The idea for this ship is that it maximises bonuses to trade endeavours right from the beginning, allowing a relatively rapid increase in PF for improvements and consorts. Its not helpless by any means, but that 16 Armour means it will always be fragile to some extent. Playing into the fluff, I tried to make it as luxurious and commodious as possible - a real palace in space. Despite its relatively low armour, thematically I still see this as the dynasty flagship regardless of what gets added to the fleet, even a cruiser. It is just too prestigious and opulent a vessel for a RT to want to decamp to an "uncouth" warship or mundane transport.
Modified and Refurbished Conquest-Class Star-Galleon "Auditor of Providence"
SP: 73
Statistics: Speed 4, Manoeuvrability +10, Detection +20, Hull Integrity 63, Armour 16, Turret Rating 1, Void Shields 2, Crew Population 102, Crew Morale 103, Crew Ability Competent (30), Weapon Capacity: Port 2, Starboard 2
Space: 56 (55 Used) Power: 75 (69 Used)
Essential Components: Modified Jovian Class 4 Drive (Archeotech), Miloslav H-616.b Warp Engine, Multiple Void Shield Array, Gellar Field, Bridge of Antiquity (Archeotech), Vitae Pattern Life Sustainers, Voidsman Quarters, Deep Space Auger
Weapons: 2 x Lathe-Pattern Grav-Culverin Broadsides, 2 x Hecutor Pattern Plasma Batteries
Cargo Holds and Passenger Compartments: Luxury Passenger Quarters, 2 x Main Cargo Hold
Additional Facilities: Arboretum (Best Quality), Melodium, Temple-Shrine to the God-Emperor, Trophy Room, Warp Sextant (Archeotech)
Ship Modifiers: Command Tests Made From Bridge +10, Double Time at Warp Without Suffering Morale Loss, Navigation (Warp) Skill Tests +20,Time Spent in Warp Reduced by 50%, Warp Encounters Every 3 Days
Achievement Point Modifiers: Creed +200, Exploration +50, Trade +400
Upgrades in Play: Install an observation dome as soon as possible. From there, upgrade as necessary to free up enough space and power for Extended Supply Vaults and a Cargo Hold and Lighter Bay. A Medicae Deck would fit well with the concept if space can be found, and Flak Turrets would probably be a good idea along with a Fire Suppression System once everything else is bought and if space allows. There should even be room for Augmented Retro-Thrusters and/or a Tenebro-Maze (if you can get your head around such a fundamental hull redesign as an "after market" enhancement). Standard Ship Upgrades such as Ostentatious Displays of Wealth, Crew Improvements and a Starchart Collection. Further in the future, a Targeting Matrix and Turbo-Weapon Batteries to increase the ship's "teeth" a bit, which will probably only be possible around the same time that suitable (and hopefully formidable) consorts and escorts are added to the flotilla. A Storm Trooper Contingent might also be a nice addition at some point to represent an elite house-guard unit. Once all is done, it still has bad armour for its tonnage, but really would be amazingly luxurious with great bonuses to social skills on ship (especially the bridge), the ability to defend quite reasonably against anything up to and including a stock light cruiser. AP bonuses would be even better after all of this: Creed +200, Criminal +75, Exploration +125, Trade +475!
Edited by Kadros