[FT] Help Requested: Mixed FB1/FB2 Ship Designs

I'm creating a homegrown universe, and I need some suggestions for the
systems used by two sides in the conflict. I intend to mix and match FB1
and FB2 systems.

Here are the short ground rules. There are three races, though one will
be essentially the Sa'vasku, so we can ignore them. One fleet will be
energy based: beams, shields, probably p-torps. The other fleet will
be... something else, and this is the one I need some feedback on.

One other thing, the FTL travel in this universe is somewhat unique. I
won't get into it now, but one of the two human fleets will have FTL
capability at first, and the other won't. As such, the one fleet will be
mostly system defence vessels and won't be spending mass on FTL drives.

I want the universe to have a technological progress stream. Take the
first fleet, for instance. The initial ships will consist of class 1 and
2 beams only in Time Period 1. In Period 2, level 1 shields and class 3
beams appear, and thrust levels will increase. In Period 3, p-torps,
level 2 shields, and maybe class 4 beams show up. In Period 4, fighters
appear.

With this in mind, I'm trying to come up with the second fleet. I want
it to have a different feel from fleet 1. I would like some comments on
the following options:

1) Fleet 2 essentially the same as fleet 1, but with armour instead of
shields, and salvo-missiles instead of p-torps. This is easy to do, but
also pretty plain and not much different than the first fleet or the
ships in FB1. I could beef up the armour, though, by using Phalon
layered armour. 

2) Fleet 2 consists of salvo missiles as their primary weapon system,
and submunition packs as their secondary. Is this viable? Or would this
result in a truly unbalanced and hard to play/unplayable fleet? I
realize that from a campaign point of view, these ships use ependable
weapons. This isn't a problem, as this would be the fleet that doesn't
have FTL and so supplying it wouldn't be an issue. Also, without having
to buy FTL, they could afford larger magazine holds and more submunition
packs. For defence, they use armour, perhaps even upgrading (eventually)
to layered Phalon style armour.

3a) Fleet 2 uses Kra'vak K-guns as well as salvo missiles. Again, armour
would start off as "normal" and go upwards to layered Phalon style as
technology progressed. The ships would NOT have advanced drives, so is
this viable?

3b) Same as 3a, but with nothing but instead of salvo missiles, use KV
scatterguns. In essence, this fleet would turn out to be a KV fleet but
without the advanced drives but WITH armour. Again, is this viable
without the advanced drives? 

Note that for both 3a and 3b, the fleet could be the non-FTL fleet,
which would leave them more mass space for weapons, at least until Time
Period 4. 

Any other options, of course, are welcome. I appreciate any and all
comments...

Allan Goodall - agoodall@canada.com
__________________________________________________________
Get your FREE personalized e-mail at http://www.canada.com