pl-S torpedoes instead of a single Pl-R. So, that to me means that if they are going to make a version of the KEX with a Pl-M, they would really just make a REX with the same number of phasers and two Pl-M.
In other words, instead of a HEX, there'd be a REX:
REX - 2xType-M plasma, 2xType-L plasma, 8xphaser-1.
The simple problem with the design proposed by Mike West (sorry Mike) is that the use of two plasma-Ms and two plasma-Ls is the same as found on the typical Romulan X-cruiser. It is an old hull (doubtful any new ones would be built), and The Republic had the means of building new ships (had the primary shipyard). Given that you are fiting the ship with new technology, there is no cost benefit of having the old spares available. Rolandus had old ships and the need to use X-tech to improve what he had.
Fair enough. And it certainly isn't worth upgrading if the plasma are left as Pl-S.
But, would the reluctance to use new technology on ancient hulls cause problems with the HEX, too?
BTW, welcome back. I know you have been doing things for a little while now, but I am delighted you are feeling well enough to comment here in Proposals!
I think that's what SPP was saying really.
I really cannot see the phaser expansion. If you want to replace and R with an M and an L then fine, but there is more to adding phasers than physical volume.