Re: small ships: escorts vs raiders

You guys are designing escorts without any knowledge of what they
will be going up against.  Any real raider is probably going to have
a real weapon (i.e., class-2 beam) and some hull.  Anything less and
the freighters can defend themselves.  Raiders will probably not have
expendable weaponry when there's energy weapons available, which
will also be more precise in damage dealing (a missile salvo could  
wipe out that freighter you had intended on capturing).

Pirates will be another matter, but pirates may not be possible in
space depending on the PSB.

Glen B.