Pursuant to discussions here as well as the countless discussions about Deneb elsewhere regarding imbalance, I propose a new ragnarok bomber be introduced ONLY for serco and ONLY available in Geira o-4. Presenting in two versions, depending on whether or not adding turrets is possible.

Price Suggestion: 150,000

Ragnarok Heavy Bomber
Armor: 18000
Weapons: 3 Large Ports, 1 Small port
Mass: 18000kg
Thrust: 440N
Turbo Thrust: 600N
Speed: 65m/s
Spin Torque: 12.0Nm
Turbo Speed: 200m/s
Turbo Energy: 52/s
Cargo Capacity: 0cu

Ragnarok Heavy Bomber (turreted variant)
Armor: 18000
Weapons: 3 Large Ports, 3 turrets (top, bottom, aft)
Mass: 18000kg
Thrust: 440N
Turbo Thrust: 600N
Speed: 65m/s
Spin Torque: 12.0Nm
Turbo Speed: 200m/s
Turbo Energy: 52/s
Cargo Capacity: 0cu

Purpose:

To give Serco nationalists an advantage on the Deneb front to counter the transitory handicap (of an extra wormhole and the b-12 bottleneck). Superior bombing ability is the the largest determining factor of victory when experienced players are active on both fronts. This variant of the ragnarok is designed specifically for bombing.

Comments:

Suffice it to say that I have extensive experience flying ragnaroks both in general and also specifically in Deneb skirmishes. They are very easy targets for fighters, but can carry deadly payloads. Other discussions have suggested that the speed be reduced in exchange for adding a third L port. I fully disagree with this.

Basically, this variant trades 2 small ports, cargo space and a 12.5% increase in mass for an extra large port. Maneuverability shouldn't suffer much because the ship is already a sitting duck, especially in the case of Avalon bombing (which is, of course, the most effective manner of bombing in Deneb). To this end, I adjusted the thrust by +10% and the spin torque by +20% to accommodate the extra mass. One should note that not only does this ship have extra standalone mass, but adding an extra heavy weapon will even further increase the weight. Also note that the spin torque plays an important role in targetting avalons; degrading it will make it a less preferable avalon delivery platform than existing ragnaroks and centaurs. It may be necessary to bump up the thrust even more after trials, but this is a good starting point.

The zero cargo capacity will also prevent it from being used to mine ore.

Lastly the turbo energy has been adjusted to remove infiniturbo while still retaining long range high speed travel.

+1 if you sell it to everyone who plays in the Serco military. It gives UIT a reason to join the Serco side, thus balancing out the many UIT newbs who ask which military to join and then pick Itani cause they're told they can always win then. Oh and it'd make a traitor role for Itani pilots more interesting (if you can join the other side's military with sufficient standing??).

Also give Serco border turrets :P

+1 to turrets in GR O4.

Rags do not have a flat surface to place turrets on, so although it may be possible, it would stick out and look a bit wrong. So I don't think that will happen.

I think I said that in the thread ARF posted regarding a Rag heavy Bomber, and I think I am right. But meh, I always think I am right.

Anyway

+1 to giving Serco another ship.

Also I do not think its possible for an Itani to join the Serco military any more. I did at one point in the past, but I do not see the mission to join the Itani mill on my Serco char that has +600 Itani. So to balance it out a bit, the Itani might need a new Hornet or something. Maybe one like the Orion Hornet, but with 2 S ports, and an L port. Maybe that is for a new thread though.

Also I do not think its possible for an Itani to join the Serco military any more.

Then allow joining it for Itani at +600 too.

UIT can't even get higher Serco standing than Itani can. And they CAN join the Serco military. That's silly anyway. Either forbid it completely for Itani or allow it at +600 for everyone.

+1 (non turreted, 3L , 1S ports bomber) but some diversity with the ship names is needed.

Nordic Mythology is used for Itani exclusive ships and, let's suppose, Greek Mythology is used for Serco exclusive ships.

Ragnarok belongs to Nordic Mythology so how about giving Serco exclusive bomber an appropriate new name?

-1 we dont need better ships, we need better serco

This is not a replacement for turrets in GR, and making all Itani stations in Deneb conquerable by nation. (take away O-3)

It's a different way of balancing that requires much less effort. If Deneb as a whole was completely reworked as you suggest, then such a bomber would find good use for both serco and itani.

Even if you get this, I'm still not letting you in the cool group greenwall.

+1 rar