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Feds and drones

 
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David
Lieutenant Commander


Joined: 08 Nov 2009
Posts: 228
Location: Florida

PostPosted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 9:44 pm    Post subject: Feds and drones Reply with quote

Just out of curiousity, why the addition of drone racks for Fed ships? Not that they aren't useful, particularly in scatter packs, but was just curious as to why they were later added in refits and such.
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rulesjd
Lieutenant JG


Joined: 06 Feb 2007
Posts: 48
Location: seattle

PostPosted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 11:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The historical answer or the game design answer?

Quite frankly, I've played this game for so many years (not recently though) that the historical fluff escapes me.

Looking at the standard Fed CA workhorse, you've got six phaser 1's to handle offense and defense. Given a healthy D7, you'll have to give up two phasers per turn (or six with a scatter pack) and even more if the launch timing is well done. Offensive weaponry is then limited to your highly inaccurate photons.

One of the balance points for the Fed CA's heavy photon punch was the power cost (in warp engines) kept you slow. No one survives a point blank alpha strike of overloads.

As drone races and tactics developed, it became evident that the Fed needed more effective drone defense. They got a pair of phaser 3's with a little extra power. The CC had two 360 phasers and the plus refit got two RH phasers. However, giving the Fed plenty of extra power for phasers makes its photons again much more dangerous and the extra phasers creates weapon padding.

So, add simple drone 4 space standard drone rack and you have a power neutral drone/shuttle defense weapon. No additional power is added to the ship (keeping the photon loading and speed choices more difficult) and providing another slot on the DAC which softens the advantage of another weapon system.

So now you've got a Fed CA with a little bit deeper drone defense but, you don't get a phaser raft or another drone wave platform. This keeps the races unique and interesting.
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David
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Joined: 08 Nov 2009
Posts: 228
Location: Florida

PostPosted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 3:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

A rear firing photon torpedo in its place would have/could be an interesting possibility. Useful in an overrun attack or a well timed HET. Perhaps not as effective as the Kaufman retrograde but it could be a good deterrent from someone trying to run you down from behind.

Just thinking out loud Smile
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rulesjd
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 11:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A) True but, the rear firing photon wouldn't follow the historical patterns of the Franz Joseph designs or original TV series.

B) Your question regarded adding drones to Fed Ships. There were, of course, no drones in the series but, the introduction of Klingon and Kzinti drones deserve a response.

There are tons of design ideas which could make all SFB ships "better" but, SVC and crew have hewed pretty carefully to making ship designs that are race specific with advantages and flaws.
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David
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Joined: 08 Nov 2009
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Location: Florida

PostPosted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 1:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

rulesjd wrote:
A) True but, the rear firing photon wouldn't follow the historical patterns of the Franz Joseph designs or original TV series.


I understand what your saying in regards to the Franz Joseph design and TOS. And as you say, TOS never had drones at all. After looking at the front and rear firing photons on the D7C in CL it just seems like a logical alternative for a rear firing torp on a larger Fed ships.

Again, just thinking outloud Smile
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