Difference between revisions of "Eluder"

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[[Image:Star_control_i_spathi_discriminator_databank.png|thumb|225px|Starship Databank Entry from [[Star Control I]], still showing the title of Discriminator.]]  
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[[Image:Star_control_i_spathi_discriminator_databank.png|thumb|306px|Starship Databank Entry from [[Star Control I]], still showing the title of Discriminator.]]
  
The multi-colored [[Spathi]] '''Eluder''', formerly known as the '''Discriminator''' (and sometimes called a Voidship by the Spathi), remains the bulk of the Spathi fleet even 20 years after the War. Its construction, though seemingly chaotic, is carefully designed to mimic its crew's natural attributes: paranoia, elusiveness, and cowardice.  
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The multi-colored [[Spathi]] '''Eluder''', formerly known as the '''Discriminator''', remains the bulk of the Spathi fleet even 20 years after the War. Its construction, though seemingly chaotic, is carefully designed to mimic its crew's natural attributes: paranoia, elusiveness, and cowardice. From the outside, the Eluder consists of many bubble-shaped, solid-colored cabins joined together by smaller gray corridors. The intention of having so many large seemingly crew-filled projections is partly to obfuscate enemy into targeting the decoy cabins and to direct enemy fire away from the sections where the crew resides. However, in-game, enemy weapons incapacitate the same amount of crew no matter where the Eluder is damaged.
  
From the outside, the Eluder consists of many bubble-shaped, solid-colored cabins joined together by smaller gray corridors. The intention of having so many large seemingly crew-filled projections is partly to obfuscate enemy into targeting the decoy cabins and to direct enemy fire away from the sections where the crew resides. However, in-game, enemy weapons incapacitate the same amount of crew no matter where the Eluder is damaged.
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==Propulsion==
 
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The Eluder is one of the fastest ships in our region of space. The rapid acceleration and turning rate of this ship led [[Human]] servicemen to nickname it the "space jitterbug" during the [[Ur-Quan Slave War]].{{ref|1}} It is capable of an impressive maximum speed as well. The Eluder's powerful propulsion system is not intended for speeding into battle, but rather for speeding away from it. From this perspective, the Eluder performs admirably.
==Navigation==
 
The Eluder is one of the fastest ships in our region of space, both in top speed and acceleration, and has a turning radius an [[Arilou Lalee'lay]] would be jealous of — a fact that has led [[Human]] [[Cruiser]] captains to nickname them "space jitterbugs".{{ref|1}} Though agility would be a mighty boon for most brute force fighter ships, the Eluder is anything but brute... or a force... or even a fighter. The fact is that thrusters' primary use isn't for speeding into battle, but rather for speeding away from it (and from this perspective, the Eluder performs admirably).
 
  
 
==Armament==
 
==Armament==
  
 
===Primary===
 
===Primary===
The Eluder's main weaponry consists of a quick-firing, short-range, low-impact forward-firing missile that is great for sneak attacks, guerilla tactics, or just to finish off a severely-handicapped adversary (which are the only direct attacks a Spathi would consider). The missile is otherwise limited in its usefulness. Each hit kills one crew member.
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The Eluder's primary weapon consists of a repeating forward mounted gun{{ref|2}} which can fire off low impact projectiles over a short distance. This gun is widely considered to be inferior to the Eluder's other armament, but it does have advantages over it: The projectiles fire in rapid succession and travel at a high velocity, allowing them to hit targets the Spathi's secondary weapon might be ill-suited against. Each projectile inflicts one damage upon contact.
  
 
===Secondary===
 
===Secondary===
The secondary weaponry epitomizes the essence of true Spathi-ness due to its ability to do the most damage while the Eluder is in full retreat. The Backwards Utilizing Tracking Torpedo (B.U.T.T.) is a medium-range, low-impact conventional space torpedo with a good guidance system and moderate speed and maneuverability. Fired from the rear of the craft, B.U.T.T. missiles do most of the dirty work in the dogfights as Eluders make their way away from the fray. Enemy captains foolish enough to think it can run down an Eluder usually end up learning a fatal lesson in space warfare. Each hit kills two crew members.
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The secondary weapon epitomizes the Spathi approach to war. The Backwards Utilizing Tracking Torpedo (B.U.T.T.) is a medium range, low impact homing missile with moderate speed and maneuverability. Fired from the rear of the craft, B.U.T.T. missiles are the favored weapon of the Spathi military due to their effectiveness during evasion and retreat. Each missile inflicts two damage upon contact.
  
It might be important to note that the Eluder can run into the B.U.T.T., damaging itself, much like the [[Mycon]] [[Podship]].
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As with the [[Mycon]] [[Podship]]'s plasmoid, this weapon can damage the Eluder if fired while the ship's aft is pointed directly away from the enemy ship. B.U.T.T. missiles can also occasionally strike and neutralize each other.
  
 
==Tactical Overview==
 
==Tactical Overview==
An Eluder is a coward’s ship: it is designed by a coward, built by cowards, and flown by cowards. There are only two types of Eluder captains: the living cowards, and the foolish dead. The living cowards never meet face-to-face with a foe. The Eluder must wear its enemy down little by little. A common and effective Spathi tactic is to show the enemy the Eluder's butt while firing B.U.T.T. missiles at them.
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* The Eluder has fantastic durability and speed, but lacks in firepower. In addition to the ship's low impact weaponry, the Eluder's energy banks are small and slow to recover. These vessels are not at all suited for frontal assault due to these deficiencies. The defensive nature of this ship often leads to protracted engagements.
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* This ship is at its best when it is running away from a pursuing enemy while lobbing torpedoes backward. Spathi torpedoes have a lower velocity and higher duration than the average projectile, making them more heavily influenced by the [[Relativity Effect]]. In practical terms this means that torpedoes are especially useful against pursuing enemies, while typically unable to reach retreating enemies. The tracking system on these torpedoes is not perfect, but tremendous mobility is required to outmaneuver them.
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* Some adversaries will not pursue a Spathi Eluder at all. If their weapon range is longer, they won't need to. A tactic that often works well against slow enemies that will not pursue is to race ahead of the enemy ship and drop B.U.T.Ts in their flight path before they can veer away. Evasive enemies with high acceleration and turning speed are difficult to overtake, in which case the forward gun often works better.
  
===Strong Against===
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* The Eluder is effective at taking down [[Slylandro]] [[Probe]]s during the single player campaign. If the player carefully maintains distance, they can bombard the Probe with B.U.T.T. missiles until it is destroyed.
The Eluder is capable of wearing down the [[Ur-Quan Kzer-Za|Ur-Quan]] [[Dreadnought]] easily. When facing (or running away from) a [[Ur-Quan Kohr-Ah|Kohr-Ah]] [[Marauder]] the Eluder can run away in a straight course, sidestepping spinning wheels and firing B.U.T.T.s, and if beyond B.U.T.T. range, make a complete circle (Turn+Acceleration) to allow the Eluder to get back in range before continuing in the former course. [[Slylandro]] [[Probe|Probes]] can be tricked into chasing the Eluder in a straight path, allowing B.U.T.T.s to be used at will. [[Mycon]] [[Podship]]s have a hard time handling the Eluder, especially if you can force them to swallow their own Plasmoids. Additionally, [[VUX]] [[Intruder]]s fall like flies before the Eluder, which can circle outside the Intruder's laser range and shower it with B.U.T.T.s.
 
  
===Weak Against===
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==Minutiae==
Fast ships such as the [[Pkunk]] [[Fury]] and naturally the [[Chmmr]] [[Avatar]] whose ZapSats render the B.U.T.T.s completely useless and the pellet weapon nearly so.  The [[Yehat]] [[Terminator]] provides for an interesting stalemate.  The Terminator cannot catch the Eluder, and the Eluder cannot fire fast enough to breach the Terminator's shield.
 
  
==Miscellaneous==
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* The rumored [[Black Spathi Squadron]] Eluders are painted black with red stripes rather than the usual gaudy color scheme.
===Rumors===
 
There have been rumors that a few Eluders exist that are painted all black with red stripes. Legends of the [[Black Spathi Squadron]] have been passed down for generations and tell of a small band of courageous, brave Spathi rogues "dedicated to performing brave and hostile deeds". However, the credibility of this legend is dubious at best because even the most courageous Spathi in the known universe are a little short of being completely terrified.
 
  
 
==Known Ships==
 
==Known Ships==
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==Notes and references==
 
==Notes and references==
 
{{note|1}}''[[Star Control]] manual, p. 24.''
 
{{note|1}}''[[Star Control]] manual, p. 24.''
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{{note|2}}''This may be the weapon Commander [[Hayes]] refers to when he describes the Spathi as a "cowardly, mobile clam armed with a howitzer."''
  
{{ShipBox|image=Eluder_icon.png|link=eluder|race=[[Spathi]]|crew=30|value=18|batt=10|regen=0.091|primary=Fast, weak, forward gun|prim-cost=2|prim-rate=0|secondary=B.U.T.T. missiles|sec-cost=3|sec-rate=7|speed=48|turn=0.5|accel=6|mass=7}}
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{{ShipBox|image=Eluder_icon.png|link=eluder|race=[[Spathi]]|crew=30|value=18|batt=10|regen=0.091|primary=Forward Mounted Gun|prim-cost=2|prim-rate=0|secondary=B.U.T.T. Missiles|sec-cost=3|sec-rate=7|speed=48|turn=0.5|accel=6|mass=7}}
  
 
[[Category:Ships]]
 
[[Category:Ships]]
 
[[Category:Spathi]]
 
[[Category:Spathi]]

Latest revision as of 19:15, 12 June 2018

Starship Databank Entry from Star Control I, still showing the title of Discriminator.

The multi-colored Spathi Eluder, formerly known as the Discriminator, remains the bulk of the Spathi fleet even 20 years after the War. Its construction, though seemingly chaotic, is carefully designed to mimic its crew's natural attributes: paranoia, elusiveness, and cowardice. From the outside, the Eluder consists of many bubble-shaped, solid-colored cabins joined together by smaller gray corridors. The intention of having so many large seemingly crew-filled projections is partly to obfuscate enemy into targeting the decoy cabins and to direct enemy fire away from the sections where the crew resides. However, in-game, enemy weapons incapacitate the same amount of crew no matter where the Eluder is damaged.

Propulsion[edit]

The Eluder is one of the fastest ships in our region of space. The rapid acceleration and turning rate of this ship led Human servicemen to nickname it the "space jitterbug" during the Ur-Quan Slave War.1 It is capable of an impressive maximum speed as well. The Eluder's powerful propulsion system is not intended for speeding into battle, but rather for speeding away from it. From this perspective, the Eluder performs admirably.

Armament[edit]

Primary[edit]

The Eluder's primary weapon consists of a repeating forward mounted gun2 which can fire off low impact projectiles over a short distance. This gun is widely considered to be inferior to the Eluder's other armament, but it does have advantages over it: The projectiles fire in rapid succession and travel at a high velocity, allowing them to hit targets the Spathi's secondary weapon might be ill-suited against. Each projectile inflicts one damage upon contact.

Secondary[edit]

The secondary weapon epitomizes the Spathi approach to war. The Backwards Utilizing Tracking Torpedo (B.U.T.T.) is a medium range, low impact homing missile with moderate speed and maneuverability. Fired from the rear of the craft, B.U.T.T. missiles are the favored weapon of the Spathi military due to their effectiveness during evasion and retreat. Each missile inflicts two damage upon contact.

As with the Mycon Podship's plasmoid, this weapon can damage the Eluder if fired while the ship's aft is pointed directly away from the enemy ship. B.U.T.T. missiles can also occasionally strike and neutralize each other.

Tactical Overview[edit]

  • The Eluder has fantastic durability and speed, but lacks in firepower. In addition to the ship's low impact weaponry, the Eluder's energy banks are small and slow to recover. These vessels are not at all suited for frontal assault due to these deficiencies. The defensive nature of this ship often leads to protracted engagements.
  • This ship is at its best when it is running away from a pursuing enemy while lobbing torpedoes backward. Spathi torpedoes have a lower velocity and higher duration than the average projectile, making them more heavily influenced by the Relativity Effect. In practical terms this means that torpedoes are especially useful against pursuing enemies, while typically unable to reach retreating enemies. The tracking system on these torpedoes is not perfect, but tremendous mobility is required to outmaneuver them.
  • Some adversaries will not pursue a Spathi Eluder at all. If their weapon range is longer, they won't need to. A tactic that often works well against slow enemies that will not pursue is to race ahead of the enemy ship and drop B.U.T.Ts in their flight path before they can veer away. Evasive enemies with high acceleration and turning speed are difficult to overtake, in which case the forward gun often works better.
  • The Eluder is effective at taking down Slylandro Probes during the single player campaign. If the player carefully maintains distance, they can bombard the Probe with B.U.T.T. missiles until it is destroyed.

Minutiae[edit]

  • The rumored Black Spathi Squadron Eluders are painted black with red stripes rather than the usual gaudy color scheme.

Known Ships[edit]

Notes and references[edit]

1Star Control manual, p. 24.
2This may be the weapon Commander Hayes refers to when he describes the Spathi as a "cowardly, mobile clam armed with a howitzer."
Eluder icon.png
3DO Spathi Eluder
Basic stats
Crew: 30 Value: 18 pts
Battery: 10 Batt. Regeneration: 0.091 units/frame
Armament
Primary: Forward Mounted Gun Secondary: B.U.T.T. Missiles
Refire delay: 0 frames Refire delay: 7 frames
Energy use: 2 units Energy use: 3 units
Propulsion
Max speed: 48 world units/frame Turn rate: 0.5 facings/frame
Acceleration: 6 units/frame Mass: 7