why is the ISD dagger-shaped?

jaeger115 · Post by **jaeger115** » 2003-01-03 09:53pm

Forgive me if this has been posted before, but is there any reason why the ISD is dagger-shaped, other than psychological reasons and the infamous turbolaser broadside?

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2003-01-03 09:54pm

Good fire coverage plus big engines. Angular shape is easier to armor and construct.

jaeger115 · Post by **jaeger115** » 2003-01-03 09:56pm

why not a pyramid shape that's tipped over? With the engines at the "base"?

Kelly Antilles · Post by **Kelly Antilles** » 2003-01-03 10:03pm

Because this way it looks really cool? LIke a dagger cutting through the sky?

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2003-01-03 10:04pm

Good fire coverage, plus it's intimidating.

jaeger115 · Post by **jaeger115** » 2003-01-03 10:52pm

For fire coverage, why not a cylinder?

Darth Yoshi · Post by **Darth Yoshi** » 2003-01-03 10:53pm

With a cylinder, you can't effectively armor it. The jagged edges allow for a stronger hull, I believe.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2003-01-03 11:01pm

jaeger115 wrote:For fire coverage, why not a cylinder?

Because the dagger shape is easier to build than a cylinder.

Cal Wright · Post by **Cal Wright** » 2003-01-03 11:56pm

Aerodynamic. It doesn't have to hold up against the drag in space during lightspeed runs.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-01-04 12:03am

jaeger115 wrote:For fire coverage, why not a cylinder?

Making curved armor plate is very hard as is building a hull that shape.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2003-01-04 12:26am

jaeger115 wrote:why not a pyramid shape that's tipped over? With the engines at the "base"?

That would necessitate additional shielding, but more importantly it would expose the hangar decks to weapons fire from directly ahead of the ship. In short, it would put a highly vulnerable portion of the ship in the direct line of fire of a target you are trying to destroy.

jaeger115 · Post by **jaeger115** » 2003-01-04 12:33am

That would necessitate additional shielding, but more importantly it would expose the hangar decks to weapons fire from directly ahead of the ship. In short, it would put a highly vulnerable portion of the ship in the direct line of fire of a target you are trying to destroy.

Good point, but what if an enemy approaches the ISD from below? I've noticed that there aren't any weapons on the ventral side.

Ender · Post by **Ender** » 2003-01-04 12:36am

jaeger115 wrote:
That would necessitate additional shielding, but more importantly it would expose the hangar decks to weapons fire from directly ahead of the ship. In short, it would put a highly vulnerable portion of the ship in the direct line of fire of a target you are trying to destroy.
Good point, but what if an enemy approaches the ISD from below? I've noticed that there aren't any weapons on the ventral side.

Suppossedly there are, they are just the much smaller LTLs.

Keevan_Colton · Post by **Keevan_Colton** » 2003-01-04 12:51am

The dagger shaped design has three important attributes:
Firepower - Large broadsides and large forward fire are capable.
Armour - This shape is more easily armoured.
Target profile - It presents a smaller target compared to a full sized pyramid.

Darth Garden Gnome · Post by **Darth Garden Gnome** » 2003-01-04 12:56am

I think en your ship is 1600m long, you can ignore target profile altogether Keevan.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2003-01-04 01:05am

jaeger115 wrote:
That would necessitate additional shielding, but more importantly it would expose the hangar decks to weapons fire from directly ahead of the ship. In short, it would put a highly vulnerable portion of the ship in the direct line of fire of a target you are trying to destroy.
Good point, but what if an enemy approaches the ISD from below? I've noticed that there aren't any weapons on the ventral side.

The ship rolls to allow the target to open fire on the dorsal side.

Keevan_Colton · Post by **Keevan_Colton** » 2003-01-04 01:20am

Darth Garden Gnome wrote:I think en your ship is 1600m long, you can ignore target profile altogether Keevan.

*chuckles* I dont knock any possible advantage.....after all...doing so would be playing fair not playing like an evil overlord.

Keevan.

Darth Fanboy · Post by **Darth Fanboy** » 2003-01-04 01:43am

Does the dagger design do anything for the smaller SDs that enter atmospheres? And if not SDs then maybe the Acclamators that took off at the end of AOTC?

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2003-01-04 01:47am

jaeger115 wrote:why not a pyramid shape that's tipped over? With the engines at the "base"?

That is exactly what it is.

Cpt_Frank · Post by **Cpt_Frank** » 2003-01-04 04:39am

Darth Fanboy wrote:Does the dagger design do anything for the smaller SDs that enter atmospheres? And if not SDs then maybe the Acclamators that took off at the end of AOTC?

The Acclamators aren't related to Star Destroyers very much maybe except for their dagger shape which is a KDY trademark.
I suppose you are talking about the precursor of the Imperator class Star Destroyer, the Victory class from the late clone wars.
As far as I know the dagger shape hasn't got any advantages since the ship floats due to powerful repulsorlift units.

Silver · Post by **Silver** » 2003-01-04 07:13pm

Darth Garden Gnome wrote:I think en your ship is 1600m long, you can ignore target profile altogether Keevan.

1600m can actually be kinda small when you're talking hundreds of kilometers range combat in space.

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-01-04 07:49pm

Hundreds of kilometers? Arent TLs good for thousands?

But still, at 100klicks a 1.6km ship would be a spec.

Grand Admiral Thrawn · Post by **Grand Admiral Thrawn** » 2003-01-04 07:56pm

jaeger115 wrote:
That would necessitate additional shielding, but more importantly it would expose the hangar decks to weapons fire from directly ahead of the ship. In short, it would put a highly vulnerable portion of the ship in the direct line of fire of a target you are trying to destroy.
Good point, but what if an enemy approaches the ISD from below? I've noticed that there aren't any weapons on the ventral side.

If it's big, you roll over. If it's small enough it can maneuver away, then the MTLs and LTLs will finish it.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2003-01-04 09:03pm

I think en your ship is 1600m long, you can ignore target profile altogether Keevan.

I'm sure Bean has gone over the power of SW jamming/ECM and reveals the fallacy in that.

Not to mention just try hitting something capable of traveling at fractional C velocities w/ lightspeed weapons w/ the ECM.

1.6 km becomes awful small all of a sudden.

His Divine Shadow · Post by **His Divine Shadow** » 2003-01-05 10:30am

jaeger115 wrote:
That would necessitate additional shielding, but more importantly it would expose the hangar decks to weapons fire from directly ahead of the ship. In short, it would put a highly vulnerable portion of the ship in the direct line of fire of a target you are trying to destroy.
Good point, but what if an enemy approaches the ISD from below? I've noticed that there aren't any weapons on the ventral side.

Almost, there are two medium weapons, on both the ISD1 and 2, here's a pic of an ISD1: