Federation Commander

cnuzzi · Lieutenant Commander Joined: 10 Jun 2017 Posts: 209

What does the M in the Fed Middle Years DDM stand for? Is it just to designate it as a Middle Years ship?

djdood · Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2017 9:59 pm Post subject:

Yup.

Technically, it's the "original version of the DD" (with two photons), but was published decades after the version we all know and love (and sometimes hate).
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ElizabethB · Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2017 1:51 am Post subject:

Didn't the original SFB version have four photons?

djdood · Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2017 2:18 am Post subject:

*Originally published version* has four photons, yes.

Decades later, ADB translated more Air Force tapes and discovered that it, in-universe, it was originally built with two and the "Franz Joseph DD" we all know (with 4) was a refit of it.
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cnuzzi · Lieutenant Commander Joined: 10 Jun 2017 Posts: 209

Two photons makes sense - otherwise it is too close to the Middle Years CA. Plus, with one nacelle, four photons would mean a serious power curve issue. You would be at baseline 0 if you want overloads.

ecs05norway · Lieutenant JG Joined: 09 Aug 2012 Posts: 87

I kind of like the suggested "four mini-photons" DD from SSJ1, but that's apparently not gonna fly. Two regular photons is pretty much the same firepower, so....

cnuzzi · Lieutenant Commander Joined: 10 Jun 2017 Posts: 209

Never heard of those! What are they, warhead = 4, overload to 6 or 8, costs cut in half across the board, single turn arm for 2 power?

mjwest · Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2017 2:52 pm Post subject:

ElizabethB · Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2017 3:11 pm Post subject:

Sneaky Scot · Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2017 11:27 am Post subject:

I have a vague recollection that the Federal Republic of Aurora over in the Omega sector used altered scale photons - no doubt Gary C will be able to provide a more knowledgeable answer!
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Nothing is quite as persuasive as a disruptor pistol on slow burn and a rotisserie......

ElizabethB · Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2017 12:20 am Post subject:

Nerroth · Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2017 2:55 am Post subject:

In Federation Commander terms, altered-scale photon torpedoes are listed under (4ΩF) in the FC Omega Playtest Rulebook.

It's worth noting that the Auroran Navy often used more than one scale of photon torpedo on the same hull, though not all three at once. For example, of the playtest FRA ships currently part of the FC Omega project, the armored cruiser has 2 standard photons in the FA arc, 1 light photon to LF+L, and one light photon to RF+R. Of those Auroran ships still only in SFB (for now, at least), the battlecruiser has three standard and two light photons, whereas the dreadnought has four standard and two heavy photons.

Alternatively, some Auroran hulls use light photons to increase their arming flexibility. So, rather than having the one standard photon of the Federation police cutter it was derived from, the Auroran frigate has two light photons instead; while the CL-sized FRA strike carrier (over in SFB) has four light photons.

In addition, the "hybrid" FRA destroyers and destroyer leaders (also SFB-only for the time being) use a mix of light photon and disruptor armament, to reflect their merging of Federation and Klingon hull types. (The DD and DDL have the boom and warp engines of an F5C.)
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FC Omega Discussion (v3)
FC LMC Discussion

Magnum357 · Lieutenant Commander Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Posts: 223

Interesting. Is it possible the DDM was a prototype built in another region of space?

As for all this Photon Talk, I have a custom race that borders Starfleet that uses an alternate form of a Photon Laucher. Its basically somewhat a light photon but has some slight differences compared to the list above.