Elessar2590's Darkstar Campaign
The Mythical Von Zeiten Class Light Cruiser
Although it is a Newer Model of Ship the Von Zieten Class Light Cruiser has been Dispatched to so many Prussian Fleets it's not Surprising to see them Alongside Older Ships.
The Von Zieten Sports Not One, Not Two but Three of the Scharnhorst Pattern Turrets and is Truly a Marvel of Prussian Engineering. The Von Zietens's are Little More than Gun Platforms with Life Support Systems. They are Quickly Built in the Shipyards until the bare Minimum Requirements for Space Travel have been Completed at which Time it is loaded into a Carriage Device and Dispatched to it's Posting.
While En-Route to it's Posting the Rest of the Ship is Constructed. Luxuries like Permanent Bedding, Weapon Systems and The Engines are Built One by One Until the Ship is Finished and Ready for Duty.
In a Desperate Attempt to get their New Ship out to as Many Battle Groups as Possible the Prussians Modified a Standard Docking Port to be both a Method of Transportation and a Construction Depot. All the Resources Required to Finish the Ship are Placed in the "Cradle" and while not ideal it is not Impossible to Finish Almost all the Ship's interior in Space.
The Ship's Design is Little More than a Rectangle with Two Docking Slots and a Safety Wedge Cut into the Hull. The Only Concession made to Self Defence aboard the Von Zieten's is the Hanger located at the Front of the Ship from Which a Variety of Small Ships can be Launched.Once Construction is Finished the Safety Wedge is Disconnected and Allowed to Float Away Before the Engines are Fired and the Ship Slides out of the Cradle. The Von Zieten is Ready for Duty.
The Older Model U-Boats have a Curious new Feature. They have a Large Electro Magnetic Plate that can be Activated in the Case of a Dud Torpedo. If an Older Torpedo is Launched and Fails to Self Propel then the Magnet is Activated and the Torpedo Harmlessly Attaches itself via it's Rear Fins and is Harmlessly Detonated with an Electrical Pulse.
See, @elessar2590 – this is a big reason why I don’t even try to draw every class of warship. One, it would take me 20 years, and two … I always get a huge kick out of seeing other people visualize Darkstar warships. I love the idea of hurried modular design, of the Prussians desperately trying to mass-produce a fleet so far from their primary bases and facilities.
Let me know if you ever want to get together and “design” these classes in the actual rules, give them weapons and shields and actual game values.
That would be great. Are you free at the usual time tomorrow/this afternoon?