Shadowstar

[thehod]

Hey I was thinking of doing a Shadowstar as a playable choice for shadows after seeing it on the Babylon 5 Armada mods and the fluff could be that the Shadows obtained some Whitestar hulls during the shadow war and then instead of the Vorlon armor they instead gave it Shadow Bio-armor.

Priority: Battle

Speed: 12 Damage: 100 Craft: 2 Shadow fighter flights
Turn: SM Crew: - Special Rules: Dodge +3, AJP, Self Repair 2d6

Weapon

Molecular sliver beam 15 F 3 Beam, Super AP, Triple Dmg
Phasing Pulse Cannon 10 F 8 Anti-fighter, DD, Super AP
Fighter Dispersal Tube 30 T - -

Uses the Shadow special rules

It has as much punch as a Whitestar-2 but with the crit resistance. I did it in comparison to both the Whitestar-2 along with the hunter and makes a fairly good battle choice for an already top heavy shadow fleet lacking in a battle priority level.

 

[CZuschlag]

First off: You need a Hull score.

Second off: It'd better be Hull 4!

This thing is monstrous. It's effectively got 300 damage points, double a full Hunter, as the Dodge 3+ will magnify the ship's Damage dramatically. Getting two of these gives you more than the same firepower as a Hunter, (you get 16 dice of Pulse Cannon for free!), an initiative sink, and far more mobility, and over 3 times the durability. (You have access to an all-power like action for 24 inches in a 180 degree arc ... that's just HUGE!)

To compare with a WS/2 ... checking ....

-- It certainly is more mobile. 12 SM beats 14 2/90, and you have a better totaly linear speed as well. Here, the Shadow is dramatically ahead.

-- Firepower. Again, the Shadow is better, but by a smaller amount. Triple Damage vs. Triple Damage Precise is (20.8:21.2) vs. (27.6:30.4), and with 3 dice vs. 2, you're at 62.4:63.6 vs. 55.2:60.4. The secondary weaponry matches up nicely, with the Missiles making up the difference between the SAP and AP on the pulse weaponry.

-- Durability. Coverted to common values, the WS-2 is about 22.5 crew damage to kill (the Damage value is almost irrelevant.) Given the 3.5 conversion factor, this would be about 78.75; certainly not the 100 listed.

-- Trait Durability. He can lose traits on crippling --- can the Shadow Ship? Nope.

-- Crit Vulnerability. Shadow's day's can be wrecked by crits, like speed zero (which stops all you Dodges). Not so much for the Shadow ship.

-- Hyperspace Mastery, a +6 initiative and bonus vs. Stealth as a cherry on top.

-- You Self-Repair everything, but the WS-2 has a ticking time bomb in its crew size; that's what kills the ship. And, you can't self-repair crew.

And, oh, did I forget, It's Effectively Got Frickin' 300 Damage Points?!

Vs. the Hunter:

Half the auxiliary craft, and half the firepower (precise on the beam does count for a lot)

Move Maneouverable, doesn't regen as fast

But it's twice as big.

So, it's pretty level to a Shadow Hunter. And that makes it War level.

The balance is way, way, way off. At Hull 5, and turret-mount the Pulsars, it would be an interesting alternative to the Hunter, capable of staying with the main ship and providing anti-fighter point defense. But that's about it. Way, way, way over the top for the Battle level suggested.

 

[Da Boss]

Hey I was thinking of doing a Shadowstar as a playable choice for shadows after seeing it on the Babylon 5 Armada mods and the fluff could be that the Shadows obtained some Whitestar hulls during the shadow war and then instead of the Vorlon armor they instead gave it Shadow Bio-armor.

Priority: Battle

Speed: 12 Damage: 100 Craft: 2 Shadow fighter flights
Turn: SM Crew: - Special Rules: Dodge +3, AJP, Self Repair 2d6

Weapon

Molecular sliver beam 15 F 3 Beam, Super AP, Triple Dmg
Phasing Pulse Cannon 10 F 8 Anti-fighter, DD, Super AP
Fighter Dispersal Tube 30 T - -

Uses the Shadow special rules

I really love the idea - as the Shadows do need ships, but have to agree this appears a little over the top.

How about:
Make it a choice for Shadows and maybe the Drakh?
Keep it as a Battle choice, Keep the Speed 12 SM, make it Hull 6 but make it 75 damage points, Dodge 5+, give it just the one fighter,
Priority: Battle

Speed: 12, Hull 6 Damage: 75 Craft: 1 Shadow fighter flight
Turn: SM Crew: - Special Rules: Dodge +5, AJP, Self Repair 2d6

Weapon

Molecular slicer beam 15 F 3 Beam, Super AP, Triple Dmg
Phasing Pulse Cannon 8 T 6 Anti-fighter, DD, Super AP


no idea if it is balanced but seems more?

 

[CZuschlag]

Much better balance here.

And I know my Drakh would just be DYING to get this ship as a Raider squadron leader. It's everything they could Dream of. I'd even pay a Battle Choice in an initiative-sink fleet for this, no question.

That's probably why the Drakh shouldn't get access to it.... If that were available to the Drakh as a Battle-level choice, I'd use it for my Vassal Trouney expansion automatically, without any question. It'd be an obvious choice.

 

[Da Boss]

Much better balance here.

And I know my Drakh would just be DYING to get this ship as a Raider squadron leader. It's everything they could Dream of. I'd even pay a Battle Choice in an initiative-sink fleet for this, no question.

That's probably why the Drakh shouldn't get access to it.... If that were available to the Drakh as a Battle-level choice, I'd use it for my Vassal Trouney expansion automatically, without any question. It'd be an obvious choice.

Maybe a Drakh version? (note as well not instead!)

Priority: Battle

Speed: 14, Hull 6 Damage: 30/ 8, Troops: 1
Turn: SM (or 2 x 90?) Crew: 35 / 7 Special Rules: Dodge +5, AJP, Self Repair 2d6

Uses Shadow rules for movement. (or turns, not sure which)

Weapon

Neutron Cannon 18 F 3 Beam, Super AP, Double Damage, Precise
Phasing Pulse Cannon 8 T 6 Anti-fighter, DD, Super AP

 

[Da Boss]

Much better balance here.

And I know my Drakh would just be DYING to get this ship as a Raider squadron leader. It's everything they could Dream of. I'd even pay a Battle Choice in an initiative-sink fleet for this, no question.

That's probably why the Drakh shouldn't get access to it.... If that were available to the Drakh as a Battle-level choice, I'd use it for my Vassal Trouney expansion automatically, without any question. It'd be an obvious choice.

or could make it an Unique ship for the Drakh

 

[CZuschlag]

Even more Drakh might be Hull 5, GEG 2, Flight Computer, no Self-Repair, 45 for both Dmg and Crew. Still a dream boat.

 

[MustEatBrains]

I´ve been playing with the same idea a while back, and though I like the basic outline of the above suggestions, I´d like to say: Keep it at Raid! Really, a Shadow Star would most likely just replace the Vorlon Tech with Shadow equivalent tech (there goes the adaptive armour), so while I´d expect a change in how the ship works, the overall power/performance of it shouldn´t change too much I think.

Of course, if you want a battle choice, you can always make a Shadow Star gunship! Add to that a Shadow Star Carrier, and maybe some Shadow Star fighters, and you have a whole new fleet.

 

[Valen is my name]

i doubt the shadows would mod a WS, they would just destroy it, but Clarks EA or the drakh are another kettle of fish. they would try to put shadow tech into a WS.

 

[Da Boss]

Maybe maybe not - I would think the Shadows would be interested in any and all forms of new technology - especially as it is sooooo effective against their own! Secondly if they can use it to inflitrate their enemies systems or cause confusion - I think they would enjoy that - disciples of Chaos and all that.........

 

[Da Boss]

Of course, if you want a battle choice, you can always make a Shadow Star gunship! Add to that a Shadow Star Carrier, and maybe some Shadow Star fighters, and you have a whole new fleet.

Maybe a B5 alternative universe (al la Mirror in ST) where the ISA are Shadow rather than Vorlon creations would be fun?

Then it might be the Vorlons that loose their homeworld and the war!

 

[MustEatBrains]

Of course, if you want a battle choice, you can always make a Shadow Star gunship! Add to that a Shadow Star Carrier, and maybe some Shadow Star fighters, and you have a whole new fleet.

Maybe a B5 alternative universe (al la Mirror in ST) where the ISA are Shadow rather than Vorlon creations would be fun?

Then it might be the Vorlons that loose their homeworld and the war!

And the humans would move to the Shadow homeworld in a million years? Yes, I think I like the idea....

Of course, that would mean that the Nemesis would use Vorlon tech, which in turn would mean a green colour scheme. And different tentacles on the Omega X.

 

[Da Boss]

Like the way you think - maybe I should try and translate my delusions into an article for SP? (or at least write something) am at work at present - maybe tonight!

Might even have to get some White stars and "Shadowise" them (or get someone to paint them for me) - although I suppose even i can spray them pitch black!

 

[alien027]

This ship is a monter! :shock: two of then can destroy an Idra armagedon class with no problem. have too much damage. take for a example the WS. they are very dificult to destroy even with a battle level ship when the WS is a raid level ship. I will say than you can construct your shadown star arround a nomal WS.

 

[Da Boss]

This ship is a monter! :shock: two of then can destroy an Idra armagedon class with no problem. have too much damage. take for a example the WS. they are very dificult to destroy even with a battle level ship when the WS is a raid level ship. I will say than you can construct your shadown star arround a nomal WS.

Are you talking about the initial porposed version or our amendments? Presume the former?

 

[alien027]

Yes you are right. Former.

 

[Da Boss]

what was your thoughts on the revised version?

 

[tneva82]

Wonder how feasible shadow star really is...Vorlons and shadows don't get together very well...Just for example being near vorlon technology is if not painful then atleast uncomfortable for shadow servants(and maybe shadows too...)...

Too much "shadow this and shadow that" already :-( Seems like shadow technology can be found on nearest discount shop...

 

[Da Boss]

Don't the Shadows (and Vorlons) like to "give" their technology away (usually with strings attached) so they can inlfuence / control the end users and hopefully they will evolve to be like their prospective mentors. Plus the Shadows seem to have left lots of bit lying around (including Death Clouds and ships) for people to play with - they are nice that way

Most military's will be desperate to get a hold of either tech to use against their enemeies or just to prevent the other side form doing so or to counter them if they do so.

Lastly ISA are presuemably spreading Vorlon Tech about if they can? And certainly there are less "Shadow" class than "Whitestar" class ships.

 

[cordas]

Of course, if you want a battle choice, you can always make a Shadow Star gunship! Add to that a Shadow Star Carrier, and maybe some Shadow Star fighters, and you have a whole new fleet.

Maybe a B5 alternative universe (al la Mirror in ST) where the ISA are Shadow rather than Vorlon creations would be fun?

Then it might be the Vorlons that loose their homeworld and the war!

NO!!!!!!! I don't want a trek epsiode of B5, having TKO was bad enough.