Starfighters in Star Trek

[JALU3]

One thing you have to take in mind is the design philosiphies of the different intersteller powers, and the reasoning behind those schools of naval architecture. There is a reason why fighter designs are more prevelant in one government then another. There is a good reason why the Federation decided a while back that Fighters weren't a good idea. With the trillions of people that the Federation has (and lets not take into the account he real CGI model cost reasoning), don't you think that the idea is supported somewhere?

The reasonings why fighters were created out of the Peregrine Couriers during th Dominion War are logical, even if you aren't presented with them up front in the TV Show. However, that is not to say that the concept isn't without merit. And that isn't to say you wouldn't see Civilian to Military converts during those difficult times. But at the same time, you have to think about how far they would modify a vessel . . . as I am sure that there was a reasonable expectation for the ship to return to its civilian/peacetime owner and purpose eventually. Therefore . . . going as you suggest, unless you design a purpose built escort carrier . . . I would suggest you design a reasonable large sized cargo vessel first . . . or take one of the prebuilt ones . . . like the one from the ICON Players Guide . . . then modify it to an extent that would allow for it to be used to carrier fighters.
Maybe you wouldn't have to modify the whole ship, maybe just create a purpose built cargo pod which can carry/launch/land/service the attached fighters.

[redwood973]

I've always wanted to introduce a villian of the week alien that lacks transporters and used landing craft escorted by fighters to take over a Federation outpost/colony on the outskirts of their territory.

Would Starfleet have or come up with a fighter and play out dogfights (both in space and the planets atmosphere)? I could see the Federation starship engaged in battle with the villian of the weeks starship above the planet and thus occupied and unable to pick off the transports and fighters, so a Federation fighter would be needed to first try and prevent planetfall and second, failing the first objective, try and destroy those that make it into the atmosphere.

Could be interesting.

[Coalition]

One reason fighters might not be used is that damage that penetrates the shield is likely to destroy the fighter, while the same amount of damage will either dent the shields, or only do minor damage on the ship. In addition, there is a SickBay present so injuries that ar life threatening are taken care of immediately, rather than the person dying.

Another reason would be the mindset of the pilots. They are accustomed to working in a small craft, with zero support by anyone else, leading to a high degree of independance. In a Federation that teaches that everyone is equal and should get along, this will cause problems.

Now Klingons, they should be popping out fighters left and right. One warrior with only his wits and skills against the enemy is what they live for, right?

As to the Federation Attack Fighter, based on the Dominion War Sourcebook it is more along the lines of a gunboat (it has quarters for 4 people plus two escape pods capable of holding up to 8 people total, and two weeks of supplies).

[JALU3]

One reason fighters might not be used is that damage that penetrates the shield is likely to destroy the fighter, while the same amount of damage will either dent the shields, or only do minor damage on the ship. In addition, there is a SickBay present so injuries that ar life threatening are taken care of immediately, rather than the person dying.

Read through the Akira (w/ Air Wing) v D'Deredix sceneario which we played out here. We found just that, due to the low thresholds of the shields (usually around 150) most damage gets past it, and usually frys a major system or the crew.

In a Federation that teaches that everyone is equal and should get along, this will cause problems

Why would this cause problems. The federation is built upon individual freedoms and libertys. Most arguements would say that the Federation wouldn't build fighters more because of the human cost that would be the outcome of using large low threshold fighters. And to change that there have been several designs that have attempt to negate that disadvantage (all be it at large powercost (to get the threshold limit highter))

As to the Federation Attack Fighter, based on the Dominion War Sourcebook it is more along the lines of a gunboat (it has quarters for 4 people plus two escape pods capable of holding up to 8 people total, and two weeks of supplies).

Yes, sexy aren't they. If all 6 torps hit that's 1200 damage per round! Again take a gander at the scenario that was played out.
http://forum.trek-rpg.net/showthread...light=vanguard

[The Tatterdemalion King]

Another reason would be the mindset of the pilots. They are accustomed to working in a small craft, with zero support by anyone else, leading to a high degree of independance. In a Federation that teaches that everyone is equal and should get along, this will cause problems.

Something tells me the hotshot top gun mofo attitude reflects movie conventions more than actual behavioural tendencies among pilots.

Now Klingons, they should be popping out fighters left and right. One warrior with only his wits and skills against the enemy is what they live for, right?

In space, no one can hear you sing...

[JALU3]

Something tells me the hotshot top gun mofo attitude reflects movie conventions more than actual behavioural tendencies among pilots.

Watch the Carrier Mini-Series from PBS, a good reflection on the real attitude of pilots.

However, you also have things on Youtube that might make you think differently.

[The Tatterdemalion King]

Watch the Carrier Mini-Series from PBS, a good reflection on the real attitude of pilots.

I missed the episode with the flight personnel, sadly.

Anyone with an irrepressible independent streak in Starfleet would probably end up on a relay station or the captains chair, I figure...

EDIT: So, wait, pilots really just want to be in musical theatre?

[JALU3]

I missed the episode with the flight personnel, sadly.

Anyone with an irrepressible independent streak in Starfleet would probably end up on a relay station or the captains chair, I figure...

EDIT: So, wait, pilots really just want to be in musical theatre?

That's the great thing. Full episodes are on that website for you to watch at your own pace.

And yes . . . they love music . . . what, you've never seen Iron Eagle (not that that was a great movie)?

[DuneMessiah]

Mindset of Pilots:
since I'm a pilot myself and work together with a pretty big bunch of other pilots I probably can give a hand in this. We are all trained as team players. Everybody knows, feels and breathes that we can only be succesfull if we work together as one. And yet again, you are right, pilots are very individualistic. It's like they are phobic of beeing fewed as precise working machines, not real people. Therefor they demonstrate their humanity at every possible or impossible instance to an almost grotesque degree.

Forme the thought of having starfighters in starfleet was just the idea of having squads of starships capable of "multi vector attacks/fighting" before the Prometheus was developed and commisioned. This could bring a great deal of damage to an enemy. And if you have these fighters only for short range and short duration dispatch like in planetary defence, I believe you could pack an imense fire power and defensive capabilieties into them - always assuming the get replenished quickly. You could even skip live support and put your pilot and gunner into space suits for deep space survival after "ejecting".