The Monsoon - Origins?

posted on November 5th, 2009, 8:08 pm

Hey guys!

  I have recently fallen in love with the Monsoon.  Easy to spam, easy to control, fast, well defended, and equipped with a destroyer-destroying torpedo special.

  I was curious:  I noticed that the Monsoon's basic Chassis design kind of resembles the basic design of the old Miranda class destroyer.  At first I was way bumbed out that the old Miranda was not available as a warp-in like the old Excelsior is, but then I realized (though still bumbed) that the Monsoon looks remarkably like it, only smaller.  Was the idea for the Monsoon taken as a replacement for the Miranda?  Much like the Excelsior II was basically a new ship and not just an upgrade?

  I love the Monsoon - I'm just curious.


And why isn't the Miranda class an option for warp-ins?  I think having two destroyers available (the excelsior and the miranda) would maybe help avoid people feeling like Cruisers and Battleships coming in so early throws the game away.

Thoughts? 

posted on November 5th, 2009, 8:54 pm

I believe the Monsoon is simply a custom design by the Fleet Ops team. It's strange actually; the general consensus is that the Monsoon is a fairly useless ship at the moment for a couple of reasons. The Saber is cheaper, more spammable and has Long Range as opposed to the Monsoons Medium Range. The Sabers Hyper Impulse also makes it a great interceptor with the ability to quickly close the distance and then get out before it gets outgunned. The Monsoon lacks these features

posted on November 5th, 2009, 8:54 pm

Hey guys!

  I have recently fallen in love with the Monsoon.  Easy to spam, easy to control, fast, well defended, and equipped with a destroyer-destroying torpedo special.

  I was curious:  I noticed that the Monsoon's basic Chassis design kind of resembles the basic design of the old Miranda class destroyer.  At first I was way bumbed out that the old Miranda was not available as a warp-in like the old Excelsior is, but then I realized (though still bumbed) that the Monsoon looks remarkably like it, only smaller.  Was the idea for the Monsoon taken as a replacement for the Miranda?  Much like the Excelsior II was basically a new ship and not just an upgrade?

   I love the Monsoon - I'm just curious.


And why isn't the Miranda class an option for warp-ins?  I think having two destroyers available (the excelsior and the miranda) would maybe help avoid people feeling like Cruisers and Battleships coming in so early throws the game away.

Thoughts? 

I too have wondered why Miranda is not included as a warp-in. Though by the time of fleet ops any Miranda's left over from the dominion war were probably mothballed... Maybe the monsoon can be seen as an homage to the Miranda... but I don't know if this was the intention of the design...

posted on November 5th, 2009, 9:02 pm

I doubt the Monsoon is ahomage to the Miranda, that's more likely to be the Miranda-II.

Miranda's themselves would still be in use, in the same status as the Excelsior. No point mothballing them with the kind of losses the fleet took... that would just lower their numbers even more. They need something to patrol with.

posted on November 5th, 2009, 9:16 pm

I doubt the Monsoon is ahomage to the Miranda, that's more likely to be the Miranda-II.

Miranda's themselves would still be in use, in the same status as the Excelsior. No point mothballing them with the kind of losses the fleet took... that would just lower their numbers even more. They need something to patrol with.

As always good points... to clarify though I stated that the Monsoon 'could' be seen as an homage to the Miranda considering they share some, albeit subtle design elements. Not that this was definitely the case.

posted on November 5th, 2009, 9:43 pm

I believe the Monsoon is simply a custom design by the Fleet Ops team. It's strange actually; the general consensus is that the Monsoon is a fairly useless ship at the moment for a couple of reasons. The Saber is cheaper, more spammable and has Long Range as opposed to the Monsoons Medium Range. The Sabers Hyper Impulse also makes it a great interceptor with the ability to quickly close the distance and then get out before it gets outgunned. The Monsoon lacks these features

Monsoon is very effective actually, just not for Mayson as you have access to a better anti-destroyer - the Norway . Play Risner and you'll find the vessel more than adequate (it's short range by the way ).

posted on November 5th, 2009, 9:50 pm

So you guys don't see the similarities to the Miranda class at all in the Monsoon?

 - The main body being the "saucer" (a little pointed in this case)
 - The weapon structure on top (much like the Miranda or the Nebula)
 - The nacelles underneath the main body of the ship
 - The role they are intended to fulfill as a fast patrol ship

 None at all?  Seems to me like the Monsoon is a direct replacement for the Miranda with current technology and a more distinct function.  The Miranda II is the next and more powerful evolution of the actual ship. 

 I love it!  And the Saber may be longer range but in my experience fails miserably against disruptor refitted Rhienns and Shrikes.  A couple of Monsoons launching Proxy's = 1 dead and expensive Rhienn.  They work well against Klingons as well as nearly all the early units are short range.  They eat up bugs nicely too.

  Play Risner instead of Mayson and spam Monsoons instead of Sabers or Warp-Ins.  Use them correctly and they are the biggest pain in the ass.  Risner's more fun anyway.  No hiding behind torpedo Turrets until you've got enough Excel II's to obliterate your imagination

posted on November 5th, 2009, 9:55 pm

The Monsoon design looks more like a Nebula than a Miranda in the basic shape. The Engineering Hull, the pylons coming out of it attached to upside-down nacelles. All Nebula-like.

posted on November 5th, 2009, 9:59 pm

Yeah, I'd have to agree that it does look an "arrowheaded" Nebula

I don't know the design history behind it, but I might be able to get more "FO history" for the vessel (at least more than what is currently up on the guide) .

posted on November 5th, 2009, 10:18 pm

Well, DN, pester the devs and the designers and extract the info from them to add it to the Guide.

What are you waiting for?

posted on November 5th, 2009, 10:18 pm

Yeah, I'd have to agree that it does look an "arrowheaded" Nebula

I don't know the design history behind it, but I might be able to get more "FO history" for the vessel (at least more than what is currently up on the guide) .

makes sense... the monsoon lacks the ubiquitous 'handle bar' pylon that is indicative of the classic Miranda design. Instead it has a more 'Nebula-esque' upper pylon.

posted on November 5th, 2009, 10:20 pm

Well, DN, pester the devs and the designers and extract the info from them to add it to the Guide.

What are you waiting for?

Don't worry . But after my exam tonight is finished 

posted on November 5th, 2009, 10:32 pm

Monsoon is very effective actually, just not for Mayson as you have access to a better anti-destroyer - the Norway . Play Risner and you'll find the vessel more than adequate (it's short range by the way ).

I agree that norways can be better but they cost more tri. Monsoon is good if you have a lot of Dilithium and not so much in tritanium

posted on November 5th, 2009, 10:43 pm

That is true - but then again, since I would have to make an expensive tech up just to get Monsoons (and since the only other thing I am using tri for is Canaverals... and much later on, Remores) I end up with a lot of tri anyway, and I need the di for Excel II's and Akiras.

The thing about Norways right now is that unless you use them carefully, they can turn out being ineffective in small numbers against large ships, while a Monsoon will always do a good deal of damage to one ship. However, if produced in the right numbers and if their special is used correctly, they do a lot more damage than a Monsoon can do, and they have a higher base offense and defense to boot.

posted on November 5th, 2009, 10:59 pm

Not to mention assault mode turns them into mini akiras and it allows them to laugh at turrets and stations.  Man, the federation sure is underpowered.  I'm not sure how you could ever win as feds.