Whats the difference? 30 more cm of reach. That's huge if used correctly.
Exactly. Used correctly. Most people here have stated that the Ret is a fast battleship that can keep pace with the IN cruisers. How does one use the IN cruisers? Why shoving them right down the enemy's fire so that they can get their short ranged weapons off. which means the Ret is better off just following the cruisers into 30 cm range and then unleashing its broadsides. Do you really need the 30 cm then? An addition of 45 cm over 30 cm with commiserate increase in FP is much better deal than having puny broadsides at 60 cm.
BTW, Str 9 torps which can be removed by 1 fighter marker makes me feel better with the NC. Also note we are not talking about defensive qualities here but rather of the offense.
As for your ship comparisons:
1. Emperor vs Carnage - yes, same. Gotta love those FP16 focused broadsides. Is the Emperor then underpowered compared to the Carnage? Or is the Carnage just too good? Then we compare them to a Ret's 12? A Carnage WBs can almost outgun the Ret at 60 cm and definitely outgun the Ret at 45 cm? Sad, sad Ret.
2. Apoc vs Executor - yes, same. I can't say the Apoc is better than the Executor though since it has that problem with the crit. If it didn't have that problem then the Apoc would be an excellent gunboat vs the Executor because remember that the lances work better at long ranges than WBs. Compared to a Ret, I would take these two definitely. I would still shoot the Apoc's guns at 60 cm and take the crit. I would take the Executor because it's priced very attractively for what it does.
3. Desolator vs Gothic - actually yes, you now have to wonder if the Desolator should have more WBs and broadside lances. But no one's complaining because its a very cheap battleship.
Your arguments are utterly invalid, because your wanting "bigger and better" without recognizing that the ship is extremely solid on it's own.
Now, I am not against increasing the strength to say, 14, but again, i fail to see the need.
A lot of people besides me have already noted its lacking in firepower esp compared to its carrier brethren. This was especially more so when the ship was priced at 365. I already said then swapping the points is an acceptable compromise but I and many others preferred an increase in the firepower while retaining the points.
A solid ship is something like the Dominator. Not conflicted in design. Anything over 30 cm, I shoot with the NC. Anything within, I shoot with the broadsides. In that sense, the Ret is not solid. I'm paying for something which I am not using (either broadside range or speed and prow armor). That's not solid for me. It's supposed to be a gunship, so let it BE a gunship. As it is the Oberon is a better gunship with the Emperor a close second.