Designing new ships?

[blackphoenix]

Is there is any general calculations when designing ships, to get a ballpark start at least, or if it is completely TLAR?  (That looks about right).

I've been thinking about making some ships to use my Dystopian Wars vessels with BFG rules.

[DinoDoc]

Dunno how good it is: http://yenlowang.free.fr/BFG/smotherman_formula_v205.pdf

[blackphoenix]

Thanks.  I've been looking at that for a bit. 

However, I came across something called RC's formula.  Seemed fairly complete for Imperial/Chaos/'Standard' ships, but curious if that was ever expanded on for Necrons, Eldar, other features and options.

Anyone know of RC's formula and if it has been expanded on?

[DinoDoc]

Ok, well here's the debut of a revised formula.    
   
This revised formula is based on the principle that weapons that can fire in more than one arc are worth more than those that can't. This has been priced at a 10% increase per arc. In addition, speed, launch bays and turrets are not worth a linear number of points. I've tried to take some account of this.   
   
This Revised Formula also asserts that 1 lance is worth 3WBs at 30cm and 4WBs at 45cm+ (I tried 4.5x but the price disparity was just slightly too much to balance - however it's still much better than at present [6x@30cm, 3.66x@45cm, 2.8x@60cm].   
   
Ok, so here's how it works.   
   
#1. It is assumed that the ship under creation has armour 5+ all round built into the 'hits' value. Deviation from this commands a premium or a refund.   
#2. Escorts have 90' turns built in, but can be downgraded for a refund. Cruisers have 45'.   
#3. Apart from that, simply pick your weapons, speed and other upgrades from the list. The NC has been listed at what I think its true value is = 6 torps.   
#4. This has currently been tested for IN and Chaos vessels, Ork Escorts and System Defences, and I think the results have been pretty good.   
   
Ok, so here goes:   
   

Code: [Select]


Hits:    4pts each.
Shields: 10pts each

Speed     Defence 5cm 10cm 15cm 20cm 25cm 30cm 35cm
Escort      -20   -10  -5   0    2    5    10   15   
Cruiser     -35   -15   0   10  15   22   30   n/a
Battleship  -35   -15   0   10   22   30   40   n/a
+D6 on AAF: 5pts

Turns:
Cruiser 90' Turns: 10pts up to 6 hits.
Escort 45' Turns:  5pt Refund

Armour (pick 1):
6+ all round: 5pts per hit
6+ Prow:      3pts per hit
6+/5+/4+:     Free
6+/4+:        2pt refund per hit.
5+ all round: Free
4+ all round: 3pt refund per hit.

Turrets:
1 Turret:  1pt
2 Turrets: 5pts
3 Turrets: 9pts
4 Turrets: 16pts
5 Turrets: 21pts
6 Turrets: 25pts
Subsequent Turrets: 1pt per turret

Weapons     1arc   2arcs   3arcs   all round
WBs@30cm     2.5   2.75    3       3.3
WBs@45cm     3    3.3    3.6     3.9
WBs@60cm     3.6   4       4.3     4.7

Lances@30cm  7.5   8.25    9       9.8
Lances@45cm  12    13.2    14.4    15.6
Lances@60cm  14.4  15.8    17.3    18.7

Torps        3.75  4.1     4.5     4.9
Nova Cannon  22.5

             1   2     4   6     8
Launch Bays  9   18.7  56  93.3  132.2

An example: Lunar Class

Hits: = 4*8 = 32
Shields = 2*10 = 20
20cm Speed = 15
6+ Prow = 8*3 = 24
2 Turrets = 5
12 WBs@30cm in one arc = 12*2.5 = 30
4 Lances@30cm in one arc = 4*7.5 = 30
6 Torps in one arc = 6*3.75 = 22.5
Total: 178.5
Smotherman Total: 191.5
Game Value: 180pts

Some other values:
Gothic Class. Game: 180, Smotherman 209.5, Revised: 178.5 (identical to Lunar)
Armageddon. Game: 235pts, Smotherman 243.5 , Revised: 237
Acheron. Game: 190pts, Smotherman 177, Revised 187pts
Apocalypse. Game: 265, Smotherman 400.5, Revised 369.2
Repulsive. Game: 230, Smotherman 241, 236.5

The worst deviation I've covered so far is the Slaughter, at 211pts, which is a large amount to be sure. A large of that is a discount for not having any synergy with the rest of the chaos fleet, but not the whole difference by any account. The next largest are the Mars, at 245, and the Dominator at 178.5. Then again, the game puts a premium on NCs, and adding 10pts to these brings them back within tolerance.

[blackphoenix]

Excellent, thanks!  Any idea if it was ever expanded to Eldar, Necrons, Orks (Random Dice Weapons), etc?