[Galemp]

I've had this idea in my head for months, and now that I know how to use control points, I can build it!



Basically, it's a Vasudan science cruiser, similar to the GTSc Faustis. However, while the Faustis was a civilian craft modified for military use, this cruiser is a dedicated military ship and can be adapted to a wide range of roles, including research and AWACs support.

In one popular configuration, it can be used as a dedicaed electronic warfare platform, replacing laser turrets with Leech/Lamprey, Disruptor, and Flail/Morning Star guns, and arming its missile turrets with EMP, Stiletto, and TAG missiles. These weapons are often left behind by pilots who seek to rack up the most kills; mounting them on this cruiser weakens and identifies targets so friendly craft can destroy them with ease.

This is the basic mesh, and I want the circular array on top to rotate of course. It will have ten turrets (6 primary, 4 secondary) and be relatively fast. Texturing will be similar to the Mentu, Bes, and Setekh.

What do you think?

[Knight Templar]

meh.




A-1 SUPAR!! Spectacular!! Sick Idea!! Somone Texture it for him!!


Edit: deffinitly reminds mE of the Demon

[untouchable]

I like the concept... but in my opinion, it needs a lot more detail.

[Su-tehp]

This is a great concept, but don't call it a science cruiser. If it's primarily an AWACS vessel, it should be designated as an AWACS.

I am interested in seeing this mod, as it would work nicely with a Wild Weasel-type squadron. For those of you not in the know, a Wild Weasel squad has the primary purpose of neutralizing enemy anti-fighter defenses. In FS2, a WW squad basically makes surgical strikes against turrets on cap ships and installations to strip them of their defenses.

*engage pimp mode*

DatDB will feature several missions where you fly for a WW squad! Above weapons (Lampreys, TAGs, etc.) and similar mods will be used!

*disengage pimp mode*

I'm not sure that making one ship with two completely different purposes is a good idea. Kinda like, it's better to have several ships that do one task very well, rather than have a smaller number of ships that are jacks-of-all-trades but masters of none. A Vasudan science cruiser is a good idea, but I think you should make it a separate mod.

As for this baby, from the top view, the wings look too "square" for a vasudan ship, I think. Maybe I'll change my mind once it's textured, but just watch out for that.

EDIT: KT might be right; this DOES look a little too much like the SD Demon...maybe flattening the wings might be in order?

[CP5670]

Well, the Vasudans are lacking a science cruiser, so this should fit the role nicely. I look forward to seeing the textured version.

[Goober5000]

Hmm... it DOES look a bit much like the Demon.  Might need a bit of fiddling.

But a big on the model.  Have you reserved it for a specific campaign or time period?  Because I'm sure Hades would love to have it for the T-V war - we've got almost no Vasudan ships.

[Bobboau]

put the rotatimatron under it

[CP5670]

rotatimatron

[Goober5000]

The rotating thingy.  Use your imagination.

Now THAT's a good idea.  It would look cool, plus it would provide a use for those overhanging Demon-esque arms. Make the nose a little less Shivan, smooth and curve the lines, and you've got a great Vasudan ship.

[Knight Templar]

OMG !!

Bobboau is turning into George Bush!


Straegeism ....


New-Key-Ler ...

[Su-tehp]

Originally posted by Bobboau
put the rotatimatron under it

Bobboau, PLEASE tell me you're kidding!

Keep it on top, it'll look better that way. Plus it's more realistic because line of sight will be uninhibited if it's kept on top. Put it on the bottom and the wings will get in the way and put gaps in the detection screen.

[Knight Templar]

Meh so the rotamatatorlite spins in the way.. you could justs have missle launchers on the wings that could cover most of the arc, if not some.

Its a science ship after all.. it is allowed to have some blind spots, i think. .. it needs to be a lil more Vasudan and less Shivan Demon -  Class though.. i keep expecting to hear about the LReds that will be on front.

EDIT: and the way the "Demon" head comes down.. it leaves a little "pocket" if you will under the ship, which is a pain in the ass because it would be un defended and if you put guns in there, their  LOS is severly restricted.. mostly only to defending the pocket, which is tactically unsound.

[Goober5000]

It doesn't have to scan everywhere.  It'll just have very good scanning ability in one direction.

That goes along with what we've seen of the Vasudans before - they do things a little bit strangely.  For instance, the Setekh is not as good militarily as the Charybdis but has a greater scanning range, according to FS2 tech.  The Mekhu HL-7 is another example.  And the Terrans didn't much like the Edjo sentry gun, did they?

[Su-tehp]

Originally posted by Knight Templar
Meh so the rotamatatorlite spins in the way.. you could justs have missle launchers on the wings that could cover most of the arc, if not some.

Its a science ship after all. It is allowed to have some blind spots, i think....

Originally posted by Goober5000
It doesn't have to scan everywhere.  It'll just have very good scanning ability in one direction.

That goes along with what we've seen of the Vasudans before - they do thinks a little bit strangely....

If it has blind spots then you might as well get rid of the whole rotating scanner. If if it rotates and cant scan in at least two directions, then why have it at all? AWACS are supposed to scan in all directions; thats what detecting the enemy is all about. If you have a deliberate blind spot in your scanning ability, then you're just ASKING the enemy to hit you from that blind spot. How much military sense does that make?

And Goober, your analogy about the Mekhu gun and the Edjo sentry gun are incorrect. The problem the Terrans had with the Setekh wasn't that its scanning ability was flawed, it was that the Setekh was an unnecessarily fragile ship. It had less armor and could be shot down more easily, but it scanned just as well as the Charybdis.

And KT, is this ship a science cruiser or an AWACS? If it's a science cruiser, get rid of the rotating scanner entirely because it's superfluous and unnecessary. If it's an AWACS, then don't compromise the mod with such an obvious design flaw by putting the scanner on the bottom when scanning from the top makes more sense.

Go one way or the other, but multitasking ships tend to do poorly if they have to perform a number of unrelated functions at once. Research is NOT related to AWACS duties. Thus, they should be done on separate ships.

In real life, do Air Force technicians stationed on AWACS planes do scientific research or do they scan for enemy planes so their buddies don't get shot down? Everyone here should know the answer to that...

[Knight Templar]

ouch, i feel like i just got ***** slapped... :wink:

And KT, is this ship a science cruiser or an AWACS? If it's a science cruiser, get rid of the rotating scanner entirely because it's superfluous and unnecessary. If it's an AWACS, then don't compromise the mod with such an obvious design flaw by putting the scanner on the bottom when scanning from the top makes more sense.

heh this isn't my mod man, i was just tryin' to make sence of it. I think you are right, one or the other.. seeing as how the Vasuds already have their AWACS, they need a science ship.. with no  rotatlimatilda. Why is that on the Faustus anyways? Solar Power?    You could make a new Electronic Waring ship, just need a betta design.. perhaps i should try

[Goober5000]

From FS2 tech:

The GVA Setekh is the Vasudan class of AWACS vessels, comparable to the Terran GTA Charybdis class. Setekhs are smaller, less heavily armored, and have half the turrets of Charybdis ships. Despite these shortcomings, the Vasudan navy insists upon deploying Setekhs in Vasudan battle groups, claiming the Vasudan versions are more appropriate for their fleets. Setekhs' crystalline detection arrays provide their fleets with doubled radar range within the nebular region. Every Vasudan battle group operating in this theatre has a wing of Setekhs attached to it.

So Setekhs aren't as well armored nor as well armed, but the Vasudans have their reasons nonetheless.  I just meant that sometimes Vasudans do things in peculiar ways, the reasons for which may not be readily apparent.

I think it's just fine if the rotatalatoraflimalagig goes on the bottom, between the arms.  Who says the scan field is compromised?  Maybe science cruisers can scan right through hulls, who knows.  Who says the ring has to be on the top?  The rules don't have to be followed all the time.  The Ravana isn't symmetrical, the Scorpion looks weird, the Aeolus has that funny two-engine arrangement, the Satis and the Chronos fly upside-down, and this science cruiser can have its scanning ring on the bottom.

In real life, do Air Force technicians stationed on AWACS planes do scientific research or do they scan for enemy planes so their buddies don't get shot down? Everyone here should know the answer to that...

Yup - they watch dumbfounded as Chinese fighter planes crash into them.

[mikhael]

Originally posted by Su-tehp

Plus it's more realistic because line of sight will be uninhibited if it's kept on top. Put it on the bottom and the wings will get in the way and put gaps in the detection screen.

Please tell me you're kidding.

First, what good in a volume of 3d space to scan in a plane? Obviously an AWACS must scan a spherical volume. Put it on top, put it on bottom, the hull is still in the way in one direction or the other. Either it can scan through the hull or its worthless as an AWACS.

Besides. You're talking about realism in a space fighter sim? Lets talk about pulling inertial G-forces, beams and subspace, 'kay?

Put that Rotalotadingdong wherever it looks good. I like Bobbaou's suggestion.

[Knight Templar]

How bout AWACS panels/hull plating?

[Galemp]

I like having the ring up top! Gives it a 180 degree field of view. Look at the Charibdys, it has the array on top. And who cares if it's not entirely practacal? These are VASUDANS, they focus on aesthetics.
I designed this thing to be a kind of all-purpose technology ship. If it's a science cruiser, it should have large sensor arrays, right? The idea is that the internal components can be easily replaced depending on the mission. And yes, Wild Weasel was the term I was looking for.
The wings are bent down so it can have a wide firing arc for its turrets, to be positioned like so:

Code: [Select]


 \//    \\/
--||    ||--
 /\\    //\

That's the reactor and engine block under there. The wings protect it from broadside fire. There will be a couple turrets on the underside to fend off fighters.

You're right, it DOES look like a Demon. I was trying to make the head look like a Typhon; should I try something else?

[Knight Templar]

I'm all for racial diversity, try it!