I'm starting this thread to bring up a few automatd weapons platform ideas I had, using the Spacedock rules to make them.
The first design is a Size 1 platform, that does nothing but fire photon torpedos:
Presenting, the Missile Pod:
Class and Type: Missile pod
Hull systems:
Size: 1
Decks: 2
SU available: 325
SU used: 305
Hull:
Outer: <4>
Inner: <4>
Resistance:
Outer Hull: 2 <2>
Inner Hull: 2 <2>
(it doesn't need to last under enemy fire, it shoots and is done)
Structural Integrity Field:
Main: Class 1 (Protection 40/60) (1 Power/10 Protection) <13>
Backup: Class 1 (Protection 20) (1 Power/10 Protection) <7>
(it doesn't need to hold together under fire; it shoots and is done)
Personnel Systems:
Crew/Passengers/Evac: 10/10/0
Spartan: 20 <1>
(the life support equipment to allow the maintenance and repair/reloading crews to live)
Environmental Systems:
Basic Life Support (3 Power/round) <4>
Reserve Life Support (2 Power/round) <2>
Gravity (1 Power/round) <1>
(only turned on when maintenance is being done)
Consumables: 0
Replicators: none
Cargo Holds: 0
(all consumables and requirements provided by mothership/base)
Power Systems:
Auxiliary Reactors: 23 (generate 115 Power/round) <69>
EPS: Standard Power flow (transfer 50 Power per round) <10>
(antimatter is expensive, hydrogen is cheap)
Operations Systems:
Bridge: <5>
Computer:
Core 1: (5 Power/rnd) (mounted centrally) <2>
ODN: <3>
(mounted centrally, reflects the control systems to target)
Sensor Systems:
Lateral Sensors (5 Power/rnd) <2>
Strength 1
(no need for FTL sensors, it is targeting STL vessels only)
Flight Control Systems:
Autopilot (Skill 1, Coordination: 1) (1 Power/rnd) <4>
Navigation Computer (Class 1) <0>
Backup: <0>
Attitude Control (1 Power/rnd) <1>
(to turn the pod to the correct facing)
Tractor Beam:
Alpha Tractor Beam (mounted aft) <3>
(to allow the pod to be attached limpet style to a starship, for easy transport)
Transporters: 0
(maintenance and transportation handled by mothership/base)
Tactical Systems:
4 Of the following:
Advanced Torpedo Launcher (Spread 12) <30>
- Gamma Targeting
- Forward mount (Full arc firing)
- Power demand is 20 + 5 per torpedo fired (80 per launcher at full rate)
Torpedo Storage: 48 <5>
(only enough torpedos to allow all four launchers a single volley at full spread each)
TA/T/TS (Epsilon) (6 Power/rnd) <18>
Shields:
Shield Generator: Class 1 (Protection 10) (1 Power/round) <1.5>
Recharging System: Class 1 (45 seconds)
(protects the pod from being destroyed by a random piece of sand)
Auto-destruct: Yes
(to keep its secrets from being captured, and for intruder defense)
Description:
Missile pods are deployed in orbit over populated planets, or carried by vessels to provide additional firepower. Little more than central control, power supplies, and weaponry, Missile pods are designed to perform on massive volley at a single enemy ship, then shut down. They are considered expendable in combat situations, which explains the lack of hull protection, and minimal shields. Standard attack method is to charge up all four launchers for a full Spread of torpedos, fire everything, and nothing afterward.
If the pod is used in planetary blockades, it is programmed for longer-duration firing. This method involves activating two of the launchers, and firing three to four torpedos from each. In this method the pod can fire a total of six to eight volleys before needing to be reloaded. To prevent capture, the pod is kept far out of expected planetary transporter range, and if a boarding party is detected, the pod is designed to self-destruct.
Reloading and maintenance is handled by small craft, or being tractored on board a larger vessel. The missile pod does have life support equipment for when it is maintained in space, but the lack of any sort of fabrication equipment means the shuttle should bring lots of spares.
The general arrangement is a central core of computers and control systems, with the Auxiliary reactors placed around it for protection. Surrounding the central core are the four launchers. The internal deck arrangement was optimized for maintenance of the launchers, rather than normal designs that have to fit the launchers into the decks. This leads to the infamous 9 3/4 platform, which is at exactly the right height to maintain the antimatter monitoring in the launchers, while the rest of the deck is one meter higher to allow checking the rest of the torpedo launcher.
Given the inability of the pod to engage warp capable targets, it is often deployed with Tractor Mines that prevent targets from going to warp.
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