Whitestar Pilots

[AnlaShok Lynx]

I do have a question. Now are Whitestars piloted only by Minbari or can Humans pilot them as well. Also when piloting a Whitestars, what feats would be used? The reason I'm asking is because they handle almost like star fighters the feats in the book are only for solo piloted ships, so would it be possible to pilot one?

 

[Gabriel_Luna]

In my opinion, not a chance. They are not solo ships, and the show clearly has several crew members running the ship from various stations. So to that end, any starship piloting feats would apply, and you'd need Operations (whatever) skills to make it work. The whole reason the Whitestar was so impressive (well other than jump engines) was that it was capital ship sized (and therefore had a capital ship's compliment of weapons) but could handle nearly like a fighter.

I don't see any reason why humans couldn't pilot a Whitestar, or in fact any other race. But the Minbari control the means of production, so to speak, and it's their technology. Bear in mind that there's a -4 penalty on using alien tech, so the Minbari would be the best at using the Whitestars. The human/Minbari hybrid vessels from Legend of the Rangers probably negate that problem. I'd also house rule it that any Ranger of any race had the tech penalty beaten out of them in training, and could use Minbari technology without penalty, including the Whitestars, but that's just me.

In the last episode, Sheridan takes a ship out solo, but I think that's a "Bluestar", a scaled-down version of a Whitestar (or a scaled up version of a Minbari flyer, take your pick) that is made to be a personal flyer/fighter type craft.

 

[Greg Smith]

In the episode Z'ha'dum, Sheridan takes one solo. But it is apparent that the flight computer does a lot of the work. And I doubt he could have flown it in combat.

 

[Gabriel_Luna]

You're right, my mistake. Anna and John take one out without pilots. So it looks like it can do simple navigation (follow jump beacons, accept shuttles and cargo, crash into a planet, etc) without pilots.

According to the book, a powerful enough autopilot (and I think even a human-made one that grants +5 would do it) would probably handle those actions, but it can't do anything that requires an attack roll. So yeah, these are still possible for a Whitestar.

And I think I missed your question about feats last time. Any feats that adjust the orders you can give would be applicable. There are also some that give bonuses for locking on, or shaking a lock or other space combat feats that aren't specific to solo craft. Freedom Station also might have some additional feats as it has a whole class devoted to space combat (Raider, not that a Whitestar pilot is likely to have levels in Raider...).

 

[Myrm]

I'd also house rule it that any Ranger of any race had the tech penalty beaten out of them in training, and could use Minbari technology without penalty, including the Whitestars, but that's just me.

Is it??? I thought that Minbari tech familiarity was a feature of the Ranger character class? Or have I jumped off the pier of sanity again?

 

[Gabriel_Luna]

*looks in book*

Huh you're right. It's not listed as anything separate, but it is half a sentence tossed off at the bottom of the Adrento feat entry. If I hadn't been looking for it, I'd never have seen that. I just saw the feat name and got as far as "Fluency in the thing this is called" and skipped to the next.

Well clearly I'll have to double check my work a little more carefully...thanks!

 

[AnlaShok Lynx]

I would think that once the Whitestars came out, that the Rangers would be trained in their use and how to pilot seeing as they are the main ships the Rangers use.

 

[B_Steele]

Freedom Station also might have some additional feats as it has a whole class devoted to space combat (Raider, not that a Whitestar pilot is likely to have levels in Raider...).

Actually, that sounds like a really cool idea. A raider that gave up crime to join the rangers, but still has the criminal record? Totally sweet.

Hmm...the possibilities abound.

Bry

 

[Gabriel_Luna]

That one occurred to me too, after the fact. Pretty cool character idea, though you'd have to play the repentance angle really sincerely to convince a GM. Though a Firefly-esque Malcom Reynolds type raider might work really well with this concept...or even a "freedom fighter" Mars resistance type, branded a raider by the Clarke administration. Hmmm....

 

[AnlaShok Lynx]

So what feats would you be able to take to pilot a non solo craft. Because honestly Rangers would know how to pilot a Whitestar, especially those who specialize in piloting. Also will there ever be stats on Whitestar Fighters?

 

[B_Steele]

Page 81 - Ships of the Galaxy

 

[Gabriel_Luna]

Look in the Officer class for the appropriate feats. Spacecraft Proficiency, Veteran Spacehand, and the rest of the feats that add to the number of orders you can give in a round. The skills you need to pilot any capital ship are Operation skills.

 

[AnlaShok Lynx]

Thanks, though I don't know if in the game I'm in will revolve in a lot of space combat. But I just wanted to know is all. Thanks again for all the info.

 

[Gabriel_Luna]

Rangers are a good mix, honestly. Even if the campaign isn't designed around space combat, the ranger class has some skill points, some combat skills, average saving throws, etc. They're well suited to most situations.

If you really want to do this as a viable class, you might consider dual classing as a Ranger/Officer (fleet/navy, or whatever it's called since I don't have a book handy). Ranger will give you the stating skill points and initial ranger stuff, and the officer progression will give you access to the orders and other feats that let you command or fly a big ship well. What time frame is the campaign set in?

Come to think of it, there might be some prestige classes in Legend of the Rangers that might apply...anyone have any intelligence on this?

 

[Majeh]

just be careful one good hit and you'll be squashed by a falling girder.