Post by resistor on Nov 15, 2018 17:22:54 GMT -5
I was chatting with a streamer who played STF a few days ago, and he was enjoying the game until he tried small ships and was irritated at how higher mass enemy ships were often able to score hits on him and win range change.
The default components of many small ships are poor in Nav or Pilot, or aren't very well specialized for the role they're designed for.
Here are some suggestions on how some default small ships can be improved:
Its 10 Pilot cap is dangerously low.
Replace Mass Reducer 1 [medium] with Adv Mass Dampener 1 to free mass to replace Mass Dampener 1 [small] with Mass Modulator 1.
The end result is a needed +2 Pilot with a negligible loss of Ship Ops.
The ship's description emphasizes its long range capabilities and ability to avoid enemies.
With 16 Navigation it barely has an edge over larger ships with good Nav caps like the Guardian Interceptor. Replacing an Officer Cabin with an ECCM Screen 1 for more Nav, Electronics, and Escape dice would be a good performance improvement, be more thematically appropriate, and the Gunner officer was invariably superfluous, anyway.
Palace Interceptor
11 Pilot is too low for a ship with a description that advertises its ability to avoid damage.
Replace its Phoenix Lance [small] with a Defense Pattern Matrix for a very significant improvement to defense.
Cargo-Fuel Storage [medium] is unnecessary to the ship's main role, and should be replaced with a Starshot Lance Array to compensate for the replaced small lance.
There is some leftover mass, so replace Mass Dampener 1 [small] with a Mass Modulator 1 for a little more Pilot skill.
Finally, the engine should be Traveler instead of Longhaul. The extra fuel efficiency of Longhaul isn't necessary for this long-range attack craft, while the extra speed from Traveler would be a great combat performance improvement.
Vulture Liner
There is a lot of free mass, so Mass Dampener 1 [small] should be replaced with the more useful Mass Modulator 1.Callus Freighter
One Mass Dampener 1 should be replaced with a Sensor Array. Alternatively, if it is intentional for there to be one more mass reduction component than necessary, then both Mass Dampeners should be replaced with the more useful Mass Modulators instead.
Dart Liner
Replace one of its two Armored Bulkheads 1 [small] with a Pilot Assist Module 1.Utilize the freed mass to replace Mass Dampener 1 with a Mass Modulator 1.
The +6 Pilot is worth sacrificing a little armor that was almost negligible due to diminishing returns from its other armor components for.
Volk Frigate
This only has 11 Nav and 11 Pilot. It badly needs more dice to be a decent frigate.
Fuel capacity is still good without it, so replace Reactor Spike Module with a Nav Assist Module 1.
Replace Phoenix Lance with a Pilot Assist Module 1. Considering its small size and low armor, it needs the ability to dodge enemy fire more than it needs a fifth gun.
Another ship with only 11 Nav and Pilot.
With 150 base fuel, it doesn't need extra fuel storage. Replace Reactor Spike Module 1 with Nav Assist Module 1.
Replace one of its two Mass Dampener 1s with a Mass Modulator 1 for a little more Pilot dice.
