Atarlost wrote:I would expect to see the following Ares ships:
- a primitive Sandstorm with a clone of the EI particle beam
- a primitive Chasm with a primitive ion cannon (modern stats, but bulkier?)
- a primitive Cometfall with a lower damage Warhammer and no other ammo, and using a particle beam for its omni
- a primitive Deimos using something that is to the Mark III howitzer as the Hecates cannon is to the Fusionfire, and an omnified dual particle beam or lancer (the lancer must be very old to have reached the Xenophobes) I'd put this highest on the list of things that need new resources.
The Commonwealth would probably have:
- Ronin B and C models
- Something about the size of an Aurochs with multiple turreted Bushido thermocannons (same stats as modern) Possibly resize the Mikado?
- a primitive CSC, also with Bushido thermocannons
- Antares I freighters
- EI100 freigters
I think Earth would have Hornets, EI100ms, and Ronins in all models. The old EI100 brick resource might make a good makeshift weapons platform for Earth as well. Borers Is would be the resource collectors of course. The thing that looks the most like a space construction ship is the Ferian Miner, but it needs at least a recolor if not a rerender with different textures.
I like this. A few more ideas:
[*]The current generation of Ares ship are (mostly) named after natural forces and features of Mars (there is much nostalgia for the planet that they were forced to leave). There are a couple of options for the naming of the Syrtis War-era ships: (1) the Syrtis people feel like pioneers: taming, terraforming, and settling an entire world. Perhaps the ships have those kinds of names: conquest, triumph, victory. (2) Or perhaps the Syrtis are very ordered and scientific. In that case, perhaps their ship names are more practical: SG05 (Syrtis Gunship 05), SM03 (Syrtis Missile Ship 03), SC01 (Syrtis Cruiser 01), etc. (3) Or perhaps we should work out more about their culture and pick names related to that (open to suggestions).
[*]It might be interesting to think of some ship classes that were evolutionary dead-ends. For example, perhaps a crude platform that has a bunch of tethered gunships, designed only to provide life-support for the pilots. Or perhaps some decoy ships designed to fool the enemy.
[*]We should also remember things like: scanning platforms, hospital ships, troop carriers (for invading stations), landers, anti-missile ships, fuel ships, supply ships, etc.
[*]I think the proto-Chasm should be an experimental ship. Perhaps the ion cannon is large and does not have adequate armor (requiring heavy escort); or perhaps it requires a refueling ship near by.
[*]Instead of carriers, how about mobile bases. Essentially, the Syrtis would have slow-moving bases that hold supplies, fuel, ammo, and repair equipment.
[*]Earth forces might not have carriers either--perhaps they rely on stationary bases spread all over the system. [Not sure about this, though.]
[*]I think the Ronins are appropriate for Earth forces, but I also think there can be other classes. Perhaps a slower, well-armored class. I also like the idea of the Aurochs-like ship with thermocannons; these would be pretty rare, I would think, but very powerful. Maybe instead of a CSC, an early dreadnought-like ship that is heavily armed and armored.
[*]Also, Earth's forces are really an combination of three different powers: North Atlantic Union (major corporations: EI and NAMI); Asian Pacific Directorate (major corporation: Pacific Defense); and United African States (ships are built by the government).