[daedalus2309]

I like the rail-gun idea. I'm going to disagree with E, even though he is pretty much a canon source.

The reason the GTA doesn't use rail guns doesn't seem to be their complexity. Heck, we have the beginning of magnetic acceleration today. The Vasudans are a civilization capable of hurtling thousands of tons worth of destroyer through hundreds of light years of space with little effort. They can make metal slugs go very fast and hit things. Not as well as the UEF, sure, but still pretty well.

From what I understand, the GTA doesn't use rail guns because they want to continue to rely on the beams that are winning the war. I agree that beams are better than drivers, but not in every situation. The range does have tactical merits.

I think it could provide a good look into a comparison between the Terrans and Vasudans. The Tevs are arrogant, while the Vasudans are willing to assimilate the ideas of their foes. The Tevs insist on giving specific albeit devastating avenues of force to their commanders; the Vasudans value tactical flexibility. In every successful encounter with a Sathanas, the GTA has launched bombers to disable beams. The Vasudan design shows a change in strategic philosophy, delegating the precision strike abilities of heavy bombers to a destroyer that could hypothetically win the fight independently.

My two cents anyway.

Maybe put reverse engines on the thing? Enhances maneuvering and would cater to the new Vasudan philosophy of multi-role flexible destroyers.

[General Battuta]

He is not a canon source - only released material is. Nothing the devs say on the forums should be taken as anything more than suggestive.

He is of course completely welcome to participate in discussion, which we would like to encourage rather than stifle.

[Droid803]

The primary advantage of beams is that you don't need to carry a large cache of (highly explosive, if they're to do anything) ammunition around.

While heat sinks may take up just as much space, they tend to not EXPLODE YOUR SHIP when hit the right way, see...

[Mars]

The reason the GTA doesn't use rail guns doesn't seem to be their complexity. Heck, we have the beginning of magnetic acceleration today. The Vasudans are a civilization capable of hurtling thousands of tons worth of destroyer through hundreds of light years of space with little effort. They can make metal slugs go very fast and hit things. Not as well as the UEF, sure, but still pretty well.

I don't think it's a technological thing - I think that the GTVA has warships configured to use beams, and although the technology is readily available, the industry and tactics are not. It's easier for the GTVA to use the well proven beam cannons rather than develop a whole new paradigm based on (in the GTVAs view) obsolete technologies.

Also, Destoyers are likely tens of millions of tons.

[headdie]

Here is one, logistics.  as it stands the GTA was and the GTVA is shipping thousands of missiles, torpedoes and fusion mortar rounds at a time during times of conflict, if you add railguns you then have to add those projectiles to that list, then enough of those projectiles need to be stored on the warships probably enough for a major engagement and a few skirmishes, which either requires a reduction of available space or the requirement to make the ships bigger to provide the storage space.  the UEF has the advantage that all their production, logistics and combat assets are all operating in a single system so warships only need to carry smaller numbers before RTB for more when they end up in a shootout, also add in the fact that many UEF warships have logistics capabilities themselves and you have an extended capacity when needed to take on extra ammo.

Also most capital ship combat engagements in the GW - NTF - FS2 eras have all been at comparatively close range, often within AAF range where the higher DPS of beams is superior (not taking into account jamming) so beams are better suited to GTVA combat doctrine

[crizza]

Well, I think you've all got point.
Since the Zods are using fusion mortars on destroyers, they would have propably developed them even further...
So...a next generation fusion would have increased range, greater damage but I guess the rate of fire would have dropped...
But I can simply don't get used to dumbfire missiles on a destroyer...
Oh, and by the way, the Sokar is getting more sleeky, but the head section worries me...fuse the prow of two Sobeks to that of a Hatshepsut...I mean, when I close my eyes, I know how the prow should look...but I'm unable to draw it...

[Destiny]

Also, the thing that the GTVA does not use electromagnetic-propelled weaponry/mass drivers might not be accurate...I'm not sure entirely, but look at the Maxim. There's the unused GTW Railgun, too.

The GTVA just needs to modify their ships for LRBGreens. No need to overload the reactors or such...having Balls of Steele AI'd turrets to shoot down incoming torps will do good as well.

[MatthTheGeek]

Well, in BP, the "fusion mortar on destroyer" concept has already been developped further : look at the Eos and the Supernova. The Zods probably have equivalents on their next-gen capital ships.

Also, when taking logistics into account, remember flak magazines. An Aeolus is probably mainly made of ammo space.

[Colonol Dekker]

With a crew of just nine 

[Destiny]

That very nine people are deadly fighter and bomber killing machines, haha.

[General Battuta]

Also, the thing that the GTVA does not use electromagnetic-propelled weaponry/mass drivers might not be accurate...I'm not sure entirely, but look at the Maxim. There's the unused GTW Railgun, too.

The Maxim is at least partially a chemical ballistic weapon.

[crizza]

Thinking about improvements in long range engagements, the sheer size of a single Apocalypse torpedo, and reading about todays ICBMs etc I will stick with something like a MIRV, like a single torpedo carrying multiple warheads, which launch themselves just outside the range of flak/point defense guns...hm...

[MatthTheGeek]

Already exists. Look at the Hydra.

[crizza]

Realy? I'M unable to find anything in the wiki, but that's fine, so I guess I'll borrow it:)

[headdie]

Also, the thing that the GTVA does not use electromagnetic-propelled weaponry/mass drivers might not be accurate...I'm not sure entirely, but look at the Maxim. There's the unused GTW Railgun, too.

The Maxim is at least partially a chemical ballistic weapon.

Looking at the techroom i would say the maxim is a classic firearm full stop, unless the bullet is an advanced alloy casing for an explosive projectile in which case with the smooth bore barrel the alternative would be some form of coil gun, but i would lean towards advanced firearm myself

[crizza]

I actually think about doing a modell with papier mâché over a wire mesh...

[Leuthesius]

I'd go with a heavy prow mounted weaponry. 4 heavy Beams in a cross formation with a BFG Mass Driver spinal mounted mass drive, and four additional heavy mount mass drivers amidships forward mounted in cross formwith a 45 degree tilt from the others, giving that ship 9 forward mounted heavy guns. It would get raped on its own, but as far as knocking out a sathanas in a flanking maneuver, it'd be a brilliant ship design.

[crizza]

The design in my head(and there are a lot of them) has four heavy beams in a Deimos like prow, so they all can target a ship in front of them, while two can still attack targets above and below.
On the upper side of the prow should be a heavy triple barreled mass driver, like the turrets on an Iowa class battle ship, while another one is situated rearward upper deck while one each is integrated starboard and portside, giving the ship massive forward firepower, but as it goes, a vasudan destroyer/battleship wouldn't mount mass drivers.
Broadside firepower would be generated by slashing beams, while there should be also torpedo tubes.
Mounted all over the hull would be AAAs, pulse turrets and the like.
I really crave to show a ship model, but I'm far from doing so...

[crizza]

Reading through the wiki...
How tall are vasudance and what is their life expectancy?
Cause I thought of giving Supreme Admiral Khu a try...

[Deadly in a Shadow]

"several feet taller than terrans" says the wiki. nd I think they have a higher life expectancy.