Oh boy, here we
go. The choices before us are expansive, to say the very least. So, let's not waste any time and dive into the decisions before us.
[ ] 0: Six Saucer Type-1 Phasers (Standard) [Avg Damage: 5]
[ ] 0: Ten Saucer Type-1 Phasers (Cost++) [Avg Damage: 9]
So, we start with the main armament of phaser banks on the primary hull. 6 phaser banks is not the worst by far, but the security of having a few extra banks covering the ship a little more fully is not a bad feeling. However, with the options below to talk about, there's certainly a part of me that doesn't feel the need to fully load the saucer section.
[ ] 1: No Forward Torpedoes
[ ] 1: Two Forward Photonic Launchers (Cost+) [Avg Damage: 0.6] [Alpha Strike: 15]
[ ] 1: Four Forward Photonic Launchers (Cost++) [Avg Damage: 1.25] [Alpha Strike: 30]
[ ] 1: Two Forward Photon Launchers (Cost++) [Avg Damage: 1.5] [Alpha Strike: 36]
With how much experimental tech we have already, there's a part of me that feels okay with going with the tried and tested photonics for this one vessel, but the numbers on the pure photon torpedoes are certainly a tempting proposition, even with the experimental roll (Edit: actually just a prototype roll. Even better!).
[ ] 2: No Aft Torpedoes
[ ] 2: Two Aft Photonic Launchers (Cost+) [Avg Damage: 0.6] [Alpha Strike: 15]
[ ] 2: One Aft Photon Launcher (Cost+) [Avg Damage: 0.75] [Alpha Strike: 18]
And here we get to the meat and potatoes of the secondary hull, and why I feel more okay with lessening the primary hull's armaments. With an aft torpedo launcher, we gain a remarkable amount of coverage that has some bite in a section of the ship which is often more vulnerable than the rest. Along with...
[ ] 3: No Engineering Section Phasers
[ ] 3: Two Engineering Section Type-1 Phasers (Cost+) [Avg Damage: 2]
[ ] 3: Four Engineering Section Type-1 Phasers (Cost++) [Avg Damage: 3]
Some secondary hull phaser banks! Now, I don't feel the need to go ham on the amount of phaser banks on here, tempting as it might feel, but taking at least two offers still more coverage, which for an explorer, I feel, is far more vital than just focused fire.
So, in summation, my vote, as it stands at the moment, is likely going to be:
[ ] 0: Six Saucer Type-1 Phasers (Standard) [Avg Damage: 5]
[ ] 1: Two Forward Photon Launchers (Cost++) [Avg Damage: 1.5] [Alpha Strike: 36]
[ ] 2: One Aft Photon Launcher (Cost+) [Avg Damage: 0.75] [Alpha Strike: 18]
[ ] 3: Two Engineering Section Type-1 Phasers (Cost+) [Avg Damage: 2]
Though, of course, I am open to debate and turning around on what I vote on.
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