SB Nephilim

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The SB Nephilim is a Shivan-designed bomber. It is one of the heaviest Shivan bombers ever encountered to date. Sporting a shield system twice as strong as that of the GTB Ursa and comparable hull integrity, two automated turrets, four massive secondary banks and a single, hepta-linked primary fire system, the Nephilim's greatest weaknesses come from its large target profile, abysmal maneuverability and the fact that it has no afterburner.

The SB Nephilim

Description:

FS1 Tech Room Description

The Nephilim class bomber is the most alien of the Shivan ships. We are still unsure as to why the Shivans chose this odd shape for arguably their most powerful attack craft. However, with four primary cannons and two turrets, as well as a massive payload, the Nephilim is undoubtedly a serious threat to the GTA. We have already lost two Orion class destroyers to a wing of Nephilims. Unless we learn a weakness soon, we will most likely lose two more.

The Nephilim has been designated a Class A threat to GTA destroyers and cruisers. In unpopulated systems, it is to be considered a Class B threat.

FS2 Tech Room Description

The SB Nephilim is the slowest of the Shivan bomber classes. These craft were first encountered during the Great War and are still found in many Shivan attack formations. Nephilims are heavily armored and shielded, enabling them to deliver their devastating payloads despite their lack of speed.

Developer Notes

None

Name Origin

Nephilim (נְפִילִים) is a Biblical term used to refer to a race of giants mentioned in the Book of Genesis and the Book of Numbers. One translation of the name is "ones who have fallen".

Performance:

Statistics

Type	Bomber
Manufacturer	Unknown
Maneuverability	N/A
Max Velocity	60.0 - 72.0 mps
Max Afterburner Velocity	N/A
Armor	N/A
Hitpoints	500
Shields	1 600
Length	53 m

Armaments

• Gun Mounts

FreeSpace 1			FreeSpace 2
Bank	Guns	Standard Loadout	Standard Loadout
1st	7	Shivan Light Laser	Shivan Light Laser

• Missile Banks

FreeSpace 1			FreeSpace 2
Bank	Capacity	Standard Loadout	Standard Loadout
1st	40	MX-50	MX-64
2nd	40	Synaptic	Piranha
3rd	40	Phoenix V	Trebuchet
4th	40	MX-50	MX-64

• Turrets

FreeSpace 1		FreeSpace 2
Turret Type	Amount	Turret Type	Amount
Shivan Light Laser	2	Shivan Light Laser	2

Veteran Comments

Please read the Veteran Comments policy before editing this section.

I loathe Nephilims and their Seraphim clones, especially in FS1. They just won't die. With 1600 shields and 500 armor, it takes 4 Trebuchets to bring one down. God help you if you get in front of it, because it has seven gun mounts, all in one bank for increased rate of fire, with which it will smack you up. However, this should really be a non-issue, as the Nephilim is very slow, very unmaneuverable, and has NO AFTERBURNER. I recommend chucking a couple of missiles at it from a distance and then charging in (not head-on) and dropping behind it where it will be completely helpless. Beware the turrets, especially if you're flying an FS1 ship.

Beware the Nephilim's primary weapons, of which it has quite a few. Should for some reason it take notice of you and turn to attack, do not go head-to-head with this ship, as it is more than likely to tear anything short of a heavy assault fighter to shreds. Also as a FREDder note that it doesn't carry any bombs in its default configuration.

In FS1, your best option is to chuck Phoenix V missiles at it. If that doesn't cut it (such can be the case in FSPort Hard and Insane), a Banshee (or a Shield Breaker in STR) with an Avenger or Prometheus can work. Keep in mind only the Valkyrie and Hercules can only support both the Banshee and Phoenix V, and can have a few disadvantages (fragility and sluggishness are particular ones respectively).

The Nephilim usually carries Cyclops torpedoes and appears in the last few convoy missions of the FS2 campaign. Destroying them might take a slightly longer time than usual, as it has a very sturdy shield.

Perhaps one of the few targets where the Infyrno missiles would be good. Do not attack with ordinary means. The Circe and Maxim gun combination are the most effective way of destroying them. An Inyrno hit, even if they're caught in the submunitions, will severely hinder their shielding, opening them up for Maxim fire.

Using Infyrno is a reasonable suggestion at first sight, keep in that the only Terran fighters that can carry the Infyrno AND Maxim are Herc, Herc Mk.II, Erinyes and Ares. You probably do not need much maneuverability to handle the Nephilim, but the speed is a huge disadvantage in terms of interception. Against Nephilims I would stick by the Prometheus and probably use something with better speed.