The VOID
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Linedefense Gunships
Is there anything comparable to Infantry Fighting Vehicles in Star Wars that takes the same concept into space? An armored shuttlecraft, armed with dozens of individual light guns, each operated by a trooper inside to take down starfighters?
So far I have seen many different assault shuttles like the ATR-6 and the Gamma and they are not unarmed, heavily armored and shielded and in most games where I encountered them a pain to take down.
So why not take one of those assault shuttles and specialize it for escort and fighter defense duty? Take the Gamma for example, but instead of putting lots of troopers inside add even more armor, stronger shields and lots of fireports where you put heavy auto-repeaters in.
Considering how close starfighters tend to get to the capital ships and how tight the furball maneuvers often are that the fighters take to fight each other, something like that could really change the odds in a battle.
Think of it like a shuttle sized Lancer Frigate. A small cousin for ships like the Corellian Gunship and a bit like the flying fortresses of late WWII.
Would such a ship make sense to you?
--- "The sand people are easily startled, but they will soon be back, and in greater numbers." — Obi-Wan Kenobi
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3/5/2006, 3:37 pm
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Lucas P
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Re: Linedefense Gunships
would make an interesting concept. but I think the role of such a ship would have to be group escort for less armed ships rather than fighters.
--- Only 2 things are infinite; The Universe, and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the former. - Albert Einstein
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3/5/2006, 4:38 pm
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Witzig
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Re: Linedefense Gunships
Well an Escort for fighter would have to be as fast as an Fighter, and having more Firepower means it would need a bigger Reactor/Engines, which is possible with SW but will get Costly, thus you'd be better off with simply buying more Fighters. Except if you go Capital and build something as Big as Corvette/Ghtroc Empress Class and simply slap on enough Anti-Starfighter Weapons as you need.
But then you'll won't have the Maneuverability of a Fighter, and thus you'd be Fodder for Capital Ships, which have no Problems hitting you.
Though one would be better off with building a small (leight Freighter) Craft which is heavily armed. It won't be cost effective (all those gunners need to sleep/eat etc.) BUT you won't need to train that many Fighter Pilots, which is costly and time consuming. And my best guess is that its a lot easier to train someone to use a Correllian Gunpod (Anti-Starfighter Weapon) than to trains omeone to use an X-Wing. Thus it might be actually cheaper to go for the Gunship Craft, if you factor in Crew Training.
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3/5/2006, 4:49 pm
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The VOID
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Re: Linedefense Gunships
I never said escort for fighters, but escort against fighters.
Big flying brig, spraying death and terror on incomming starfighters to protect a convoy and capital motherships.
As if you took a russian Hind to protect ground forces and vehicle convoys. Same should work in space and I think such craft would be relatively cheap in production compared to starfighters.
--- "The sand people are easily startled, but they will soon be back, and in greater numbers." — Obi-Wan Kenobi
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3/5/2006, 4:59 pm
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Witzig
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Re: Linedefense Gunships
Well it depends i guess 
If you use a used Transport you might end in Cheaper, but IF we talk about new Ships this might be a Case by Case thing.
An Action VI will be worth 1,000,000 without anything, then you need to add several turrets to make up for the Lack of Maneuverability, lets say 16 Turrets each costing about 20k + Modifications for a better PowerCore, some Rocket Launchers and a new Shield Generator (2D). Lets assume this adds up to 1,600,000 Credits, thats the same as 8 X-Wings cost fresh from the Factory. The clear Advantage of the Action VI is that it is a Capital Ship (bigger Scale then the Fighters) and thus might be able to fend off 8 X-Wings easily AND beeing able to stay active for a longer time... No way a X-Wing Pilot will stay in his ****pit for over 24 Hours AND still be at peak efficiency.
As a guard for Convoys Capital Vessels are superior in my opinion. They don't need to be big but they got significant Advantages imho. The Ideal Solution is a capital with a bit of Fighter Support to scout ahead etc.
With Crews/Pilots of equal Skill i would personally bet on the Action VI against 8 X-Wings, especially since the Action VI can play innocent until the X-Wings are in Range...
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3/5/2006, 5:15 pm
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Lucas P
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Re: Linedefense Gunships
sorry Void, perhaps I misread your post.
A ship like the one suggested would be ideal for freighter escort into dangerous territory....cheaper to hire a mercenary than it is to outfit your ship with heavy firepower at the sacrifice of cargo space and speed.
--- Only 2 things are infinite; The Universe, and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the former. - Albert Einstein
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3/5/2006, 5:50 pm
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tpkc klick
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Re: Linedefense Gunships
I seem to remember that in Truce at Bakura the Ssi Ruuk had small starfighter pickets to do just what you're talking about.
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wow, flood, heat wave, tornado...holy **** Mike, time to move, don't you think? -Lucas P
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3/5/2006, 5:59 pm
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Witzig
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Re: Linedefense Gunships
Well i thought of the modified Action VI as something as the Q-Ships used during the World Wars. Only in the Hand of a Security Company/Government, its an old Tactic that can work.
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3/5/2006, 6:02 pm
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Kayle Skolaris
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Re: Linedefense Gunships
I like this idea. A modified Gamma would be perfect in the role. It has a hellishly powerful power core already, just remove its current weapons suite and replace it with something more conducive to swatting snubfighters.
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I genuinely believe Uwe Boll could've done a better job with the prequels.
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4/5/2006, 8:58 pm
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50stone
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Re: Linedefense Gunships
Isn't there mention of such a ship in one of the Jedi Search trilogy? and older design of the Gamma stationed in the Maw that needs a droid to co-ordinate manoeuvers in the high grav zone and that the wookiees crew three of?
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4/6/2006, 4:00 am
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