Eureka!

[worldstrider]

Aren't all the weapons dealers engaging in shoddy RP to begin with?

I think as is it's pretty borderline. This at least adds some rp element to it. Letting them have a little firepower also let's them have the chance of serving as an escort as well.

The tender doesn't have to be super maneuverable or have a super hull. The energy I suggested doesn't allow for firing ALL the guns and especially doesn't allow for the firing of the big capitol guns.

Examples:
You could mix fighter turrets and gun and torps as desired and fire the equivalent of a fighter combo of guns or a transport's. Nothing sepcial there and no manueverability to accelerate or track targets/shots with. Mounting most guns on opposite ends, dilutes their effectiveness as well...try firing a torp at a fighter to your rear while moving away from it for example.

You could fire three gunboat turrets--at the lower end--and be out of energy--firing nothing else.

You could mount and fire two sunslayers and have enough power to fire a few transport or lower turrets.

You could fire a single cruiser turret and that really is just for novelty and fun--you aren't getting a lot of effect--there isn't enough power to fire a missile or razor or pulse--just the basic turret.

There isn't enough energy for razors or supernova cannons or infernos and the like to be fired. One minirazor could--big whoop.

All this does is make it "intersting" when such a ship is engaged. Each captain would have something different and could make unusual weapons groups--but with a slow regen and average hull/shield, he's not going to be much of a gunboat. If you use WWII analogies and call a Freelancer gunboat a "destroyer" this is the equivalent of a WWII corvette relatively. Corvette's were light ships with some destroyer weapons but limited combat ability (wooden hulls for example). More a deterent to subs loitering and firing at will than an actual "hunter-killer" ship or strong escort.

Regarding the above post--the "Q-ship" version is more like the one you describe. Using WWII analogies again. the Hood was a "fast" battleship. It sacrificed armor for speed and extra firepower. Didn't do so well against another battleship alone but was a real suprise for commerrce raiders and the like less well armed. Same principle. The commerce raider version would require more attention to balancing.

Glad to see someone with a navy mind, thanks;)

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