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Posted: 2003-05-19 12:18pm
by Jeremy
Roddenburry originally stated that no ship should have more then two nacelles, that was all that was needed.
As for the three ships agument, there are four nacelles not six.
All in all I think "the art design guys thought it would look cool" is a better reason.
Posted: 2003-05-19 12:37pm
by HappyTarget
As for the three ships agument, there are four nacelles not six.
Actually, there ARE SIX nacelles. The upper saucer section of the MVA mode has one mounted just behind the bridge that extends up and out and one on the bottom that extends down and out. They are just usually stowed and/or out of sight in non-MVA mode.
http://www.shipschematics.net/startrek/ ... etheus.jpg
At the botom of the pic, there's a MVA silouette that shows the mini warp nacelles deployed from the upper saucer section. From the main top view, you can see it in it's recessed position.
Also, while not all 4 primary nacelles are likley used in joined configuartion, they likley can use one pair or the other, meaning that if one or two are damaged, the Prometheus can still go to warp. (totall speculation on my part, but likely fits (SHRUG))
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Posted: 2003-05-19 12:47pm
by Jeremy
well check that out!
I guess I was wrong then!

Posted: 2003-05-19 02:14pm
by HappyTarget

The Prometheus has been my favorite ship class (asthetics wise) since she first showed up in Voy. "Ship in a Bottle". While I agree with the consensus that the whole MVAM is a hokey concept going by canon tech capabilites, the joined configuration is a sweet lookin ride.
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Posted: 2003-05-19 02:46pm
by Jeremy
cool
I wonder why they don't just remove all the equipment necessary for ship seperation, and then move the decks/rooms/tubes around so they can create a larger torpedo magazine.
Posted: 2003-05-20 02:18am
by HappyTarget
I wonder why they don't just remove all the equipment necessary for ship seperation, and then move the decks/rooms/tubes around so they can create a larger torpedo magazine.
Cuz that would require writers that have a clue as to actual warfare and ones that are willing to listen to their military advisers when writing scripts. Something oftentimes in short supply in Trek.
Originally, the Prometheus was supposed to split into 5 sections for the MVAM. At least it was axed down to 3. But even then, I just don't see the advantages of having MVAM going with canon tech. There just doesn't seem to be any advantage to having a larger ship be able to split into 3 smaller ships. All that added linkup space would be better served making the linked ship a more potent fighting force or making 3 smaller ships to begin with.
Posted: 2003-05-20 12:22pm
by Death from the Sea
MVAM would be useful to help divide the enemies fire among several target rather than focus on one ship. Plus you get three ships firing rather than one.
Posted: 2003-05-20 03:21pm
by HappyTarget
MVAM would be useful to help divide the enemies fire among several target rather than focus on one ship. Plus you get three ships firing rather than one.
If that's what you want, Starfleet would be better off making 3 destroyers and keeping them together on missions in place of MVAM. And it would be stupid to divert your fire amongst 3 targets if it depleets your ability to kill any one of them. Keep hammering one till it's dead, utilizing your secondary weapons archs on secondary targets only if it doesn't limit your ability to hammer your primary target (like using aft photons on one MVAM section while your forward photons and phasers hammer your primary target). If you hammer all of them, you keep em in the game longer due to their regenerative shielding. You have to keep a constant stream of weapons fire on ONE target to bring it down and remove it's weapons from the equation. Otherwise, all you have is 3 slightly damaged MVAM sections ALL hammering on your ship as you flit from one to the next.
If MVAM is better for the reasons you describe, why then is making the MVAM sections JOIN TOGETHER useful?
In my fan fic universe, I explained it by giving the MVAM sections higher manuverability and speed, but made the joined configuration better defended if slower on the helm.
But in canon, there is NO reason to have the separation capability. Weather in joined or MVAM, the defenses are virtually the same, as is speed and manuverability. So why is it better to make a heavy cruiser that has linking mechanisims lowering internal space rather than 1 heavy cruiser without it OR 3 purpose built destroyers that operate in concert with eachother?
Posted: 2003-05-20 03:27pm
by Lord Pounder
Maybe whoever designed the concept of the Prometheus was a fan of the movie Ice Pirates?
