Hestia Alpha

[Captain Trek]

That top one's not bad MD... though maybe it should have a point masser where the rear mining beam is. If the Hestia alpha stays a short ranged 'brawler', a point masser would greatly increase it's survivability.

As for the six-shooter Hesita Gamma, I liked to too, but you're right TH, it was overpowered, even with it's huge target profile...

So, what else could we do with the alpha, then?

[TranquilRage]

To be honest its only over powered if you do not micro managed. If you bother with an extra 2 clicks during the fight, it ends up wingless and useless. Also, blasters are worth about a third to a half of a laser against any ship with point defence.

Balanced ships with proper AI Range set FTW

[th15]

I don't think so tranq, 5 Hestia Gammas made 30 Blasters which very quickly ripped through everything, regardless of the amount of PD it had.

I gave the Hestia Alpha a booster because I wanted to have less long range firepower than the main hull but the capability of using a smaller number of Pulse turrets to put out a huge amount of firepower. One of the configurations I'm considering is having 2 Pulse on the tip of each wing and a booster and particle gun on the front prongs. This gives 4 boosted Pulses and two particle guns.

KV2: Sorry, can't see the pictures from this computer right now, I'm not at home.

[The Infamous RayCav]

I would think that a short-range variant would have a lot of or even solely pulse guns, since pulse guns are explicitly a short-range weapon. Pulse guns are very hard to intercept with PD, but requires going in close enough to be chewed-up by drones, blasters and lasers.

Also, I agree with MD's assessment about shielding.

[KV2]

[TranquilRage]

I don't think so tranq, 5 Hestia Gammas made 30 Blasters which very quickly ripped through everything, regardless of the amount of PD it had.

Hmm thats a good point. Generally for balancing I use small engagements of only a few ships. Blaster fire scales very well because multiple point defence weapons will target the same blaster bolt. So PD doesn't scale well in a big fight. Never though of that.

[th15]

Uhh, KV sorry but those are a little too powerful for a ship of the line like this.

[Havock]

just feeding some thoughts:

[KV2]

[slamscape]

Here is something I came up with, I added extra armor pieces (going along with the older model theme, the never version would be more streamlined)
I removed the center pulse cannon and added 2 to the back. And I removed the booster to compensate for the extra armor and cannon, its now really a close range destroyer

[Captain Trek]

That one's actually kind of cool Slamspace... giving the alpha 'armour' would make it unique from the other destroyers pretty well...

[th15]

Yea I like it too. The only problem is performance issues (more sections = more processing), but I can try to get around that.

[KV2]

What about mysz?

[The Infamous RayCav]

havok: one of the best designs I've seen so far, but I would like to make a suggestion:



I'm not too fond of adding in extra sections when not necessary (the stub-wing thingies), and the forward wing thingies are kinda "naked." Also, I'm just not fond of mining beams, but that's my personal preference.

KV2: Actually I liked your first design better (except for the lancet). As for this design, it's also good except the gatpulses are kinda too clustered together - when the section goes you lose half your firepower. Also, I'm not sure if the tachyon cannon is appropriate for the role.

slamscape: I like it, the extra sections look awkward but they do act as ablative armor.

[Captain Trek]

In my opinion, the best design so far in terms of makign the alpha unique has been Slamscape's 'armoured' design. It is a little ugly, but hey, it's a start...