Research and Development Board Quest

[Happerry]

For a long time, mankind was at peace. With the advent of economical space travel, many of the old reason for war simply.. stopped mattering. Resources were cheap. If you didn't like someone, you just left and found your own planet. If you wanted elbow room.. you left and found your own planet. If you wanted to live in a certain society, in all likelihood you could find a planet where that society existed.

Indeed, many people said, this proves all those old shows about space societies being too enlightened for war correct. Sure, their was always some smugglers or something, but the space police was handling it, right?

And then, of course, they were proven wrong. We had found the aliens, and they were shooting at us.

To handle this emergency, the Grand Unified Coalition Fleet was formed… but that's around when people realised that no one had any warships any more. Which is where you come in. As the newly formed the United Space Nations Research and Development Board, it is up to you to design the fleet that is needed to save mankind.

Good luck.

You're going to need it.

But before the Research and Development Board can get to researching and developing, they must hire their new chief scientist. While the United Space Nations has put out advertisements that has attracted craftsmen and people of high technology from all over, the many applications have been narrowed down to the five greatest. Which one will you choose to lead us into the future?

[ ] - Bob "Building by the Book" Firlake
Firlake has an impressive record from his time at Hammer Industries. He is a master of each and every construction and design manual (For that matter, he wrote a good many of them), and knows proper procedures like the back of his hand. This is both his greatest advantage, for it is truly hard to mess up when working by the book, but is also his greatest disadvantage as more then one flash of masterly inspiration has been lost while he checks the manuals to see if that's allowed.

[ ] - Amanda Hickory
Hickory is one of the foremost scientists once attached to Peace and Security, Incorporated. The long and ancient arms race between police and smugglers has granted her a mastery of engine technology no other living human can equal, and she's a master at wringing every last bit of advantage out of each and every port. However, such overclocking does somewhat effect the ease of production and maintenance, and her lack of experience with heavy armor may yet show though.

[ ] - Andrew Avenhome
Avenhome is a former X.A.B. scientist, who cites 'interpersonal differences' for why he is no longer working for them. What is know about him is that he is a past master of projectile weapons in all forms, from nuclear armed mass drivers to rapid fire burst railguns. He is somewhat less skilled with energy armaments, however, and is a known proponent of the 'one gun, of sufficient size' theory, for good or ill.

[ ] - Ashley Snagem
Snagem, a former Drone and Fiddler designer come out of retirement in face of the alien threat, is literally the designer of the AI seed all modern drones and almost all missiles use as their operating system. Her mastery in those fields is as undoubted as the fact that she is the modern creator of those fields. Her experience with heavy cannons, on the other hand, is somewhat less.

[ ] - Joana Lehara
Lehara, a scientist that Arms Unlimited has described as 'a genius and also utterly unhinged', is a true polymath, having mastered many fields when they catch her attention.. and forgotten them just as fast when she gets bored of them. Her skills are highly erratic, but she seems to live a charmed life despite, or perhaps because, of her low attention span.

 

[Happerry]

Spacebattles Thread : Here

Scientists Currently Under Contract
Joana Lehara

Human Navy​

Various Civilian Converts and Police Vessels
Currently the unified armada of mankind is using a variety of converted civilian ships, which are both highly ineffective on count of not being designed for battle and have no standardization at all driving the logistics officers insane, and what armed police vessels they can get, which are more effective but still not up for duking it out with an enemy warfleet.

Human Ship Components​

Human Hulls
Polarized Hull : A magnetic hull that enhances shields built into this ship. Fragile once the shields have been pierced, however.

Human Systems
Ablative Barrier Generator : A defensive generator that creates many layered weak fields, making it highly resistant towards normal shield piercing weapons or attacks with large areas of effect. However, beam weapons will quickly overcome each individual layer.

Surveyor Long Ranged Sensor Array : A sensor system adapted from police sensors designed to detect and track fleeing pirates and smugglers, the Surveyor can trace the course of FTL drives over a wide area of operations.

Electro-Gravitic Drive : The normal, traditional drive. Effective and efficient, but somewhat lacking in raw thrust.

Human Weapons
Missile Battery : Missiles! An old and traditional weapon, starting as unpowered muscle launched projectiles and ending as.. well, these. Highly advanced long ranged homing projectiles. That explode. Now if only they'd reload a bit faster.. Most missiles carry contact nuclear warheads, but some more advanced variants exist.

EMP Torpedo Battery : While the EMP battery does have the word EMP in it, the torpedoes it fires do not actually use EMP to do their task. It is a name that gets the purpose across to any civilians that hear it though, so it is used none the less. As for what it actually does.. well, the torpedoes it fires are filled with complicated and often changing systems as enemies come up with countermeasures, but in the end the electronic warfare gear has only one purpose. To mess the enemy systems up.

Laser Point Defense Array : A laser point defense array is a rapid firing long ranged point defense system with high accuracy. However, it suffers from low actual firepower, making it more useful verses missiles then fighters.

Alien Ships
All current reports indicate that while no one is living long enough to start classifying them, they sure are deadly.

Alien Ship Components​

To be filled once you take apart some alien ships and see how they tick.
Alien Hulls
Alien Systems
Alien Weapons

 

[Happerry]

Rules​

How Designing Works

Ships are made of systems. For example, the Generic Space Cruiser has the Big Ass Energy Cannon, Secondary Energy Turrets, Generic Laser Point Defense, Generic Shield Generator, Generic Armored Hull, and Generic Space Drive systems.

When our brave scientists set out to design this Generic Space Cruiser, the first thing they do is make the General Quality Roll, a single roll on a 1d100. The higher the number, the better the roll is. However, any systems roll that rolls below the number rolled on the General Quality Roll will gain a +10 Quality Control Bonus, and any system roll that rolls above the General Quality Roll will take a -10 Over-engineering Penalty. Neither of these can not drag a part pas the General Quality Roll, however. This serves to drag all rolls towards the general quality of the ship. Even so, the higher a roll is, the better it is. The General Quality Roll is not a target number.

After that, they make a separate roll for each of the involved systems, modified by any applicable ability that would apply. Then I, the great DM, look at all the rolls and write up a description of the resulting ship. Afterwhich you, the players, will look at the description and decide to either accept it, or demand a redesign which will redo the project, this time with a +10 bonus to the general quality roll. Finally, if a design is accepted, I will make a Production roll which decides how easy the shipyards find it is to make these ships.

However, each redesign will take a new season, which can lead to bad things if the military needed a ship with that capabilities in production last season..

Turns

Each Turn is also known as a Season, and is separated into two halves. Early Season, and Late Season. In Early Season you decide what ships to develop this turn, and can respond to corporate offers about said designs.

In the Late Season you will first be able to respond to more corporate bargains which will be offered in response to your actions in the Early Season, See the Results of your choices in the early season, and be updated on the progress of the war as well as any standing requests by military officials.

Lastly, you will be updated with any intelligence the military has collected on the alien threat for review before the next season starts.

Spacebucks

What are Spacebucks, you ask? Spacebucks are the only approved form of money for any organization ran or owned by the United Space Nations.

What does this noble Research and Development Board need Spacebucks for, you ask? Well, for one thing, Scientists like to be payed. If you can't pay them, they tend to stop working for you. While the United Space Nations was nice enough to pay the wages of the scientist they seconded to you themselves, that's as far as this budget goes.

As well, Spacebucks can be used to, well, buy things. Things like advanced missiles for designs, or whatever new wonder weapon the X.A.B. has come out with this month, or perhaps time on the Drone And Fiddler Supercomputer Nexus for advanced AI programming.

To sum it up, you want Spacebucks.

While the United Space Nations has given you a budget of 100 Spacebucks a season, I'm sure companies could provide you with some extra.. assuming you make the right (In their view), Choices.

Companies​

Peace and Security, Incorporated.

Peace and Security, Incorporated used to be the main company that designed and produced vessels for the United Space Police Force, but with the coming of the alien threat have rededicated themselves from police ships to military ships.. not that, honestly, they are finding that much difference besides the extra guns.

While the company has an experienced design crew and a long history, these two advantages can betray them at times, for they are still more used to the needs that police actions demand instead of military needs. As such, while their ships tend to be high quality for their cost, offering a value of 150% for a cost of 120% as some have said, as well as possessing the high quality engines and sensors needed for hunting smugglers, they also tend to be somewhat underarmored, the design crews not used to things with enough guns to shoot back, and also rarely have any of the 'special gimmicks' that other companies often add to their designs as a bonus.

As well, from the fact that most of the old police ships tended to operate on their own most of the time, ships from this company are often multi-role designs, with the ability to do many things but without the specialization more commonly seen in the military. Whether this is an advantage or not is yet to be seen.

Hammer Industries.

Hammer Industries is a new face in the field of ship design, having only recently broadened into the military field from their old dominant position in the orbital mining and construction industry. (Seized by with what some claim were distinctly underhanded and potentially illegal methods.) With their strong backing in the fields of production, they have focused on making their designs both easy to produce and easy to repair, feeling that the sheer power of humanities industrial machine is the key to winning the war. Some admirals aren't as happy about production being sent to the lowest bidder, however.

Even if some people would insult their ships by calling them 'Boxes with guns attached', or 'Turtle Ships', Hammer Industries is famous for their well armored vessels… And for the slowness of said ships. Even so, they maintain that with enough sheer numbers and firepower, you won't have to scramble ships from one location to another anyway.

Xenotech Acquisition Board.

The Xenotech Acquisition Board, or X.A.B. is one of the newest companies in the field, only being formed after the disastrous war with the aliens begin. Their focus is implicit in their name, being the capture and adaption of all the highly advanced alien ships they can get their hands on. As such, their ships are highly based on alien technology, which can cause problems with upkeep and repairs, as well as making them hard to construct at times.

However, the sheer power of the alien technology can not be doubted, and X.A.B.'s successful adaption of their tech grants a good portion of it to the hands of humanity. While some claim that the ships created by this firm are only one trick ponies, when that trick is 'melt my enemies into screaming pools of liquidized metal', few people find reason to complain.

Arms Unlimited.

Arms Unlimited is a recent start up company, financed and run by a large association of mercenaries tired of having to deal with the crappy gear on the market. Being as the association has no firm rules for interpersonal maneuvering, which group is currently actually running things tends to change season by season. It is said that the only sure thing you will get from Arms Unlimited is that you will not get a sure thing.

However, due to all involved personnel having a large amount of experience with crappy gear, almost all ships are designed with an eye towards the happiness of the crew, making it a rare Arms Unlimited vessel with a population that does not have high morale.

Drone and Fiddler Productions.

Drone And Fiddler Productions has a long history with producing quality electronic luxury gear, and with the war has now seen a chance to expand beyond their traditional frontiers, and incidentally keep their customer base from all getting shot.

While some might laugh at the thought of a luxury company selling military gear, it turns out that Drone And Fiddler Productions' long history of programming AI companions for rich people with no personal skills has easily translated into an amazing level of skill in programing drone fighters, making them a leader in the field of carrier warfare overnight. As well, it turns out that programming missiles features much of the same demands, and they've been putting out some highly advanced designs in that field, if not as advanced as their fighters.

Less laudable is the fact that, due to the old demand for special features to be bragged about in sound bites for commercials, the design teams have been showing an unfortunate tendency to focus more on giving their ships cool special gimmicks then actually focusing on making the best ships that they can, as well as their lack of experience in combat has had them make some questionable armoring decisions.

Ship Types/Meanings/Titles​

Frigate : Frigates are the smallest known ship class, serving as support ships in most fleets. As a type, they are a catchall category used for any ship under a certain size limit, and as such have the most variety within their class. When it comes down to it, they just aren't large enough to be important in most situations.

Destroyer : Destroyers are ships that are specialized in killing large amounts of smaller ships. While this includes frigates, most modern day Destroyers are designed to counter enemy fightercraft as well. Even though they can be just as large as a cruiser or battleship, they are less suited for front line combat roles as a result of their focus on larger amounts of lighter weaponry.

Cruiser : Cruisers are the most common class in existence, and are named for their primary capacity. To cruise. Cruisers have the fuel and engines to get to interesting locations, and then the weapons and support systems to do interesting things to whatever they find there.

Battleship : A Battleship's difference in comparison to a Cruiser is the amount of hull space dedicated to weapons and defenses. To put it simply, that's the majority of a Battleship's hull. They are the flat out best design for actual combat, but tend to be slow both tactically and strategically.

Battlecruiser : A battlecruiser is an attempt to combine Battleship's combat power with a Cruiser's speed. While such a design is possible, they tend to both be maintenance hogs and to have very short strategic legs, even if within the area they are able to cover they are usually as fast as a cruiser.

Carrier : A carrier is a ship designed to carry other ships. While rarely worth much in direct combat, the extreme range and flexibility of the small craft they carry can be quite useful.

Monitor : A monitor is a catch all class name for any ship without a FTL drive. While the space taken up by a drive can readily be used to make the ship hit harder and move faster then a design of its size really should, the lack of a FTL system is its own punishment on the strategic stage.

 

[Xicree]

[X] - Joana Lehara
Lehara, a scientist that Arms Unlimited has described as 'a genius and also utterly unhinged', is a true polymath, having mastered many fields when they catch her attention.. and forgotten them just as fast when she gets bored of them. Her skills are highly erratic, but she seems to live a charmed life despite, or perhaps because, of her low attention span.


Classical Mad-scientist is best girl ^_^

 

[Guile]

All-around solid builder (fewer flashes of genius), AI programmer (drones and missiles, weak on heavy cannons), weapons manufacturer (weak on energy weapons), engine savant (weak on heavy armor, sees a lot of wear and tear) and mad scientist polymath (ADD).

[X] - Bob "Building by the Book" Firlake
Solid and stolid wins the race.

 

[MrGazzer]

[X] - Joana Lehara

[embed=425,349]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm-upHSP9KU[/embed]

 

[redaeth]

[X] - Joana Lehara
No ship type exactly the same. We shall confuse the aliens with our unpredictability!

 

[Emral282]

[X] - Ashley Snagem

I, for one, will side with our robot overlords to fend off our alien overlords.

 

[east2idaho]

[X] - Joana Lehara

Everybody else in the list is an engineer of sorts (i.e., they are good at doing what they already know how to do). Joana is a scientist.

A story one of my teachers once told me:

Scenario: You are walking down the street, and you see a house on fire.

What you do if you are a technician: You run over to the house next door, turn on the faucet, grab the hose, and start spraying water at the fire.

What you do if you are an engineer: You see the fire. You realize that the hose from the neighbor's house is not adequate to control the fire. You call 911 to report the fire, and then run over, grab the hose, and start spraying water at the fire.

What you do if you are a scientist: You see the fire. You realize that the hose from the neighbor's house is not adequate to control the fire. You have a phone and know how to dial 911. You walk away thinking that the solution is known, and that implementation is trivial.

You need a scientist to come up with solutions. You need engineers to deploy the solutions the scientists come up with.

 

[Dark Lord Bob]

[X] - Joana Lehara

 

[Biigoh]

[X] - Joana Lehara

 

[Happerry]

[X] - Joana Lehara

Turn 1 : Early Season, Bid Phase​

Budget : 100 Spacebucks
Science Teams : 1 (Joana Lehara)
Active Advantages : None
Active Disadvantages : None
Active Long Term Deals : None


After long deliberations, Joana Lehara has been selected to lead up the prime design team currently assigned to this board. We must all wish her luck, and no repeats of the explosive popcorn glue incident.

Meanwhile, while the board was doing its best to select the best scientist, the analysts have gone over all military reports with a comb and magnifying glass. According to the report they have prepared, the hostile aliens are operating at least three ship designs at the current date. These three designs are some kind of scout frigate, a combat cruiser (This seems to be the most frequently seen ship, outnumbering all other reported sitings by ten to one at the least), and an extremely rare long ranged bombardment cruiser. Reports also indicate that the scout is using some sort of high powered laser system when someone manages to be fast enough to force it into combat. However, no firm reports hold on the weaponry of the other ones, though their is a high frequency in references to 'space lightning' in the last communications of current human scout ships, whatever that may mean.

The only way to know more is to find a ship that can fight back. And luckily, choosing that ship is your job. The military isn't requesting any specific kinds of ships right now, beyond ones that can 'fight back and not die instantly', so feel free to use your best judgement on the bids the assorted companies have placed.

There are currently four active design bids. With only a single science team, you are unable to accept more then one design bid per season.

[ ] - Cruiser Project : Swordfish (Peace and Security, Incorporated)
Peace and Security, Incorporated have placed a bid for the 'general combat vessel' the military has requested. The Swordfish is to be a light and mobile cruiser armed with twin Light Missile Batteries and an EMP Torpedo Bank, as well as a special Surveyer class long ranged sensor system. Defensively it carries an advanced ablative barrier generator as well as an active laser point defense system. While an overall high quality design (At least according to what the design docs submitted claim), critics from other companies have pointed out its lack of heavy weapons and its high expense.

[ ] - Cruiser Project : Shellback (Hammer Industries)
The Shellback is Hammer Industries current design bid, and it's an uncompromising design based around a spinal mounted nuclear armed mass driver, as well as twin banks of lighter railgun turrets. The design documents claim that it will be a simple design that is easy to build and repair, but examiners have noted its utterly lack of active defenses, being dependent on its heavy armor belt, and the lack of any other option besides 'Get up close and shoot them'. Still, it will be a very simple brute force solution.. if things work as the design documents claim.

[ ] - Cruiser Project : Savage (Arms Unlimited)
Arms Unlimited have made a bid with their design for the 'Savage' class beam cruiser, which will be armed with a somewhat experimental Heavy Spinal Particle Lance, a powerful continual fire beam weapon. Plans also call for a secondary array of light laser turrets and expanded maneuvering thrusters to better aim the spinal gun. While a powerful weapon if all works as planned, the main weapon is experimental, and against smaller more maneuverable targets, even with the expanded thrusters this ship will likely have little luck. But anything it can hit will surely feel it.

[ ] - Attack Carrier Project : Thunderhund (Drone And Fiddler Productions)
The Thunderhund project is an innovative mix of high technology that will either prove a wild success or an utter failure. As an attack carrier, it carries twin drone bays, one for drone bombers and one for drone fighters, both full of new designs created by Drone And Fiddler Productions, as well as a powerful prow mounted Plasma Torpedo Battery they dug up from somewhere and swear will work. Lastly, it has a light array of point defense missiles as an active defense to reinforce its light shield generator. Assuming that they can make all these new designs work as promised, it will be a powerful and flexible craft. If things don't work, it will be an expensive failure.

The Xenotech Acquisition Board has sadly had to bow out from the initial contract bidding, due to lack of working designs. (Though if you're interested in exploding failed designs they have plenty) However, during their attempts to replicate reports on the 'alien high powered laser system', they came up with the basis for an interesting, and seemingly highly effective from initial reports, Ablative Mirrored Laminate armor. In exchange for 50 Spacebucks, they are offering to license it for use on whatever ship you select this season. (All rights reserved, if initial studies prove false they disclaim all responsibility and any need to give you your money back).

While this could be highly useful, if it doesn't prove economic or has some unknown error, it would be money down the drain. But if it works, you could greatly increase the current seasons selection's survivability in combat. Verses lasers and other such beam weapons at least.

[ ] Take the Deal.
[ ] Don't take the Deal.

Do be aware that once a choice in design bids is selected, other companies may offer design specific deals.

Spacebattles Turn Post

 

[redaeth]

[X] - Attack Carrier Project : Thunderhund (Drone And Fiddler Productions)
[X] Take the Deal.

 

[Eler0]

[X] - Attack Carrier Project : Thunderhund (Drone And Fiddler Productions)

[X] Don't take the Deal.
We really don't need better armor when building a carrier.

 

[Xicree]

[X] - Attack Carrier Project : Thunderhund (Drone And Fiddler Productions)
The Thunderhund project is an innovative mix of high technology that will either prove a wild success or an utter failure. As an attack carrier, it carries twin drone bays, one for drone bombers and one for drone fighters, both full of new designs created by Drone And Fiddler Productions, as well as a powerful prow mounted Plasma Torpedo Battery they dug up from somewhere and swear will work. Lastly, it has a light array of point defense missiles as an active defense to reinforce its light shield generator. Assuming that they can make all these new designs work as promised, it will be a powerful and flexible craft. If things don't work, it will be an expensive failure.

[X] Take the Deal.

 

[ReinZero]

According to the report they have prepared, the hostile aliens are operating at least three ship designs at the current date. These three designs are some kind of scout frigate, a combat cruiser (This seems to be the most frequently seen ship, outnumbering all other reported sitings by ten to one at the least), and an extremely rare long ranged bombardment cruiser. Reports also indicate that the scout is using some sort of high powered laser system when someone manages to be fast enough to force it into combat. However, no firm reports hold on the weaponry of the other ones, though their is a high frequency in references to 'space lightning' in the last communications of current human scout ships, whatever that may mean.

The only way to know more is to find a ship that can fight back. And luckily, choosing that ship is your job. The military isn't requesting any specific kinds of ships right now, beyond ones that can 'fight back and not die instantly', so feel free to use your best judgement on the bids the assorted companies have placed.

Click to shrink...

Just marking things down for reference for people.

[ ] - Cruiser Project : Swordfish (Peace and Security, Incorporated)
Peace and Security, Incorporated have placed a bid for the 'general combat vessel' the military has requested. The Swordfish is to be a light and mobile cruiser armed with twin Light Missile Batteries and an EMP Torpedo Bank, as well as a special Surveyer class long ranged sensor system. Defensively it carries an advanced ablative barrier generator as well as an active laser point defense system. While an overall high quality design (At least according to what the design docs submitted claim), critics from other companies have pointed out its lack of heavy weapons and its high expense.

Click to shrink...

It makes a good general platform to work off of and in the long terms, as mass production will eventually ease up costs. But it also retains general purpose that can be later improved upon without needing an entirely new design to work on from the ground up. Cost saving measure in long term. Also, it packs defenses and mobility together, thus fulfilling the 'survivability' need.

[ ] - Cruiser Project : Shellback (Hammer Industries)
The Shellback is Hammer Industries current design bid, and it's an uncompromising design based around a spinal mounted nuclear armed mass driver, as well as twin banks of lighter railgun turrets. The design documents claim that it will be a simple design that is easy to build and repair, but examiners have noted its utterly lack of active defenses, being dependent on its heavy armor belt, and the lack of any other option besides 'Get up close and shoot them'. Still, it will be a very simple brute force solution.. if things work as the design documents claim.

Click to shrink...

Range problem. It will get picked off by the long range enemies. Furthermore, its lack of active defenses will render it easier to take out. It's also not well suited for improvement upon later on. Literal brute force solution. Works, however. Lack of noted mobility does not help entirely.

[ ] - Cruiser Project : Savage (Arms Unlimited)
Arms Unlimited have made a bid with their design for the 'Savage' class beam cruiser, which will be armed with a somewhat experimental Heavy Spinal Particle Lance, a powerful continual fire beam weapon. Plans also call for a secondary array of light laser turrets and expanded maneuvering thrusters to better aim the spinal gun. While a powerful weapon if all works as planned, the main weapon is experimental, and against smaller more maneuverable targets, even with the expanded thrusters this ship will likely have little luck. But anything it can hit will surely feel it.

Click to shrink...

Risky due to our science team. Also, will be obsolete against small/maneuverable targets. And the 'call for a' means it doesn't have it per say presently.

[ ] - Attack Carrier Project : Thunderhund (Drone And Fiddler Productions)
The Thunderhund project is an innovative mix of high technology that will either prove a wild success or an utter failure. As an attack carrier, it carries twin drone bays, one for drone bombers and one for drone fighters, both full of new designs created by Drone And Fiddler Productions, as well as a powerful prow mounted Plasma Torpedo Battery they dug up from somewhere and swear will work. Lastly, it has a light array of point defense missiles as an active defense to reinforce its light shield generator. Assuming that they can make all these new designs work as promised, it will be a powerful and flexible craft. If things don't work, it will be an expensive failure.

Click to shrink...

Risky due long range enemies. Furthermore, our science team means doubled risk of failure. It is rather decent otherwise. So that's the only issue.

---

Vote for the Swordfish!

Ahem, also. Your carrier being sniped off to death means your drones are fucked. Likewise, their speed and mobility vs your lack of it will murderate your carrier. Congratulations, that fails the entire demands wanted.

 

[fitzgerald]

[X] - Cruiser Project : Swordfish
[X] Take the Deal

 

[MHLord]

[X] - Cruiser Project : Savage (Arms Unlimited)
Sworfish is the boring choice.

 

[Emral282]

[X] Cruiser Project: Swordfish (Peace and Security, Incorporated)
[X] Take the Deal

 

[east2idaho]

[X] - Attack Carrier Project : Thunderhund (Drone And Fiddler Productions)
[X] Take the Deal.

I am biased towards the Carriers option because they were so damn effective in WWII - they really changed the whole course of the war in the Pacific, which was seeming hopeless until they dominated at Midway.

Once you choose the Carrier/drone option, you have a pretty good platform for testing out experimental armor solutions - on your drones.

 

[redaeth]

The biggest reason I picked the carrier option is it gives our scatterbrained head scientist THREE designs to play around with instead of just one. The actual carrier design and the two types of drone.

 

[ReinZero]

I am biased towards the Carriers option because they were so damn effective in WWII - they really changed the whole course of the war in the Pacific, which was seeming hopeless until they dominated at Midway.

Once you choose the Carrier/drone option, you have a pretty good platform for testing out experimental armor solutions - on your drones.

Click to shrink...

Problem, enemy point defense which renders said use of said armor pretty shitty of a waste. Also, you're banking on the experimental weapon to cover its ass as well. That aside, the carrier is a shiny target sign.

Sworfish is the boring choice.

Click to shrink...

Swordfish is the practical choice in this case.

The biggest reason I picked the carrier option is it gives our scatterbrained head scientist THREE designs to play around with instead of just one. The actual carrier design and the two types of drone.

Click to shrink...

Not worth it entirely. And this is also what you call 'screw yourself', because people go 'nah, nothing can go wrong with this'. A sign design is already hard enough with that problem. Split attention to three? Nothing gets done then. Also, enemy point defense says hi.

 

[redaeth]

What point defence? Nothing about what we know about the enemy has said anything about their own weapon systems beyond 'space lightning' weapons. You saying 'point defence' means nothing since for all we know missile barrages and drones are foreign to them. Meanwhile we have a head scientist who gets bored easily. Designing a single ship and nothing else is a sure fire way to have her get distracted.

As for being a huge target yes there is that but carriers typically stay well out of range while their drones do the actual fighting. Move around so the enemies can't close the distance and you are golden.

 

[drake_azathoth]

[X] Cruiser Project: Swordfish (Peace and Security, Incorporated)
[X] Take the Deal.

 

[Happerry]

Turn 1 : Early Season, Deal Phase​

Budget : 50 Spacebucks
Science Teams : 1 (Joana Lehara)
Active Advantages : None
Active Disadvantages : None
Active Long Term Deals : None

Overlooking the current bids. while they all seem intriguing in different ways, the Swordfish is eventually selected for its advanced sensor array, which should hopefully let them avoid fights they can't win as well as gain increased data on enemy activities. As well, rights for the new Ablative Mirrored Laminate armor have been purchased from X.A.B. for this ship, which should hopefully help increase its survivability in any direct brawls.

Hearing of your choice, several offers have been made by other companies in attempts to get some profit out of this season. Currently, Peace and Security, Incorporated well have the rights to produce all needed armaments and ammo, but if these deals are made that might change..

Hammer Industries is offering 50 Spacebucks if we will agree to make their Divine Wrath class missiles as the armament of choice. The Divine Wrath is armed with a heavier warhead then the currently planned on Liberator Missile, as well as a noticeably faster acceleration, but has less overall range, general maneuverability, and inferior electronic systems.

[ ] Buy the Divine Wraths.
[ ] Do not Buy the Divine Wraths.

Arms Unlimited, on the other hand, is suggesting two potential deals. First off, in exchange for 50 Spacebucks, they will rent us access to their Analyses and Recording Archives of every combat their members have fought against enemy PD in, which should give a substantial bonus to designing the ships Laser Point Defense Array. As well, the current leading faction in Arms Unlimited has an interior design team which they would be willing to lend to you for 25 Spacebucks, who could use their experience to greatly improve your hull design.

[ ] Take the Archive Deal.
[ ] Take the Design Team Deal.
[ ] Take both the Archive Deal and the Design Team Deal.
[ ] Take Neither of Arms Unlimited's Deals.

Meanwhile, the Xenotech Acquisition Board has made a second offer. In their attempts to understand the alien ship's advanced technology, they have come up with a variety of advanced theories on how to explain reported behavior in terms of hardware and system capacities. While incomplete, this database could be of substantial use in designing the EMP Torpedoes planned for use in the Swordfish. Or it could be barking up the wrong forest. Either way, they'll sell access to it in exchange for 50 Spacebucks.

[ ] Buy access to the X.A.B. Database.
[ ] Do not buy access to the X.A.B. Database.

Lastly, Drone and Fiddler are offering a pair of bargains of their own. In exchange for 50 Spacebucks, they are offering to license some of their advanced target seeking AIs to whatever missile design you decide on, which should help improve their chances of both hitting a target and avoiding enemy active defenses. Secondly, they are offering you 100 Spacebucks in return for borrowing Lehara for a month to work on something special. While this would decrease the amount of time she has to work on the Swordfish, new and innovative technology may prove of vast assistance in the future.

[ ] Buy the Target Seeking AIs.
[ ] Do not buy the AIs.

[ ] Lend Lehara's services out.
[ ] Do not lend Lehara's services out.

Do remember that as a Space United Nations controlled office, the financial department will not willingly allow us to go into debt.

As well, baring any deals currently in progress, the final structural plans have been drawn up for the Swordfish, and a confirmed list of needed parts is now available. Data on known parts have been placed in the Parts Index.

Swordfish Parts : Light Missile Battery x2, EMP Torpedo Battery, Laser Point Defense Array, Polarized Hull, Ablative Barrier Generator, Surveyer Long Ranged Sensor Array, Electro-Gravitic Drive

Spacebattles Turn Post

 

[nick012000]

[X] Buy the Divine Wraths. [+50 Spacebucks]
[X] Take both the Archive Deal and the Design Team Deal. [-75 Spacebucks]
[X] Buy access to the X.A.B. Database. [-50 Spacebucks]
[X] Buy the Target Seeking AIs. [-50 Spacebucks]
[X] Lend Lehara out [+100 Spacebucks]

The Divine Wraths are obviously superior; in space, relative velocity is the real killer once you start shooting missiles at each other, and the Target Seeking AIs will improve their chances of hitting, and since they're the main weapons, that's important. Additionally, the archives of enemy point defense recordings and their system capacities will help us tailor those Target Seeking AIs to avoid the enemy point defense, as well as perhaps improving our point defense systems as well. At this point, however, we're running out of money, so we have to lend Lehara out, and we might as well pick up the Design Team as well, to improve the ergonomics of the ship's design and thereby improve crew response.

 

[redaeth]

[X] Buy the Divine Wraths. +50 Spacebucks
[X] Take the Design Team Deal. -25 Spacebucks
[X] Buy the Target Seeking AIs. -50 Spacebucks

 

[drake_azathoth]

[X] Buy the Divine Wraths.
We really need the firepower with this design, and some of the drawbacks can be mitigated if we get the target AIs.

[X] Take the Design Team Deal.
It's cheap, and will give us better passive defenses.

[X] Do not buy access to the X.A.B. Database.
We've already taken one deal with XAB, I don't really think we need another yet. Initial encounters with aliens could be painful, but we'll get the same data.

[X] Buy the Target Seeking AIs.
These'll help with the drawbacks of the Divine Wrath missiles.

[X] Do not lend Lehara's services out.
We need her for our ship design. Maybe once we get more scientists, we can do stuff like this, but for now, I don't recommend it.

 

[kinglugia]

[X] Buy the Divine Wraths. +50 Spacebucks
[X] Take the Design Team Deal. -25 Spacebucks
[X] Buy the Target Seeking AIs. -50 Spacebucks
[X] Lend Lehara's services out. +100 Spacebucks

 

[ReinZero]

Hammer Industries is offering 50 Spacebucks if we will agree to make their Divine Wrath class missiles as the armament of choice. The Divine Wrath is armed with a heavier warhead then the currently planned on Liberator Missile, as well as a noticeably faster acceleration, but has less overall range, general maneuverability, and inferior electronic systems.

Click to shrink...

Outside of the fact they're paying us for it, the shorter range is workable in tandem with other things.

Arms Unlimited, on the other hand, is suggesting two potential deals. First off, in exchange for 50 Spacebucks, they will rent us access to their Analyses and Recording Archives of every combat their members have fought against enemy PD in, which should give a substantial bonus to designing the ships Laser Point Defense Array. As well, the current leading faction in Arms Unlimited has an interior design team which they would be willing to lend to you for 25 Spacebucks, who could use their experience to greatly improve your hull design.

Click to shrink...

The Archives... could help, but presently, budget issues. Design team is worth it though. Also, currying favor with and to help the standing of their current leading faction after the ship design rejection is worth it, as this is favoring a sub-set within them, as opposed to overall.

Meanwhile, the Xenotech Acquisition Board has made a second offer. In their attempts to understand the alien ship's advanced technology, they have come up with a variety of advanced theories on how to explain reported behavior in terms of hardware and system capacities. While incomplete, this database could be of substantial use in designing the EMP Torpedoes planned for use in the Swordfish. Or it could be barking up the wrong forest. Either way, they'll sell access to it in exchange for 50 Spacebucks.

Click to shrink...

Sure EMP Torps can be useful. Problem is, budgeting. Also, the reliance heavily on luck.

Lastly, Drone and Fiddler are offering a pair of bargains of their own. In exchange for 50 Spacebucks, they are offering to license some of their advanced target seeking AIs to whatever missile design you decide on, which should help improve their chances of both hitting a target and avoiding enemy active defenses. Secondly, they are offering you 100 Spacebucks in return for borrowing Lehara for a month to work on something special. While this would decrease the amount of time she has to work on the Swordfish, new and innovative technology may prove of vast assistance in the future.

Click to shrink...

Said AI would help with the Divine Wrath, or further maximize the usefulness of the default missiles. As for lending out services, it would help with funds, yes. However, the trade off between time and other benefits in addition to funds (like relations) is also, well, useful. So I'd say ok to it.

[X] Buy the Divine Wraths. +50 Spacebucks
[X] Take the Design Team Deal. -25 Spacebucks
[X] Buy the Target Seeking AIs. -50 Spacebucks
[X] Lend Lehara's services out. +100 Spacebucks

50 + 75 = 125 Spacebucks Remaining

Net profit-fu.