Interesting analysis:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUkUjCh-tz0
I would just note two things. First off, the Redeemer and Retaliator have docking collars, so are useful for boarding, whereas any sort of boarding from a Hoplite is going to require some EVA. Not sure how practical that will be.
Secondly, I must respectfully disagree that the Hoplite will be faster or have greater range than the Redeemer. This seems to me most unlikely. These two ships have almost the same mass, but the Redeemer has twice the thrust. It has a pair of TR5's same as the Retaliator, which is almost 5 times its mass. The Redeemer is going to be FAST, but it will no doubt lose to the Vanguard in atmosphere, since the latter has a real airframe.
IMHO, if you plan to be in engagements on the surface, you will want a Hoplite despite there is no lower turret. Most drop ships do not drop under direct fire, as that is far too vulnerable. If you plan ops in space, you'll probably want the docking collar and greater power, speed and maneuverability of the Redeemer, so long as you can get sufficient crew to protect the ship with all those guns.
And just a final note, it still remains to be seen how formidable the Vanguards will be when flown with the primary weapon on gimbal. If you are willing to work very hard as a pilot, you may find the Vanguard is one of the most effective fighting ships, just because it can do so much more than a fighter, and yet may make a decent fighter too. I still think you will not find out unless you fly the primary on gimbal, since the ship rotates too slowly to dogfight, UNLESS all you need to do is keep your target somewhere in front of the ship. That changes everything about how you would fly that ship.
IMHO.
I would just note two things. First off, the Redeemer and Retaliator have docking collars, so are useful for boarding, whereas any sort of boarding from a Hoplite is going to require some EVA. Not sure how practical that will be.
Secondly, I must respectfully disagree that the Hoplite will be faster or have greater range than the Redeemer. This seems to me most unlikely. These two ships have almost the same mass, but the Redeemer has twice the thrust. It has a pair of TR5's same as the Retaliator, which is almost 5 times its mass. The Redeemer is going to be FAST, but it will no doubt lose to the Vanguard in atmosphere, since the latter has a real airframe.
IMHO, if you plan to be in engagements on the surface, you will want a Hoplite despite there is no lower turret. Most drop ships do not drop under direct fire, as that is far too vulnerable. If you plan ops in space, you'll probably want the docking collar and greater power, speed and maneuverability of the Redeemer, so long as you can get sufficient crew to protect the ship with all those guns.
And just a final note, it still remains to be seen how formidable the Vanguards will be when flown with the primary weapon on gimbal. If you are willing to work very hard as a pilot, you may find the Vanguard is one of the most effective fighting ships, just because it can do so much more than a fighter, and yet may make a decent fighter too. I still think you will not find out unless you fly the primary on gimbal, since the ship rotates too slowly to dogfight, UNLESS all you need to do is keep your target somewhere in front of the ship. That changes everything about how you would fly that ship.
IMHO.
