Greetings, fellow Federation players!

Premise
A while back, the Devs planned a playable Andorian starship, based on the Kumari-class battle cruiser from Star Trek: Enterprise (Link: http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Andorian_battle_cruiser).

The Problem
Its Vulcan equivalent, the D'Kyr-class science vessel, entered the game. The problem for both ship types: the are from the mid-22nd century. Thus, their designs were approx. 250 years old by 2409. You could prevent that just the hull design was copied and the technology state-of-the-art. Still, some saw these ships (like the NX-class replica) as centuries old hunks.

The Solution
And now the solution: In Trek literature, which is a CBS-authorized source for STO, the recently published novel Fallen Gods featured the state of the art, approx. 600 meter long Shran-class battle cruiser. That's cool: The design is a direct descendant of the Kumari-class but the technology is state-of-the-art.

Specifications
The I.G.W. Therin has a crew of 700 and even has a special device that could be turned into a console ability in-game: the Transporter Duplicator!

The Transporter Duplicator can create duplicates of persons (remember the Thomas Riker incident). I'm sure this could be adapted to a cool space combat ability. The Shran Battle Cruiser is heavy on weapons and outguns a Luna-class Recon Science Vessel.

In-game, the Shran Battle Cruiser could be the Escort counterpart to the Vulcan Science Vessel.

Links to have a look at:
http://drexfiles.wordpress.com/2009/...orian-cruiser/ -- Visual impression
http://memory-beta.wikia.com/wiki/Shran_class -- Class-specific details
http://memory-beta.wikia.com/wiki/IG...rin_th%27Clane -- The I.G.W. Therin

I completely agree with you're post ...i personally have been waiting for the Andorian ship since it was annouced roughly the same time the vulcan ship was ...even made 3 andorians capt's one of each career to make sure i had the best fit...and would open my wallet quick for this ship no matter the layout ...just cause the andorians rock

please cbs make this ship come true!

600 meters long and you think it should be an Escort?

It's a Cruiser hence the name "Shran-class battle cruiser".

The Federation doesn't have a Cruiser that can mount DHC's why not make this one it. Of course it's not just a matter of whacking the ship into the game they need to sort out licensing.

Umm the Gal-x can mount DHC's.

The Shran-class not being an Escort sounds reasonable, now that you mention it. Initially, I thought a tactical Andorian ship would complement the Vulcan science ship. On the other hand, the Tellarite warship (if we ever get it, that is ) could fill the Tac part.

Licensing: Actually, it is much easier to get novelverse stuff into the game than fan-made or licensed game material. CBS recently granted entry to the Vesta- and Merian-class, which come from ST novels (Destiny trilogy and VOY: Children of the Storm).

Personally, I hope to have an Aenar captain on an Andorian starship someday.

You got me there, but I kind of wanted a turn of around 10 or 11 to use with the DHC's. Hull strength reduced to compensate just to be fair here.

Okay, so far it would be a tactically oriented Cruiser that can mount cannons, is more maneuverable but has lower hull. Nice combination, I'd say.

Recently, "alien" ships came with a separate small craft. I'm toying with the idea of a combat shuttle or fighter craft based on the smaller Andorian cruiser seen in ST:ENT.

Let's think up a special a little better than another ship with a pet shall we?

Exploration Cruiser Retrofit
D'Kyr
MVAE
All 3 variants of the Odyssey
Armitage
Atrox

Feds alone have 8, and I know I'm pushing to call an Odyssey's worker bees a pet but despite the performance what else is it?

I'm a little stuck here I don't know what the Andorian specialty is? Honour and Agression? Maybe a Damn the Torpedoes ramming speed manuver?

I had in mind:
playable Andorian Battle Cruiser with special ability (no carrier abilities)
playable Andorian shuttle (sold separately)

In Fallen Gods, there were Tholian interrogators serving aboard the ship with mind control technology (only working on Andorians) and the Transporter Duplicator.

Maybe, in combat the ship can double itself, like the Gemini Effect from ST: Armada?

Doubling your ship is already in the game with the Photonic Displacement Console.

Oh I see a seperate shuttle or an Andorian Pack style thing. I like it but you have to admit the Federation is spolied for choice when it comes to shuttles.