I'm one of those odd people who gets fixated on a ship like a dog with a bone, and my bone of choice is the Venator. It's a graceful ship that is a true multi-role warship. It served both the Republic and the Empire.

With that being said, what are the chances of it being added to Armada? Is it worth adding to Armada?

Myself, I would imagine the Venator being a Wave 4/5 ship as it stands (depending on what FFG puts in to combat the winged MC cruiser!) A ship with cards geared towards starfighter support, and an Imperial ship that had better firing arcs on the sides than the front. Weaker hull than the Victory for sure.....

Go check out DA's Custom Card thread . Among zillions of other projects, we have handled the Venator, as well as a host of other GAR starships and squadrons. If you dig through the thread, we've developed a fair number of versions, including Clone Wars versions where it was state of the art, and later GCW versions that reflect its relative loss of power against newer warships. A minor quibble you might have with ours is that we made the decision to make it a Large ship, and give it 9HP. You are of course welcome to peruse the thread at your leisure.

Go check out DA's Custom Card thread . Among zillions of other projects, we have handled the Venator, as well as a host of other GAR starships and squadrons. If you dig through the thread, we've developed a fair number of versions, including Clone Wars versions where it was state of the art, and later GCW versions that reflect its relative loss of power against newer warships. A minor quibble you might have with ours is that we made the decision to make it a Large ship, and give it 9HP. You are of course welcome to peruse the thread at your leisure.

Well it did carry quite a bit of fighters

If you go by The Essential Guide to Warfare, the Venator should have slightly weaker firepower than the Victory class.

I can see it being Large though - when compared to a 1200m (Databank) Mon Cal cruiser which is also Large.

The Imperial-class is 4.39 x the volume of the Venator according to volumetric estimates I've seen.

Compared to a 900m Imperial class ( approximation to represent a Victory), a 1600m Imperial class is 5.62 x the volume.

Thus it makes sense to peg the Venator as slightly better on hit-points than the Victory.

I'm still hoping they add clone wars ships. I wouldn't mind if (dare i say it) ffg added the trade federation as a third faction. Theres alot of content in those cartoons that is actually pretty cool.

That being said, even if ffg did add em in they should wait another wave or two till all the original trilogy stuff is out.

From the side its an okey design, but from the front it reminds me too much of Jar Jar.

I'd rather see new trilogy stuff first; there's so many canon ships in the correct era that haven't been released yet. Doesn't hurt that I'm also not a fan of the Venator.

The more I think about the Venerator, the more I want to see a new mechanic produced.

MARKER: when a marker is placed next to a squadron, the squadron gains the appropriate keyword. Having multiple instances of a keyword has no effect, except for COUNTER, which is cumulative. At the end of a round, MARKERS that are on their green side are flipped to their red side. Markers that are on their red side are discarded.

TITLE, Venerator-class: Arbitrator: At the beginning of the Squadron phase, all squadrons at distance 1 are given a ROGUE marker.

ORDINANCE, External Racks: At the beginning of the squadron phase, all squadrons at distance 5 are given a BOMBER marker. Immediately flip these markers to the red side.

My vision here is that squadrons would get a marker on turn one (probably) and use it on turns 1 and 2, and then have to either continue without it, or head back to base for resupply.

I would want to see markers given either at the beginning of Squadron phase, or when a SQUADRON command is revealed. Mostly, I would want them issued only at range 1 or maybe 2, but I like the idea of a long-range, short-duration marker.

Anyone like the idea? Hate it?

I'ld love to see 2 more factions based on the Episode ships. I'm just hoping Gottmituns205 isn't to traumatized by having his dreams Binksed.

I'm still hoping they add clone wars ships. I wouldn't mind if (dare i say it) ffg added the trade federation as a third faction. Theres alot of content in those cartoons that is actually pretty cool.

That being said, even if ffg did add em in they should wait another wave or two till all the original trilogy stuff is out.

I would rather see these ships adopted be Empire and Rebellion. We already have art of the rebels using CIS ships and the empire using GAR.

I think the Venator is likely. Thanks to Rebels, FFG can include them without breaking their "no prequel" rule, thus partially satisfying the Clone Wars crowd while keeping us firmly rooted in the civil war. Like the Liberty, the Venator makes too much sense. It would probably be a medium sized base at the largest.

I'm still hoping they add clone wars ships. I wouldn't mind if (dare i say it) ffg added the trade federation as a third faction. Theres alot of content in those cartoons that is actually pretty cool.

That being said, even if ffg did add em in they should wait another wave or two till all the original trilogy stuff is out.

I would rather see these ships adopted be Empire and Rebellion. We already have art of the rebels using CIS ships and the empire using GAR.

The Trade Federation would have to be its own thing, but ships like the Venator and Victory could have card board for both the Republic and Empire. And I'm sure other ships could get the same treatment. Imperial Neb-b anyone?

Or, if you don't like the Trade Federation or Republic as third or fourth factions, there is always the Yuuzhan Vong....

I'm still hoping they add clone wars ships. I wouldn't mind if (dare i say it) ffg added the trade federation as a third faction. Theres alot of content in those cartoons that is actually pretty cool.

That being said, even if ffg did add em in they should wait another wave or two till all the original trilogy stuff is out.

I would rather see these ships adopted be Empire and Rebellion. We already have art of the rebels using CIS ships and the empire using GAR.

If we were going to do that, I would expect them to be dual faction ships. Which might well be awesome.

Oh what fun that could be!

The Rebel version is more fighter centrist, as their fighters have the ability to take off and land without a support frame, whilst the Imperial version is more ship-to-ship but still has a fighter doctrine.

I wonder how the Empire would refit the Venator for TIEs, like close off the dorsal deck, armor it up, and rework the internals for launch racks?

I think the Venator is likely. Thanks to Rebels, FFG can include them without breaking their "no prequel" rule, thus partially satisfying the Clone Wars crowd while keeping us firmly rooted in the civil war. Like the Liberty, the Venator makes too much sense. It would probably be a medium sized base at the largest.

It's not FFG's "no prequel" rule. That comes down from upon high. Disney/LFL put a restriction out on prequel stuff.

Oh what fun that could be!

The Rebel version is more fighter centrist, as their fighters have the ability to take off and land without a support frame, whilst the Imperial version is more ship-to-ship but still has a fighter doctrine.

I wonder how the Empire would refit the Venator for TIEs, like close off the dorsal deck, armor it up, and rework the internals for launch racks?

Well according to the new canon, TIE's can land on their wings. Bugs the crap out of me, but then I'm old school and believe TIE's need a landing rack. With all the left over Venator's the Empire probably wouldn't need a dedicated Escort Carrier. The Venator can carry over 420 clone wars era fighters. I hate to think how many TIE's that would work out to. Over 500 atleast,

If that is the case, we probably wont see a Venator.....period as it is the Iconic star destroyer of the Republic...so I better get saving for an 80 dollar ship.

Yeah that really bothers me that ties can suddenly land on their "wings." The rack concept made the ships even more cool/disposable feeling as they were so simple they didn't even have landing gear. I imagine the Venator would be gutted and launch racks put in with the new space...something the Empire wouldn't be beyond doing as many turned into flight schools.

If you dig around a bit, they landed on their wings in the oldest comics.

At the moment it's a bit contradictory with respect to whether the smaller thicker wings of the Lothal starfighters are artistic licence or an actual difference - The Official Fact File magazine, and then the Ultimate Star Wars book, said it was a real difference - Rebels Recon: Inside "Always Two There Are" apparently said it was artistic licence and they are identical in "reality" to movie TIEs.

If you dig around a bit, they landed on their wings in the oldest comics.

At the moment it's a bit contradictory with respect to whether the smaller thicker wings of the Lothal starfighters are artistic licence or an actual difference - The Official Fact File magazine, and then the Ultimate Star Wars book, said it was a real difference - Rebels Recon: Inside "Always Two There Are" apparently said it was artistic licence and they are identical in "reality" to movie TIEs.

I assume that everything in "Rebels" is artistic license. It keeps my blood pressure down.

I'm looking forward to the Acclamator-class myself. Dunno why, but I like that ship. Then again, I don't think it's currently cannon. You never see one in the prequels, and did it ever show up in Clone Wars? I know it was in Rebel Commando, but that counts for nothing. Always been a fan of the Venator, too. It's a shame about Dinsey clamping down on Clone Wars stuff. I've always thought it would be great of FFG to do things Flames of War style - have Early War (Clone Wars), Mid War (GCW) and Late War (FA-era). You can use early ships in a late game, but their point cost is lower because they're crap by comparison.

I wonder if they'll bring back things like the Carrack cruiser or Corellian gunboat. Hell, I even think the Interdictor cruiser is non-cannon at this point, unless it's been in one of the new books. And didn't there used to be a dedicated escort carrier for the Imps? I seem to remember one from the Rebellion video game. That'd be an interesting one - a ship with a lot of HP, very little maneuverability or offensive firepower, but plenty of room for squadron upgrades and a high squadron value.

Interdictor Cruiser in Tarkin Novel.

As well as a larger Interdictor in Rebels .

Most of the "what do you want to see?" Threads have listings of what ships are Canon.

I'll have to start perusing them.

The Venator is a unique ship, in that it has a wedge shape but most of the weapons are located on the sides.

While it is true that the heavy turbolaser turrets it has are equivalent in strength to the ISD's turrets, we all know that the numerous fixed gun emplacements on the hull of the ISD is what gives its front arc the devastating fire we all appreciate. Instead of the fixed gun mounts, the Venator had most of the forward interior devoted to the storage, preparations, maintenance, and launching of star fighters. It is also slimmer than the ISD which is absolutely fat in comparison. That is a lot of lost internal space that could of been used for guns, shield systems, life support, and hull reinforcement.

(this is also a weakness in the VSD and ISD designs, lots of internal space is sacrificed to hold not only their massive amounts of crew, but a literal army as well. The landing craft and shuttles, the ATAT& ATST's, deploy-able fabricated housings and base structures, and not to mention space to quarter and garrison all the storm troopers onto the ship. And the supplies to arm them and feed them, and the additional crew to provide services like, food preparation, to them.

This is where I think the rebels got things right. They realized they couldn't spend the resources to make space born cities like that, and so when building the assault frigate they tried to keep the crew count to a minimum (potentially less TRAITOR and spy chance when you need less people) (and they always had a manpower shortage, and a money shortage, and, well, everything shortage). Less crew to pay, less crew needed to do support the crew with services the crew needs when on a space ship, less life support systems need to be installed, less supplies/same amount of supplies can last longer, more internal structure devoted to combat systems.

In this way, the assault frigate with 1,600 to 4,820 crew and 100 troops (probably used to defend boarding actions or to seize small vessels and assist the prize crew) had very little hanger space and relied on external docks located under the main hull on either side of the keel in front of the engine ventral fins for resupply. No space devoted to star-fighter maintenance or carrying star-fighter ammunition and fuel, although modifications on the general design were abundant. The Victory on the other hand has 7500 personal serving aboard when you factor in storm troopers, officers, gunners, and pilots, boasts internal docking for 2 squadrons of fighters, shuttles and landing craft for planetary invasions, and vehicle storage.

Now while rebel GR75 transports were exceedingly vulnerable when landing troops, they also didn't lose a large chunk of ground personal and vehicles when a combat vessel was destroyed by the empire. And the rebel ships could effectively "punch above their weight" OR be on par with imperial ships of the line as they matched or exceeded the imperial's tech and manufacturing advantage by simply having more of the ships mass devoted to starship combat than the empire did, even if the equipment was aging and outdated.

I'm looking forward to the Acclamator-class myself. Dunno why, but I like that ship. Then again, I don't think it's currently cannon. You never see one in the prequels, and did it ever show up in Clone Wars? I know it was in Rebel Commando, but that counts for nothing. Always been a fan of the Venator, too. It's a shame about Dinsey clamping down on Clone Wars stuff. I've always thought it would be great of FFG to do things Flames of War style - have Early War (Clone Wars), Mid War (GCW) and Late War (FA-era). You can use early ships in a late game, but their point cost is lower because they're crap by comparison.

I wonder if they'll bring back things like the Carrack cruiser or Corellian gunboat. Hell, I even think the Interdictor cruiser is non-cannon at this point, unless it's been in one of the new books. And didn't there used to be a dedicated escort carrier for the Imps? I seem to remember one from the Rebellion video game. That'd be an interesting one - a ship with a lot of HP, very little maneuverability or offensive firepower, but plenty of room for squadron upgrades and a high squadron value.

Acclimator shows up in Attack of the Clones. The troop-ship landed in front of the senate building (or whatever that was) in the very last scene, and possibly overhead during the fight on Geonosis.

I imagine we will get the Acclimator 1 and 2....and my gut tells me they'll forgo the Venator and replace it with the Acclimator as a combatant against the Wing'd Mon Cal.

If you dig around a bit, they landed on their wings in the oldest comics.

At the moment it's a bit contradictory with respect to whether the smaller thicker wings of the Lothal starfighters are artistic licence or an actual difference - The Official Fact File magazine, and then the Ultimate Star Wars book, said it was a real difference - Rebels Recon: Inside "Always Two There Are" apparently said it was artistic licence and they are identical in "reality" to movie TIEs.

I assume that everything in "Rebels" is artistic license. It keeps my blood pressure down.

This may be the first thing that's made me lol on this forum. Nice job!