INTERGALACTIC ASSEMBLAGE OF SYSTEMS
DROM SHIPS
(IASR1.1) DROM CRUISER (CR)
The Drom is one of thousands of empires that make up the Intergalactic Assemblage of Systems. The Drom Cruiser was built as a response to Drom Cargo Vessels being regularly assaulted by hostile enemies. Not a true heavy cruiser nor a light cruiser, the Drom Cruiser falls somewhere in-between. Outfitted with one of the Drom’s infamous Focused Antimatter Beams along with a vast array of Dual Phasers, the Drom Cruiser was more than capable of driving off lone raiders, pirates, and monsters. The Focused Antimatter Beam was a powerful heavy weapon which required a great length of time to charge. Once armed, the Focused Antimatter Beam could unleash so much destructive energy, it was capable of penetrating the shields on most vessels.
DESIGNER NOTES
The Drom Cruiser is the first starship representing part of the Intergalactic Assemblage of Systems. Its sole purpose, at least initially, is to partake in scenarios involving the High Guard. However, it is possible that, in time, the Drom might grow into their own detailed organization worthy of their own goals and scenarios.
As the Intergalactic Assemblage of Systems includes technology ranging from Early Years to 1X, I was allowed a great deal of creative freedom when it came to designing the Drom. There was no Design Paradigm to conform to, no Balance to maintain, no Prior Starships to compare against, no Neighboring Empires to take into consideration. Anything goes, which is both extremely liberating and yet dangerous for the game.
The Focused Antimatter Beam is a powerful weapon which requires three turns to arm, but which is extremely inefficient. Capable of generating a whopping 40 points of damage at close range, the Focused Antimatter Beam must be armed with 36 total points of energy in order to fire. Comparing against the standard 1:2 energy/damage ratio, it is immediately evident just how inefficient the Focused Antimatter Beam actually is. Fortunately, the Drom have mitigated some of this inefficiency by incorporating their Focused Antimatter Chargers.
I purposely left a lot of room for the Drom to experience Technological Growth. Will the Focused Antimatter Beam’s arming cycle be shortened? Can the damage output of the Focused Antimatter Beam be increased? Can the Focused Antimatter Beam’s required energy be lowered? Will the Focused Antimatter Chargers be developed further? Will the Dual Phaser delay between shots be shortened? Will the Drom build greater defenses? What Galaxy do the Drom hail from and what are the empires there like?
Only time will tell how these questions are answered.
FOCUSED ANTIMATTER BEAM (FAMB)
⦁ Focused Antimatter Beams are armed over 3 turns.
⦁ Focused Antimatter Beams require a total of 36 points of energy to fire. They may not be fired with less energy.
⦁ Focused Antimatter Beams draw their energy from the Focused Antimatter Chargers. If none remain, Focused Antimatter Beams may be charged directly from the ship’s power systems.
⦁ Focused Antimatter Beams do not require a To-Hit Roll. They automatically hit as long as the target is within the firing arc.
⦁ Use the Focused Antimatter Beam Table to determine damage based on range.
⦁ Focused Antimatter Beams can be held, so long as the Focused Antimatter Chargers have not exceeded the maximum number of turns for storing energy.
⦁ Focused Antimatter Beams are destroyed on TORP hits on the DAC. They require two damage points to destroy. Focused Antimatter Beams are still completely functional after receiving only one damage point.
FOCUSED ANTIMATTER CHARGERS (FACH)
⦁ Focused Antimatter Chargers store energy to power the Focused Antimatter Beam. Each Focused Antimatter Charger can hold up to 6 points of energy.
⦁ Focused Antimatter Chargers generate one free point of energy for each point of energy put into them. Therefore, if one point of energy was put into a Focused Antimatter Charger, it would now store two points of energy.
⦁ The stored energy in a Focused Antimatter Charger may not be used for any other purpose than to power the Focused Antimatter Beam.
⦁ Focused Antimatter Chargers hold stored energy for 12 turns before the energy is lost.
⦁ Focused Antimatter Chargers are destroyed on DRONE hits on the DAC
DUAL PHASERS (PH-DL)
⦁ Dual Phasers may be fired twice per turn but not within 8 impulses of a previous firing
⦁ Each shot costs 1 point of energy
⦁ When calculating the Phaser Capacitor, count 2 points of energy for each Dual Phaser
Dual Phasers function exactly as standard Phasers in all other respects.
