What should be the 5* Maquis ship?

EnderW

As has been demonstrated in some recent discussions, there are some strong views about what ship should be used to finally fill the "Maquis" trait hole at the 5* level. I'm curious to see what the general community's views are on the matter. So throw down your opinions, but respectfully!

Notes:
- I'm calling it "Hijacked Defiant," and not "Maquis Hijacked Defiant," because I feel the later is cumbersome and repetitive. Also, feel free to offer a better descriptor than hijacked.

And, to be clear, Dreadnought is the missile-ship from the Voyager episode.

Dirk Gunderson

Hijacked Defiant

The Dreadnought strikes me as being as appropriate for voyages as the Federation Fighter - so...not at all. The Defiant as highjacked by Tom Riker isn’t exactly a great fit but seems to me the least worst option.

My personal preference would really be to boost the Val Jean but that opens a huge can of worms about how that upgrade would happen. Does the 2* version get retired (or renamed as a generic Maquis Raider) and we all start the 5* version from scratch? Do those of us who have it get the 5* version at the same level (max of level 7) if it were converted to a 5* ship instead? And if that were to happen, what would be done about those using the current Val Jean as their main ship and/or Arena ship?

As much as I would like to start a “new” 5* ship off at level 7 instead of level 0, maybe it would be best to rename the current 2* ship and introduce a new 5* Val Jean. It shouldn’t be too much work for the art team, just use the existing model for the new ship and change some colors for the model of the generic version. Now that I’ve written all of this, I almost want to change my vote...

Veterinary Phlox

Dreadnought

I'd be happy with any of these options.

The Dreadnought is the most unique, but it would also require brand new art.

Renaming the current Val Jean to allow for a new Legendary Val Jean means it's unique among legendaries (art-wise) but I suspect this would be more work than it first appears. Lots of text strings to change and test (in all languages), and we're either left with both 1* and 2* generic Maquis Fighters, or the 2* ship needs a full conversion to something like a generic Andorian Battlecruiser (even more work).

Hijacked Defiant is probably the easiest option of the three. Although it seems weird that this ship would be "better" when hijacked, and there's already the mirror version among Legendaries. Although if this also got a legendary Thomas Riker, that would be nifty.

Emperor Borg Drone (SC)

Dreadnought

I'd like to see the Dreadnought, because, as Hasedoki said, it would be something new and because I'm a VOY fan and liked that episode (and most episodes with Torres actually).

I know that it's not technically a ship, but as long as we have the Federation Fighter and Captain Proton's ship, I can't see why we shouldn't get that one too

Prime Lorca

Dreadnought

I'm torn. Almost voted for raising the Val Jean to 5*. Good choices. Hope we get all of them. Or at least two. Then there wouldn't be a need to raise the Val Jean.

(CSF) Jesus Is Lord [••••]

Hijacked Defiant

Dirk Gunderson wrote: »

The Dreadnought strikes me as being as appropriate for voyages as the Federation Fighter - so...not at all. The Defiant as highjacked by Tom Riker isn’t exactly a great fit but seems to me the least worst option.

My personal preference would really be to boost the Val Jean but that opens a huge can of worms about how that upgrade would happen. Does the 2* version get retired (or renamed as a generic Maquis Raider) and we all start the 5* version from scratch? Do those of us who have it get the 5* version at the same level (max of level 7) if it were converted to a 5* ship instead? And if that were to happen, what would be done about those using the current Val Jean as their main ship and/or Arena ship?

As much as I would like to start a “new” 5* ship off at level 7 instead of level 0, maybe it would be best to rename the current 2* ship and introduce a new 5* Val Jean. It shouldn’t be too much work for the art team, just use the existing model for the new ship and change some colors for the model of the generic version. Now that I’ve written all of this, I almost want to change my vote...

I echo all this... I feel exactly the same way

(DDM) JP Compton

Other (ideas in the comments)

They could add the Peregrine Class Fighter with the traits Federation, Starfleet, Maquis. It could be introduced during a Skirmish event along side the 4* Rio Grande and 1* Danube class.

(HGH)Apollo

The Maquis ships were weak. How about DB makes a DB original ship.

Bylo Band

Hijacked Defiant

I voted for the hijacked Defiant because I definitely think that one A] makes the most sense for fitting 12 crew onto it for a voyage, B] offers up a cool tie in for a Maquis Tom Riker event, and C] because I don't want OSHA riding my nether regions with all the grievances my crew will file for having me send them out inside a live warhead.

Really though, the simplest solution is to simply remove the Maquis voyage trait from ship selection

Travis S McClain

Other (ideas in the comments)

There's always the Vulcan freighter used by the Maquis in "For the Cause". As a refresher, it's the ship that Captain Sisko busts the Xhosa couriering medical supplies to, and on which Michael Eddington escapes. Which reminds me, we still don't have a Lt. Commander Eddington, and my Maquis Eddington still needs two stars because he has yet to turn up in an event.

One could also make an argument for the Xhosa. Kasidy wasn't herself a member of the Maquis, but it was an important supply ship for them. For a more formally organized faction, that would be too tangential, but for the Maquis, I can see casting a wider net. Bajoran for sure, anyway.

veX

Other (ideas in the comments)

I would just remove that trait from voyages and that's it. None of the Maquis ships is legendary nor it should be.

adonibyte.

Other (ideas in the comments)

No maquis ships are great on their own. They are intended to fight as a group. I say have 3-4 ships flying in a group and call it Maquis Squadron ships or Formation Ships or Flight Squadron. It would act as one ship, but visually look like 4. That is the only way to make sense of a strong maquis attack force.

(HGH)Apollo

We have two defiants already.

adonibyte.

Other (ideas in the comments)

(HGH)Apollo wrote: »

We have two defiants already.

Three actually, if you count defiant class.

SoupKitchen Riker

Hijacked Defiant

I’d like to see a legit Defiant without watered-down stats.

~peregrine~

Other (ideas in the comments)

(DDM) JP Compton wrote: »

They could add the Peregrine Class Fighter with the traits Federation, Starfleet, Maquis. It could be introduced during a Skirmish event along side the 4* Rio Grande and 1* Danube class.

I thoroughly endorse this proposal! Not sure about fighters being 5*s, though, but quibbling is pointless IMO. 🖖

DScottHewitt

Hijacked Defiant

ByloBand wrote: »

I voted for the hijacked Defiant because I definitely think that one A] makes the most sense for fitting 12 crew onto it for a voyage, B] offers up a cool tie in for a Maquis Tom Riker event, and C] because I don't want OSHA riding my nether regions with all the grievances my crew will file for having me send them out inside a live warhead.

Really though, the simplest solution is to simply remove the Maquis voyage trait from ship selection

Skirmish with Maquis Tom Riker as the 5 🌟 or 4 🌟 and Highjacked Defiant as the Bonus 5 🌟 Ship.

Emperor Borg Drone (SC)

Dreadnought

adonibyte. wrote: »

No maquis ships are great on their own. They are intended to fight as a group. I say have 3-4 ships flying in a group and call it Maquis Squadron ships or Formation Ships or Flight Squadron. It would act as one ship, but visually look like 4. That is the only way to make sense of a strong maquis attack force.

This sounds like a great idea, but I wonder how it would look in Skirmishes and Arena battles. I don't think it makes sense to expect DB to make each ship move independently in battles, so they would all move in perfect synchrony, which might look weird. Or not. I have a hard time visualizing it.

[TFA] CaptainObvious

Other (ideas in the comments)

If the goal is to find an actual ship, that has not already been added in several shapes or forms to the game, a case could be made for the USS Phoenix.

Granted, the Maquis did not exist when the Phoenix got its screen time, but it could be construed as one of the spiritual ancestors of the movement. The military logistics uncovered by Maxwell were probably the early stages of the armament of the demilitarized zone, which lead to the Maquis' creation. It might also be a Timelines Original from a reality where Maxwell successfully uncovered the Cardassian plot, was commended by Starfleet for it and later joined the Maquis with his crew when the situation deteriorated.

As an added bonus, we would finally get the Nebula Class in game.

EnderW

Dreadnought

Bunch of great comments; keep’em comin'!

About the Peregrine fighter: I’m not a fan. Mainly because that’s just the Maquis Raider (1*). The idea of making it a squadron is interesting though.

Despite my including upping the Val Jean to 5*, I kinda didn’t think it would work. After all, I thought, how could you get enough personnel on it for a voyage. Which got me wondering, how many crew members were on the ship? Looking it up, there were something in the range of 30+ Maquis personnel on the Val Jean. Considering those ships were supposed to be the size of a runabout, I'm thinking its hull was made of rubber!

ByloBand wrote: »

Really though, the simplest solution is to simply remove the Maquis voyage trait from ship selection

Well that’s just crazy talk!

Matt_Decker

Hijacked Defiant

[TFA] CaptainObvious wrote: »

If the goal is to find an actual ship, that has not already been added in several shapes or forms to the game, a case could be made for the USS Phoenix.

Granted, the Maquis did not exist when the Phoenix got its screen time, but it could be construed as one of the spiritual ancestors of the movement. The military logistics uncovered by Maxwell were probably the early stages of the armament of the demilitarized zone, which lead to the Maquis' creation. It might also be a Timeline's Original from a reality where Maxwell successfully uncovered the Cardassian plot, was commended by Starfleet for it and later joined the Maquis with his crew when the situation deteriorated.

As an added bonus, we would finally get the Nebula Class in game.

I've advocated for the USS Phoenix and Nebula-Class before. This is a creative idea to add them to the game and give them a unique trait that would make them worth having. Thanks!

<TGE> Darxide

Other (ideas in the comments)

There shouldn't be. If you ask me, the Maquis and Hirogen factions shouldn't exist. There simply aren't enough potential crew to justify their existence.

Matt_Decker

Hijacked Defiant

<TGE> Darxide wrote: »

There shouldn't be. If you ask me, the Maquis and Hirogen factions shouldn't exist. There simply aren't enough potential crew to justify their existence.

One could argue the same for Section 31.

Travis S McClain

Other (ideas in the comments)

Matt_Decker wrote: »

<TGE> Darxide wrote: »

There shouldn't be. If you ask me, the Maquis and Hirogen factions shouldn't exist. There simply aren't enough potential crew to justify their existence.

One could argue the same for Section 31.

The (eventual) Georgiou spin-off puts *potential* crew in play, though that's still a long ways off and wasn't even a concept when the game launched. As for the Maquis, there are still several notable crew who could be added. Just offhand:

Lt. Commander Michael Eddington
Cal Hudson
Rebecca Sullivan (Eddington's wife)
Teero Anaydis (extremist Vedek, referenced in-game often already)
Sakonna (Vulcan arms dealer)
Macias (old dude Ro bonded with)
Maquis Thomas Riker
Maquis Will Riker (undercover)
Maquis Tom Paris (a Timelines Original since we met him in prison after his hot minute with them)

I wouldn't miss the Hirogen if they disappeared, though I still think replacing them with a broader Delta Quadrant Coalition or whatever would work. Which reminds me, the Ferengi are also overdue for some attention. Consolidating their two factions would make sense, especially since the Alliance defeated the Traditionalists in "Rule 125". (And again in "Rule 125 2"!) I'd also, however, welcome an infusion of new Ferengi to renew the division. To date, the only TNG Ferengi we have is Dr. Reyga, which in turn means we don't have a single DaiMon. They'd all surely be Traditionalists, especially someone like Bok.

EnderW

Dreadnought

It's fascinating how divided we all are on this question; I mean, look at the voting margins! I really wasn't expecting people to bring up reducing/changing the factions themselves; while I don't necessarily agree with that stance, everyone has made good points on the matter. Perhaps another thread on reorganizing the factions? I could see the Maquis getting folded into an alliance with the Bajorans (another faction that could use some love), and the Kazon splitting with the Ferengi Traditionalists to form an alliance with the Hirogen and other Delta Quadrant groups.

MirrorVerse Jc

Dreadnought

Would love to see dreadnought. With its missile and defensive capability deserves a five star.
It is different.
Although it was highjacked from the Cardassians, it was completely modified to be a maqui ship/weapon. Unlike the defiant that was only highjacked for a short time, kira was still on board and took command at the end, and we already have several defiant class ships.
If we are getting another defiant class it could be the Red Squad ship Valient.

PompeyMagnus

Raise the Val Jean to 5*

I say raise the Val Jean to 5*, but as part of a wider re-balancing of the ships.

My biggest gripe about Arena is that one ship essentially dominates each division and there really isn't a whole lot of variety or excitement to it. 1* and 3* ships are entirely useless, as are the majority of 2*, 4* and 5* ships.

RogaDanar

We also do not have a 5 star hirogen ship.

EnderW

Dreadnought

RogaDanar wrote: »

We also do not have a 5 star hirogen ship.

One thing at a time!