THE X-SECTOR
REAPER SHIPS
(XSR2.1) SCYTHE BATTLECRUISER PLUS (BC+):
The Reaper Scythe Battlecruiser Plus was built for combat. Armed with Four Plus Disruptor Bolts, Six Plus Phasers, Two Gatling Phasers, Two Plus Drone Racks, One Shield Regenerator, One Slipstream Drive, and One Pulse Generator, the Reaper Scythe Battlecruiser Plus was extremely quick, agile, and maneuverable. Like many Reaper Starships, the Reaper Scythe Battlecruiser Plus suffered from Weak Shields, primarily because Reaper Battle Doctrine dictated that Offense was far more important than Defense. The Reaper Scythe Battlecruiser Plus excelled at mid-range combat which included repeated sharp turns. This unique style of combat was later dubbed the “Dance of the Reaper.”
DESIGNER NOTES:
The Reaper Scythe Battlecruiser Plus was quite different from the Protectorate Heavy Cruiser Plus in terms of design. Whereas the Protectorate Heavy Cruiser Plus was focused on Defense, Energy, and Information Gathering, the Reaper Scythe Battlecruiser Plus was focused on Offense, Speed, Maneuverability, and Constant Assaults.
Rather than opting for Advanced Fire Control Systems such as Ubitron Interface Modules or Disruptor Extended-Range Fire Attenuation Control Systems, the decision was made to incorporate an Area Mode into the Plus Disruptor Bolt. This Area Mode was nearly identical to the Photon Torpedo Proximity Fuse, making it simple to use and always present.
Obviously based on a Classic, Iconic, Alpha Sector Starship, the Reaper Scythe Battlecruiser Plus differs in the inherent Plus Technology and its many uses. The Reaper Scythe Battlecruiser has access to the same Plus Technology as the Protectorate Heavy Cruiser Plus, just not as much as it. Instead, the Reaper Scythe Battlecruiser Plus is armed with far more weaponry than the Protectorate Heavy Cruiser Plus, making it a deadly adversary.
The same tactics apply as that Classic, Iconic, Alpha Sector Starship, except that they have all been magnified by the access to Plus Technology. Saber Dancing, Oblique Attacks, Scatterpacks, Boarding Party Hit and Runs are all still valid tactics that work with the Reaper Scythe Battlecruiser Plus. How will the Slipstream Drive be integrated into these tactics? What will change when you know the Reaper Scythe Battlecruiser Plus can regenerate its Shields far faster than the Original Starship it was based on? What difference will all the Extra Power make during combat? What new tactics can be executed to make full use of both Gatling Phasers?
Ultimately, the Reaper Scythe Battlecruiser Plus makes the perfect compliment to the Protectorate Heavy Cruiser Plus. They are Opposites in many ways. One built for Defense, one for Offense, one able to Regenerate its Shields faster than the other, one able to overwhelm its target with waves of Plus Drones, one whose Heavy Weapons take Two Turns to Arm, one whose Heavy Weapons can be Armed in a Single Turn, one with a Mediocre Turn Mode, one with a Great Turn Mode, one with Strong Shields, one with Weak Shields. Not only do these polarities make for perfect matchups, but these differences also define both empires in terms of what they value in ship design, what their combat strategy is, and what their goals are in deep space.
PLUS STARSHIP: Gains all the benefits of Plus Starships as defined under THE X-SECTOR – PLUS TECHNOLOGY DESIGNER NOTES.
PLUS DISRUPTOR BOLTS(DISR+): Functions as regular Disruptor Bolts except they gain the ability to Double Overload and fire in Area Mode. Area Mode costs the same as Standard, scores the Damage listed on the Plus Disruptor Table, and follows the Rules under (E4.31) RECORDS (Must be marked with a “A” on the Energy Allocation Form, Must be Announced, etc.) Double Overload costs 6 points of energy, cannot be Held, has a Maximum Range of 4, and causes three points of feedback damage when fired at Range 0 (see E3.54).
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. The player decides which damaged Shield boxes are to be restored. 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.
PLUS PHASERS (PH+): These function exactlly as PH-1’s. Use the Plus Phaser Table to determine damage.
GATLING PHASERS (PH-G): These function as described in the Basic Set.
