Season 6 Dev Blog #5
By admin @ June 12, 2012 at 1:44pm
Heavy Escort Carrier: Armitage Class
One of my favorite starships in Star Trek is the Akira class; it’s certainly a fan favorite as well. When we first developed Star Trek Online, we made the Akira a Tier 3 ship — we did this because it was an older ship and the newer Defiant and Prometheus class ships just made more sense for Tier 4 and 5. Over two years later, fans still want to fly this icon at Tier 5. A few months ago, we released a Refit version of the Akira: the Thunderchild. The Thunderchild is beautiful; it looks just like a muscle car. And it comes with a really popular console: the Point Defense System. But, it is still a Tier 3 ship.
It was only a matter of time before a Tier 5 version of the Akira was to be made available. The fans wanted it, and we wanted it. However, the Thunderchild would be hard to top. The look of the ship was the subject of much debate here at Cryptic. Should it look more like an Akira or a Thunderchild? What would a modern Tier 5 Akira look like? We eventually decided on an evolution of the Thunderchild, but made it look bigger, tougher and even more aggressive. But, we also know many fans would still just want a pure Akira, so we decided that the Tier 5 variant should come with the traditional Akira costume option, as well as the Oslo and Zephyr. The Thunderchild costume is also supported if the player owns the Thunderchild ship.
Picking this ship’s abilities was a little harder. We talked about it for months. The designer of the original Akira, Alex Jaeger of Industrial Light and Magic, said he envisioned the Akira to be a “Carrier/Gunship” loaded with torpedo launchers. On the original model, he even loaded the weapon pod on top with 10 torpedo launchers! This was never quite seen in action on screen, and a design like that seemed way over the top for a Tier 3 ship in STO. But now, two years later, we think it is time to let the Akira fulfill its destiny.
We are very proud to present to you, the Tier 5 Federation Heavy Escort Carrier: Armitage Class.
To honor Jaeger’s original design, the Heavy Escort Carrier comes with a single hangar bay, which includes a wing of Peregrine Fighters. Other hanger ships can be equipped if desired, too. Like the Heavy Escort Refit, the Heavy Escort Carrier comes with a Point Defense system. But, again, keeping true to Jaeger’s original design, this mod is a Photon Torpedo Point Defense System. This Console Mod fires a massive photon torpedo barrage at multiple targets in all directions.
Here are some details on the Heavy Escort Carrier stats:
- Minimum Rank: Vice Admiral
- Hull Strength: 30,000
- Shield Modifier: 0.9
- Crew: 200
- Weapons: 4 Fore, 3 Aft
- Device Slots: 2
- Bridge Officer Stations: 1 Ensign Tactical, 1 Lieutenant Tactical, 1 Commander Tactical, 1 Lieutenant Commander Engineering, 1 Lieutenant Science
- Console Modifications: 4 Tactical, 3 Engineering, 2 Science
- Base Turn Rate: 15 degrees per second
- Impulse Modifier: 0.2
- +15 Power to Weapons
- Can Load Cannons
- Photon Torpedo Point Defense System
- 1 Hangar Bay with 1 wing of Peregrine Fighters
The Heavy Escort Carrier: Armitage Class is absolutely stunning, and we can’t wait for you to be able to fly it. It will be available in the C-Store for 2,500 ZEN following server maintenance this Thursday, June 14th. Also, for those unfamiliar with how to command a carrier, check out this Dev Blog.
We'll see you in-game!
Al “CaptainGeko” Rivera
Lead Designer
Star Trek Online
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culmenation @ Mar 13th, 2013 11:36AM
I think alot of people have a misunderstanding about this ship. It's not a Heavy Escort CARRIER, rather its a HEAVY ESCORT Carrier. Meaning its a DHC platform with the ability to launch fighters, rather than a pet master with a handful of beams to draw agro. I personally love my Fleet Heavy Escort Carrier, got the Torp Point Defence for it too. It shoots and moves like an Escort, but has either Danubes to make it effective against small/fast things, Scorpions to give it even more dps, or Shield Rep Units should your tank fall asleep without training threat control. Also the fleet version almost has as much shields as an Assault Cruiser, so make of that what you will.
ischaffe @ Jan 24th, 2013 8:38AM
Well my beef with this ship is that compared to other carriers it is underpowered, like the fed carriers can launch birds of prey, but we are stuck with 1 wing of fighters. The Fleet variant is more in the right direction, but still compared to the fact it will be another yr before anyone gets it, and it is still underpowered compared to other carriers. What I would like to see, is either larger fighter squadrons, possible Aquarius destroyer pets, and above all 2 hangar slots.
startrek1wars @ Jul 25th, 2012 1:46PM
Awesome ship! Can't wait to get it.
richardlwhite1 @ Jul 12th, 2012 10:37AM
This ship is amazing! It s extremely agile and the pds really works to clear out swarms. I like to use mine during stfs and recommend upgrading to advanced peregrines and delta flyers. If you are used to cruisersLike the Oddyssey Class (which the tac oddy is awesome) You will want to practice maneuvering the armitage to get used to the fast maneuvering that the ship is capable of
sander233 @ Jul 12th, 2012 12:00AM
I am in love with my new Armitage-class ship, and considering how many I've seen around DS9 and Gamma Orionis, I'm clearly not alone. Bringing this beast of a gunship into battle flanked by half a dozen Advanced Peregrines makes me feel awesome. Thank you for building this.
rattatman @ Jun 26th, 2012 5:46PM
oops sorry let me finish. for and aft propitiatory "flack" weapon. ( carrier only anti torpedo or anti everything?) . Device slots must be 4. 6 would be better its time to use the Superior tech we developed and make ships that may not be as strong as the enemy but makes up for it with our brain powered devices. One hanger is fine, no reason to limit squadrons to low. one attack one, Eng, one defense/reserve, of course a reinforcements for the attack squad in the battle. My dream team of a combined science and Tactical black ops mission squad. (boarding parties / sabotage / traps. you name it make it deadly fun. lol). Bridge officer is harder. i would like 10 but that's a bit impractical but 6 or 7 may be doable. Consoles again we excel in our toys and there is no reason to think we can not up the slots to 5 tact, 4 Eng, 4 sci, or even higher. Crew of 200? are you kidding? try 2000 maybe 3000. heck 5k would not be out of line for this big bad girl. Now surround this ship with a fleet of defiant class escorts. As well as science and engineering support ships and you have a attack or defiance butt kicker. Again this will never happen but its fun to dream. Humm have this in a event. escorts only save the prototype for being stolen by the enemy. What you think?
rattatman @ Jun 26th, 2012 5:01PM
For a carrier this ship is way under powered. My ideal Heavy carrier would be something like this. (please don't jump on me too hard. This only a dream ship nothing else.) First take this carriers data and change the hull to 45 - 48k add a for and aft propritory
markfalcone @ Jun 22nd, 2012 9:02AM
From a roleplaying aspect, there are several reasons I wouldn't mind getting this for my engineer. The original SCE books revolved around a small crew in an escort vessel rather than a cruiser. Why? No idea, but they did mention somewhere in the first book that a small crew tends to bring about a stronger framework for a team than a large crew such as, for example, on the Enterprise-E. Only thing I don't like (and mind you, I understand the reason why) is the 3 tactical stations and only one each engineering and science. Consider this: Couldn't it be possible to have small engineering ships? As I understand it, the daVinci was engineered to be a towing and defense ship, not a primarily combat vessel, yet every escort in the game appears to be a combat vessel. Just my two cents.
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