One word.

Vigil-class corvette

Ok, 3 words... ;p

Stone,

There were rather a lot of imperial ships smaller than star destroyers. They had patrol boats, and frigates and both sides used nebuloun B cruisers. It wouldn't simulate a full up engagement but I can absolutely see a run supplies past the local patrol scenario.

I realize if we go out into the EU, we find this kind of stuff. I'm pointing out that just isn't the feel of the Empire in the movies. What the Rebels (in this game) are calling huge ships, the Empire uses to haul cargo and supplies.

That being said, the two HUGE ships for the Rebels ARE transport and personnel freighters. In the Civil War, the Rebels are always shown on the defensive. (except for the second Death Star battle... but even that was a trap) The Empire would not send transport ship into harms way. As the aggressors (and that is how they play in this game) they would only send military units. The Empire thought so little of the Rebel's attack on the first Death Star that they didn't even launch a counter attack. They just used the defense systems of the station itself. It was Vader who took it upon himself to go out with his Black squad.

But again, bombers and ties are all the Empire feels it needs in these space battles. I also again state I could be wrong about FFG's Epic plans for the Empire. Just my two cents.

I can see what you are saying but for me an epic imp ship would help with suspension of disbelief. Ties have no hyperdrive, so either all fights are the Rebs bringing it to the man, or there is a base ship hanging back somewhere hoping a few ties can solve a problem it could certainly do a better job of itself.

A small transport tie carrier would be awesome.

A small transport tie carrier would be awesome.

A carrier of some sort would be pretty cool, and really help distinguish the rebel and imperial huge ships, but I am not sure what they could do mechanically to simulate a carrier that wouldn't be too complex, too powerful, or just lame.

I envision a tie transport being a support vessel, similar to the rebel transport, but with more emphasis on ewar and less on durability. Something you would keep a screen of ties between it and the enemy.

Yeah, but I would really like for TIEs to be able to spend an action to dock with it for...some reason, I just can't think of what you could do in a game.

Yeah, but I would really like for TIEs to be able to spend an action to dock with it for...some reason, I just can't think of what you could do in a game.

Repair action perhaps?

Yeah, but I would really like for TIEs to be able to spend an action to dock with it for...some reason, I just can't think of what you could do in a game.

Repair action perhaps?

Perhaps the TIEs that are docked are under the carrier's shields and can't be attacked until those shields are taken down. Would allow a huge ship to get in and behind a fleet before spewing it's forces behind them.

My vote would be for the Victory II frigates (Not the Victory II SD's!) and the Action V / Action IV Transports.

Both ships would be easily represented in the current Epic Ship scale, comparable to their counterparts, and provide the visual distinctness of the Empire vs Rebellion while providing similar roles.

CR90: 150m : Rebel Gunship

Victory II: ~150m : Imperial Escourt/Gunship

GR75: 90m : Rebel Transport

Action V: 115m : Imperial Transport

Action IV: 125m : Imperial Transport

We have already seen Victory II's and CR90s on the same Battlefield (II), so it wouldn't be an uncommon sight to see them skirmishing with their fighter escourts.

Stone,

There were rather a lot of imperial ships smaller than star destroyers. They had patrol boats, and frigates and both sides used nebuloun B cruisers. It wouldn't simulate a full up engagement but I can absolutely see a run supplies past the local patrol scenario.

I realize if we go out into the EU, we find this kind of stuff. I'm pointing out that just isn't the feel of the Empire in the movies. What the Rebels (in this game) are calling huge ships, the Empire uses to haul cargo and supplies.

That being said, the two HUGE ships for the Rebels ARE transport and personnel freighters. In the Civil War, the Rebels are always shown on the defensive. (except for the second Death Star battle... but even that was a trap) The Empire would not send transport ship into harms way. As the aggressors (and that is how they play in this game) they would only send military units. The Empire thought so little of the Rebel's attack on the first Death Star that they didn't even launch a counter attack. They just used the defense systems of the station itself. It was Vader who took it upon himself to go out with his Black squad.

But again, bombers and ties are all the Empire feels it needs in these space battles. I also again state I could be wrong about FFG's Epic plans for the Empire. Just my two cents.

I can see what you are saying but for me an epic imp ship would help with suspension of disbelief. Ties have no hyperdrive, so either all fights are the Rebs bringing it to the man, or there is a base ship hanging back somewhere hoping a few ties can solve a problem it could certainly do a better job of itself.

A small transport tie carrier would be awesome.

The Imperial Escort Carrier.

It shows up in a few books featuring rogue squadron, and is a light carrier used by the Imperial Storm Commandoes (since they do special operations, and need something faster, smaller and handier than a destroyer). It's pretty much corvette sized.

They're big but not stupdly huge, and have an interna launch bay - I like the Gozanti but the problem with it is that putting TIEs to scale on its external launch racks would make the difference in scale between large and huge ships much more noticable.

Plus, it's a way to introduce the storm commandoes into the game - who have their own background, named characters, and their own custom fighter - the TIE Hunter:

Although they would also carry standard TIE fighters as well.

The idea of a carrier is an interesting one. Either introduce the ability to hold things in reserve, or allow you to 'respawn' some casualties (albeit not unique pilots).

Well...

If FFG was willing to go ridiculous, we could have Victory class Star Destroyers that are ~3-4 times the size of Corellion Corvettes

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Victory_I-class_Star_Destroyer

Make it 3 feet long and 200$..

With lights, it should light up.

I could also see an Acclamator Class at twice the size of a CR90

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Acclamator_I-class_assault_ship

Only issue is that the Victory are listed at 900m, which would be 8x larger than a corvette, and the acclamator is listed at 750m, or 6x larger than a corvette. And then the width is huge too. People have been saying epic scale is 1:400 for the GR-75, which would make these things almost 2 meters or more long, way, way too big.

Edit:Ha, 'ed by gecko. Totally missed your post above

Assuming FFG is going to release some sort of Imperial transport equivalent (probably a bad assumption), I'd like to see the BFF1 bulk freighter. I played the video games a ton and would like to see this ship as the GR-75 counterpart

No problem, good to see someone else on the same wavelength! Nice image too!

Well...

If FFG was willing to go ridiculous, we could have Victory class Star Destroyers that are ~3-4 times the size of Corellion Corvettes

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Victory_I-class_Star_Destroyer

Make it 3 feet long and 200$...

Only issue is that the Victory are listed at 900m, which would be 8x larger than a corvette, and the acclamator is listed at 750m, or 6x larger than a corvette. And then the width is huge too. People have been saying epic scale is 1:400 for the GR-75, which would make these things almost 2 meters or more long, way, way too big.

It's a big issue, but it's far from the only one. What you have to bear in mind is that a 3' long Star Destroyer is likely to also be approximately 1' wide at the engine/bridge block, and at least 1/2 foot tall. Anyone here know how much surface area that would cover? Anyone like to calculate the volume of the model? Hint: you'd probably need to mount it on at least twelve Large ship bases. Arranged in a pyramid. With gaps in between them.

$200? Don't make me laugh. Triple that figure and you might not be too far off the mark.

And it would still be hopelessly out of scale compared to every other ship in the game.

Imma gonna leave this here, just to hammer the point home...

Let's try one more size: two and a half feet:

There we go! That looks really good! We can move around the board, with some difficulty, and even shoot! Perfect solution, right?

Well . . . no.

We're talking about scale as well. It's still going to be a monster to pay for. The volume is roughly eight or nine times that of the CR90, and the complexity much more so. It would likely be in the $500-700 range, minimum. Sure, you could save up that much, I suppose. Not all of us have that much disposable income, though. I've been saving up for a $500 Star Destroyer model for five years now. I still haven't got it. There have been too many expenses along the way that come first: doctor bills, car repairs, speeding tickets, and many other things. Not to mention all my X-wing miniatures! But cost aside, would this be a good representative to one of the Empire's signature vessels? Look at the comparison between the CR90-scaled behemoth and the "ideal" size:

I'm not sure the bulk freighter's the most exciting thing, but if we get it we *absolutely* need to be able to zip through the center! I always did that in the computer games while waiting for things to happen.

I'm not sure the bulk freighter's the most exciting thing, but if we get it we *absolutely* need to be able to zip through the center! I always did that in the computer games while waiting for things to happen.

True, it's not the most exciting ship around but I don't feel that the GR-75 is either.

For me (and I imagine many who played the PC games) it is every bit as iconic as the rebel transport. If FFG makes an Imperial transport, I hope the BFF-1 is it. However, I won't pitch a fit if they don't make it or do something different.

Also, I would house rule that you could fly right through the middle of it and not overlap anything provided you make it all the way through.

True, it's not the most exciting ship around but I don't feel that the GR-75 is either.

For me (and I imagine many who played the PC games) it is every bit as iconic as the rebel transport. If FFG makes an Imperial transport, I hope the BFF-1 is it. However, I won't pitch a fit if they don't make it or do something different...

That's pretty much how I feel. I spent countless hours on the old X-Wing games destroying, disabling and protecting the good ol' BFF-1 Freighter - and the cargo containers they were used to transport.

The way I see it, the BFF-1 is perfect not only as an Imperial equivalent to the Rebel Transport - a big, unarmed support ship which relies on it's starfighter screen for direct protection - but also capable of filling other roles in the game.

Ship it in a box of five (fully assembled and painted, of course) snap-fit parts - the Bulk Freighter itself and the four Class-A Cargo Containers it carries, alongside an Epic base and four small bases. Voila - you have an Epic-scale Imperial Ship AND four usable objectives for the narrative campaigns. No more cardboard objective tokens!

Yeah, but I would really like for TIEs to be able to spend an action to dock with it for...some reason, I just can't think of what you could do in a game.

Scale is an issue, someone mentioned, but what about an ability that allows up to four ships to start within range 1 of either of it's bases instead of the edge of yhe play area?

Good discussion. I'm betting on something like the Vigil-class corvette. It's got that Imperial look, but is still small enough to maneuver around a 6'x3' play area.

Question is, how many Epic points do you think it will cost? I'm guessing all 5. That would make the Empire really stand out as the superior military force!

Good discussion. I'm betting on something like the Vigil-class corvette. It's got that Imperial look, but is still small enough to maneuver around a 6'x3' play area.

Question is, how many Epic points do you think it will cost? I'm guessing all 5. That would make the Empire really stand out as the superior military force!

Let's say FFG makes both an Imperial transport (2 epic points) and something like the Vigil (say 4 or 5). That means the only way to run a two huge ship list is two transports. I wonder how that would match up against a GR & CR list. Either that or the Vigil-type would have to be 3 points.

If the Vigil-type ship is to be 5 points, I think it should be comparable to both the GR & CR together. That would be quite a ship!

I'm not saying one way is better than the other. I'm just curious what they have planned.

I would like a five point Vigil because fun.

Although, that would probably mean no Imp transport, and no BFF-1.

The other option would be to have a 4 pt ship and allow something non,shipie or such to be purchased with the remaining points.

Kinda small, but I've come close to clicking buy on this a couple times: http://www.shapeways.com/model/955421/bbf1-bulk-freighter-ship-only.html?li=search-results&materialId=6

I do think the transport's more iconic, since it's from the movie, but I do love that bulk freighter. Then I want to board them with these dudes: http://www.shapeways.com/model/893548/dx9-stormtrooper-transport.html?li=search-results&materialId=6

I'd put my money on the Gozanti cruiser. It a nice size for a huge ship and it'll be great as a strong Tie support craft with guns to fend itself. It also makes more sense from a marketing standpoint as it ties-in well with the new Rebel's tv series. Plus, its not a bad looking ship too:)

I think our closest hope to seeing an ISD style huge ship for the game is the previously mentioned Vigil-class corvette. At 255m long, I think it's doable. Just take a look at the pictures!

Beautiful!!!

For my second choice, I'd take the Tartan-class patrol cruiser

It is beautiful. Also however, a fan-made design - which may potentially lead to licensing / copyright issues, especially following the recent EU announcements by Disney (they will no doubt be looking to protect their big investment in the franchise).

Question is, how many Epic points do you think it will cost? I'm guessing all 5. That would make the Empire really stand out as the superior military force!

Let's say FFG makes both an Imperial transport (2 epic points) and something like the Vigil (say 4 or 5). That means the only way to run a two huge ship list is two transports. I wonder how that would match up against a GR & CR list. Either that or the Vigil-type would have to be 3 points.

If the Vigil-type ship is to be 5 points, I think it should be comparable to both the GR & CR together. That would be quite a ship!

I'm not saying one way is better than the other. I'm just curious what they have planned.

I would like a five point Vigil because fun.

Although, that would probably mean no Imp transport, and no BFF-1.

Nothing to say that the Imperial Corvette-equivalent could be 4 Epic points, and the Imperial Transport could be 1...

It is beautiful. Also however, a fan-made design - which may potentially lead to licensing / copyright issues, especially following the recent EU announcements by Disney (they will no doubt be looking to protect their big investment in the franchise).

Actually, it's not.

It's made by Ansel "Fructose" Hsaio, who also made several other Star Destroyers like the Bellator-class Star Dreadnaught and Allegiance-class battlecruiser. His ships were previously fanon, but they were canonized in The Essential Guide to Warfare. That book may or may not still be canon, but until it's declared non-canon the Vigil-class is a canon warship design.

It is beautiful. Also however, a fan-made design - which may potentially lead to licensing / copyright issues, especially following the recent EU announcements by Disney (they will no doubt be looking to protect their big investment in the franchise).

Actually, it's not.

It's made by Ansel "Fructose" Hsaio, who also made several other Star Destroyers like the Bellator-class Star Dreadnaught and Allegiance-class battlecruiser. His ships were previously fanon, but they were canonized in The Essential Guide to Warfare. That book may or may not still be canon, but until it's declared non-canon the Vigil-class is a canon warship design.

Refutes my point, then goes on to prove it!

Unless Ansel "Fructose" Hsaio was actually in the employ of Lucasarts/Disney and contracted to produce the design for use within the Star Wars franchise, then officially recognised or "canonized" within a particular piece of literature or not, it's still a fan-made design. And as a fan-made design, licensing and copyright issues may raise their head when it comes to profiting from that design.

Suppose FFG produces a model based on Mr Hsaio's design, and goes on to produce and sell hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of them - would Mr Hsaio - having never been officially employed to produce said design for the Star Wars franchise on a commercial basis in the first place - not be entitled to some form of compensation?

Copyright and intellectual property is rarely so straightforward, and it becomes even more convoluted with Disney's current stance on the Expanded Universe.