Humans (United Earth):
The humans are the youngest race to have reached the stars. Humans are creative, technologists, highly militaristic and authoritarian. Humans being creative and valuing technological development has fueled rapid technological development for the human people and as a consequence humans have access to several unique technologies. The Human war with the Cathamari has also led to the development of several technologies allowing them to fight their more advanced neighbors, despite their lack of ships. Most notable of which is the deadly shield piercing torpedos. Humans are good with torpedos, engines, and armor. While notoriously bad with shields. Most common ship type is the Heavy Cruiser. Human Starships are remarkably sturdy and can take beatings that would outright destroy their counterparts in alien fleets and still be combat capable. Most Human ships can remain combat capable even when largely inoperable.
Earth starships tend to have the following characteristics:
Weapons: Average
Armor: Vastly Superior
Hull Integrity: Vastly Superior
Shields: Vastly inferior
Stealth: Above Average
Missile Protection: Excellent (Energy Webs)
Ship Speed: above average
Ship Maneuverability: Superior
Ship Construction techniques: Superior (nano construction)
Ship cost: 400% more than average
Ship Build speed: 25% longer than Average
(17)
Unique Techs: Shield Piercing Torpedoes, Electro Cannons, Overlord Armor, and Pulse Wave Engines
The Cathamari Empire:
The Cathamari are an aggressive warlike race. Often at war with their neighbors, they constantly seek to expand their empire. Their empire is run on slave labor, as a result they have access to massive amounts of cheap labor. They are very good at weapons research, and hull construction. Below average with shields. Most common ship type is the Battlecruiser.
Weapons: Superior
Armor: Above Average
Hull Integrity: Above Average
Shields: Below Average
Stealth: Inferior
Missile Protection: Average
Ship Speed: Average
Ship Maneuverability: Average
Ship Construction: Average (slave labor)
Ship Cost: 50% cheaper than Average
Ship Build Speed: Average
(2)
Unique Techs: Cathamari Concussion Plasma Cannon
The Krall Imperium:
The Krall are an interesting people. They have strongly defined gender roles, and heavily value honor. The Imperium is ruled by a council of men and women who determine the course of the imperium. The Imperium is famous for their advanced technology and their ships are generally two or three generations ahead of those deployed by their neighbors in technology. The Imperium is good with Beam Weapons, Stealth and Robotics. Most common ship type is the Destroyer. Their Battleships however are unmatched few races even come close to matching their battleships in combat.
Weapons: Excellent
Armor: Average
Hull Integrity: Excellent
Shields: Good
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Stealth: Superior
Missile Protection: Superior (ECM)
Ship Speed: Above Average
Ship Maneuverability: Good
Ship Construction techniques: Superior (Robotic Workers)
Ship cost: 25% less than Average
Ship Build speed: 25% less than Average
(23)
Unique Techs: Krall Plasma Beam Cannon, Cloaking Shields, Inversion Gate
Valorian Trade Confederation:
The Valorains are the largest of the major powers in the region. Their vast merchant navy provides them with untold wealth which attracts pirates. In recent years internal corruption and a lack of war has forced the Valorian military to deal with continual annual budget cuts. But maintaining a fleet capable of patrolling their borders even with the aid of hypergates, it is expensive. In order to maintain their large fleet and to make new construction possible with the low military budget, they have cut costs everywhere they can. As a result Valorian ships rely on speed and powerful shields for defense. The Valorians are extremely good with shields. They are good with engines, and sensors, but bad with stealth, missile protection and armor. Most common ship type is the Light Cruiser.
Weapons: Average
Armor: none
Hull Integrity: below Average
Shields: Vastly Superior
Stealth: Inferior
Missile Protection: Poor
Ship Speed: Superior
Ship Maneuverability: Above Average
Ship Construction techniques: Average (Robotic Workers)
Ship cost: 400% less than Average
Ship Build speed: Average
(-1)
Unique Techs: Pulse Cannon, Planetary Shields, Hypergate
Minor Factions:
The Pirate Clans:
While not exactly a unified faction the disparate pirate clans are a minor power in the universe. They are little more than a parasite preying on merchants, the pirates are not known for any spectacular technologies and their ships are built and equipped with whatever they can get their hands on. Pirate ships tend to be fast, and light with decent cargo capacity for their size. Most common ship, converted freighter.
Weapons: Inferior
Armor: Inferior at best
Hull Integrity: Inferior
Shields: Inferior at best
Stealth: Average
Missile Protection: Inferior
Ship Speed: Superior
Ship Maneuverability: Superior
The Smuggler's Union:
The Union is a crime syndicate in the Valorian trade confederation, who’s primary mandate is the protection and aiding of smugglers for a “Small Fee”. Being more organized than most pirate clans they have access to better technology and ships.
Weapons: Poor
Armor: Below Average
Hull Integrity: Below Average
Shields: Below Average
Stealth: Above Average
Missile Protection: Inferior
Ship Speed: Superior
Ship Maneuverability: Superior
The Malora:
Not much is know about the Maloria. Humans only know them by reputation and rumor. What is known is that they share a border with the Valorian Confederation and have several trade routes with the Confederation. It is said they are always looking for opportunities to expand their small nation. They are supposedly good with Disrupters and Ion Cannons. Their ships apparently use hyperdrive technology for FTL travel. Most common ship type is the Heavy Cruiser.
Weapons: above average
Armor: Average
Hull Integrity: Average
Shields: Below Average
Stealth: Below Average
Missile Protection: Average
Ship Speed: Average
Ship Maneuverability: Average
(-1)
The Voskar:
The Voskar are race who makes their home near the Lantaro sector. As such they have built a powerful navy to deal with their unruly neighbors. The Voskar are highly secretive, and have superior stealth technology as a result, but their weaponry is downright primitive. They make up for that with a good grasp of shields and armor. Most Common ship type is the Stealth Cruiser.
Weapons: Vastly Inferior
Armor: Good
Hull Integrity: Superior
Shields: Excellent
Stealth: Vastly Superior
Missile Protection: Below Average
Ship Speed: Average
Ship Maneuverability: Average
(9)
The Toral Confederacy:
The Toral are one of the richest neighbors of the Valorian Trade Confederation, and have had poor relations with the Confederation for decades. The Toral are famous for their capital ships. They build some of the best capital ships in the quadrant. Only Krall capital ships were superior to theirs until Humanity appeared on the stage. The Toral are good with energy weapons specifically advanced particle weapons. The have an excellent grasp on large scale construction, shields and engines. Their Stealth tech however is poor. The backbone of their fleet is the battleship.
Weapons: Above Average
Armor: Good
Hull Integrity: Vastly Superior
Shields: Superior
Stealth: Vastly Inferior
Missile Protection: Vastly Inferior
Ship Speed: Barely Average
Ship Maneuverability: Barely Average
(4)
Quality index from worst to best:
-5 None
-4 Vastly Inferior
-3 Inferior
-2 Poor
-1 Below Average
0 Average
+1 Above Average
+2 Good
+3 Excellent
+4 Superior
+5 Vastly Superior