Chalice-class battlecruiser
Dimensions: 5.1 km long,0.8 km abeam at fins approx.
Mass: 29 megatonnes approx.
Crew: 98,200 crew, approx.
Accel: 3.4 gravities max sustainable acceleration.
The Chalice class was a bold but not entirely successful attempt to further develop the concept of the battlecruiser. It is unique to Battlefleet Calixis, as it was designed within the Sector. The theory seemed sound: a fast heavy cruiser, with light armor and powerful weapons that could outrun and outmaneuver anything it could not immediately destroy. During the bleak middle years of the Angevin Crusade, much was made by Imperial propagandists of the new, locally manufactured “super-cruisers†planned to roll up the numerous xenos and heretic empires arrayed against the Emperor’s forces. Even though they only came into service as the crusade ended, hopes for these vessels were immense. Early Chalice-class captains were lauded as glamorous, swashbuckling adventurers in endless vox reels and data plays. Sadly, the vessels failed to live up to expectations. Two of the original Chalice class battlecruisers were destroyed during an engagement with unknown xenos forces in the Hazeroth Abyss in 123.M40, and others lost to accident or fleet engagements over the next millennia. Due to an active Inquisitorial campaign to conceal these military setbacks, these ships remain admired amongst the ignorant general Imperial public, who believe these ships are the iron core of Battlefleet Calixis. However, these sleek and beautiful warships, while fast and well armed, have a glass jaw, and a disconcerting tendency to rupture plasma conduits under sustained assault.
Speed: 6 Maneuverability: +10
Detection: +10 Hull Integrity: 70
Armor: 19 Turret Rating: 2
Space: 75 SP: 63
Weapon Capacity: Prow 1, Port 2, Starboard 2, Dorsal 1 Battlecruiser: This ship can use “cruisers only†Components Additional Plasma Conduits: All Chalice-class battlecruisers have many heavy plasma conduits, a risky trade-off for increased power. Any plasma drive installed on a Chalice increases power generated by 4. However, every time a Chalice takes a Critical Hit, there is a 25% chance it suffers an additional Fire! Critical Hit as well.
The BFK stats, Overlord for comparison:
Overlord-class battlecruiser
Dimensions: 5.3km long,0.85 km abeam at fins approx.
Mass: 31 megatonnes approx.
Crew: 100,000 crew, approx.
Accel: 2.4 gravities max sustainable acceleration.
A successful early illustration of how workable the battlecruiser concept can be, the Overlord is as fine an example of a pure warship as can be found. Most Rogue Traders find the ship is poorly suited to anything other than combat, as its enormous weapons systems place a colossal strain upon the plasma drive. Some Rogue Traders strip out the extensive macrobatteries, freeing up space for other Components, but others regard this as a foolish and blinkered waste of some of the most elegantly designed and lethally effective weapons systems in the galaxy. Manufactured in the vast orbital shipyards of Cypra Mundi (as well as at other shipyards in lesser numbers), the Overlord is a difficult vessel to construct, but faithful and fierce in its service to mankind. It does not waste space on massive attack craft hangers or the temperamental nova cannon. Instead, most designs use powerful long-range macrobatteries and lance turrets, backed by prow torpedo tubes. This simple, proven, and effective weaponry plays to the strengths of Imperial Navy tactics and Imperial technology. The design is an ancient but successful one, and new examples of the class are still commissioned every decade or so.
Speed: 5 Manoeuvrability: +10
Detection: +10 Hull Integrity: 70
Armour: 20 Turret Rating: 2
Space: 78 SP: 64
Weapon Capacity: Prow 1, Port 2, Starboard 2, Dorsal 1 Battlecruiser: This ship can use “cruisers only†Components
