Topic: Starfighters on Ground Maps

Just to throw it out there, there were many fighters in the SW universe that were made exclusively for atmospheric flight. These are ships that cannot reach space, but can fly over the ground very well.
Off the top of my head...

The V-Wing. This is the primary planetary fighter of the new republic. CRAZY FAST because of it's scramjet engines (boosters...not always active), no shields, only flyable in an atmosphere. These fighters were made later on after the war, fighting with the imperial remnant. These fighters are fast enough with their boosters to completely overtake TIE fighters. This ship was designed from a need for an airspeeder that can fly in the atmosphere with a higher flight ceiling.
http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/starwars/images/thumb/6/61/VWing-NEGVV.jpg/250px-VWing-NEGVV.jpg

The T-16 Skyhopper. Although this is not a military vehicle, it's cannon underneath the main hull can be equipped with many armaments including deadly laser cannons. This vehicle can reach the upper atmosphere much like the V-Wing. The Skyhopper can be found on many planets, for they are cheaper than starfighters and provide a quick transport solution.
http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/starwars/images/thumb/8/88/T16skyhopper_negvv.jpg/250px-T16skyhopper_negvv.jpg

The T-47 "Snowspeeder". This is the snowspeeder. Hard to not know what it is. It's armaments are two laser cannons in the front, and a rear cannon equipped with lasers and harpoons/towcables. These speeders are highly modifiable, and they can be equipped to run on many worlds. A few varients are, the "Snowspeeder" has equipment to keep it's parts from freezing, the "Sandspeeder" has sand filtration and radar to keep sand out and navigate sandstorms, and the "Skyspeeder" has more powerful engines and pressurized cabins for flying higher in the sky.
http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/starwars/images/thumb/1/14/Rebspeeder_swenc.jpg/250px-Rebspeeder_swenc.jpg

Curses, foiled again!

http://stats.fsmod.com/sig/medic.S-Guy.png

Re: Starfighters on Ground Maps

Yay, thanks for bringing this up. I can't tell you the long, go no where arguements I used to have with the GC crowd concerning this. Star Fighters became the end all be all for many and they couldn't see my point. I asked before Episodes 1-3 did we ever see rebel craft engage in planetary combat? Besides just TIE fighters shooting at the Falcon in Cloud city did we ever see star fighters do anything more than take off or land? They pointed toward the Rogue Squadron games and for me referring to games didn't sit well.

Why have speeders at all if you have star fighters?

How long would battle of Hoth been if the rebels just unleashed the X-wings with proton torpedoes on the AT-ATs?

Then people went over board stating "Fighters are more costly and important", "Torpedoes may have been in short supply for the rebels on Hoth and besides they needed the X-wings to act as escorts".

Anyway thanks

3 (edited by FSDev| TALON 2008-01-17 08:45:57)

Re: Starfighters on Ground Maps

It is a tricky one this, as obviously Star Wars Starfighters CAN operate in an atmosphere as they have to reach space in the first place. It's not like for instance Babylon 5's Starfurys which are designed to only work in the vacuum of space.

That said, the majority of Star Wars Starfighters are not the most aerodynamic of designs, so I believe there are valid arguments for both cases. The way I see it is this, Starfighters can operate in an atmosphere, after all we have bombers which would not be of much use only in space. However they do not operate at nearly the same efficiency as they do in space, after all their primary role is that of a spacecraft.

And this is where the Airspeeders come in, they are designed specifically to operate in an atmosphere, and only in an atmosphere, so they will be performing at the peak of their abilities, they are for the most part very sleek and aerodynamic and would most likely fly rings around most Starfighters when in an atmospheric environment. Also good points raised earlier in this thread include cost. After all an Airspeeder must cost a whole lot less than a Starfighter when you don't have to worry about Hyperdrives, Navi Computers and Life Support Systems, not to mention that added hull integrity required to survive in the vacuum of space.

Also you have the additional factor that a Starfighter's main Ion Drive is supposed to be quite toxic, hence the use of Repulsorlifts on take off. They only engage their main drives at altitude, and don't really let rip until they hit space. But then you also have the issue of why Starfighters were not used on Hoth? You can only guess at the reasons, obviously the real reason is George Lucas wanted to introduce us to some cool new craft. Maybe Starfighters are too difficult to pilot at low altitudes in a combat situation, or Echo Base's planetary shield screwed with their systems? Who knows?

In short I argue that Starfighters can indeed be used in atmosphere, as seen in the movies they fly up to space from ground level, and are seen in combat situations at high altitude over Bespin. However they have limited capability compared to when in space, so Airspeeders are a better option as they are designed specifically to operate in that environment.


johnnyhavoc wrote:

Then people went over board stating "Fighters are more costly and important", "Torpedoes may have been in short supply for the rebels on Hoth and besides they needed the X-wings to act as escorts".

Heh, that is really grasping at straws on their part. "Torpedoes in short supply" ?

lol

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/TALON_TAW/TALONSIGNEWB-1.jpg
http://stats.fsmod.com/fssig.php?player=Talon-UK
http://stats.fsmod.com/sig/pilot.Talon-UK.png

Re: Starfighters on Ground Maps

Lets just say that starfighters in atmosphere would have f*cked the script.

First strike, playing from day one: SirKillsalot30

Resident Metal Gear Solid fan

5 (edited by Safe-Keeper 2008-01-17 09:28:31)

Re: Starfighters on Ground Maps

Well, torpedoes were in short supply in A New Hope.

And of course starfighters can operate in atmosphere. Having said that, I'd like to see the T-16 and T-47 in FS too. The V-Wing just looks silly, though, in my view.

Star Fighters became the end all be all for many and they couldn't see my point.

I don't understand why you were complaining. There were lots of speeders in GC.

"One of the bitches actually gave birth while she was attacking, and her puppies joined in on the carnage."
--the awesomeness that is Boatmurdered.

Re: Starfighters on Ground Maps

There is such a range of aircraft in SW that there is no reason to have star fighters on ground maps. I dont mind in the first few releases though as it would take some time to make them all.

http://www.fsmod.com/stats/fssig.php?player=btcc
Occupation: Hacker on steroids

INGAME NAME: btcc

7 (edited by FSDev| TALON 2008-01-17 12:37:10)

Re: Starfighters on Ground Maps

Aye, but we don't want to go EU mad though, and remember this game is taking place in the Galactic Civil War period, so a lot of that New Republic and Imperial Remnant or whatever hardware is out of bounds.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/TALON_TAW/TALONSIGNEWB-1.jpg
http://stats.fsmod.com/fssig.php?player=Talon-UK
http://stats.fsmod.com/sig/pilot.Talon-UK.png