ScriptKitt3h

LV-Ns are the best way to go for combat ships, with ions mainly being useful for backup engines and fighters.

Hmmm... good thing I've got guided missile units...

I meant that some VTOL's land vertically more easily due to the fact of the added weight from a VTOL engine or engines making the craft fall faster when attempting a glide-in landing.

Of course! Anyone can battle, you just have to have some warships, a partner to battle, and you're all set!

I made a VTOL SSTO fighter aircraft. ...and then I got an pretty screenshot with it on Laythe. "Joolrise":

Yup, I've definitely figured that out from making my XD-505, but the flip side is that in some cases the VTOL's safer to land with than a regular landing.

Funny thing is, they were until some parts of the design made it not work out fully. Plus, they're so tiny... That's why I have my 505's now.

So, the name is revealed at last. This plane is amazing, and I love the "cargo rack" system, as it makes it a heckuva lot easier to load cargo onboard.

Holy.... this thing is amazing.... Now make an ARMED variant. Just to see if it'd work.

So, I actually finished the XD-505 (my VTOL SSTO fighter). It's codename/nickname is "Komodo Dragon", in an attempt to somehow make it a successor to the "Monitor" series of fighters. /Weapons:/ -2 I-beam missiles -Dual LCR Rocket stacks It does have a basic jet for VTOL, and is easily capable of reaching orbit on it's own fuel supply, and possibly going to the Mun or Minmus. It also needs a docking port, though, but it could be great on Laythe.... Yeah. *LCR=Light Combat Rocket

Light battles? How so? Most surface battles will almost exclusively use lighter craft (since huge combat spacecraft are much bigger than land units), and most aircraft can't be too big and still function as nimble fighters. The only real "large" surface battles almost always are on the ocean, using naval craft. If you're referring to orbital/space combat, I'd have to say that almost all my craft in my current battle with BrightBritches are not "small" by any standard.... unless you REALLY are itching to see two massive dreadnought-level warships in an engagement. (Also, one final thought: Most, (not all) heavier craft sport a higher part count with ammo compared to other vessels. This makes them hard to battle for people with machines that can't handle too many parts in one locale.)

Trust me, the next model MU SSTO fighter (XD-505) will be VTOL capable. Now to finish the design and pick a weapons payload.

///Combat Log/// The XD-503 Monitor-C attacked by the Stub was ruined, but the pilot was A-OK, and ready to watch the battle unfold. Next, I ordered my second MBT-1A tank, with Bob Kerman in command, to attack the mysterious "Cactus" that had disabled my jet. The Stub was ultimately flipped upside down, paralyzing it, and was damaged slightly by my i-beam fire. It's driver was being extracted from the wreckage by Bob following the engagement, since neither tank could fight any longer. (MBT was out of ammo, Stub effectively disabled.) Persist: http://www./download/7iactbvbk0uozwn/persistent(11).sfs

Man, that sucks. Well, I still have the persist tucked away somewhere in my mediafire folders, so I can link to it tomorrow. Also, I think it was your turn since I went all panicky in my move and spread out my forces a bit to draw ya out.

That's still something that needs to be worked out, and mostly I load it up with i-beam rods w/out probe cores. (Mainly for part count reasons, although in theory a probe core equipped rod could hit a target from orbit.) However, the rods still impact at over 100 m/s or more with stock aerodynamics, so they work for their purpose. Also, are you in any way interested in finishing our surface battle from way way back?

That's why I have 64 rods at my disposal, with re-loading ships ready.

Meanwhile.... my ODP-1 orbital bombardment station patiently waits to obliterate the winner of said battle.

//BATTLE UPDATE!// The ADA, upon a close inspection, was 100% intact internally, but has been flown out to a high orbit to protect it from further punishment. (I took pity on poor ol' Jeb getting shot up like that.) The MU Recon Corvette MK2 Archer was then ordered to begin an attack run on the BB Destiny The Destiny is now crippled, much in the same manner as its sister ship, the Fortune. Meanwhile, in lower orbit above Laythe... (Ship was moved prior to combat between the Archer and Destiny.) //SX-3 Klue//RETASKED//COMBAT OPERATIONS BEGIN NOW// Persist: http://www./download/f1dlq683ky47ci1/persistent(10).sfs

Yeah, after a certain point any armor is beatable. However, I try to make my ships as tough as realistically possible, and plan my tactics around that. Adapt to Survive.

Alright, PM with the info on the ships! I'd like to see 'em, since your smaller ones are very nice.

Yup, almost all my newer ships, especially the ones with H.A.R.D. (Hybrid Armor Reactive Defense) hull plating are pretty much damage sponges for light munitions/fighter weapons. I still have yet to see what a heavy round (like an SRB) might do, but I'm guessing it might be somewhat nullified by the plating, although it would most definitely damage my ship. If you want, you can bring in another ship to even the odds once you've cycled through all your current ones. (Since it's been a 3v4 battle so far.) Battle post up soon, once I inspect the ADA's guts and make my move.

Most, if not all my newer craft can get to Laythe... the speed at which they do, however, is variable. (Ion engines, refurbished K-Drives, and such take a tad bit longer to make burns with than rockets/NERVAs, but means I get to worry less about filling my hulls with heavy, vulnerable fuel tanks. )* Also, droptanks don't mean a craft has something wrong with it. (In the same way that real world fighter jets use external fuel tanks for extra-long trips.) Also, if and when KSP MP comes out officially, I'm going to make fuel outposts at Minmus, Duna, and Jool to service a fleet without having to have ships with enough internal fuel to go superluminal. *(From the Macey Dean vids, (at least this seems to be the case), the Vanguard-class was only susceptible to ramming mainly due to its skeleton being made from fuel tanks. If it had a few less LVNs, and a structural part skeleton with decentralized fuel, it may have survived the ramming in the final ep.)

Man, it's sad to think.... but maybe he's gone for good. In any case, his series was my primary inspiration, and I'm considering (once I've got my PC upgraded) making a similar series..... Darn I feel so nostalgic. EDIT: Also, where is BrightBritches' next battle post? I thought he said last night he'd have it up soon.... EDIT x2: I just realized whilst watching that the tech in our average-type capital ships is WAY more powerful than almost all the ships in Macey's series. (The most advanced being his Vanguard-class, which even then lacks a skeleton for shock absorption.) MU MT-12M and MT-13 inbound. Prepare for VTOL combat.

Actually, some K-Drives still work, albeit in a much less powerful manner.

Did some Munar testing today... The MT-12 mark 2 will be fully armed and have vertical docking for cargo. (to prevent payloads getting stuck easily)