Topic: Look, Ma! No Shields: Review of the Imperial Starmada
Or... 'How I learned to stop worrying and embrace the ORAT'
The Imperial Starmada feels in some ways like it was laid down by the British, just before WW1. Their ships tend to be fast (even their capital classes clocking in at 4), thinly shielded (only their Battleship rates a 4, most sit at 2) and mount impressive firepower. I would anticipate they would play interestingly against a resilient, undergunned fleet.. and explosively against a fleet designed on similar principals.
Despite the 'generally high speeds' and the 'generally poor screens', there are sufficient variations that fleets will tend to either organize in independent units or sacrifice the speed edge of the smaller classes to keep them on station with larger hulls. Also, variations in shielding will probably result in the BB hull being the last thing on the map, with the more fragile but still well armed Light Cruisers and Battlecruisers being tempting targets.
Ship by Ship:
Belligerent Class CL:
The Fusion Beams will tend to draw attention with the extra hull damage trait, but when one considers the fact that the Lightning Turrets are 2IMP and 3 Damage to the 1 and 1 of the Fusion Beam, it becomes apparent where the real 'punch' of this CL is. Capable of a potential 18 dice-damage equivalents (counting Extra Hull Damage as x3) at range 15, the Belligerent is a serious threat to much larger/more expensive vessels. The presence of ECM and FC serve to offset the innacuracy of their own weapons (this entire navy seems to have a bad case of 5+) as well as potentially offering the survivability that their thin screens cannot. That said, 2 shields on a ship with this much potential firepower strikes me as really dangerous.. especially for the crew.
A note on Close Defense Cannons: what are these things for? Their insane ROF and wide coverage suggests an anti-fighter role, but with only one gun covering 'F', theres going to be some problems, there. Also, even with Fire Control, your only looking at 4+ at close range... meaning that youll roll alot of dice to kill few fighters/hurt few ships. Still, they cant have added alot to the CR, and do add alot of gribblies/bullets/special effects. Seems alot of dice rolling to little impact.
Concordant: Giant Box, full of Fighters. The Lightning Turret suggests that it wants to stay in the line of battle and shoot after it drops its fighters. Whether or not you do so probably depends on whether its a one-off or a campaign game. In a Campaign, I'd still keep it out of the line, because a 2 screen fleet carrier in the line of battle is something that WILL get killed, if only so you dont see it again. In a one-off, I'd put it in the line, because even with 2 screens, its 10 hull suggests there are better uses for your bullets than an empty carrier (like, for example, the light cruiser above!)
Furious: Whew. Fast, with Engines 7. I would assume they would separate from the rest of the fleet, intent on using the Lighting Turrets on enemy flank/rear arcs, given their speed. Other than that, little to differentiate them from their larger Belligernt cousins. 2 Lightning Turrets on a 108 CR hull is still a strong statement of willingness to go forth and kill, and accept the risk. I also appreciate the fluff-over-gamesmanship to put the Lighting Turrets in a 360* coverage setup that will have great difficult consolidating a strike against one target.. the little guys are going to have to be content to circle the enemy, taking potshots with half their main battery, or centerline it and have a target off each side.
Indomitable: Looks like they found the Shield generators! Solid 4 thrust, making it faster than alot of BBs. 4 Shields is on the light side for BBs, but is a standout in this navy. Youll probably want to use your Indomintables in a VERY direct fashion.. range 15 5+'s, even with Fire Control, suggest that you need to get close to have best effect.. and the arcs on these ships suggest that they will want to point their nose in and close. Having the Indomitable a bit closer than the rest of the fleet will help complicate enemy fire control, as they will have to choose between a 4 Shield target closer, or 2 shield targets further away.
Alot of navies would call a 400CR, 4 Engines, 4 Screens ship a CA (though not so much with 12 hull). If you remember its pointed like a CA, even if its called a BB, and remember to bring them in groups, these things could form the core of a solid fleet. Note that firepower isnt actually all that much greater than your CL... so if you can find a way to get people to shoot these instead of your half-as-expensive but nearly-as-deadly CLs, your in buisness.
Majestic: Hmm... call these 'Heavy Fusion Beams', as their just like the Fusion Beams on the CL, only with twice the damage. Seem optimized for independent operation in squadrons, rather than as part of a fleet (primarily due to their alf-forward, half-aft, all-out-broadsides lightning turrets). Although it looks at first like a big version of the CL, the strange lightning turret arcs, coupled with the 4x double-damage fusion beams, make this a very different bird. Im not sure if it wants to try to circle at broadsides or, like so many ships, point the nose in and go for the gusto... the 4 Fusions look really, really mean once they get close and your rolling for 3's. Thats alot of Extra Hull Damage Dice on a 329 point chassis.
That very indecisiveness could give them alot of flexibility, and make a squadron of these alot of fun to use, because there are alot of choices, despite the somewhat 'generic' feel of the whole navy. As long as they avoid going up against a higher-tech (not necessarily higher point.. by higher tech, I tend to mean faster, more customized, more 'tooled out' fleet.. not necessarily 'better', but more flexible/plays different) they could be really neat. If they DO encounter a higher-tech style fleet, the very diffusion of purpose that makes them flexible and neat at their tech level could get them into alot of trouble, as they wont be able to call the tune, and could end up getting hammered.
Swiftsure: Fire support boat. Again, we have a change in weapon with the same name (Shorter ranged Lightning Turrets) which really gets confusing. With only 1! Screens, minimum range Missile Turrets, and shorter-ranged lightning turrets, I'm not quite sure what these guys are about. Despite my initial 'fire support' call, the shorter ranged lightning turrets seem to suggest getting a bit closer (which the lack of shields argues against), and the relative plethora of Close Defense Cannons seems to argue for closing under the minimum range of their Missile Turrets! The Close Defense Cannons make some sense when you consider that a poorly-screend but well armed fire support boat, which tends to hang back from the fight, is a natural target for fighters and strikeboats, but even so... I think the Swiftsures were designed by a committee, try to do everything, and thus do all of it poorly. Every navy needs one.
Valiant: Seems like a suicide ship. Not enough Close Defense Cannons to 'escort' capital ships against fighter strikes. The Narrow Arc fusion beams seem like a poor choice for anti-pirate work, as opposed to the more flexible Lightning Turrets. With all (effectively) close range firepower (and, admittedly, alot of it!), and no screens or hull to speak of, these guys would seem to really cry out to get into the enemies baffles to do their work. Even so, fighters or any kind of fire on the way in is going to devestate their ranks... although at 71 points a pop, that probably doesnt matter too much.
After closer review, I think I hold true to my original call. Like the WW1 British Navy, the enginnering reflects the approach of a 'Superior' Navy... speed and firepower to close and kill their opponents, and a willingness to accept casualties to get there (note the Brits liked the LONG gun rather than this navies close-order battle drill... but the 5+s do sound alot like Beatty..) Fielded, it would be an impressive hull count, due to the low costs, and I would expect to do pretty well. Despite my criticism leveled above at mixed speeds, low shields, and innacuracy, they still, collectively, represent ALOT of dice at any given point value. Some of those dice will hit.
Not a navy for those who like sexy, flashing, clean engagements.. .but if accepting massive casulties to cause the same, and pounding it out in knife fighting range while still having a chance in long range engagements is your cuppa, then the Starmada probably has a place for you.
*laughs* Damn, that sounds like advertising copy.</t>