Improving the Dreadnaught heavy cruiser

[Firefox]

As inspired by comments in this thread, how would you go about improving the Dreadnaught class heavy cruiser? The arguments against the current design, as seen in EGVV and other sources, is that it's nothing more than an angular hot dog. This much is pretty correct. It's not a very inspiring shape, although I have seen some fan-based renditions, both in drawing and physical form. It's essentially a linear shape, with a large, elongated beak at the front, and an engine block at the back.

So what could be changed to improve it? Change some proportions, such as narrowing the mid-hull? Add protrusions, like the masts/wings on the Munificent class frigate?

[Crossroads Inc.]

First off, I love the Dreadnaught, almost as much as the Victory. It has the look of an old starship that was once to the Old Republic, what the ISD is to the Empire.

That said, a few things that could improve it...

Add a pronounced Bridge on the bow of the ship, as is you can't really tell where the bridge is, and a ship like that deserves an impressive one. Second, remove the 'bumps' entirely. They are nothing more then design features that so many WEG artists added to ships of the time because they thought they looked cool. Something else to through around as an idea... Add 'BSG' style 'pods' to it in the middle would give it an interesting look, as well as provide a platform for additional Turbolasers/cargo/bombers.

[McC]

An exposed bridge is an awful tactical move. Furthermore, it would ruin the Dreadnaught's awesome lines.

I started modeling (CG, not plastic) a modified dreadnaught a while back and the big change I made was to add single-fighter "hatches" on the bottom of the ship that could drop small fighters like TIEs. That and I fiddled with the precise shape of the engine block a bit. But the overall design is too nice to radically alter.

[Crossroads Inc.]

By the by... Heres a nice picture of an Old Dreadnaught for people to look at as an example as well as This One which is a good close up of the bow.

[Firefox]

The blisters are one feature I was never fond of. They don't seem to fit in with the design at all, and they're too reminiscent of Mon Calamari ships.

Designing single-fighter hatches, a'la B5/Galactica, is interesting, though it could limit the ship to operating one category of craft, unless there was a dedicated shuttle/transport docking bay adjacent.

Aside from some minor tweaks, though, all I can think of are the aforementioned booms. I'd add a pair above and below, towards the aft end, but the ship would resemble the Sulaco too much.

[Crossroads Inc.]

I'm not sure about the whole booms thing. I would keep them off mainly because I'd imagine the Dreadnaught is interatmospheric. Even if ir doesn't say it, wit hthe broad flat bottom, and the large cargo area, I'd imagine that can serve an important roll by landing.

As for the BSG Pods. You don't have to have single fighter launchers in them. Or even fighters periord. Was just throwing out ideas of somethign to add that might improve it's usefullnes... and make it look coller

[President Sharky]

Turn the blisters into large, exposed turbolaser cannons. It'll make the ship a lot more threatening with bigass weapons visible on the hull.

[Lord Revan]

Turn the blisters into large, exposed turbolaser cannons. It'll make the ship a lot more threatening with bigass weapons visible on the hull.

it is also gonna make those gun easier for any half-ass pirate to destroy

[Crossroads Inc.]

Hello shields... Do you think the people on an ISD worry about their guns being 'Exposed' to pirates?

[Lord Revan]

Hello shields... Do you think the people on an ISD worry about their guns being 'Exposed' to pirates?

ISD no, but it's an Imperial vessel and the Dreadnaught was design in a era when pirates were main enemy (and Republic ship could open fire any ramdom ship(, so pirate ship could get some "free" shots before the shields can be raised)).

[Batman]

Hello shields... Do you think the people on an ISD worry about their guns being 'Exposed' to pirates?

ISD no, but it's an Imperial vessel and the Dreadnaught was design in a era when pirates were main enemy (and Republic ship could open fire any ramdom ship(, so pirate ship could get some "free" shots before the shields can be raised)).

So? Are you telling me the weapons being visible to the naked eye is going to matter WRT targeting with Wars sensors? You gotta be kidding me. Either shields are up, in which case the guns are safe, or they're not, in which case the guns are easy targets. Remember that Wars ships regularly go for dedicated subsystem hits even when said subsystem is buried deep within the hull. So much for visibility being a concern.

[Lord Revan]

Hello shields... Do you think the people on an ISD worry about their guns being 'Exposed' to pirates?

ISD no, but it's an Imperial vessel and the Dreadnaught was design in a era when pirates were main enemy (and Republic ship could open fire any ramdom ship(, so pirate ship could get some "free" shots before the shields can be raised)).

So? Are you telling me the weapons being visible to the naked eye is going to matter WRT targeting with Wars sensors? You gotta be kidding me. Either shields are up, in which case the guns are safe, or they're not, in which case the guns are easy targets. Remember that Wars ships regularly go for dedicated subsystem hits even when said subsystem is buried deep within the hull. So much for visibility being a concern.

true, but I was the armor on those blisters (while useless against true Capships, it could provide some protection against fighter and/or Pirate "capships").

[Batman]

true, but I was the armor on those blisters (while useless against true Capships, it could provide some protection against fighter and/or Pirate "capships").

So? Go for armoured turrets instead of armoured blisters. Mind you, I like the blisters but I fail to see how turrets would be an increased risk.
Now if we're talking naked unarmored exposed standalone guns that would indeed be abysmally stupid.

[Lord Revan]

true, but I was the armor on those blisters (while useless against true Capships, it could provide some protection against fighter and/or Pirate "capships").

So? Go for armoured turrets instead of armoured blisters. Mind you, I like the blisters but I fail to see how turrets would be an increased risk.
Now if we're talking naked unarmored exposed standalone guns that would indeed be abysmally stupid.

that was exactly what we were talking about (as the blisters are turrets (badly designed ones, but still)).

[Illuminatus Primus]

Angular-ify it like they did to the Strike Cruiser with this (here and here too).

So I would take the basic structure, elongate it slightly, increase the size of the module in front of the engines (that tapers), and run the top half of that form along the entire topside of the ship to the front. Add some segments like the angular Strike Cruisers, and make the ridge sharper. Leave the underside the same.

[Firefox]

I'd like to make the angled plates mold together more smoothly than on the Eidolon, but I think I get the idea, which seems to be a "fattened" wedge with the Dreadnaught's forward hull and beak attached to the front. Correct me if I'm mistaken.

This and replacing the blisters with turret-like structures sound tempting.

[Illuminatus Primus]

Yes.

[Knife]

Wow, I've never liked the Strike Cruiser before. I like that interpertaion. Good shit.




OT, I actually like the Dreadnaught as is. It has a definate Corellian feel to her. You could take the blisters away though.

[Van Owen]

Have you thought about armored casemates, the guns can retract into? Those are something like what I imagine the blisters were in the first place, but they could be modelled more along the lines of historical casemates. Just a thought..

[Hawkwings]

the blisters might be for anti-fighter work. They're basically frag grenades that you pop off if fighters get too close.

[Vicious]

I like the old Invincible-class ships just fine. Removing the blisters is a good idea, possibly replace them with some kind of heavy batteries. I'd also resize the engine bloc somewhat, make it slightly smaller. Other than that, the general shape appeals to me. It harkens back to an older era, one of simplicity and sturdiness.

[Crossroads Inc.]

I think it just shows a time when 'Wedges'O Doom' where NOT the standard for all Warships.

[Hawkwings]

the invincible-class is a very VERY old ship, I don't think we're talking about that dreadnought.

[Vicious]

the invincible-class is a very VERY old ship, I don't think we're talking about that dreadnought.

Well, it is an old ship, but I'm sure the Invincible-class is the Dreadnaught. It's referenced at least once in The Hutt Gambit.

[Firefox]

The Invincible class dreadnaught is a 2,011m long ship built 3,000 years before ANH. It's not quite the same craft as the subject of this thread (600m craft).