' Wrote:"When the Zoners constructed their gunboat, a more offensive variant prototype was developed at the same time. This design was then secretly shared with the Order"
So the Zoners designed it, and then SHARED this design with the Order.
Zoners should therefore still be building it.
And also, the whole 'Zoners are neutral so they dont need well armed ships' argument is completely bogus. Neutrality isnt some concrete and self-supporting thing, it needs backup,
In short, they need the capabilities to ward of any possible hegemonic force and to retain control over their own destiny.
More to the point, zoners operate some of the most advanced and extensive research facilities in Sirius. With that kind of talent on tap, why on earth would they build an inferior ship!?
What I would ideally like is for the Conference to get a cargo bay boost (which would actually make it a worthwhile step-up from the Dromedary), and have the Hathor also as a 2nd Zoner (and Order, obviously) gunboat , used more in fleet operations and freeport defence.
What he said... :yahoo:
Alternately, in addition to a actual replacement for the Dromedary in form of a Conference with usable cargospace... how about a Conference variant - i.e. named Constable - with 1 mine layer, 6 guns and slightly increased powerplant (while having slightly less agility and cargospace en pair with other GBs) designed as an agile defensive gunboat?
