[BengalTiger]

Ship:	Astaroth	Scorpion	Manticore
HP:	100	180	100
Shields:	450	600	500
Speed:	80.0 - 110.0	70.0 - 72.0	87.0 - 120.0
Aburn speed:	155.0	140.0	155.0
Prim weap mounts:	2	2+2	2
Sec weap cap.:	40+40	40	40+40

Summing up:
Astaroth has weakest shields, crappier HP's than a retired recon ship, and crappy primary loadout.
Is it some kind of a good looking, flying joke?
Or was it going to be stealth, but ended up being detectable without an HP/shield increase when FS 2 was released?

[Snail]

In my (very non-canon) theory, the Scorpion isn't in the FS2's Shivan fleet because the second Shivan fleet was separated from the FS1 fleet for a long time. The FS1 fleet developed the Scorpion, but the FS2 Shivan fleet developed the Astaroth instead.

BTW, have you checked their maneuverability marks?

[Dark Hunter]

I suppose if a pilot knew how to use it's high speed to dodge stuff, it would be a bit more effective, but it's AI-controlled, so...

Though I do find it interesting that the Manticore is faster. You sure those numbers are right? I swear I've seen Astaroths achieve 200+ m/s with their afterburners.

In fact: according to that data it's almost identical to the Manticore, except a bit weaker and slower. Interesting.

[BengalTiger]

That's what FS Wiki had, here's the .tbl file:

Astaroth:
x/y/z: 3.4, 3.2, 3.2
max  vel: 25.0, 25.0, 80.0

Manticore:
x/y/z: 3.2, 3.2, 3.2
max vel: 25.0, 25.0, 87.0

Aburn speeds are the same in .tbl as in FS Wiki.

Funny the Aeshma also sucks compared to the Basilisk, but that one at least looks like a POS border patrol unit, found only in the Nebula and other far-away places at the edges of Shivan territory.

[Desert Tyrant]

In pratice, the Astaroth would be more useful than the Scorpian, as it has a very tiny frame, and it's faster all around.  Manticore is rather agile, and almost as fast.  Manticore is also tougher, but not by an appreciable margine.

All three fighters are annoying as ****, however.  Scorpian had that annoying ability to just turn around and blast you IIRC.

[Nuclear1]

Agreed.  All three are more annoying than genuinely tough.  In numbers and with other types of other types of fighters, they can be dangerous... but otherwise, they're pretty weak.

The Scorpion is exceptionally annoying though, for the reason Desert Tyrant just mentioned.  I find it highly stupid and irritating that a fighter can utterly defy any sort of physics or common sense.  I mean seriously, what exactly is that thing it does, Counterstrike strafing in space?

[ChronoReverse]

Descent style sliding =)  The Shivans know how to trichord

[BengalTiger]

Agreed.  All three are more annoying than genuinely tough.  In numbers and with other types of other types of fighters, they can be dangerous... but otherwise, they're pretty weak.

The Scorpion is exceptionally annoying though, for the reason Desert Tyrant just mentioned.  I find it highly stupid and irritating that a fighter can utterly defy any sort of physics or common sense.  I mean seriously, what exactly is that thing it does, Counterstrike strafing in space?

Ever seen the X-31?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lq7Lwdow3Eo

[Black Wolf]

Agreed.  All three are more annoying than genuinely tough.  In numbers and with other types of other types of fighters, they can be dangerous... but otherwise, they're pretty weak.

The Scorpion is exceptionally annoying though, for the reason Desert Tyrant just mentioned.  I find it highly stupid and irritating that a fighter can utterly defy any sort of physics or common sense.  I mean seriously, what exactly is that thing it does, Counterstrike strafing in space?

Surely in a vacuum where aerodynamics and wind shear/drag or whatever are eliminated, it becomes common sense to allow for movement on all three axes and in all six directions?

[watsisname]

I seem to recall either the captured Mara in FS2 or the Dragon in FS1 had a limited sliding ability as well.  Is that what the AI shivan fighters are doing?

[Desert Tyrant]

Agreed.  All three are more annoying than genuinely tough.  In numbers and with other types of other types of fighters, they can be dangerous... but otherwise, they're pretty weak.

The Scorpion is exceptionally annoying though, for the reason Desert Tyrant just mentioned.  I find it highly stupid and irritating that a fighter can utterly defy any sort of physics or common sense.  I mean seriously, what exactly is that thing it does, Counterstrike strafing in space?

Surely in a vacuum where aerodynamics and wind shear/drag or whatever are eliminated, it becomes common sense to allow for movement on all three axes and in all six directions?

Yes it would.  Although the only Sci-fi I remember that takes advantage of that is Babylon 5, most notably the Earth Alliance Aurora, Badger, and Thunderbolt Starfuries.

[watsisname]

BSG and Serenity use it as well.

[Unknown Target]

Star Trek does to a lesser extent, most notably in Star Trek II.

[Desert Tyrant]

BSG and Serenity use it as well.

nBSG does.  The original series definately didn't.

As for your second one... it's Firefly, not Serenity.  Serenity was the movie, while Firefly was the main series.

 

Star Trek does to a lesser extent, most notably in Star Trek II.

Which scene?  I have the DVD so I could check it out.

[Excalibur]

Shivan fighters definately have some sort of sliding ability, I often find Mara's shooting at me while flying in some unusual direction. Same with Manticores.