Starfleet Design Bureau

I quote:

This is not about turning it into a torpedo boat, its about making sure it can engage its peers with equal agility
This size inflation over time has an interesting effect actually, of effectively giving older ships a maneuverability bonus over time as well. Our opportunity, then, is to be fast for our size now because, over time, that will keep us relevant longer. Smaller ships still have an advantage against larger ships.

It's also paying a cost in internal space. This isn't a half-saucer where impulse engines don't cost internal space. We'd be giving up functionality for better one-on-one combat, when the ship's primary role is fleet combat and its secondary role is peacetime capability. This option doesn't help with the Federation's primary or secondary roles.

What makes you think we're going to even have a blind spot on this ship? The entire point of this design is to project a full sphere of phaser coverage. So we won't let there be any blind spots, especially with the saucer shape we took earlier.

Module space is actually a big deal, because the way we're planning to justify our expenses is with really good capabilities and that takes modules. Can we get a citation for that? Because that would make me reconsider my vote, but I'm not remembering that.
 
I quote:

This is not about turning it into a torpedo boat, its about making sure it can engage its peers with equal agility
Given that 100% is explicitly equal to a standard ship of its size, and 120% already exceeds that, that's not how I understand that quote. I understand that quote as meaning that a Callie sized ship is a heavy cruiser, and so 200% would let this ship turn with an average ship of Callie size. Which we don't need it to do, because we built this thing to create torpedo lanes and shoot phasers everywhere.
 
[x] Central Engine [Cost: 91] (Maneuverability: Normal) [120% Standard]

While I agree that maximum maneuverability would be nice, I worry that going full send here would make the Wallet Watchers force us to skimp on the Arsenal.
 
We're starting to see the conflict between the request for a ship-of-the-line, and the expectation that most combats will actually be solo.

Oh well, it's already gonna be expensive as hell, might as well make it excell at everything.

[X] Dual Engines [Cost: 99] (Maneuverability: Maximum) [200% Standard]
 
[X] Dual Engines [Cost: 99] (Maneuverability: Maximum) [200% Standard]

Hoping to offset the cost with reduced number of phaser mounts and minimum RFLs.
 
This hull is going to be 300,000 tonnes (potentially slightly more given nacelle struts haven't been factored into the design yet), at 200% standard manouverability it'll have the same manoeuvrability as a 150,000 tonne ship at standard, at 120% standard manouverability it'll be the same as a 180,000 tonne ship at standard (iirc) which would leave it considerably worse off than the Excalibur.

Whilst this ship is going to be the centrepiece of fleets (when they do form, we've been told that for now most combat is going to be individual) it's nature as a long range high speed cruiser means it's likely going to find itself in individual combat quite a lot of the time as it's transiting too/from the corners of the Federation or being the first ship on the scene when war breaks out. It's going to need that individual fighting capability.

For a measly 8 more cost we can significantly improve the tactical capabilities of the ship.

[X] Dual Engines [Cost: 99] (Maneuverability: Maximum) [200% Standard]
 
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This size inflation over time has an interesting effect actually, of effectively giving older ships a maneuverability bonus over time as well. Our opportunity, then, is to be fast for our size now because, over time, that will keep us relevant longer. Smaller ships still have an advantage against larger ships.
It means that maneuverabiity becomes a lot more critical for this ships survival as time passes
Given how energy beam damage scales with size
This is one of those fundamentals that cant really be changed with a refit

Given that 100% is explicitly equal to a standard ship of its size, and 120% already exceeds that, that's not how I understand that quote. I understand that quote as meaning that a Callie sized ship is a heavy cruiser, and so 200% would let this ship turn with an average ship of Callie size. Which we don't need it to do, because we built this thing to create torpedo lanes and shoot phasers everywhere.
I am confident you understand that wrong; its explicitly stated that Maximum is not as good as the Excalibur
I provided the quote
If Maximum isnt going to match the Callie, Standard/Normal is much worse

You dont want Standard on a ship you are sending into harms way, anyway
[x] Central Engine [Cost: 91] (Maneuverability: Normal) [120% Standard]

While I agree that maximum maneuverability would be nice, I worry that going full send here would make the Wallet Watchers force us to skimp on the Arsenal.
Its 8 points of cost

Normal is 91 pts
Maximum is 99 pts

8 pts difference
An RFL costs more
 
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I am confident you understand that wrong; its explicitly stated that Maximum is not as good as the Excalibur
I provided the quote
If Maximum isnt going to match the Callie, Standard is much worse
Yes, maximum is not as good as the Excalibur, because we built the Excalibur specifically to be extremely maneuverable. Maximum is, however, implied to be as good as a standard ship of Excalibur size, meaning all sorts of potential threat vessels.
 
We're starting to see the conflict between the request for a ship-of-the-line, and the expectation that most combats will actually be solo.

Oh well, it's already gonna be expensive as hell, might as well make it excell at everything.

[X] Dual Engines [Cost: 99] (Maneuverability: Maximum) [200% Standard]
Yeah, they asked for a line ship and we gave them a line ship - with the cost that comes with. But we also think we know one-on-one duels will be a feature of future combat.

What this means is we want an interesting combination - endurance at warp but agility at impulse. The Excalibur has agility at warp AND impulse, which was good for its role but not for the Federation's.
 
[X] Dual Engines [Cost: 99] (Maneuverability: Maximum) [200% Standard]

Go for broke, cut cost on the weaponry coverage if we gotta but with maneuvering, you can make up for that deficit by out turning.
 
Yes, maximum is not as good as the Excalibur, because we built the Excalibur specifically to be extremely maneuverable. Maximum is, however, implied to be as good as a standard ship of Excalibur size, meaning all sorts of potential threat vessels.
Nobody builds a standard ship of Excalibur size with normal agility
The Klingons, the Romulans, even the Jem'Hadar, all favor increased maneuver on their warships

The only people who favor normal maneuverability or less I am aware of are the Borg
 
It means that maneuverabiity becomes a lot more critical for this ships survival as time passes
Given how energy beam damage scales with size
This is one of those fundamentals that cant really be changed with a refit
To an extent it can, but a TMP style refit would probably only put it up about 40-60 thousand tonnes at most.

As it is going for 300kt and giving it the manoeuvrability of a ship 50,000 tonnes lighter than the Excalibur (at standard at least) will give it a manoeuvrability provision in the future that will likely be key for combat success.
 
[X] Central Engine [Cost: 91] (Maneuverability: Normal) [120% Standard]

Doesn't need to be zippy, it's a fleet anchor, not a dogfighter, Normal Manoeuvrability is already excellent.
 
Is it?
The options dont make it as much of a thing
Module space is actually a big deal, because the way we're planning to justify our expenses is with really good capabilities and that takes modules. Can we get a citation for that? Because that would make me reconsider my vote, but I'm not remembering that.
Impulse engines have always taken internal space. The exception is in half-saucers, like the Excalibur. But I might as well ask:

@Sayle Will Dual Engines take more internal space than the Central Engine?
 
Another reason I'm willing to go with the cost of the dual engines is that this is a war ship, and so we need to focus on core fighting capabilities. If this were a science ship it would be different. But this ship is meant to fight, and do other useful things while not fighting. It's not a science first, combat as a last resort.
 
It's always "just" 8 costs here, like it's not 10% of build right now, 4 costs there. That's how you end up going max cost for each vote.

multiple people already saying to dump phasers to make up for the cost and make a torpedo boat as well, who would have guessed : p
 
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