First Time(s) Designing

[Kytuzian (OP)]

This is more or less my first time ever designing a combat ship, so I would like to see if it is good/good enough/bad.     Any advice would be appreciated.   

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Tocale class Fighter Interceptor    460 tons     17 Crew     65.6 BP      TCS 9.2  TH 15  EM 0
1630 km/s     Armour 1-5     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 1     PPV 4
Maint Life 45.01 Years     MSP 89    AFR 1%    IFR 0%    1YR 0    5YR 1    Max Repair 12 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 5 months    Spare Berths 0    

Pilum FTR Mk II (2)    Power 7.5    Fuel Use 245.53%    Signature 7.5    Exp 15%
Fuel Capacity 20,000 Litres    Range 3.2 billion km   (22 days at full power)

FTR Pilum Mk III (2x3)    Range 30,000km     TS: 1630 km/s     Accuracy Modifier 33%     RM 3    ROF 5        1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FTR Interceptor Gauss Fire Control (24km) (1)    Max Range: 48,000 km   TS: 5000 km/s     79 58 38 17 0 0 0 0 0 0

This design is classed as a Fighter for production, combat and maintenance purposes


[Evanissimo]

Well I can say this is better than the first ships I designed, but there are quite a few issues.
1. What engine tech level are you at, because that is a really slow interceptor.
2. Are you using a mothership with active sensors, because unless you are launching off of a planet you won't be able to lock on to targets no matter how close they are, and i'm not even sure planetary sensors can lock on either.
3. Is the deployment time of 5 months intentional? A significant decrease in needed crew and crew space is given at values less than 0.1 months (3 days).
4. Have you researched miniturization techs for your engineering spaces or your fuel tanks? Because you don't need 45 years of Maint. Life probably, and you can easily meet your max. repair value on smaller engineering space sizes.

[Kytuzian (OP)]

1.    I just have Nuclear Thermal Engines, although I'm working on the Pebble-bed reactors for the next level.   
2.    I am designing a mothership with active sensors.   
3.    The deployment time of 5 months was because I wanted it to be exactly 500 tons (for some reason), so I increased the deployment time to get there.    I got some new tech and whatnot, and it got lowered down to 460.   
4.    I haven't for either.   

EDIT:

Okay, so here is my redesigned fighter:

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Tocale class Fighter Interceptor    425 tons     14 Crew     57 BP      TCS 8.5  TH 36  EM 0
4235 km/s     Armour 1-5     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 0     PPV 4
Maint Life 3.87 Years     MSP 8    AFR 14%    IFR 0.2%    1YR 1    5YR 13    Max Repair 12 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 1 months    Spare Berths 1   

FTR Pilum Mk III Engine (3)    Power 12    Fuel Use 218.25%    Signature 12    Exp 15%
Fuel Capacity 5,000 Litres    Range 1.0 billion km   (63 hours at full power)

FTR Pilum Mk III (2x3)    Range 30,000km     TS: 4235 km/s     Accuracy Modifier 33%     RM 3    ROF 5        1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FTR Interceptor Gauss Fire Control (24km) (1)    Max Range: 48,000 km   TS: 5000 km/s     79 58 38 17 0 0 0 0 0 0

This design is classed as a Fighter for production, combat and maintenance purposes

And the first design for the mothership:

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Zenzontle class Cruiser    44,050 tons     1130 Crew     5499 BP      TCS 881  TH 900  EM 1500
1021 km/s     Armour 6-111     Shields 50-300     Sensors 1/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 25     PPV 200
Maint Life 3.33 Years     MSP 1951    AFR 620%    IFR 8.6%    1YR 267    5YR 3998    Max Repair 90 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 36 months    Flight Crew Berths 1   
Hangar Deck Capacity 7000 tons     Magazine 1700   

Gladius Mk II (5)    Power 180    Fuel Use 187.39%    Signature 180    Exp 15%
Fuel Capacity 3,750,000 Litres    Range 8.2 billion km   (92 days at full power)
R300/FC432 Testudo Mk II Shields (25)   Total Fuel Cost  450 Litres per hour  (10,800 per day)

CIWS Scipio (10x6)    Range 1000 km     TS: 5000 km/s     ROF 5       Base 50% To Hit
Pilum Missile Launcher Mk I (20)    Missile Size 10    Rate of Fire 300
Pilum MFC Mk II (2)     Range 36.0m km    Resolution 100
Pilum Mk I (170)  Speed: 3,000 km/s   End: 184.2m    Range: 33.2m km   WH: 10    Size: 10    TH: 10/6/3

Publius Search Sensor (1)     GPS 7200     Range 36.0m km    Resolution 100

Strike Group
11x Tocale Fighter Interceptor   Speed: 4235 km/s    Size: 8.5

Missile to hit chances are vs targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes

And a draft for a smaller, cheaper ship, to operate independently or with a Zenzontle.

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Tecotecale class Defense Craft    4,600 tons     141 Crew     604 BP      TCS 92  TH 180  EM 0
1956 km/s     Armour 3-24     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 3     PPV 20
Maint Life 4.14 Years     MSP 246    AFR 56%    IFR 0.8%    1YR 23    5YR 344    Max Repair 90 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 48 months    Spare Berths 0   
Magazine 170   

Gladius Mk II (1)    Power 180    Fuel Use 187.39%    Signature 180    Exp 15%
Fuel Capacity 50,000 Litres    Range 1.0 billion km   (6 days at full power)

CIWS Scipio (2x6)    Range 1000 km     TS: 5000 km/s     ROF 5       Base 50% To Hit
Pilum Missile Launcher Mk I (2)    Missile Size 10    Rate of Fire 300
Pilum MFC Mk II (1)     Range 36.0m km    Resolution 100
Pilum Mk I (17)  Speed: 3,000 km/s   End: 184.2m    Range: 33.2m km   WH: 10    Size: 10    TH: 10/6/3

Publius Search Sensor (1)     GPS 7200     Range 36.0m km    Resolution 100

Missile to hit chances are vs targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes


[sneer]

maybe this is only my personal point of view but I find building fighters with low tech pointless
it is much easier to find use for outdated 5-10kt ship than outdated fighters
especially when ships are missile ones

fighters start shine after  level 3-4 engines and near max engines efficiency

[Kytuzian (OP)]

Okay, well I'll probably make some fighters anyway, but what is max engine efficiency?

[Vandermeer]

He means the power factor. Fighters' role excels because they are a way to have really fast craft on the battlefield without having extremely short travel times for your fleet, as instead of having your main combatants drain the tanks so fast, you merely dispatch a part of them and have that one burn only portions. ...But this role can of course only be fulfilled if you have at least those factor 2 or better x3 engines going (powergaming: x2.95 to save crew). Else they are pretty much only the same ships you already got, except brittle and easier to decimate + you've got to give up space on other ships anyway to carry them around. Makes no sense.
You could stealthily evade detection with those though, so recon craft might be feasible even in early era. But not combatants.

[ComradeMicha]

Hi there,

first of all: You are going with an Aztec/Maya theme? How curious!

The new interceptor looks much better, but as Evanissimo suggested, I would cut the Intended Deployment Time down to 0. 1 months.  The reason is that fighters live or die with their speed, and speed is determined by Engine Power per ton.  Thus every ton you save is speed you gain!

That's why people are suggesting to research better engines and lighter modules.  As fighters typically only fly for some hours, you don't need more than a few days of deployment time.  Just make sure to have the carriers provide extra accomodation for the fighter crews.

[Kytuzian (OP)]

Yes, it's the Aztec naming theme thingy.  Unfortunately I don't really know any Aztec names so I'm not doing the same for my designed ship components.

And also, the newest version of the fighter:

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Tocale - Refit class Fighter Interceptor    485 tons     4 Crew     114 BP      TCS 9.7  TH 72  EM 0
9896 km/s     Armour 1-5     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 0     PPV 4
Maint Life 3.99 Years     MSP 15    AFR 18%    IFR 0.3%    1YR 2    5YR 23    Max Repair 16 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 0.1 months    Spare Berths 6   

FTR Pilum Mk III IDTE (4)    Power 24    Fuel Use 392.02%    Signature 18    Exp 20%
Fuel Capacity 25,000 Litres    Range 2.4 billion km   (66 hours at full power)

FTR Marius Mk I Gauss Cannon (2x4)    Range 40,000km     TS: 9896 km/s     Accuracy Modifier 33%     RM 4    ROF 5        1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
FTR Interceptor Gauss Fire Control (24km) (1)    Max Range: 48,000 km   TS: 5000 km/s     79 58 38 17 0 0 0 0 0 0

This design is classed as a Fighter for production, combat and maintenance purposes


[Barkhorn]

That is a much better fighter.  Still more maintenance time than you need, and your fire control tracking speed is pretty low, especially if you plan on using these against enemy fighters.  I recommend removing any engineering spaces entirely, your fighters shouldn't be deployed long enough to repair themselves anyways, and with the weight you save from that, beefing up the FC for higher tracking speed.

[Kytuzian (OP)]

Okay, thanks for the advice.

Also, is there a battle simulator or something I can use to test stuff?

[Brian Neumann]

No battle simulator unfortunately.  About the best you can do is to make a new game, give yourself all the techs you want design the ship and try it out against another race where you control them as well.  When done switch back to the game you are actually playing.

One question?  are you using the fighter only fire control.  If not then you really need to as it gives you a x4 speed modifier without using any extra space.  When you are designing the fire control look down at the bottom pull down menu to check.

Brian

[Kytuzian (OP)]

Alright then, I'll try that out.

And I was not, did not know what that option did.  Here is (hopefully) the final design, with muchly improved tracking speed and no engineering spaces.

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Tocale - Refit class Fighter Interceptor    485 tons     3 Crew     121 BP      TCS 9.7  TH 72  EM 0
9896 km/s     Armour 1-5     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 0     PPV 4
Maint Life 0 Years     MSP 0    AFR 97%    IFR 1.3%    1YR 9    5YR 132    Max Repair 16 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 0.1 months    Spare Berths 7   

FTR Pilum Mk III IDTE (4)    Power 24    Fuel Use 392.02%    Signature 18    Exp 20%
Fuel Capacity 25,000 Litres    Range 2.4 billion km   (66 hours at full power)

FTR Marius Mk I Gauss Cannon (2x4)    Range 40,000km     TS: 9896 km/s     Accuracy Modifier 33%     RM 4    ROF 5        1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
FTR Gauss Cannon FC Mk IV (1)    Max Range: 64,000 km   TS: 10000 km/s     84 69 53 37 22 6 0 0 0 0

This design is classed as a Fighter for production, combat and maintenance purposes

Thanks!

[NihilRex]

Just a note - once you recover your fighters, by flying back themselves or having the Carrier absorb them and using the dock command on the F12 screen, Any damage control that needs to be done will be done with the carriers MSP.

[Theodidactus]

I'm not as good as these guys for advice on actually building the ships but if you're looking for a good source for a lot of mayan names with portentious secondary meaning, check out the "Popul Vuh"

[drmzsz7]

I'm not as good as these guys for advice on actually building the ships but if you're looking for a good source for a lot of mayan names with portentious secondary meaning, check out the "Popul Vuh"

been looking for the popul vuh for quite some time after reading the book Phobos, never found, and never thought i'd find the link here, on a ship designing page for a 4x game : p Kudos to you good sir, kudos!