TOS Miranda Version 5

The existence of an "original series" version of the Miranda class is NOT cannon to the star-trek universe, and is a matter of some debate among the Trek geeks. It is not my intent to express an opinion, just to build a fun and pretty ship.  My previous build of this ship was based more closely on the Reliant from the Wrath of Khan.  This version is a lot closer to the TOS styling and vision of Matt Jeffries.

Whatever Happened to the Galaxy?

I'm not really doing anything right now with the Galaxy Class.  I'm deliberately taking a break from it while the dust settles with the new game dynamics, new blocks, new weapons systems, etc... It's way too big a project to rework every time the game changes.

So here it sits, waiting for me to get back to it.

Refacing Miranda

So here I go with my first major effort with StarMade version 0.1.

I'm starting out by reworking my TOS Miranda.  She has essentially the same primary hull as the rest of the fleet, so she'll let me know what I'm in for.

TOS Miranda: Partially Reworked

The new Pent and Tet blocks provide a noticeably smoother and more modeled structure.  At a distance, the improvement isn't overwhelming.  Up close it makes a world of difference.  Check out the images of the lower dome below.  The effect would be even smoother and prettier, but the beveled edge of the pent gets shadowed when there are blocks on either side, even if they don't obscure that face at all.  This makes for a rather jagged look with the row of shadowed triangles marring what should be a smooth face.

StarMade 0.1 : Pents and Tets and Mysterious Bars

The new version of StarMade is out, for testing at least.

Blocks:

I'm really digging the new blocks.  As I've been working a lot with the StarTrek franchise ships, I make a LOT of discus-shaped saucer sections.  The broad curved contours have forced me into some unfortunate concessions where my hulls take on sort of a terraced look wherever the contour isn't directly between two cardinal directions.   I'm really enjoying how I can now smooth those terraces.   The down-side, at the moment at least, is that the lighting is inconsistent across surfaces.  I can make a double row of pents and tets such that structurally, I have created a single smooth surface... But the pents will reflect full-light while the tets seem to be in shadow.   I'm certain this is a temporary problem, and the most insignificant of gripes next to the STUNNING change-log of this release.

Star Trek 1:1 Automated Weapons Platforms

The Automated Weapons Platform (AWP) is an attempt to build the combat capabilities of a main-line starship into a framework which is inexpensive, customizable, and  functionally disposable. The AWP series are purpose built, from existing mass-produced parts.  The reactor and engineering section is from a sublight tug.  The nacelles are standard for light scouts of the era.  The turrets are standard base turrets.  Redundant deflectors allow the craft to more easily push through combat debris like a  heavier craft.

Refit this!

Having now graduated (with honors, thank you, (takes a bow))  I will likely resume my shipbuilding ways.    On the other hand, I am holding off until  Schema finishes this next release.  Those two new blocks of his will likely affect some of my design decisions.

As I resume, I will probably not be building (m)any new ships for a bit.  I'm going to make a rebuild/refit run through all the ships I have already created.

They need:

• Improved Armor.
• Improved Shielding
• Weapons Tuning
• Bunkered cores
• Off-axis computer placement
• Aesthetic enhancement with new blocks.
• Bounce tubes to replace ramps.

Current projects that might get some love while I do my refits:

• TOS Romulan (cloaking)
• TOS Romulan (pretty, non-cloaking)
• Enterprise D (long term project)
• Constellation class (mini-carrier, great for mobile faction base)
• Combat drone series (Thoroughly non-canon. Trek-styled automated gunships to hunt, kill, and supplant the venerable Migraine Triggers

Weapons balance

These last couple days I've been playing with weapons balance in response to the new AM cannon rules.  Whoah baby, have I learned a trick or two.  I used to think big gun=more boom= better. Nope.  If you put 100 Pont's of damage on a block it breaks.  If you put 1000 points on it... It still just breaks and none of the damage is transferred to neighboring blocks.  My test platform has been a refitted TOS Miranda. I am removing her big AM arrays and replacing them with a bunch of smaller arrays each tuned as closely as possible to remove a single block with every impact.  The arrays in each meta-array are lined up longitudinally so the shots follow as much as possible the same trajectory.  Good grief, its a flipping buzz saw.  I can rip through my ballistics gel at least 3 times faster than my previous configuration.  And not once have I hit an energy deficit.  

No,  AM cannons have not been Nerfed to uselessness as far as I can tell.  Try using AM Cannons arrays of about 125 blocks each. More and you are wasting energy at impact.  Less and you are wasting energy at firing point.   

The new version of the Miranda TOS will be out soon.  Seriously, I'm going to have to rebuild the weapons on all my ships.

Good Hunting!