3 classes. Tac, Sci, Eng
3 ship classese Escort, Cruiser, Science ship

But the ships are only after you get out of the Miranda / Connie.

Why dont they give you a 3 ship choice to start with? I find that kind of odd.

because you are only using it for an extremely short period of time, there really is no need for 3 classes of starter ships

You do...you do.

You get Miranda, Centaur and Shi'Kar.

http://stowiki.org/wiki/Light_Cruiser

What else do you need?

*edit*
just noticed what you wanted to say...
Anyway all the basic ships only have 1 of each BO on minimum level, how are you going to vary that?

Besides, the starter ship actually behaves somewhat like any of the others (e.g. mounts cannons).

And there aren't enough weapons / slots to make a difference anyway.

I think what he means is basically you get 3 skins, but the base ship class is the same. Now granted you get a 'cruiser' variant if you picked up the Connie, since it does get 2 eng consoles. I will offer up that I wouldn't be terribly sad if say somehow an Oberth option appeared with say...2 science consoles *hint hint*

Actually I have found that the Connie wouldn't mount the same cannon loadout that the MIranda/centaur/Shi'kar will.

That IS what Im saying
Why couldnt we get a escort like ship, maybe they have the same stations, but different attributes. Like the Escort is a little better at turning, the Connie does have better hull, and the sci could have a little better shields or something.
My least favorite part of this so far IS the first 10 lvls or so getting stuck in that one ship.

It is odd.

However, you get three BOFF slots on all starter ships (meaning less variation between them).

Hopefully, the promise of member culture ship additions (i.e. Vulcan ships) will bring more variety to the game.

Im not so much talking the Boff slots

like I said, THEY could still be the same, but like this:
Escort that has less hull, but goes faster and turns better
Cruiser (IE Connie) better hull, turns less, goes a bit slower
Sci ship, better shields, median turn, median speed.

I mean theres more to a ship than just Boff slots isnt there?

See I would really call the MIranda an escort as it stands, though I suppose by the model I am setting out then it should get a 2nd tac console slot. Or....and the more probable thing here, means that the starter ship science variant would have to come outta the c-store :1