I noticed that the torpedo frigate has no red dice but has the turbolaser upgrade slot instead of an ion cannon one.

Is this a printing error?

Not at all.

It is certainly intentional.

We have, a little bit, erroneously, in our minds, that Black = Ordnance, Blue = Ion, Red = Turbolaser...

But that is not the case.

The Torpedo Frigate's Turbolasers are just seemingly de-powered, but far more accurate at closer ranges than the Scout Frigate.

In short. Not an Error. You can put Turbolaser Upgrades, such as Turbolaser Reroutes, or XI-7 Turbolasers, on a Torpedo Frigate.

The MC30 was known to have Laser batteries which are shorter ranged than Turbolasers.

Great. It seemed 'not right' to me and I wasn't sure.

We have, a little bit, erroneously, in our minds, that Black = Ordnance, Blue = Ion, Red = Turbolaser...

But that is not the case.

The Torpedo Frigate's Turbolasers are just seemingly de-powered, but far more accurate at closer ranges than the Scout Frigate.

In short. Not an Error. You can put Turbolaser Upgrades, such as Turbolaser Reroutes, or XI-7 Turbolasers, on a Torpedo Frigate.

Given that the Imperial-class uses Ordnance in the EU (proton torpedoes) and that the Imperial I class in Armada has black dice (but no Ordnance slots)- I could see it having tubes - but, since its not a dedicated missile ship, that represented by the lack of Ordnance slots.

We have, a little bit, erroneously, in our minds, that Black = Ordnance, Blue = Ion, Red = Turbolaser...

But that is not the case.

The Torpedo Frigate's Turbolasers are just seemingly de-powered, but far more accurate at closer ranges than the Scout Frigate.

In short. Not an Error. You can put Turbolaser Upgrades, such as Turbolaser Reroutes, or XI-7 Turbolasers, on a Torpedo Frigate.

Given that the Imperial-class uses Ordnance in the EU (proton torpedoes) and that the Imperial I class in Armada has black dice (but no Ordnance slots)- I could see it having tubes - but, since its not a dedicated missile ship, that represented by the lack of Ordnance slots.

you can also give the torpedo turret enhanced armament with ackbar your looking at 3 black 2 blue 3 red.

Each colour just represents the relative firepower of the ship at that range. While its sort of inferred that black = generally torpedo's/missiles & blue = generally ion cannons, its not exclusively that. For example blue could also be the medium turbolasers, red could be special long range missiles, and black could also include the sheer amount (thousands) of short ranged laser cannons that capital ships have or simply the sheer damage heavy turbolasers could do at short range...