• Registered: 2009-04-14
  • Posts: 82

Topic: Final Fantasy XII Airships Nova Edition

Rule Options Used:
- Evasive Action
- Three Dimensional Play (All vessels should start at height 3.)
- Etheric Movement (More drag than vaccum and less drag than Naval.)

Things That Would Be Nice to See Added or Returned Rules-Wise:
- Explosions (As a get you by, when a ship loses its last hull box, make an attack roll against all adjacent ships with a number of dice equal to one-third of it's hull value, rounding down.)
- Ramming

Additional Notes:
- Terrain on the map should have a height assigned to it. Any vessel that enters a hex of terrain and is not at least 1 height level above the terrain has collided with the terrain and is considered to be destroyed.

These are conversions from the original Admiralty version of Starmada, followed by modifications of the direct conversion.
(All descriptions are direct copy and pastes from my original post.)

At some point I will get Resistance airships designed. The issue is that there is very little from Square Enix on what ships the Resistance has and more to the point, whether they use standardized designs like the Archades Empire does or not. Resistance airships will be built straight from Nova, rather than conversions from S:AE.

  • Registered: 2009-04-14
  • Posts: 82

Re: Final Fantasy XII Airships Nova Edition

Catoblepas Destroyer Airship
A lighter escort ship, the Catoblepas is intended to protect some of the less maneuverable ships from being outflanked and from the depridations of enemy fighters. Aside from the standard Magicite Cannons found on all Archadian vessels, the Catoblepas carries two additional weapon systems. One is a lighter grade of Magicite Cannon intended for dealing with fighters and boarding ships. The other is a feared weapon amongst crews of enemy airships. The Demon Eye is a Magicite weapon specifically designed for petrifying the crew of enemy ships. This fear is not without merit as the beam bypasses the pallings that normally protect the ship from damage.

Original Pre-1.0 Conversion from my S:AE vessel.
Archades CATOBLEPAS-class Destroyer  (83)
HULL     [_][_]    [_][_]    [_][_]
THRUST    [9][6][5][3][2]    WEAPONS    [_][1][2][3][4]
ECM    [_][_][_][_][_]    SHIELDS    [5][6][6][6][6]
   
Cargo (30); Marines [_][_]
Demon Eye (Dx2/Prc)    [FR] RANGE 9|4    3    2    1    1    1    0
Magicite Cannons    [FF3][FP3][FS3]    RANGE 12|7    5    3    2    2    1    1    1    0
Anti-Fighter (Acr)    [FP2][FS2]    RANGE 6|1    1    1    0

The issue with the original conversion is that it was over by 82 Space Units. Now, considering SU are really an arbitrary number so you don't go crazy putting lots of guns on a small hull, this isn't an issue. However, I did revise the vessel to bring it to a reasonable weight.

Archades CATOBLEPAS MK.2-class Destroyer  (151)
HULL    [_][_]    [_][_]    [_][_]
THRUST    [9][6][5][3][2]    WEAPONS    [_][1][2][3][4]
ECM    [_][_][_][_][_]    SHIELDS    [6][6][6][_][_]
   
Cargo (30); Escort; Marines [_]
Demon Eye (Dx2/Prc)    [FR]    RANGE 9|3    2    2    1    1    1    0
Magicite Cannons    [FF3][FP3][FS3]    RANGE 12|6    4    3    2    2    1    1    1    0
Anti-Fighter (Acr)    [FP2][FS2]    RANGE 6|1    1    1    0

Shield size was reduced to save the most space. Escort was added since that's what the Catoblepas is supposed to be. Marines were halved to save space and because they are supposed to be on board as a defensive measure, not to turn the Catoblepas into an assault vessel. The two main sets of weaponry were adjusted by changing the BAS to whole numbers instead of decimals, rounding down in both cases. That brought the ship to a reasonable 13 Space Remaining instead of being over. However, the dramatic increase in Combat Value came from adding Escort to the vessel. Removing it will bring the ship to a CV of 68

  • Registered: 2009-04-14
  • Posts: 82

Re: Final Fantasy XII Airships Nova Edition

Shiva Light Cruiser Airship
The Shiva trades off armor and firepower for more speed and maneuverability. That isn't to say that it is without bite. Aside from the same Magicite Cannons found on the Ifrit, it also carries it's own Diamond Dust cannon. The Diamond Dust fires out a cloud of Magicite empowered ice shards, capable of flaying the armor off of enemy vessels. As with the Ifrit, it carries a squadron of Remora-class fighter-type airships.

Archades SHIVA-class Light Cruiser  (144)
HULL    [_][_][_]    [_][_][_]    [_][_][_]
THRUST    [9][6][5][3][2]    WEAPONS    [_][1][2][3][4]
ECM    [_][_][_][_][_]    SHIELDS    [5][6][6][6][6]

Cargo (30); Carrier (2); Marines [_][_]
Diamond Dust (Dx3)    [FF]    RANGE 9|3    2    2    1    1    1    0
Magicite Cannons    [FF3][PR3][SR3]    RANGE 12|7    5    3    2    2    1    1    1    0

With 14 SU remaining, the Shiva was the only vessel to convert and not be overweight. That said, with the changes made to other vessels, the Shiva saw some alterations as well. (Due in part for consistency between all Magicite Cannons.)

Archades SHIVA MK.2-class Light Cruiser  (143)
HULL    [_][_][_]    [_][_][_]    [_][_][_]
THRUST    [9][6][5][3][2]    WEAPONS    [_][1][2][3][4]
ECM    [_][_][_][_][_]    SHIELDS    [5][6][6][6][6]

Cargo (30); Carrier (2); Marines [_][_]
Diamond Dust (Dx3)    [FF]    RANGE 9|3    2    2    1    1    1    0
Magicite Cannons    [FF3][PR3][SR3]    RANGE 12|6    4    3    2    2    1    1    1    0

Literally, the only thing that changed was the Magicite Cannons got a bit weaker and the point dropped by one. This was due to making all Magicite Cannons BAS of 2 rather than the 2.25 that was obtained via the original conversion.

  • Registered: 2009-04-14
  • Posts: 82

Re: Final Fantasy XII Airships Nova Edition

Ifrit Cruiser Airship
Primarily a cruiser sized airship, it can be found in almost all Archadian fleets. The main armament is the forward-mounted Hellfire cannons. While extremely short-ranged, they are designed to overload the enemy's palling (Shields in AE terms.) through huge gouts of Magicite-induced flames. Most of the damage inflicted by the Hellfire cannons tends to be from sections that continue to burn after they've been hit. Secondary armaments are standard Magicite Cannons. In addition, most Ifrits carry a squadron of the standard Remora-class fighter-type airships or a smaller number of the Valfarre-class advanced fighter-type airships.

Archades IFREET-class Cruiser  (250)
ARMOR    [_][_]    [_]    [_]
HULL    [_][_][_][_]    [_][_][_][_]    [_][_][_][_]
THRUST    [6][4][3][2][2]    WEAPONS    [_][1][2][3][4]
ECM    [_][_][_][_][_]    SHIELDS    [4][5][5][6][6]
   
Cargo (50); Carrier (2); Marines [_][_][_][_][_] [_][_][_][_][_]

Hellfire (Acr/Bls/Prx)    [FR]    RANGE 3|12    8    6    4    3    2    1    1    1    1    0
Magicite Cannons     [FF4][FP4][FS4][PR6][SR6]    RANGE 12|18    13    9    6    5    3    2    2    1    1    1    0

Yes, the Hellfire is a bit OTT, but considering it's quite limited range... The original was both Minimum and Carronade so that it could *ONLY* fire at a Range of 2. That way it would fire like a spray out of the front end. When/ if we do get a spray-type (How else can we do SFB style Maulers?) attack I might make a Mk.3 revision of this vessel.  That said, we're over by 72 SU so revision:

Archades IFREET MK.2-class Cruiser  (234)
ARMOR    [_][_]    [_][_]    [_][_]
HULL    [_][_][_][_]    [_][_][_][_]    [_][_][_][_]
THRUST    [6][4][3][2][2]    WEAPONS    [_][1][2][3][4]
ECM    [_][_][_][_][_]    SHIELDS    [5][6][6][6][6]
   
Cargo (50); Carrier (2); Marines [_][_][_][_][_] [_][_][_][_][_]
Hellfire (Acr/Bls/Prx)    [FR]    RANGE 3|12    8    6    4    3    2    2    1    1    1    0
Magicite Cannons    [FF4][FP4][FS4][PR6][SR6]    RANGE 12|16    11    8    6    4    3    2    1    1    1    1    0

Shields were dropped a level and a couple more points of armor was added. BAS of the Hellfire was bumped to 6, while the BAS of the Magicite Cannons was set to match the rest of the vessels.

  • Registered: 2009-04-14
  • Posts: 82

Re: Final Fantasy XII Airships Nova Edition

Madeen Bombardment Airship
The Madeen Class Bombardment Airship is a recent development in the Archadian arsenal. The Terra Homing cannons are primarily meant to breach fortifications in order to allow Archadian troops to enter and occupy them, though they are also capable of decimating Resistance airships. In order to provide the magicite power needed for the Terra Homing cannons, the ship's engines have little to no extra power for speed or maneuverability. To make up for this, extra armor plating has been added. However, the airship will still require support from Ifrit, Shiva and Catoblepas Class airships. Aside from the standard Remora-class fighters, the Madeen also carries two flights of Atomos-class transports, capable of boarding enemy ships. (Notes: The concept of this design is derived from the Final Fantasy 9 Summons, Madeen, and is not an airship from Final Fantasy 12, thus mostly unique.)

(The flights of Atomos-class transports were removed due to Marines having combat capability build in to them.)

Archades MADEEN-class Bombardment Airship  (346)
ARMOR    [_][_][_]    [_][_][_]    [_][_]
HULL     [_][_][_][_][_]    [_][_][_][_][_]    [_][_][_][_][_]
THRUST    [4][3][2][1][1]    WEAPONS    [_][1][2][3][4]
ECM    [_][_][_][_][_]    SHIELDS    [4][5][5][6][6]
   
Cargo (60); Carrier (2); Marines [_][_][_][_][_] [_][_][_][_][_] [_][_]
Terra Homing (Acr/Bls)    [FF]    RANGE 9|28    20    14    10    7    5    4    3    2    1    1    1
Magicite Cannon    [FF3][FP4][FS4][PR6][SR6]    RANGE 12|20    14    10    7    5    4    3    2    1    1    1    0

Yes, Terra Homing is quite brutal. However, it is also on a vessel that is 114 SU too high. While having Marines able to be used offensively by default is nice, I miss having the feel of the Boarding Pods, which could get shot down. So, with this one oversized, what changes must be wrought.

Archades MADEEN MK.2-class Bombardment Airship  (319)
ARMOR    [_][_][_][_]    [_][_][_]    [_][_][_]
HULL     [_][_][_][_][_]    [_][_][_][_][_]    [_][_][_][_][_]
THRUST    [4][3][2][1][1]    WEAPONS    [_][1][2][3][4]
ECM    [_][_][_][_][_]    SHIELDS    [5][6][6][6][6]
   
Cargo (60); Carrier (2); Marines [_][_][_][_][_] [_][_][_][_][_] [_][_]
Terra Homing (Acr/Bls)    [FF]    RANGE 9|28    20    14    10    7    5    4    2    2    1    1    1
Magicite Cannon    [FF3][FP4][FS4][PR6][SR6]    RANGE 12|18    13    9    6    5    3    2    2    1    1    1    0

Surprisingly once shields were dropped a level and the Magicite Cannons were brought to match the BAS of the other Archades vessels, the space issues vanished. Armor was increased since the Madeen needs it.