While we are twiddling our thumbs on the ssd release, I was brainstorming on how the venator could be incorporated into the current game. Without adding clone wars or even if they do, would the venator be more thematically accurate as a front arcer, or a broadsider? I was kind of thinking they could make both, where one is : Venator class star destroyer Republic era. This ship could be a front arc ship with a 6 dice front arc of 4 red and 2 blue. You usually see the venators front arcing in the clone wars tv show. The other alternative is: Venator class star destroyer Rise of the Empire refit. This would be the ships that fought in the battle of corrusant and are seen brawling broadside. They could have 5 dice on the side with 3 red and 1 blue and a black. Its front arc could consist of 2 black and 2 blue. With a ordnance upgrade to make it even more of a brawler. I would like this mix of style that would enforce versatility of the venator class.

Any thoughts are appreciated. May the patience be with you.

23 minutes ago, Darth Bane's Wrath said:

While we are twiddling our thumbs on the ssd release, I was brainstorming on how the venator could be incorporated into the current game. Without adding clone wars or even if they do, would the venator be more thematically accurate as a front arcer, or a broadsider? I was kind of thinking they could make both, where one is : Venator class star destroyer Republic era. This ship could be a front arc ship with a 6 dice front arc of 4 red and 2 blue. You usually see the venators front arcing in the clone wars tv show. The other alternative is: Venator class star destroyer Rise of the Empire refit. This would be the ships that fought in the battle of corrusant and are seen brawling broadside. They could have 5 dice on the side with 3 red and 1 blue and a black. Its front arc could consist of 2 black and 2 blue. With a ordnance upgrade to make it even more of a brawler. I would like this mix of style that would enforce versatility of the venator class.

Any thoughts are appreciated. May the patience be with you.

Perhaps an overgrown Arquitens? More dice in the arcs (probably 4R/2Blue,) and the ability to technically get a double side arc on one target if you position it just right.

Making the two versions of the Venator alternate between front and broadside? That's a cool idea.

58 minutes ago, Wintercross said:

Making the two versions of the Venator alternate between front and broadside? That's a cool idea.

Tis Blasphemy I say!!

Okay, let's break down what we know about the Venator.

• Largest fighter capacity of any Republic/Imperial ship - it even outstrips the Executor in this regard.
• The most point-defence guns seen on a Republic/Imperial ship. It was built to decimate droid fighters.
• Impressive shields, but hollow and with a big weak point in its armour right along the top.
• A smaller number of very big cannons - later models were upgraded with SPHA-T for close-range fire
• Had a second bridge dedicated PURELY to providing flight control for fighters.

So what we have here, really, is a fleet carrier that CAN double as a battleship if need-be. Its main win condition is to ensure that its squadrons win the fighter brawl and then overwhelm the enemy. Its secondary win condition is to use its impressive firepower whilst limiting the amount of return fire it has to take, because although it has good shields, its hull is somewhat squishy.

To me, that implies a high SQUADRONS value, and a low ENGINEERING value, coupled with high SHIELDS and low HULL. It also implies a reasonable LONG RANGE attack, but at the expense of short range firepower. Specialised long-range broadsiders and forward arc ships exist for the Republic already in the forms of the Arquitens and CR-90. Therefore, I could see a balanced arc layout, somewhat like the Interdictor.

It would likely have double (or even triple!) offensive retrofit slots, but completely lack a defensive retrofit. What this gives you is, amusingly, the perfect counterpart for the Victory Class, which was also a Republic vessel. The Victory can tank hits the Venator REALLY can't afford to, and has the short-range power to brawl and force the enemy to consider them. The Venator, on the other hand, can support the Victory with fighters and snipe any pesky flankers (I'd love to see a Republic Victory with a defensive retrofit slot).

HOWEVER - people here have rightly pointed out that there are two versions of the Venator. In ROTS, we see a retrofit that does away with the massive hangar doors (presumably for better armour) and really beefs up the broadside guns. I could see this being similar to the "Combat Retrofit" of the Interdictor, in that it is better suited to actual fighting at the price of the gimmicks that help make it unique.

The "Combat Retrofit" Venator would have lower (but still impressive) SQUADRONS but higher (but still poor) ENGINEERING, less offensive retrofits but more weapons slots (possibly a defensive retrofit too). As we ALREADY have a tanky forward firepower ship in the form of the Victory, the Combat Retrofit Venator would instead have an impressive broadside. The end result is a ship that's relatively capable at anything, but not excellent at anything. Every faction needs a jack of all trades, right?

Anywho, that's my thoughts

I've always felt the Venator needs to fill a role not already filled by ships we already have. It shouldn't been a clone of the ISD or the Victory, nor should it so outperform them it drives them from viability. And believe it or not there is unoccupied space we could fit this ship.

Make it a Large ship who's strength is in its broadside, something the Empire doesn't have. 5 dice out the sides, 3 red 2 blue and out the front give it 4 dice, 2 red 2 blue. This way it fits its own balanced role. Its strongest arc is still less than the VSD's front (with the VSD canonically designed to be more ship to ship oriented it should have the stronger arc). To make up for this weakness the Venator gets a more balanced third arc, stronger than the VSD's side arc. Kind of inspired by the MC75.

9 hull, 2-3 shields all the way around. So it's a "Large" w/ decent hull but w/ weaker shields and a less impressive defense token suite (single brace, single redirect, single contain?)to represent its "age" being a relic of the CW and all.

make the 2nd version a carrier version w/ higher sqd value (5?) but drop stats elsewhere from the brawler version. (2 shields all around instead of shield values up to 3? or swap the blue dice for blacks? or make the flak weaker etc.)

As an imperial ship I think the staples of a Venator would definitely be low engineering value to represent age. I’d also limit it to 2 defense tokens. Maybe even 2 shields max on all sides.

Venator I broadside, Venator II front arc (but still less than a Vic II).

If clone wars factions happen then I’d beef it up a bit to represent a more front line version.

My concepts.

http://v1.kdyards.com/ships.view.php?id=7361

http://v1.kdyards.com/ships.view.php?id=7362