THE X-SECTOR
PROTECTORATE SHIPS
(XSR1.1) HEAVY CRUISER PLUS (CA+):
The Protectorate Plus Heavy Cruiser was a Plus Ship designed for scientific study, survey missions, galactic exploration, diplomatic transportation, and rescue operations. Combat was a secondary role. Outfitted with two Special Sensors, a Pulse Generator, a Slipstream Drive, and two Shield Regenerators, the Protectorate Plus Heavy Cruiser was armed with four Plus Photon Torpedoes, Six Plus Phasers, and one Gatling Phaser for defensive purposes. The Protectorate Plus Heavy Cruiser would form the core of the Protectorate Fleet.
DESIGNER NOTES:
The Protectorate Plus Heavy Cruiser was clearly not a Plus Starship designed for combat. However, the Protectorate Plus Heavy Cruiser would spawn numerous variants based on its design.
The Protectorate Plus Heavy Cruiser is critical to the X-Sector because it sets the stage for future Plus Starships, both in the Protectorate and in other empires. This is what a Plus Starship looks like, how much damage it can dish out, how much power it can generate, how much Reserve Power it has, how strong its Shields are, and how much damage it can sustain. You will notice that the Protectorate Plus Heavy Cruiser, like most Plus Starships, is light on Internals, making it somewhat fragile. This is because of a reliance on its Self Regenerating Shields.
Considering the Alpha Strike Potential of the Protectorate Plus Heavy Cruiser was essential for proper Gameplay. Each Plus Photon Torpedo can potentially score up to 24 points of damage at close range. The Protectorate Plus Heavy Cruiser can typically bring up to four Plus Phasers (Six if the target is directly in front of the Plus Starship) to bear on a target, depending on its location. One can also add in four strikes from the Gatling Phaser at close range and one Plus Drone if it manages to impact its target. The combination of all of these weapons is more than enough to collapse a Plus Ship’s Shield and wreak havoc on its internals. But getting to that close firing position is the challenge. And the opposing Plus Starship has plenty of power to reinforce whatever Shield you happen to be targeting.
Overall, I am pleased with how the Protectorate Plus Heavy Cruiser turned out. It clearly has the dynamics of Advanced Technology, yet flies like a General War Cruiser. There are plenty of new tactics to be discovered because of the new technology. As an empire, the Protectorate is one suited toward defense, knowledge, and exploration, which is perfectly appropriate given their nature.
PLUS STARSHIP: Gains all the benefits of Plus Starships as defined under THE X-SECTOR – PLUS STARSHIPS DESIGNER NOTES.
PLUS PHOTON TORPEDOES (PHT+ OR PHOT+): Functions as regular Photon Torpedoes except they gain the ability to Double Overload. Double Overloads are limited to Range 4 or less. Each Double Overload can be charged with 8.5-12 points of energy. Double Overloads cannot be Held. Use the following information to determine the Double Overload Warhead Strength:
Total Energy 8.5 Warhead Strength: 17 Feedback: 5
Total Energy 9 Warhead Strength: 18 Feedback: 5
Total Energy 9.5 Warhead Strength: 19 Feedback: 6
Total Energy 10 Warhead Strength: 20 Feedback: 6
Total Energy 10.5 Warhead Strength: 21 Feedback: 7
Total Energy 11 Warhead Strength: 22 Feedback: 7
Total Energy 11.5 Warhead Strength: 23 Feedback: 8
Total Energy 12 Warhead Strength: 24 Feedback: 8
PLUS DRONES (DRN+): Functions as a Type-I Drone except that it moves at Speed 64. The Type A Plus Drone Rack can launch one Plus Drone per turn and comes with two sets of reloads.
PLUS WARP DRIVE(WRP+ OR WARP+): Functions as standard Warp Drive except each box produces two points of warp energy per turn.
PULSE GENERATOR (PG): Produces ten points of energy at the start of every turn. The Pulse Generator is destroyed on APR Hits on the DAC.
SHIELD REGENERATORS (SHR): Can be charged with either one or two points of energy (during Energy Allocation or drawn from Plus Batteries during the turn). One point of energy will restore four damaged Shield boxes at the start of the following turn. Two points of energy will restore eight damaged Shield Boxes at the start of the following turn. Shield Regenerators are destroyed on Drone hits on the DAC.
SLIPSTREAM DRIVE (SLIP): Functions as a limited range Displacement Device but only in the Plus Ship’s FA. For every 10 points of energy, the Plus Ship may “displace” one hex away from its original position, as long as the target hex is in the Plus Ship’s FA. The Plus Ship may assume any facing it desires once in the target hex. The energy cost requirements can be paid for during Energy Allocation, drawn from Plus Batteries (during the turn or during Energy Allocation), or a combination of both. The Slipstream Drive cannot be Held. Requires 32 impulses of Cool Down after each use. Note that when using the Slipstream Drive, the Plus Starship does not “travel” to the target hex; it “teleports” and is placed in the target hex. This means everything in-between is ignored, including Web. If two or more units use their Slipstream Drive at the same time, the transportation is considered simultaneous. The Slipstream Drive is destroyed on Flag Hits on the DAC.
Other Notes from the Displacement Device Rules:
(G18.51)(G18.322) SELF DISPLACEMENT: The Slipsteam Drive has no chance of failure when used on the Plus Starship.
(G18.43)(G18.62) MANEUVER: A list of things that are not affected by use of the Slipstream Drive.
(G18.42)(G18.53) FIRE CONTROL: Active Fire Control is disrupted for 4 impulses after each Slipstream Drive use.
(G18.311)(G18.312) Declaration of intent to use the Slipstream Device and Stage of Operation for the Slipstream Device
(G18.64) SEEKING WEAPONS, PPD’s: All seeking weapons targeted on the Plus Starship using its Slipstream Drive continue to follow their target.
(G18.424) A Plus Starship using its Slipstream Device can continue guiding any seeking weapons it was guiding at the time of activation.
(G18.69) FACING: A Plus Starship using its Slipstream Drive can control its facing once it reaches its target hex.
(G18.8) DISPLACEMENT DEVICE FEEDBACK PHENOMENON: The Slipstream Drive does not cause any kind of feedback phenomenon or destabilizing effects to the region of space.
Treat the use of a Slipstream Drive as a Displacement Device during Gameplay for all other instances not noted above.
PLUS BATTERIES (BTTY): Functions as standard Batteries except each box holds 5 points of energy.
SPECIAL SENSORS (SEN): These function as described in Advanced Missions.
PLUS PHASERS (PH+): These function exactly as PH-1’s. Use the Plus Phaser Table to determine damage.
GATLING PHASERS (PH-G): These function as described in the Basic Set.
