Restricted Ship Droid Vulture-class Droid Starfighter

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VULTURE-CLASS DROID STARFIGHTER

AFFILIATION
Open market.

MANUFACTURER
Haor Chall Engineering.

CLASS
Starfighter.

ROLE
Automated starfighter.

COMPOSITION
Titanium.

DIMENSIONS
Length - 6.96 meters.
CREW
1 integrated droid brain.

PASSENGER CAPACITY
N/A.

CARGO CAPACITY
N/A.

HANGAR CAPACITY
N/A.

CONSUMABLES
2 standard days.

SPEED/MANEUVERABILITY
The Vulture-class droid starfighter has a top speed of 100 MGLT and has excellent maneuvering characteristics.

ARMAMENT
  • 4x light laser cannon.
  • 4x external warhead hard-point, 1x projectile per hard point.
  • 2x anti-personnel repeating blaster.

EQUIPMENT
N/A.

DESCRIPTION
The Variable Geometry Self-Propelled Battle Droid Mark 1, better known as the Vulture-class droid starfighter, is a model of automated combat spacecraft originally manufactured by Haor Chall Engineering, a corporation founded and run by the leaders of the Xi Char cult, whose members regarded the creation of high-precision machinery as an act of religious worship. One of the finest automated starfighters ever produced, the Vulture droid was widely used by corporate armies prior to the Clone Wars, including that of the Trade Federation. During the Clone Wars, Vultures were drafted into the Confederacy of Independent Systems' droid army, and formed the bulk of the CIS' starfighter forces during the conflict.

Vulture droids are compact machines, just under 7 meters in length and controlled by a fairly sophisticated droid brain, giving it quick reaction times and presenting an exceptionally small target for enemy fire. Despite its size, it is still packed with offensive weaponry as well, including 4 light laser cannons, a pair of repeating blasters and a quartet of external hard-points, capable of mounting torpedoes, missiles and other ordinance. In flight mode, the Vulture can reach speeds up to 100 MGLT, and possesses inhuman maneuverability due to its high power-to-weight ratio and lack of an organic pilot.

Notably, and tellingly from its official designation, the Variable Geometry Self-Propelled Battle Droid Mark 1 is capable of changing its shape, transitioning into a quadrupedal walker configuration in which it stands on its wingtips and extends its head on a stalk. Though it cannot use its missiles or laser cannons in this mode, it does retain the use of its two fuselage-mounted repeating blasters, which are deadly against infantry and even light vehicles.

Vulture droids, as with most droid starfighters, have a number of advantages and disadvantages in combat. As mentioned, they are quite compact as starfighters go, presenting a very small target on the battlefield, are equipped with a potent armament, and can transition into a walker mode for ground combat. Lacking an organic on board, Vultures can perform maneuvers that most other starfighters simply cannot pull off without injuring their pilot, making them - in theory - quite deadly opponents in a nekfight.

Theory is one thing, but practice is quite another. Like most battle droids of their era, Vultures suffered from a number of deficiencies in terms of cognition. Though they were good pilots by droid standards, the control brain of a stock Vulture was noted for being un-creative in combat, relying on predictable tactics and formation flying. If a Vulture droid manages to get on your tail, they are exceptionally hard to shake, but an experienced pilot can generally outwit them fairly easily. Unlike some Republic fighters, they also lacked shields or a hyperdrive, making them relatively cheap to build but limiting them to short-range engagements, supported by ground bases or ships.

As with any droid, a Vulture not subjected to memory wipes is apt to develop a more distinctive personality and new skills. "Veteran" Vulture droids were of course rare, due to a high casualty rate against well-trained Republic pilots, but those that did come along were feared on the battlefield.

During the Clone Wars, Vulture droids were the bane of Republic clone pilots, and were usually employed in vast swarms, being carried as parasite craft on the hulls of many large CIS warships. When the Clone Wars ended, however, a shutdown command was broadcast to the droid army, including most Vultures. Surviving examples were gathered up by the fledgling Galactic Empire, and most were expended as aggressor units for Imperial pilot and gunner training programs, while others languished in storage for decades. Ownership of droid starfighters was banned during the Imperial era, and this position was only slightly relaxed when the New Republic took power; ownership of droid starfighters is essentially illegal for private citizens, and heavily restricted for other entities.

In the present day, droid starfighters like the Vulture are exceptionally rare, and the type commands a premium on the black market. They are no longer produced, although occasionally abandoned production lines or large storehouses of deactivated Vultures are found. Overall, of course, Vultures are rare, and possess significant disadvantages compared to normal starfighters.

LEGALITY
Restricted. Private ownership of Vulture droids is difficult to do legally, requiring extensive licensing and registration.

INTENT
To create a standard droid starfighter, and to bring and important item from Canon into the site's fanon.

RESTRICTIONS
Except as a chassis for a droid character, ownership of Vulture droids by individual player characters is not possible. Vultures may be acquired by factions. Characters based on Vulture droids may be created, but will be subject to increased scrutiny by members of staff.

 
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