Federation A-21, an A-20 variant
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R02: FEDERATION PROPOSALS:
Federation A-21, an A-20 variant
I'd like to see a cool variant of the Federation A-20. Let's call it the A-21 so it has a name. Basically, it is otherwise the same as the A-20, but it does these changes:
- Remove the four special rails.
- Add one charge to each photon.
- Add two Ph-3; one FX, one RX.
And ... that's it! Everything else is identical to the A-20 (damage, speed, refit, DFR, chaff, EWP). It completely loses its drone capabilities, but instead gains a second shot for each of its photons. The extra Ph-3 are there to provide a minimal amount of extra defense.
Now ... before everyone goes nuts, realize that this is practically the same with the Carnivon Dingo-1 and Dingo-2. The only difference between the two (besides the photon/disruptor cannon swap) is that the Dingo has 2xPh-2 forward and 1xPh-3 rear. This swaps out one of the Ph-2 for a pair of Ph-3 split fore and aft. If the phaser swap is unacceptable, then I am cool with giving the A-21 2xPh-2 forward and 1xPh-3 rear.
This would be built as an alternative to the A-20 and could be deployed anywhere an A-20 was deployed. The Federation mostly preferred the A-20 because of the versatility of the four drone rails. However, the A-21 was there, in the background, available when desired or opportunity arose.
What about the 6-round ADD?
Methinks this concept would have worked wonderful in the "Feds without seeking weapons" alternate history (that thread is out there somewhere).
The comparison to the Dingos feels good (I don't have my C6 handy), but might I respectfully suggest a side-by-side with Tholian Spiders? Granted, there will be differences (IIRC, the Tholian heavy fighters are Web spinners), but their phaser arrays might serve as an inspiration for a "Perfect" set-up for this A-21.
Offbeat thought; the Tholians have their Web spinning ability, this Fed alternative has its ADD?
Just my opinion, though, I've always had my A-20s (and A-10s) launch drones towards their targets at just outside overload range as a way of giving the enemy more to shoot at than the incoming fighters.
While not always successful, it does improve the number of fighters to survive a strike.
By doubling up the photon loads AND losing the "Drones for Meat Shields" ability, how many of these A-21 are likely to survive their first attack run in good enough condition to conduct the second one?
The thing about two photon loads is ringing some alarm bells. Does anything else do that?
As far as the drones go, I would think that most forces that include A-21s will have drone-armed fighters as well, but IIUC Carnivons can't launch a lot of death bolts to distract from their direct-fire fighters, the same way Hydrans have formidable direct-fire fighters but no real seeking weapon threats.
Quoth Steve Cole:
"The thing about two photon loads is ringing some alarm bells. Does anything else do that?"
Hydran Stingers have 2 charges for each Fusion Beam, and can combine both charges into a single firing...
SVC, Mike, that was part of the reason why I suggested the Tholian heavy fighter for a side-by-side; their Disruptor armed version has two charges per disruptor (if memory serves) but the Photon armed variant has only one.
Same is true for their bombers (again, if memory serves).
Quote:What about the 6-round ADD?
I listed changes, not its full configuration. So, yes, the 6-round ADD remains. It is absolutely necessary.
Quote:Methinks this concept would have worked wonderful in the "Feds without seeking weapons" alternate history (that thread is out there somewhere).
Where do you think this came from? I am simply proposing this single unit independently, as it would still be useful and fun on its own.
The comparison to the Dingo is intentional. The A-21 is directly inline with the Dingo and perfectly matched to it. Yes, I changed the phasers slightly, primarily so that it isn't a direct clone.
Quote:As far as the drones go, I would think that most forces that include A-21s will have drone-armed fighters as well, but IIUC Carnivons can't launch a lot of death bolts to distract from their direct-fire fighters, the same way Hydrans have formidable direct-fire fighters but no real seeking weapon threats.
Don't see the issue here. The A-20 can provide its own drone cover. In the case of the A-21, it requires other fighters to cover their approach. So, using this fighter and approach has an actual cost over the standard A-20. This isn't free.
The second photon charge comes at a steep price. While the A-21 gains a second photon charge so that it can use its photons a second time, this costs the A-21 the first attack potential of the A-20. That A-20 will have four type-I drones and it can fire two per turn. (I know they are special rails. Don't care.) The A-21 completely loses that.
Put another way:
A-20: Can fire two Type-I drones and two photons in the first attack. Can fire two Type-I drones in the second attack.
A-21: Can fire two photons in the first attack. Can fire two photons in the second attack.
So, I am not seeing how the second photon charges are unbalancing when they have to totally sacrifice their drone capability.
Quote:I suggested the Tholian heavy fighter for a side-by-side
I choose the Dingo over the Tholian heavy fighter because comparing disruptor bolts and photons on fighters just isn't a good comparison. But, comparing disruptor cannons and photons is definitely fair and comparable.
Hey, Mike!
I don't mean to sound like a (bleep)hole, but the Tholians have a photon armed version of their heavy fighter, the Spider-IVP (and, of course, its faster brother, the Spider-VP.
Of note, the Spider-IVP (and -VP) both list having "2xPhot-FA" while their respective Mega-fighters, the S-IVPM and S-VPM both state "2xPhot-FA, each two charges"
(Of note, the standard Spider-IV and Spider-V both, in their mega-fighter variants, list their disruptors as having three charges, which suggests that the second charge for the photon torpedoes on you proposal might lead to it being rejected. I hope not, but I gotta be honest with ya.) 
On a more positive note, the MFC in G3 does say that the Spider-V have 2xP2-FA, so perhaps that might be enough of an improvement over the base A-20 to make this assault fighter fly?
Side by side between an A-20F and a S-VP, BOTH have two Photon Torpedoes, BOTH are Speed-15, BOTH... Well, there're a lot of similarities.
DIFFERENCES...
A-20F has four "Special" Drone rails where the S-VP has none.
S-VP has 2xP-2-FA where the A-20F has 1xP-2-FX
S-VP has 2xP-3-RX where the A-20F has 1xP-3-RX
A-20F has 1xADD-6 where the S-VP does not
and S-VP is a Web Spinner where the A-20F is not.
I don't mean to be a jerk, but it FEELS (bad word, but it's the truth) that a hypothetical A-21 with
Size: 2
Spd: 15
Phaser: 2xP-2-FA, 2xP-3-RX
Drones: 1xADD-6
DMG: 18
Other Weapons: 2xPhot-FA; 1xEW Pod
BPV: (Sorry, but I don't want to guess quite yet)
Year: 180?
DFR: 0* (Sorry, my computer doesn't have a "Star" key)
And the corresponding A-21M might have...
Size: 2
SPD: 30
Phaser: 2xP-2-FA; 2xP-3-RX
Drones: 1xADD-6
DMG: 20
Other Weapons: 2xPhot-FA, each with two charges; 1xEW Pod
BPV: (Again, apologies, but I still don't want to guess yet)
Year: 180?
DFR: -2* (Still doesn't have a "Star" key).
Again, I don't want to tell you what to do with YOUR idea, it's just that I wanted to share with you what I'd do if it were mine.
The second photon charge is rejected. Dead Horse. End of sentence. Full Stop.
Just as well.
Trying to reload four photons per surviving A-21 assault fighters during a battle with the intent of delivering a third and fourth salvo of photons in subsequent attacks translates to ((4x2)x6)x2=96 warp power points over two SFBs game turns.
That is a huge energy drain.
Particularly during a battle.
A Fed CVA only has 48 warp power generation capacity from its warp engines ( not counting WPR (warp power reactors)) total.
In plain words, the CVA has to practically stop all movement for two turns just to reload the proposed A-21 assault fighters.
Without the drone rails, the A-21 fighters can only contribute whatever damage the phasers and ADD’s can inflict.
From that aspect, the A-20’s are far superior in that because of the drone reloads do not require an energy charge reload.
I haven’t tried gaming the A-21 yet, but it appears that once the photons are used, the only mission left is defense of the carrier.
Without the second Photon charge ability, the main selling point of the proposal disappears.