Neu Swabian League

[Gnoblarbill]

This isn't so much a request for Spartan to produce my fleet, i already have done, models and rules. This is just to show off the background that i wrote, to see what people think. The name is purely cause im using full thrust NSL ships, and i like the name.

Early sighting of a NSL task force

The NSL are a Terran faction, thought lost many years ago. They started as a conglomeration of scientists and engineers, devoted to technological advancement. They left terrain space after they felt the legal and moral sanctions placed on them were far too strict, and that science should not have boundaries. The situation came to a head after the Terran authorities discovered that a lead scientist of the league was offering the chance of an extended lifespan to elderly and ill citizens, and then adding bionic enhancements them to man science and survey ships more efficiently. The scientist in question was exiled, and 87% of the leagues members left with him in a motley fleet of science, survey and transport ships, with 3 military escorts, provided by Hark Williams.

Sensor Drone 346d5677a

3669 A small border patrol fleet in the far northern reaches of Terran space reports that it has made contact with the NSL fleet, and that they wish to make contact with the Terran president to discus the terms of the alliances surrender. With the other goings on at the time, this was seen as possibly a hoax, and not a high priority, so was neglected. 5 hours later when there was a senior statesman available to take the call, there was no response from any of the patrol group, and none of these ships have been seen since.

3707 During a battle between the Aquians and the Dindrenzi, a large fleet of on known vessels arrived via fold space right into the midst of the battle, the last Aquian vid-recordings surviving from this battle show a fleet of tall, thin dark coloured ships moving in line astern between the two battle lines, decimating both the warring factions for seemingly no loss of there own.

Admiral Gerhard Einstein

What is known of the NSL in its present state is still sketchy at best:

• They have 2 casts. The elite, still cognitive Terrans with extensive, but discrete bionic and cybernetic implants, and the drones, single minded workers with industrial looking large implants.
• They seem to have been caught by surprise by the widespread use of small fighter craft, only having Point Defence on some of there newest ship designs.
• There hull designs all seem to be based loosely on the first few transport ships taken into exile. There systems are incredibly advanced, but a masterpiece of function over form. After each battle, new systems based on those proving most affective of there enemies are produced, sometimes in a matter of hours.
• A large amount of prisoners of war appear to become drones, indicating slave labour
• there ships are very tough, being built with thick armour plating, numerous reserve systems and shields to rival the Terrans, and few survive one of there broadsides.

Marine Colonel Draven Phoenix

[IronJaw]

The back ground sounds a lot like the Directorate, but the pictures are real interesting. I'm thinking that having reinforced hulls like the Dindrenzi, shields to rival the Terrans, and broadsides that decimate like the Sorylians, they sorta' seem like a mish-mash, and would cost a LOT to field legally. But it would be cool to see some stats. I would try to create a cruiser, using the "Custom Ship" section of the F:A rules, and see what the pricing would be. I'm tyhinking that with low Assault points, low crew, no/ low Point Deffences, it might work out ok.

[Gnoblarbill]

I have produced the stats for them, they do have very powerful broadsides, and they are tough, but they have low crew levels, and no PD on anything but escorts. They also have no aft or turrets and only torps fore. points wise, cruisers and frigates are much the same as other races, battleship is a little over at 210, but only a little. When my desk tops working again i will post the stat sheet.

[Albertese]

Actually, this seems kinda neat.  I wouldn't mind trying to proxy these guys.  And other than your mis-use of the word "decimate*" the fiction reads well too.

I'd like to see the finished stats and maybe see a batrep involving these guys.

--Alex

*"Decimate" means to reduce something by one tenth.  In other words, 10% of it is destroyed, not all of it, which is to "obliterate".  Decimation gets it's strong negative context because it was among the worst punishments inflicted by the ancient Roman government on a naughty legion.  One men out of ten would be executed as punishment to the whole legion.  In an average legion of 6,000 troops, this meant that 600 would be killed as representatives of the whole army.  The punished army, now at 90% strength (that is 5,400 troops) would have to return to duty.  Serious bad news.  But if there are not 90% survivors, then "decimate" is the wrong word. 

Just a friendly reminder.

[Gnoblarbill]

Heres the WIP Stats



I am in a league with my soryllians atm, so they wont get a run out for another 3 weeks, but i intent to thoroughly test them then.

I see the equivalent starter fleet being battleship (210), 3 cruisers (3x65=195), 3 waldburg class frigates (20*3=60) and 2 escorts (20*2=40) for 505 total, cause they really don't work without the escorts!

[Gnoblarbill]

Better clearer images, i know i didn't spell frigate correctly, and haven't filled in all the stats at the bottom yet.

[Albertese]

Interesting.  I like what you've done here.   I might  try to play with these sometime.  They seem unique but well enough thought out.

What are you waiting for for the Corvette weapons?  Or are they strictly PDS ships?

--Alex

[Axhead]

Well I like the fluff and the portraits are fantastic, plus your models look really sharp.  My problem with them is they don't really seem to have any disadvantages.  They are pretty bullet proof, have big guns in good arcs and decent movement.  They have not great boarding but besides that they seem pretty over the top with the best of what everyone else has and for not really much more in the way of points.   Why would anyone want to play anything else or from the other side of the coin why would anyone want to play against them?

For the record this isn't meant to be hostile, I am just curious about your thoughts on how they are a balanced force.

[Gnoblarbill]

The intended weakness is that the only PD is on very small brittle escorts, if my opponent spots that, they can remove all PD in a single turns shooting, also, they are intended to be quite slow, and have only limited arcs on there weapons. After a play test ill see how balanced they seem.

And yes, the escorts are purely PD ships.

[Albertese]

Ah, I see whacha did there.  Technically, Corvettes are not Escorts.  Escorts are Escorts.  Corvettes are very fast attack craft which are fielded as squadrons like anything else, not subject to the escort rules.  Which are just for Escorts.  That's all that threw me off. 

--Alex

[Axhead]

I didn't notice the PD issue, that is a neat idea! Especially since they aren't too heavy on AP/CP either. When you say limited arcs, do you mean that the broadsides are fixed?  If so that seems like a bit much when you add in the PD thing, otherwise it looks interesting.

[Baradiel]

Did you design those miniatures?  They look great.

[Only Warlock]

Those are Neu Swabian League minis by Ground Zero Games.

[Totengraber]

How well do the GZG ships work with FA? I have a Japanese fleet I've been wanting to use to test-run FA before buying a proper fleet.