The concept behind monitors are ships which are about the same size a heavy cruiser yet mount greater weaponry due to the fact that design endurance is reduced and are usually much slower than most cruisers. They also do not mount faster than light engines due to being designed to operate within a star system. The space saved by these reductions results in a design which can mount heavier weapons and more armor. As well, the design can mount more powerful shields in many cases. The name "Monitor" derives from coastal defense vessels from the days of steam propelled ocean vessels. They were designed with heavy armor and powerful guns but were usually designed with low freeboard which did not allow for operation in open waters. The best known of these vessels was the U.S.S. Monitor from the American Civil War.

There is much debate if an older cruiser is more effective than a more modern monitor. The cost of each is often similar and various military commanders chose one or the other depending on their perceived needs. Some leaders consider it essential that the their military forces can project power outside of their home system while others consider greater firepower in the system defense role to be more important. Often the choice is a political one as well. Many politicians consider monitors to be defensive ships which do not provoke other political parties or other governments. As such, monitors are often an easier sell to the Government. Due to the ships lacking faster than light drives, they normally need to be transported by other means. Sometimes they are carried already assembled in huge transport ships massing several million tons while others are assembled or constructed in star system which they operate within.

The Duridel class monitor is based on the earlier Rockcastle class monitor but is outfitted with more modern systems and is far more powerful. The design for the Duridel is produced by several different yards which have been licenced over the years to manufacture the ship. Most of the yards original produced the older monitor design. Most Duridel class monitors are shipped complete from the yards which they are manufactured. While it is generally more expensive to ship star ships fully assembled to the system which they are to be employed, builders of the ships claim that the monitors are stronger when fully assembled in the shipyard.

For the main energy battery of the monitor, the Duridel class mounts four heavy lasers (30 cm) in similar mounts to the particle beams carried on the Rockcastle class. The lasers have a similar energy output but have greater range. While some modified versions of the Rockcastle monitor replace the lighter anti-capital ship lasers, the are retained in the Duridel class but are supplemented by a pair of heavy rails for use against targets which are protected against energy weapons. Point defense is greatly upgraded compared to earlier monitor classes. The ship mounts twelve point defense particle beams, eight point defense rail guns, and six point defense mini-missile launchers. Some shipyards have considered replacing the standard particle beams to weapons which can fire a scatter pattern for greater chance of intercepting missiles. The ship carries a total of four cruise missile launchers and four long range missile launchers. Missile payload is increased compared to the older Rockcastle class although the ship carries less reloads than a Warshield class cruiser. More modern construction techniques and more advanced alloys allows for a great increase in the ability of the monitor to survive damage compared to older ships. The shield is also far more powerful and can withstand around forty percent greater damage. The monitor's acceleration is improved compared to older monitor classes but lags behind that of most cruiser designs. Due to greater power needs, the monitor mounts a powerful anti-matter reactor instead of a fusion reactor. The anti-matter power systems are more compact and allow for an increase in available internal space.

With the addition of advanced automation systems, the crew is reduced by around fifteen percent even with the additional weapon systems. Like most monitor classes, the Duridel does not have facilities for marines or fighters. If either is needed, they normal come from the planet which the ship is protecting or from large orbital facilities.

Ship design uses modified starship speeds and weapon ranges. See Revised Starship Rules for Phase World for more details.

Model Type: MA-55
Vehicle Type: Monitor
Crew: 288 (ship can be run by 60 crew-members)
Troops: None
Vehicles: None

M.D.C. By Location:

	30 cm Main Laser Cannons (4, Front):	1,500 each
	12 cm Heavy Laser Cannons (4, Sides):	800 each
	8 cm G-cannon Turrets (2, Sides):	800 each
	Point Defense Gravity Rail Guns (8):	200 each
	Point Defense Particle Beam Cannons (12):	150 each
	Cruise Missile Batteries (2):	1,000 each
	Long Range Missile Batteries (4):	600 each
	Mini Missile Launchers (6):	100 each
	Outer Hull (40 ft/ 12.2 m Area):	200
	Inner Hull (40 ft/ 12.2 m Area):	125
	[1] Bridge:	15,000
	[1] Secondary Bridge:	15,000
	[2] Main Engines (2):	20,000 each
	[3] Main Body:	80,000
	[4] Variable Force Field:	8,000 a side (48,000 Total)

Notes:
[1] In reality this is how much damage needs to be done for a weapon to hit the bridge through the ships armor. This ship also has an auxiliary bridge. Even if both bridges are taken out, the ship can still be piloted from engineering but ship is -3 to dodge and all weapon systems will be at local control. Weapon hits near the bridge that do not penetrate the ships integrity can injure crew members on or near the bridge.
[2] Destroying the main engines means that maximum sublight speed is reduced by half.
[3] Depleting the MDC of the main body will put the Monitor out of commission. All internal systems will shut down, including life support and internal gravity. The ship itself will be an unsalvageable floating wreck.
[4] Shields positions can be varied and all could be combined in one shield. Shields regenerate at the rate of 5% (2400 MDC)

Speed:
Driving on the Ground: Not Possible.
Sublight: Has a special sublight engine that allows the ship to travel up to 60 percent of the speed of light. Star Ship can accelerate/decelerate at the rate of 0.75 percent of light per melee.
Atmospheric Propulsion: Maximum speed is 400 mph (644 kph), can enter an atmosphere and can leave but is not designed for atmospheric flight
Stardrive: The Ship carries no Stardrive.
Maximum Range: Effectively Unlimited by either Drive system. Carries about one year worth of supplies on board.

Statistical Data:
Length: 815 feet (248.4 meters)
Height: 255 feet (77.7 meters)
Width: 428 feet (130.5 meters)
Weight/Mass: 218,000 Tons (197,800 tons)
Power System: Anti-Matter with a 50 year life span. The ship normally only goes 10 years between refueling and refitting.
Cargo: Cargo holds are scattered about the ship that allows for carrying up to 1,000 tons of Cargo in addition to standard compliment of supplies and ammunition. Each enlisted crew member has a small locker for personal items and uniforms. Ships officers have more space for personal items. Most of the ships spaces are take up by extra ammunition, armor, troops, weapons, engine, and other equipment.
Market Cost: 2.5 billion credits.

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

1. Four (4) 30 cm Heavy Laser Cannons: In the front and sides of the ship are four 30 cm heavy laser cannons. These can be fired forward and can be angled up to 120 degrees aft (can only fire one cannon at a target at that angle but can spin to be able to bring both batteries to bear) and can fire at a 30 degree angle up or down Weapon has standard minuses to hit fighters and small targets for a large starship weaponry. The barrels can be fired either forward or behind and can be rotated 60 degrees horizontally or vertically.
   Maximum Effective Range: 100,000 miles (161,000 km) in space and 100 miles (161 km) in an atmosphere.
   Mega Damage: 2D4x1000 MDC each and two can be combined for a total of 4D4x1000.
   Rate of Fire: Maximum of Two (2) times per melee per cannon.
   Payload: Effectively Unlimited.
2. Four (4) 8 cm Heavy Rail Guns: Used as one of the ships secondary batteries. They are used against targets that are impervious to energy as well. System can be operated by a gunner or a gunner program (+2 to strike, 3 Attacks per melee) and can rotate 180 degrees. Projectiles come out of launchers at a significant fraction of the speed of light.
   Maximum Effective Range: 10,000 miles (16,100 km), range is 10 miles (16.1 km) in an atmosphere
   Mega Damage: 1D4x100 MDC per 80 round burst each.
   Rate of Fire: Equal to gunners hand to hand (Usually 4 or 5).
   Payload: 32,000 rounds each (400 bursts).
3. Four (4) 12 cm Heavy Laser cannons: Laser cannons are used against frigates and as against heavily reinforced targets. Two are located on either side of ship. Weapon has standard minuses to hit fighters and small targets. The barrels can be can be rotated 180 degrees in all directions. Only two cannons can be fired as one volley.
   Maximum Effective Range: 16 miles (25.8 km) through atmosphere and 16,000 miles (25,800 km) in space.
   Mega Damage: 2D6x100 MDC each or 4D6x100 for two.
   Rate of Fire: Maximum of Two (2) times per melee each laser cannon.
   Payload: Effectively Unlimited.
4. Eight (8) Point Defense Rail Guns: Used as an anti-Starfighter and missile weapon and against targets that are impervious to energy. Each Rail Gun is in a Turret that can rotate 360 and has a 180 arc of fire. Projectiles come out of launchers at a significant fraction of the speed of light. Cannon uses a 20 mm projectile.
   Maximum Effective Range: 2 miles (3.2 km) through atmosphere and 200 miles (320 km) in space.
   Mega-Damage: 20 round burst does 2D4x10 M.D.
   Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the Gunner (usually 4 or 5).
   Payload: 10,000 Rounds (500 Bursts) each cannon.
5. Twelve (12) Point Defense Particle Beams: These weapons are used for anti-missile, anti-power armor, and anti-star fighter defense.
   Maximum Effective Range: 600 miles (960 km) in space and range is 6 miles (9.6 km) in atmosphere.
   Mega Damage: 3D6x10 MDC each.
   Rate of Fire: Equal to gunners hand to hand (Usually 4 or 5).
   Payload: Effectively Unlimited.
6. Two (2) Cruise Missile Batteries: Missile has a top speed of Mach 25 in an atmosphere and in space has an acceleration of 10% of light per turn (far faster than any starship). Since star ships will no longer engage at rock throwing distances, whether weapons can be shot down is calculated from the speed of target, launching starship, and missile. When drive goes dead, missile will still cruise unless preset to self destruct or receives a destruct code but has very low odds of hitting star ships (Great for hitting bases and planets because target does not move and missile when dead at -25% to detect.) See Modified starship rules for more details, Cruise missiles have standard penalties hit small targets but are all considered smart missiles. These batteries are standard CAF batteries. Batteries can launch on multiple targets each at the same time.
   Maximum Effective Range: Missile range is 8000 miles (12,875 km) in an atmosphere and 4,000,000 miles (6,437,376 km/ 21.5 light seconds) in space
   Mega-Damage & Properties: See Phase World Missile Chart (Anti-Matter does 4D6x100 MDC).
   Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of 2, 8, 16, or 32 per launcher, per melee round, for a maximum of 64 missiles per melee. Launchers are reloaded on the same melee and can be fired again on the next.
   Payload: 64 total, 32 cruise missiles per battery. Ship has 8 reload of missiles (512 cruise missile reloads total).
7. Four (4) Long Range Missile Batteries: Missile has a top speed of Mach 20 in an atmosphere and in space has an acceleration of 8% of light per turn (faster than any starship). Since star ships will no longer engage at rock throwing distances, whether weapons can be shot down is calculated from the speed of target, launcher, and missile. When drive goes dead, missile will still cruise unless set to self destruct but has very low odds of hitting star ships (Great for hitting bases and planets because target does not move and missile when dead at -25% to detect.) Long range missiles do not have minuses to hit small targets unlike cruise missiles and are all considered smart missiles. Batteries can launch on multiple targets each at the same time.
   Maximum Effective Range: Missile range is 3400 miles (5470 km) in an atmosphere and 1,800,000 miles (2,897,000 km/9.7 light seconds) in space.
   Mega-Damage & Properties: See Phase World Missile chart (Fusion does 2D4x100 MDC).
   Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of 2, 8, 16, or 32 per launcher, per melee attack.
   Payload: 1280 total, 320 long range missiles per battery.
8. Six (6) Mini-Missile launchers: These are missile turrets used for point defense against enemy fighters and missiles. Missile has a top speed of Mach 10 in an atmosphere and in space has an acceleration of 2% of light per turn (slightly faster than any starship except if it is exceeding it maximum safe acceleration). Batteries can launch on multiple targets each at the same time.
   Maximum Effective Range: Missile range is 2 miles (3.2 km) in an atmosphere and 100 miles (161 km) in space
   Mega-Damage: varies with mini-missile type (See Phase World Missile chart.
   Rate of Fire: Can fire missiles one at a time or in volleys of 4 or 8 missiles
   Payload: 128 per launcher for a total of 768 mini-missiles. Cargo hold has an additional 1,024 mini-missile. Reloading launchers from cargo hold takes 1D6 minutes.

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By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

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