Avalon Class Fed Command craft WIP (Holy thread revival!)

[Villain]

I am thinkin' about a Tactical (/) Command ship. But not a Cruiser, or Frigate, or Carrier... Something -big-. I'm talking slightly smaller than the Excalibur. It's about time we had a ship around that size for massive field command, I think... While the Excalibur can serve many purposes, I dunno, I just don't see it as a command craft for some reason, even though I probably should. I've gone through a bunch of concept drawings, but it seems I'm only good at bizzaro TOS designs (Not because they're simple, they're just fun to toy with).

Now, the idea is that she'll be Slipstream capable, with a rather large focus on <<CANON: Generating Slipstream wake's large enough to support multiple craft (And to work as an early warning buoy much alike the Flyer did)>> She won't be self sufficient, mainly because a command craft that can do that may as well be the Enterprise. So, armed, of course, but not a powerhouse like the Excal (I'm not bashing it, believe me, I love that thing to bits). Maybe a port/starboard thru-deck on the secondary hull, with a compliment of whichever looks good, as I'm completely clueless to the post-Nemesis equivalent to the Killer Bee and/or Peregrine.

Quantum Torpedo compliment (I like the colours, and it makes sense that a command ship would carry recent technology, just not loads of it).. The technologies aren't set in stone yet, and I'm open to suggestions. The Slipstream attachments must be on the front and sides though, and I have some idea of where, once I figure out the hull. I don't want her to be too rounded, but not a triangle either, so I'm thinking a slightly similar outline as the Nova's primary hull, just not as smooth.

It will have two nacelles, without 50% line of sight to each other, but rather housing two coils each. I am assuming that the Excalibur would've used this too as it has the whole split-buzzard thing going on.

Other than that, I can't really think of much. So, suggestions?

I do have a question though. Anybody know how many decks the Excalibur had? I don't want to have a ship with an extra ten decks than the Excal even though it's smaller.

[Dalek]

Prime idea is good! Dalek will supply info. Dalek not sure what info, but Dalek will do this! Dalek does, but Dalek does not understand.

Dalek found site saying Excalibur has 50 decks, but Dalek does not know whether this is reliable source. But there you go.

[gclark03]

Give it 78 decks.

[Villain]

Give it 78 decks.

BIG, not Skyscraper :lol:

Do skyscrapers make sense in space?

[gclark03]

I just know that aerodynamic designs do not.

[Dalek]

78? Thats mad. The place Dalek looked at said 50 decks on the Excalibur!

[Mark]

While the Excalibur can serve many purposes, I dunno, I just don't see it as a command craft for some reason

really? its a carrier but in my mind that includes fleet command duties

[Villain]

While the Excalibur can serve many purposes, I dunno, I just don't see it as a command craft for some reason

really? its a carrier but in my mind that includes fleet command duties

I think it's the fact that it's literally armed to the teeth. I always imagined a command craft to be reasonably armed, but still require the fleet around her. Still, I just like the idea of another giant ship mostly.

[Dawg81]

sounds like u are planning to build a battleship. The through deck on the sec hull is a great idea to launch and recover support craft. My thoughts on the battleship would be that shes armed to the teeth but only has to resupply frequently similar to the ships of WWII

[Villain]

Nah, Battleships are far too armed for this ones purpose. I was at one point thinking of an AWACs dome, like the Phoenix, but concluded it'd look autistic on a ship of it's size. Basically, if the Excalibur is the sword, this would be the shield. I think that sounds right...

[NeoKaede]

Your idea sounds a lot like a mobile Starbase, but smaller and without the ability to service other ships (just it's own fighters). Maybe something with a big and tall saucer, but a small secondary hull. Or even an eliptical saucer that works as primary and secondary hull. You can use the lower half as a full deck, while the upper half houses command end engineering.

[Dalek]

Shame that Arthur didn't give his shield a name isn't it?

[Villain]

Your idea sounds a lot like a mobile Starbase, but smaller and without the ability to service other ships (just it's own fighters). Maybe something with a big and tall saucer, but a small secondary hull. Or even an eliptical saucer that works as primary and secondary hull. You can use the lower half as a full deck, while the upper half houses command end engineering.

An interesting idea. The basic guideline I came up with was that the secondary hull would merge very similar to the Excaliburs, but being a bit taller. I recall reading somewhere here some discussion about a ship having a bridge -and- a command deck, and that idea really grabbed me. Basically, the Bridge would still be in the top-center, and the command deck taking up the front-end of the secondary hull's reach, a deck or two below the Bridge. I do however, want it to follow the Sovvie and Excal feel (Merging both hulls into one, much alike a WWII ship.

This is pretty basic, but it's kinda the shape I was thinking for the primary hull. Secondary is much more placeholder-ish. The Nova-like cutaway is where the main Slipstream Arrays will go (already you should be able to see this would create a large wake). And the small indent on the forward-sides being something like a mould. The things on the top just looked cool for a little. Might see what I can do about them.

As for Arthurs shield.. Yeah. But I don't want this to just be noted as a "Oh, it's an attempt to be the new Excal", or "Prime's trying to get in on the Excals popularity.". I want it to be it's own ship, that would work amazingly well alongside the Excal, and even better in a fleet. I'm more frustrated that Aegis is taken. I'll just go looking through stuff.

EDIT: (Norn sounds too stupid.)

[Dalek]

That is a really really rough idea.

[Shadowknight1]

Okay, sounds interesting, but what makes you think the Excalibur's well armed?  Honestly, I've always seen her as being under-armed for a ship her size, she only has 5 phaser arrays and all of them are forward, port, and starboard facing, and three torpedo turrets.  The Excalibur has almost no aft coverage and if you get right behind her and under the horizontal axis, you can pound away at the bottom of the ship until she finally gives...honestly, I think the Excalibur needs an overhaul HP wise.

As for name suggestion...the scabbard of Excalibur has been referred to on at least one occasion by the name Avalon, and the scabbard worked better than any shield.  Remember, as long as Arthur had it, he could not be harmed in battle, but it was stolen and that's why he died in the fight against Mordred.  So, Avalon.

Or alternatively, Caliburn, the Sword in the Stone.

[CaptainGMAN]

I think the Sovvie/Cent secondary hull would be right with some Akira on it that would look and work good.

And I think Avalon is a very good name.

[Villain]

Okay, sounds interesting, but what makes you think the Excalibur's well armed?  Honestly, I've always seen her as being under-armed for a ship her size, she only has 5 phaser arrays and all of them are forward, port, and starboard facing, and three torpedo turrets.  The Excalibur has almost no aft coverage and if you get right behind her and under the horizontal axis, you can pound away at the bottom of the ship until she finally gives...honestly, I think the Excalibur needs an overhaul HP wise.

As for name suggestion...the scabbard of Excalibur has been referred to on at least one occasion by the name Avalon, and the scabbard worked better than any shield.  Remember, as long as Arthur had it, he could not be harmed in battle, but it was stolen and that's why he died in the fight against Mordred.  So, Avalon.

Or alternatively, Caliburn, the Sword in the Stone.

The Excal has those regenerating torpedo turrets. Hell, I've single-handedly taken out 2 cubes with her, albeit barely.

The names are both brilliant, so now I guess it's just a matter of choosing. Avalon would make for a hell of a name, but Caliburn would too...

I think the Sovvie/Cent secondary hull would be right with some Akira on it that would look and work good.

And I think Avalon is a very good name.

That actually sounds really cool. I'll play around and see what I can come up with!

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

[Dalek]

Well it all sounds good.

[AndrewJ]

Right how I would do this.

First off twice size of the Excalibur, do this big.. full phaser coverage all 360' forward and aft ventral/dorsal quantum torpedo launchers, ablative armor, heavy shields.

[Dalek]

I thought the whole idea was that this was smaller than the Excalibur?

I am thinkin' about a Tactical (/) Command ship. But not a Cruiser, or Frigate, or Carrier... Something -big-. I'm talking slightly smaller than the Excalibur.