Red-Shirted Ensigns and Spacecraft

Ever noticed that the Miranda class (aka Khans ship from TWOK) is the Red-shirted ensign of the starship world. We even had a joke that only TOS security away team officers could man them. http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/wink.gif

Every battle in DS9 had at least 2 or 3 of these ships being blown up in spectacular ways. Only the Excelsior and Akira came close. Heaven knows what the loss ratio for the class was during the entire Dominion War (DW).

My question is, in your post-DW campaigns do you still have Mirandas in a abundance (as in they are still being produced) or have you replaced them with a similar new class.

I've been concidering creating a couple of new classes to be the TNG equivlent of the Constitution and Miranda classes. I'd use an existing Canon class (like the New Orleans, etc)but most of the rarely seen ships were kitbashed and are really ugly (IMHO).

You could say that the Nebula-class starships (e.g., Captain Maxwell's USS Phoenix) is about the 24th-century equivalent of the Miranda-class and her variants.

And I believe it was mentioend that the Constellation-class starships (e.g., Picard's USS Stargazer and the old USS Hathaway) were the replacement to the aging Constitution-class.

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Anyhoo, just some random thoughts...

[This message has been edited by REG (edited 06-16-2001).]

The Nebula is good but too big. I guess my main aim is to have a small ship about the size of the old Constitution and Miranda classes, in Galaxy-era sytle (i.e. none of that ablative armor and pulse phaser stuff).

The Miranda fits a cool niche in the Star Trek universe (being small but still Federation-lookin) but I'm also looking to phase out the old models (Miranda, Constellation, but maybe not Excelsior) from my TNG games... but I need replacements that do basically the same thing. I say not the Excelsior becuase it still looks TNG-ish with its non-standard saucer section.

The New Orleans sort of fits the Constituiton replacement but IMHO its too darn ugly. I'm actually looking for something like an enlarged Nova class since it has the refit Constituiton nacelle struts. Still the New Orleans class could work with a home-made companion to fill the Miranda. Hmmmm http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/cool.gif

If you had not guessed, starships that I use have to meet a certain "visual appeal" factor. Basically that covers any common ship not involved in Wolf 359 http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/smile.gif

I always thought the Galaxy-Class as the follower of the Constitution class. Both are intended for five-year missions and are the largest ship of their time. As a consequence I saw the Nebula the follower of the Miranda-Class. Both have nearlky the same saucer-section as their big brothers and they have a similar warp-nacelle design, i.e. no real engineering hull. and both are cruisers.

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"I am a great one for rushing in where angels fear to tread." - Cpt. Kirk, Star Trek VI


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I dunno...personally I think the Intrepid is pretty much perfect for a Miranda replacement. It's small, has some teeth but not a particularly tough hide, and can undertake just about any mission if need be.

BTW, I think the reason the Miranda's keep dying in the DW is their shields - or lack thereof. I can speak from personal experience, having captained the Saratoga during the Wolf 359 recreation recently! http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/frown.gif

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"Every atom in our bodies was forged in the furnace of ancient stars - it is our destiny to return home..."

The Intrepid could work. Like the Nebula, the Galaxy as cool as it is, is far too big.

I'm looking for the "visual" decendant of the Constitution and the Miranda, not so much the functional decendant. Starfleet ships now are bigger than they were during the TOS era. I want something with smaller size and crew; something like the Intepid but looking like the Miranda and Constitution classes. Call me strange http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/smile.gif

I like the look and size of the Constitution and Miranda vessels (especially the Miranda). Small, quick, with that cool weapons roll bar and war nacelles under the dish. Problem is it looks like a TOS-movie era ship which I wanna slowly phase out of the universe http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/wink.gif

Maybe some smaller version of the Nebula. I dunno, just thinking out loud...

I'd say have the Mirandas come up for a refit and reowrk it to your liking. Maybe give it a much more streamlined look.

Maybe, instead of the nessels being striaght down form the hull, have the kinda flow off them. Also, fill in the gap that the top pilon makes. Have it a bit shorter, but filled in; then you can stuff a couple more weapons/senors/impluse engines in there, and not have to worry much about space. Lastly, i'd make the ship look like two circles hooked together (small and a large) with the back a blunted. I'll throw together a gif of what i mean and email it to you, if you want (i'm gonna make it anyways, cause now i have something to do this week while off work).

I'm really surprised that no-one has mentioned the Saber-class vessels before now. They're small, have the teeth/shield requirements, and according to LUG, they're cruisers, so they can undertake a variety of missions.

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Even in this age of technological wonders, the human mind is still the most powerful weapon in the universe.

The Sabre and Steamrunner classes should fit the bill. Or look around the Starship Encyclopedia: Online edition at http://www.pacificnet.net/~filmman/s...ps/index2.html . It has al sorts of ship designs, in color, arranged by era. In my campaign the TOS movie era ships will be phased out, the oldest design I will use will probably be designs like the Ambassador class. I'm dragging my Starfleet into the 24th century.

I had always assumed that the Constellation-class replaced the Enterprise-class; the Ambassador-class replaced the Excelsior-class, with the Excelsior being used in the role of the Constellation which was scrapped. With the advent of the Galaxy-class the Ambassadors/Excelsiors were reduced to lesser roles. The Nebula-class was created as a support vessel of equal calibur of the Galaxy. The Intrepid-class (being about the same lenght as the original Enterprise) is the replacement of the Constitution/Constellation-classes. As for a replacement of the Miranda-class. . .one of those ugly things from ST:First Contact (who designed those damn things! http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/mad.gif ) should fit the bill.

"one of those ugly things from ST:First Contact (who designed those damn things! ) should fit the bill."

Ah, a traditionalist I see (a.k.a. TOS trekker). Nothing against you, but I was raised in the TNG tradition, and have since changed my Series loyalty/designation to DS9 (I enjoyed the dark story lines, and the archs in the series that were rarely found in earlier series, now all we need is an Asian Main Character Captain). But this is all besides the point of this string. So this entire paragraph can be forgotten if so desired.

Well back to the subject at hand. The way I see it is this . . . most of the older classes (Ambassador era and older) will be discontinued in production, however they will be upgraded as needed (all this determined by the strenght and manpower needs of Starfleet). As time passes the newer post Galaxy era class vessels (and some of the Galaxy class era vessels (namely the Nebula, & Intrepid class vessels)) will be produced along side these Perimeter Defense Classes that have started appearing since First Contact. Personnally I like the vessels but single out the Norway as the worst designed, and the Yeager as the least likely to be continued in production due to its duty simularities of the Sabre Class.

Thus with this being said, I would say that the Akira will start taking over the duty role (Cruiser) of the Excelsior and Ambassador Class. The Galaxy Class, and that era of vessels will stay on until their service life is over, including service extensions of course. The Nebula will take over most if not all exploration duties as will the Soveriegn and Intrepids. Frigates will be replaced by the Sabre and the Streamrunner. The Pormetheous will be discontinued in production as will the Defiant due to the outwardly combatic nature of these vessels, however these bessels will be kept in Active Reserve just in case.

But since the Mirandas/Vessel Red shirts were considered Light Cruisers the most likely candadite of this slot will be the Streamrunners, due to the fact that they are boarderline cruisers, but not as strong as the Akiras or Nebulas which will make up the Core of Starfleet up until the turn of the 24th/25th Century.

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"Your job is not to die for your country, but to make the other bastard die for his."
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"Like my father said, never start a fight, but always be sure to finish it."

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