Crusade EA: Escort Carrier

[Epaminondas]

reading the EA fluff, original thinking was to merge carrier functions with the base cruiser/destroyer; resulting in the omega and nova series of ships. Decent weapons, hull, and good fighter supports.

Crusade moves more towards the bigger end of ships- the new ships carry alot less fighters per priority level then before.

Super carriers are portrayed as rather ineffective, and on the table top they are... but what about escort carriers?

In such a situation, one logical response would be to make a small, fast escort carrier to beef up the fighter wings and keep them up with the fleet.

===

Aeneas Class Escort Carrier [Skirmish]
Turns 1/45
Speed 8
Hull 5
Troops: 1
Special: Jump Point, carrier 2, interceptors 2
Craft: 4 starfury flights

Weapon
Particle beams T 4 inch range, 5 AD Antifighter, weak

18 Damage, threshold 5
22 Crew threshold 6

===

Cheap, mass produced hull, only goal to field a useful number of fighters at a low level. Good for escorting convoys, antipirate work, or bluffing the number of fighters in a fleet action.

 

[alien027]

You got a good point. I like those stads. But why EA do not have a Crusaide version of the Avenger at that PL level?

 

[Morgoth]

quite like this too, but would like to see with a "main gun" too - perhaps a turret mount pulse cannon - range 8 4AD Twin-link

 

[Chernobyl]

for two of these skirmish choices I'd rather have an early-era avenger.

The Omegas are still around in crusade and indeed probably more common than an armageddon PL warlock. The only ship that carried equal or more at a lower PL in the 3rd age was the Nova.

A skirmish carrier seems a little weak, for some reason. If it were raid stats, with only 4 flights, people would make the argument that its not as good as a nova which had 4 flights. so, I'm thinking maybe a raid ship, with 6 flights, and some minor upgunning, and carrier 2 - something akin to a balvarin, but with probably fewer damage and crew.

You could call it a converted "artemis hull" if you like.

Chern

 

[rbax]

You got a good point. I like those stads. But why EA do not have a Crusaide version of the Avenger at that PL level?

Because most were destroyed by the Minbari and the remaining few were worn out and decommisioned by Crusade Era.

That is, of course, the explanation that as originally portrayed by Agents of Gaming. Thus I came up with the Omega-Delta Strike Carrier for Babylon 5 Wars. The ACTA version might look something like this....forgive the lengthy fluff (I just can't help myself)

Omega-class Strike Carrier (Variant) Battle

After the devastation of the Minbari War, the EA was forced to rebuild its fleet virtually from scratch. The remaining Avenger Heavy Carriers, along with a hand full of Nova Dreadnoughts became the centerpieces of the ragtag remnants of Earth's once mighty fleet.

Consideration was initially given to reopening the Avenger production line but combat units were in greatest demand so emphasis was made to initially increase Hyperion construction rates, and later, the new Omega Destroyer. However, as time passed, the EA came to the realization that the Avenger Heavy Carrier actually did fill needed roll within the naval force structure.

With Avenger numbers, never numerous following the war, dwindling rapidly due to age and over use, Earthforce found itself considering a number of options. A Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) for the remaining Avengers was explored but too few hulls remained to fill the needed rolls. A restart of Avenger construction was again reconsidered but tabled almost immediately due to limited yard space and the feeling that the basic hull had outlived its usefulness.

The obvious choice was the Omega destroyer, now in massive serial production. The Omega was certainly large enough, could maintain long patrols and offered a maximum commonality with the growing fleet of Omega destroyers. A conversion program was commenced resulting in the Omega-D in Y2259. Though under armed when compared to its destroyer cousins that carrier variant offered a full 48 fighters to the fray and production, while never at a significant rates, began immediately.

Speed: 7
Turn: 1/45
Hull: 6
Damage: 40/10
Crew: 70/18
Troops: 4
Craft: 8 Starfury flights
Special Rules: Command +1, Interceptors 3, Jump Engine, Carrier 4, Fleet Carrier
In Service: 2259+

Medium Laser Cannon: Range: 15, Arc: B, AD: 3, Special: Beam, SAP
Medium Pulse Cannon: Range: 10, Arc: F, AD: 4, Special: Twin
Medium Pulse Cannon: Range: 10, Arc: P, AD: 4, Special: Twin
Medium Pulse Cannon: Range: 10, Arc: S, AD: 4, Special: Twin
Medium Pulse Cannon: Range: 10, Arc: S, AD: 4, Special: Twin
Particle Beams: Range: 5, Arc: P, AD: 6, Special: Anti-Fighter
Particle Beams: Range: 5, Arc: S, AD: 6, Special: Anti-Fighter

---- Rich

Whoops forgot the other special traits.

 

[rbax]

I also came up with the following Light Carrier for B5Wars. The ACTA's stats would be:

Kitty Hawk-class Light Carrier (Olympus Variant) Skirimish

Flushed with its success during the Dilgar war, the Earth Alliance began to rapidly expand its sphere of influence. Earthforce felt that the postwar fleet sizes should, if anything, be increased to protect the rapidly enlarging borders. Earthgov saw things a bit differently. They saw the massive debts incurred during the wartime expansion, and wasted little time in slashing Earthforce’s budget even as they expanding its duties.

In terms of greatest bang for the buck, the simplest and most cost affective option would be fighters. Unfortunately, the Starfury was not atmospheric capable and thus could not be based on those planets which did not have an orbital station in place.

The current generation of starships that carried their own fighters were deemed to valuable and to limited in numbers to waste on planetary patrol and no smaller vessels capable of carrying a useful number of fighters was available. Obviously, a new design was called for.

With a limited design budget, engineers quickly settled on the battle-tested hull of the Olympus Corvette as the best available option. The new light carrier, now designated the Kitty Hawk class had its weapons suite reduced in order to create the necessary room for a squadron of Starfuries. The resulting light carrier was intended to act both as a light carrier for the main fleet but also serve as base for a small garrison force of fighters for systems within Earth Alliance space. Nearly all of Earthgov loved the Kitty Hawk's cheapness. The men and women who served aboard the Kitty Hawks hated the ships. the living arrangements were, if anything, even more cramped and spartan than the older Orestes.

The Earth-Minbari war saw most of the Kitty Hawks destroyed. But following the war, Earthforce again made use of its overall cheepness and increased production to bolster its ravaged fleet. Used for a myriad of missions, the Kittyhawk proved remarkable successful and production has continued.

Speed: 8
Turn: 2/45
Hull: 4
Damage: 28/6
Crew: 40/8
Troops: 2
Craft: 2 Starfury flights
Special Rules: Interceptors 1, Carrier 1
In Service: 2242+

Medium Pulse Cannon: Range: 10, Arc: F, AD: 6, Special: Twin
Medium Pulse Cannon: Range: 10, Arc: P, AD: 6, Special: Twin
Medium Pulse Cannon: Range: 10, Arc: S, AD: 6, Special: Twin
Railgun: Range: 12, Arc: T, AD: 2, Special: AP, DD

--- Rich

 

[Locutus9956]

The problem with the skirmish level escort carriers is simple though, they are really not much in terms of their own weaponry and for their points you could get twice as many fighters in just fighter wings. Maybe give them a bit of standoff firepower too? A couple of missiles perhaps to make them worth taking in their own right. Simply put the ship has to make up for the rest of the fighters you would get otherwise for the points.

 

[angelus2000]

Simple enough problem to solve, just increase the amount each escort carrier can carry. The amount of fighters that ACTA "carriers" can carry is frankly, always been on the low side. If any race was going to devote the time and energy into making a vessel specifically for fighters, even a refitted one, they would put more fighters bay into it.

The basic problem most of the carriers in ACTA have is twofold

1. They don't carry enough fighters to justify thier costl; The WS Carrier being the sole exception.

2. The designers always try to make them into half-ass warships by tacking on just enough weapons to justify a reduction in fighter capacity.
They end up being undergunned compared to their brethen, but their weapons are enough to bump them up a PL or 2, which then leads to problem number 1.

The whole half warship/half carrier concept that the games designers and players seem to have embraced, just plain doesnt work in the game and thiers enough real world examples to prove its a shitty concept. Go take a look at the history books and show me a half and half ship that actually frigging worked as intended.

 

[Target]

Crusade fleet need a Nova replacement eg Big guns in all directions not more boresight beam ships. They also need a light carrier specialist and a new skirmish type ship if you are going to do fleet era splits prpoerly.

The Nova replacment the "Quaser" for an example. Same speed & turns, Interceptors 3,4 T Bolts, Hull 5, Phased Beam things range 12 AP, Mini Beam, slightly less hits, similar crew & give self repair "x" amount.

The Light Carrier "Phaedra" not really sure on the priority but lets go raid.
Hull 4, AJP, Self repair 3ish, Interceptors 3, 45 hits, 60 crew, Troops 6. 8 T bolts, carrier 3, Command +1. Weapons 4 ad rail gun, fwd & 6 AD Laser/Pulse arrays in all arc's. Forgot speed 6 & 1/45

Drop the Chronos down a lvl reduce hits to 16, railgun to 4 AD, replace plasma cannons laser/pulse arrays 6 ad fwd, 4 ad P&S and no aft arc & 2 AD missle rack that should be fairly reasonable and a replacement for a Olympus.

 

[fluffy05]

I think the Crusade Replacement for the Nova was the Chronos ship (I know it was to replace the Olympus)

Chronos Rocks :wink:

 

[Reborn]

I like the idea of the Aeneas, and I like the name too (I did the Aeneid book 2 for Latin AS-level 8) ). But I agree, for Skirmish level it ought to have a 4 AD Pulse Cannon or some Missiles on it, really, or a low-AD laser cannon similar to that of the Brikorta.

 

[sidewinder]

I like rbaxs omega carrier. The kittyhawk though. I'd have to agree with angelus on that one. For the kittyhawk I'd give it 6 flights and just give it more interceptors and antifighter weapons, and maybe bump it up to hull 5. But take off the offensive weapons. or leave it hull 4 but give it carrier 2 or 3 and fleet carrier.

 

[Calistan]

Honestly, I think that a transport carrier concept might work better. A skirmish level carrier for the Earth should carry 6 fighters and be carrier 3. The carrier should have JP, 3ad anti-fighter turreted particle beam and be hull 3. It is a flying crate, but it would be explain why the EA can "field" fighters independently. I never liked the concept that you could just buy fighters for a battle and if each race can buy fighters, then each race should have some form of a transport carrier.

 

[Target]

Honestly, I think that a transport carrier concept might work better. A skirmish level carrier for the Earth should carry 6 fighters and be carrier 3. The carrier should have JP, 3ad anti-fighter turreted particle beam and be hull 3. It is a flying crate, but it would be explain why the EA can "field" fighters indepently. I never liked the concept that you could just buy fighters for a battle and if each race can buy fighters, then each race should have some form of a transport carrier.

Agree

 

[Locutus9956]

Now THAT I like

 

[Silvereye]

.... I never liked the concept that you could just buy fighters for a battle and if each race can buy fighters, then each race should have some form of a transport carrier.

Most races already do have something on those lines. Abbai Milani, Centauri Balvarin, Narn T'Rann. All carry a fair amount of fighters, and are generally regarded as carriers by their race. With the lack of the carrier trait, I see these vessels more of fighter transports in this respect.

I'd also be very careful about adding Command/Fleet Carrier and perhaps even Carrier to any 'Fighter Transport'.

 

[Target]

.... I never liked the concept that you could just buy fighters for a battle and if each race can buy fighters, then each race should have some form of a transport carrier.

Most races already do have something on those lines. Abbai Milani, Centauri Balvarin, Narn T'Rann. All carry a fair amount of fighters, and are generally regarded as carriers by their race. With the lack of the carrier trait, I see these vessels more of fighter transports in this respect.

I'd also be very careful about adding Command/Fleet Carrier and perhaps even Carrier to any 'Fighter Transport'.

I think he's talking bout having a armoured freighter with lots of fighters instead of purchasing wings. The Psi corp had something similar i think from one episode.
If we didn't have wings but these transport carriers we would have no reason to have 1 VP for fighters just go after the carrier for the VP, well thats what i was thinking.
On the Poseidon & Battle lvl Avenger i would have 20 & 12 flights to try and make them worth taking.
Ships in general should carry more fighters & each race have some form of fleet carrier.

 

[Calistan]

I think I'm going to modify a Space Liner and turn it into a fighter carrier. Well, it will have to wait till after Christmas because everything is closed at this point.

 

[Triggy]

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Carrier Command download

Wow, now that's a blast from the past!!!

I swear, I was the only person I knew to complete the game without using any of the cheats and actually hunt down the enemy carrier in a straight up fight. It was really cool how you could use a combination of air power, the Walruses (IIRC) for sea/land power and the carrier for a straight shooting match! Time to boot up my old Atari STFM...

 

[sidewinder]

I think the problem isnt how many flights a ship carries, its the fact that no matter how big the squadron is it only takes one hit to kill them all. A single white star fighter( or any single fighter squadron) and a flight of starfuries which has 6 fighters in it all get taken out by a single shot. So theres no real difference between a ship with 96 fighers in groups of 6, like the posiden (16 flights), or 16 individual fighters.