Hey there. I was just curious about what we all thought about the VT-49. A model for the ship is being released in the X-Wing minis game soon, alongside the YT-2400. Our party is already flying the 2400, so our GM was excited to be able to get a mini to represent "The Molly". Her name started as a bit of a joke... The Molybdenum Sparrow... Shortened to "The Molly-be-damned"... shortened to "The Molly". Our GM and one of our players are big fans of the X-Wing game, and between them have most if not all of the ships released so far, including the corvette, so we gave some placeholder models for use during space battles.

Anyway, looking at the release, I couldn't help but think that the VT-49 looked like a much more stylish ride. Sure, they're not available to the public. Sure, they're not geared towards general-purpose use, but man, if you're a Bounty Hunter and you roll up to the space port in THAT thing, that's some serious street credibility.

So, difficulties in procurement aside, what kind of stats should go with this thing? If nothing else, so it could make an appearance by a party's enemies. It is probably more fit for AoR, since it's a warship, but it looks like it would work perfectly alongside the Imperial Customs Corvette and Imperial Customs Frigate.

Though, as a PC, I reeeeaaaaallllyyy want to steal one of these things. The Empire wouldn't get all bent out of shape over one little ship, right?

You mean this one, right? At http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/VT-49 ?

The one whose description starts off:

The VT-49 Decimator was a heavily armed Imperial transport that had gone through many revisions and modifications, making it one of the galaxy's more feared Imperial warships.

Decimators were used as either long-range reconnaissance units or picket ships stationed along the perimeter of Imperial fleets. Sometimes Decimators were used to break through enemy forces to deploy raiding parties.

The command of a VT-49 was a point of accomplishment and pride for the middle ranks of the Imperial Navy. It was usually seen as a stepping stone on the path towards command of a capital ship.

Hmm. No, of course not -- they'd never miss one of THOSE.

Hah, yep, that's the one. Thought I'd linked it, but I missed that one. My bad.

I've no illusions that its a bit unrealistic to think you could get away with one of those, but if the opportunity arises... why not have a Hangover style romp in one, right?

In all seriousness, it looks like it'd make a good ship to put up as a sign post for "You really don't wanna go this way" scenarios, without having to explain why a full flight of TIEs or a cap ship are in the middle of nowhere.

I wish we could do something silly like compare the stats of the ships in XWing with he stats of the ones we know about in the RPG, but that probably won't work to well. A base YT1300 in XWing has 6 Hull while the YT2400 has 5 hull. Yet in the RPG the YT1300 has 22+15 where the YT2400 has 25+18.

Sigh... silly me for thinking rationally.

My GM likes it.

I think it looks great. I hope the stats are going t show up soon (I'd be very happy if it got snuck into the AoR core rulebook). For now, you could probably use the stats for the 4R3 from Dangerous Covenants.

Just imagine the bar fights you could get into.

The crewman says proudly, The Molly is a DECIMATOR class - that means 'KILLS MOST OF'!

'Actually,' says the effete Corellian at the end of the bar, 'Decimator means "one who kills a paltry 10 percent of"'.

And the fight is on!

Yeah, you really ought to save up for the Centimator upgrade.

I wish we could do something silly like compare the stats of the ships in XWing with he stats of the ones we know about in the RPG, but that probably won't work to well. A base YT1300 in XWing has 6 Hull while the YT2400 has 5 hull. Yet in the RPG the YT1300 has 22+15 where the YT2400 has 25+18.

Sigh... silly me for thinking rationally.

You could convert stats from another system that is somewhat closer in nature, perhaps. In the d20 RPG, the Decimator has 215 hitpoints with 15 armor points and 40 shields, whereas an X-Wing has 120 with 10 armor points and 15 shields. If the X-Wing is present in both systems, you could use the latter as your rosetta stone, so to say.

So that would put it somewhere around HT 45, SS 25, and armor 6?

Silhouette 4, Speed 3, Handling -1

Shields 2 fore and 2 aft?

Hyperdrive class 1(backup class 12)

1 Dorsal and 1 Ventral Heavy Linked Laser cannons.

Dual prow Concussion Missile launchers with 20 missiles each.

Ships Compliment: One pilot, one co-pilot, 2 gunners

6 passengers

Encumbrance: 120

Consumables: 1 month

Cost/Rarity: 300,000 credits ®/7

It annoys me that X-Wing and the RPG were not developed together or at least given ways to convert them back and forth.

Here's a version I wrote-up as a possible "Exploring the Rim" article before the GSA essentially went defunct, based off info from Wookieepedia and Saga Edition:

VT-49 Decimator

Hull Type: Armed Transport
Ship Class: VT-49
Manufacturer: Sienar Fleet Systems
Hyperdrive: Primary: Class 1, Backup: Class 12
Navicomputer: Yes
Ship’s Complement: One pilot, one co-pilot/engineer, two gunners
Passenger Capacity: 6
Encumbrance Capacity: 130
Consumables: 2 months
Cost/Rarity: Not available for sale

Silhouette: 4

Sensor Range: Medium
Speed: 4

Handling: +1
Defense: 2/1

Armor: 4
Hull Integrity: 28

Strain Threshold: 18
Customization Hardpoints: 2

Weapons
Dorsal and Ventral Turret Mounted Laser Cannon Turret (Fire Arc All; Range Close, Damage 6, Critical Hit 3, Linked 1)

Ventral Turret Mounted Laser Cannon Turret (Fire Arc All; Range Close, Damage 6, Critical Hit 3, Linked 1)

Concussion Missile Launcher (Fire Arc Forward; Range Short, Damage 6, Critical Hit 3, Blast 4, Breach 4, Guided 3, Limited Ammo 12, Slow-Firing 1)

It's definitely a more balanced approach than Zach's fanboi uber-ship approach, particularly as his write-up has the Hull Trauma and Strain Threshold of a Silhouette 5 ship rather than something that's Silhouette 4.

That's a nice ship. I'd still want a guideline for cost and availability, but otherwise it's really nice with just about everything a small group would like in a Silhouette 4 ship (Class 1 Hyperdrive, Sensor Range Medium, Defense of 2/-/-/1, Speed 4, a missile launcher, etc.). Small number of hard points limits topping it out, but the baseline model is slick.

Looking at FFG's mini for the Decimator, I was going to say that it doesn't look like it mounts a dorsal turret. Then I noticed the tiny turret on the very back end. That weapon looks very unimpressive compared to the medium lasers on the YT-2400.

Size does not matter.

As for the VT-49:

I am going to get that model.

And my char in my Saga round is one day going to steal one of those.

Sorry, but size always matters.

Looking at FFG's mini for the Decimator, I was going to say that it doesn't look like it mounts a dorsal turret. Then I noticed the tiny turret on the very back end. That weapon looks very unimpressive compared to the medium lasers on the YT-2400.

Agreed. They look a lot like the Auto-Blasters that are on the Slave 1. And from what I can tell by looking at the cards on their respective bases, it looks like they do the same amount of damage -- they both appear to have "Red 3".

These things may be play-balanced for X-Wing, but not for EotE or AoR.

Sorry, but size always matters.

Huh, never took you for a size queen

To everyone doing stats for the decimator, you might want to reduce the handling. Going by the mini card, it has zero defense dice. To me, that screams bathtub. While I know the gamed are separate, there will be some bleedover and FFG will, if they do stats, probably go largish penalty.

As for how I feel about this ship... I wish they would jusy release the imperial gozanti large ship with tie fighter as I long for. I have a AoR game planned around that ship.

Looking at FFG's mini for the Decimator, I was going to say that it doesn't look like it mounts a dorsal turret. Then I noticed the tiny turret on the very back end. That weapon looks very unimpressive compared to the medium lasers on the YT-2400.

Agreed. They look a lot like the Auto-Blasters that are on the Slave 1. And from what I can tell by looking at the cards on their respective bases, it looks like they do the same amount of damage -- they both appear to have "Red 3".

I talked to my Thursday night GM, who works at a local game store here in Austin -- I'm not sure, he might even be a co-owner. He's also pretty big into the X-Wing game.

Anyway, he showed me the quad laser cannons on his YT-1300, and they did look more like the fuzzy picture of what is at the very back of the VT-49 -- at least, they look closer than anything else I've seen on any other ship in the series.

And yes, thanks to the OP, tonight I bought the Tantive, the Firespray, and the Lambda Shuttle. I put myself on the list for the VT-49 and the YT-2400 when they come out. And I've told them to keep an eye out for the GR-75.

I don't even play that game, **** you.

Looking at FFG's mini for the Decimator, I was going to say that it doesn't look like it mounts a dorsal turret. Then I noticed the tiny turret on the very back end. That weapon looks very unimpressive compared to the medium lasers on the YT-2400.

Agreed. They look a lot like the Auto-Blasters that are on the Slave 1. And from what I can tell by looking at the cards on their respective bases, it looks like they do the same amount of damage -- they both appear to have "Red 3".

I talked to my Thursday night GM, who works at a local game store here in Austin -- I'm not sure, he might even be a co-owner. He's also pretty big into the X-Wing game.

Anyway, he showed me the quad laser cannons on his YT-1300, and they did look more like the fuzzy picture of what is at the very back of the VT-49 -- at least, they look closer than anything else I've seen on any other ship in the series.

And yes, thanks to the OP, tonight I bought the Tantive, the Firespray, and the Lambda Shuttle. I put myself on the list for the VT-49 and the YT-2400 when they come out. And I've told them to keep an eye out for the GR-75.

I don't even play that game, **** you.

You really should. It is an awesome game.

my 0.02 credits

the VT-49 is just an "Evil" version of the Iconic millennium falcon

The whole concept of a "freighter" that is used by the Empire would be an insult to anyone to who is forced to fly it. From my opinion of what i feel is "Right" for the Star wars universe, the Empire either has Ships of the line (star destroyers), or fighters. Only officers or pilots that have proven their incompetence would be stuck on a transport. Everyone in the Imperial Navy wants to serve on a ship of the line.

Even the US navy has the same mentality. Everyone wants to be on a bigger ship. So much so the mere idea of serving on something smaller then a destroyer is scoffed at

According to my old WotC book the Decimator was ment to be an evil cousin to the YT-1300.

But the mentality of the Empire 'is' different from the US.

The Navy is just not there for military dominance but also to secure the important trade lanes. I don't recall the US sending a Carrier along to protect ship convois along the Suez Canal or Panama Canal to discurage pirates.

The Empire does that by patroling the trade lanes with groups of Victories and when necessary SDs.

And the VT-49 is a good ship for hunting pirates, very fast, hard hitting, with decent shields and the room to bring a boarding party of 40+ people along. At least in Saga Edition with just 2-3 upgrades it was THE best pirate hunter IMO.

Score enough points by bringing several pirate bands down and you are on the fast track to get a ship of the line. From the description in Rebellion Era Campaign Guide: Commanding a VT-49 Decimator is seen as a key step toward commanding a capital ship.

i had to necro this thread since i finally got my hands on my copy of Fly Casual and had to check the new profile for the VT-49.

I

AM

DISSAPOINTED.

I will rant a little, but i'll try to explain that hopefully people will understand (and maybe agree with) me.

The Decimator has been called an evil cousin/counterpart to the Millenium Falcon, so i will simply compare them to each other.

Both are Sil 4, since they are light transports.

Both are at speed 3, rather average.

The Handling is where it hits hard, -3 to -1 in favor for the YT-1300.

In Shields the VT-49 is twice as strong as the YT.

And that 1 point more armor helps the VT-49 during shoot-outs.

More HT and SS is good too.

And those two CMLs have a huge magazine.

And a class 1 Hyperdrive makes it faster to cross the galaxy.

But in the other categories theVT-49 looses a lot of ground to the YT-1300.

The YT has twice the number of consumables, and more than twice the Encumbrance Capacity.

Whopping 6 hardpoints compared to the VT-49s single one.

Add in the 60k point price difference a group can modify their YT so hard that in all points except HT, SS and CML mag size the VT-49 is either contested or surpassed.

Even unmodified a VT-49 will be hard pressed to catch a running YT-1300, the difference in handling will assure that.

If you take an YT-2400 and modify him for the 30k Credit difference it gets even worse for the VT-49.

Equal armor, far better handling, 4 Hardpoints more and still cheaper.

So, in my humble opinion, the VT-49 is not up for the task it is designed to do. Pirates and smugglers in modified transporters do not need to fear the Decimator since they can usually outrun it.

Can it hit hard with those CMLs and that big magazine? Yes.

Will it get close enough to use them? Not bloody likely.

Could we please give the Imperium a bit more ... love when it comes to small crafts like fighters and transports/assault ships? I mean, even the new Gunboat is at best on par with the Y-Wing, but costs far more, not to mention the castration the TIE Defender got while still costing 300k. And with the VT-49 now too i got to ask:

Is there a reason the Empire cannot build fighters and light ships equal to those used by the Rebels for a reason?

All their ships do is cost more and do less which makes little to no sense in the inner working of the universe as far as i am concerned.

segara82,

I think you're taking the comparison a bit too literally.

A while back on the Order 66 podcast, they had the freelancer that does most of the starship stats for the FFG books, and one of the points he repeatedly stressed in terms of coming up with ship stats is "what role does the ship serve?"

The YT-1300 is equivalent of a moving van, albeit one that's open to customization by the owner, while the VT-49 is more of a gunboat and has a fairly dedicated purpose, namely being a combat craft. It packs an obnoxious amount of firepower (two quad lasers, concussion missiles), boasts heavy shields, and can take a heck of a beating, all of which fits with a military craft. It doesn't need excessive cargo space because it's not a cargo hauler, nor does it need extra hard points because the ship already fulfills it's primary purpose of being an assault craft.

If you look at the majority of the Imperial ship designs across the books, you'll notice a recurring trait is that they tend not to have a lot of hard points, if any. The Empire is a firm believer in "each ship has a dedicated purpose" which is a direct contrast to how a tramp freighter (such as the Corellian ships like the YT-series and blockade runners) are intended to be tweaked by the owner to suit their individual tastes.

Hard points are heroes breaking the system, really.

Every "broken" or "Uneven" ship had to do with what happens after you add stuff onto hardpoints. To be perfectly honest, building with hardpoints should never be able to equal up to a ships designed to that function, precisely because it wasn't designed to do that. In our reality, You can't drop a V8 in a honda accord, bolt a bed on the back and expect it to outperform a pickup truck.

But in Star Wars, aftermarket upgrades are always better than purpose built. Just like the lone mechanic working in jungle fields with minimal tools will always tune your spacecraft better than a team at a major world and the underfunded, scrappy rebellion will build more technologically advanced and superior ships than the corporate backed Empire.

On the more direct topic, I have had a VT-49 appear in my game, though unstated. It was the personal vessel of a Sector Ranger, who described it as the "one thing the Empire actually gave me, a new ship." It works nicely as a police cruiser, as it were.