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While most posts on Ship Classifications have been based on size, this will be more based on the role the ship will play. To determine an exact size range for a ship class is always hard and I feel limiting at times. What you plan on doing with the ship is what I feel should determine it's classification. Within each class I will layout examples of craft that fit within that classification of ship type. These do have an implied relative size in the sense that a Strike Craft is probably gonna be smaller than a Carrier.
Strike Craft
These are your fighters. They are meant to be quick, flown like military fighter jets, and designed for a singular purpose. Be it scouting, bombing, or intercepting, these ships are meant for roles where the element of surprise is key. Speed and maneuverability are more important than shields or firepower. You'll never see a turret on a strike craft.
Example Craft:
Corvettes
These are gunboats. While not as fast as Strike Craft, they are still quiet maneuverable. Usually brimming with turrets, Corvettes are meant to strafe around enemies and provide suppressing fire. They have a nice balance of fire power and shields allowing them to deal a few decent hits before falling in battle. They can still get from point A to B in a reasonable amount of time making them great at keeping a large area under control. Corvettes can also be used for utilities such as repair and salvage.
Example Craft:
Capitol Class
Frigates
These are the all-round ships. They balance shields, firepower, and speed equally. Some frigates focus on turrets in order to take on groups of Corvettes and Strike Craft while others have a single powerful weapon meant for cutting through the largest of ships. A single Frigate is not a large threat, but in small groups, Frigates can be a force to be reckoned with. Frigates can also be used for utilities, but are then usually just called Capitol ships.
Example Craft:
Super Capitol Class
Destroyers
These suckers are deadly. Focusing on firepower and speed, these bad boys pack the fire power of 3 frigates while keeping the same level of maneuverability. They sacrifice shields for quick and decisive kills. Taking a destroyer head on is a death wish, but with carful planning, a destroyer can easily be taken out. If you see one in a battle group, take it out first or you are doomed to fail.
Example Craft:
Carriers
Meant to be mobile bases, Carriers are not combat focused vessels. They focus on docking space and shields to protect the vessels docked inside. While some are equipped with turrets to ward off Strike Craft, you'll need to have a group protecting the Carrier if you want it to survive in combat. It's capable of storing Strike Craft and Corvettes and has a construction bay large enough to produce frigates. Can receive resources from harvesters/salvagers.
Battlecrusiers
Battlecrusiers are large, slow, and pack a serious punch. Because of it's large amounts of shielding, a large task force is necessary to bring down a single Battlecrusier. These are meant to be a one man army. Some even have a small docking bay to carry a couple Strike Craft or Corvettes with them into battle effectively making them battle carriers. If a Destroyer is like a light sword meant for quick devastating blows, then the Battlecrusier is a large heavy sword meant for crushing your enemies.
Mothership Class
Mothership
Essentially a Super Carrier, a Mothership serves the same purpose as a Carrier, only on a larger scale. It can receive resources, is equipped with docking bays for Strike Craft and Corvettes, construction bays for frigates, and an additional bay large enough for Carriers, Destroyers, or Battlecrusiers to be built in. The Mothership will have turrets to ward off Strike Craft, but will need additional protection in order to survive any sizeable force. These ships normally have massive amounts of shielding, so while unable to really deal damage, it takes a while to kill one of these beasts. This is the flagship of a fleet.
Shipyard
This ship is all about construction. It sacrifices shields for additional construction/docking bays. They have barely any engine power and less defenses than a Mothership. Great for building fleets in a short amount of time, but vulnerable to any kind of attack.
Of course you also have Resource Collectors, but they really aren't a ship class so much as a type of ship. There really isn't a relative size limit either. Because of this, I've left Resource Collectors off the list.
There you have it! What do you think? Discuss below!
(Ships classes may be added/altered based on feedback)
Strike Craft
These are your fighters. They are meant to be quick, flown like military fighter jets, and designed for a singular purpose. Be it scouting, bombing, or intercepting, these ships are meant for roles where the element of surprise is key. Speed and maneuverability are more important than shields or firepower. You'll never see a turret on a strike craft.
Example Craft:
- Scout- Fastest craft available. Meant for getting in, looking around, getting out. Has minimal weapons.
- Interceptor- Meant to hunt down other Strike Craft. A large enough group can also take out Corvettes.
- Bomber- Meant to deal large amounts of damage to slower moving targets, primarily Capitol Class.
Corvettes
These are gunboats. While not as fast as Strike Craft, they are still quiet maneuverable. Usually brimming with turrets, Corvettes are meant to strafe around enemies and provide suppressing fire. They have a nice balance of fire power and shields allowing them to deal a few decent hits before falling in battle. They can still get from point A to B in a reasonable amount of time making them great at keeping a large area under control. Corvettes can also be used for utilities such as repair and salvage.
Example Craft:
- Gunship- Meant to deal a decent amount damage to a target. Great for harassing larger targets.
- Missile- Similar to the Gunship, but with missiles.
- Multi-gun- Covered in turrets. Meant to deal with large groups of Strike Craft.
- Minelayer- Deploys a field of explosives hazardous to larger vessels.
- Repair- Designed for field repairs of vessels. Has a turret for minimal defense.
- Salvage- Meant for the recovery of debris from battle fields. Non combat vessel with zero offensive capability.
Capitol Class
Frigates
These are the all-round ships. They balance shields, firepower, and speed equally. Some frigates focus on turrets in order to take on groups of Corvettes and Strike Craft while others have a single powerful weapon meant for cutting through the largest of ships. A single Frigate is not a large threat, but in small groups, Frigates can be a force to be reckoned with. Frigates can also be used for utilities, but are then usually just called Capitol ships.
Example Craft:
- Assault- A medium damage vessel meant to take out Corvettes and other Frigates.
- Missile- Similar to an Assault Frigate but with a focus on missiles.
- Flak- Designed to deal with Strike Craft by using shotgun like turrets.
- Ion Cannon- Equipped with a single high damage cannon, this ship can carve a hole through any ship.
- Marine- Designed to get in close to an enemy vessel so that marines can board and overtake a ship. Has a couple turrets for defense.
- Support- Strike Craft refuel station and vessel repair. Has a couple turrets for defense.
- Resource Controller- Acts as a base/storage for mining/salvaging operations. Non combat vessel with zero offensive capability.
Super Capitol Class
Destroyers
These suckers are deadly. Focusing on firepower and speed, these bad boys pack the fire power of 3 frigates while keeping the same level of maneuverability. They sacrifice shields for quick and decisive kills. Taking a destroyer head on is a death wish, but with carful planning, a destroyer can easily be taken out. If you see one in a battle group, take it out first or you are doomed to fail.
Example Craft:
- Destroyer- Equipped with light and heavy cannons, this ship can kill just about anything except fast moving Strike Craft.
- Missile Destroyer- Can't take out targets as fast as a Destroyer, but can now also target Strike Craft with it's barrage of lock-on missiles.
Carriers
Meant to be mobile bases, Carriers are not combat focused vessels. They focus on docking space and shields to protect the vessels docked inside. While some are equipped with turrets to ward off Strike Craft, you'll need to have a group protecting the Carrier if you want it to survive in combat. It's capable of storing Strike Craft and Corvettes and has a construction bay large enough to produce frigates. Can receive resources from harvesters/salvagers.
Battlecrusiers
Battlecrusiers are large, slow, and pack a serious punch. Because of it's large amounts of shielding, a large task force is necessary to bring down a single Battlecrusier. These are meant to be a one man army. Some even have a small docking bay to carry a couple Strike Craft or Corvettes with them into battle effectively making them battle carriers. If a Destroyer is like a light sword meant for quick devastating blows, then the Battlecrusier is a large heavy sword meant for crushing your enemies.
Mothership Class
Mothership
Essentially a Super Carrier, a Mothership serves the same purpose as a Carrier, only on a larger scale. It can receive resources, is equipped with docking bays for Strike Craft and Corvettes, construction bays for frigates, and an additional bay large enough for Carriers, Destroyers, or Battlecrusiers to be built in. The Mothership will have turrets to ward off Strike Craft, but will need additional protection in order to survive any sizeable force. These ships normally have massive amounts of shielding, so while unable to really deal damage, it takes a while to kill one of these beasts. This is the flagship of a fleet.
Shipyard
This ship is all about construction. It sacrifices shields for additional construction/docking bays. They have barely any engine power and less defenses than a Mothership. Great for building fleets in a short amount of time, but vulnerable to any kind of attack.
Of course you also have Resource Collectors, but they really aren't a ship class so much as a type of ship. There really isn't a relative size limit either. Because of this, I've left Resource Collectors off the list.
There you have it! What do you think? Discuss below!
(Ships classes may be added/altered based on feedback)