SF Dragon

From FreeSpace Wiki
Revision as of 04:00, 2 December 2007 by AllStarZ (talk | contribs)
Jump to: navigation, search
Terran ships
Fighters
Bombers
Transports and freighters
Cruisers
Capital ships
Installations
Misc Ships
Sentry Guns
Cargo Containers
Vasudan ships
Fighters
Bombers
Transports and freighters
Cruisers
Capital ships
Misc Ships
Sentry Guns
Cargo Containers
Shivan ships
Fighters
Bombers
Transports and freighters
Cruisers
Capital ships
Sentry Guns
Cargo Containers
Notable ships of FreeSpace 1


Terran ships
Fighters
Bombers
Transports and freighters
Cruisers and corvettes
Capital ships
Installations
Misc ships
Sentry Guns
Cargo Containers
Vasudan ships
Fighters
Bombers
Transports and freighters
Cruisers and corvettes
Capital ships
Misc ships
Sentry Guns
Cargo Containers
Shivan ships
Fighters
Bombers
Transports and freighters
Cruisers and corvettes
Capital ships
Misc ships
Sentry Guns
Cargo Containers
Notable ships of FreeSpace 2



File:Dragon320x240.jpg
The SF Dragon


The SF Dragon is one of the most rarely seen of Shivan fighters. The Dragon is armed with five primary cannons, as well as a low-capacity secondary bank. Despite the small number of missiles it can carry it is very fast and maneuverable, as well as small, making it a very powerful adversary of any GTVA fighter. However the Shivans make limited use of the Dragon, deploying them in small numbers in most cases. But even one wing can cause serious trouble for any GTVA force.

The first Shivan fighter to have ever been captured by the Terrans and the Vasudans was a Dragon class designated Arjuna 1. Through the capture of this Shivan fighter, the joint Terran-Vasudan forces learned much about Shivan technology, especially fighter systems. Arjuna 1 was later used in a high-risk reconnaissance mission, shortly before the Destruction of Vasuda Prime.

Description:

FS1 Tech Room Description

The Shivan Dragon is easily the most impressive fightercraft we have yet seen. Its maneuverability is unmatched, and it has quite a few other advantages, including a good top speed, powerful afterburners, and strong shields. It is the only Shivan fighter we have been able to study up close, and we have learned a great deal about Shivan engineering from it. It seems that the Shivan shield systems are extremely strong, but their hulls are far weaker than our own. They also rely on primary weapons far more then secondaries, as evidenced by the Dragon's small capacity.

The GTA considers the Dragon as a Class A threat.

FS2 Tech Room Description

The Shivan fighter class SF Dragon is a fast, extremely agile craft. Its twin lasers pack a deadly punch. The Dragon's weakness seems to be a thin hull. The trouble is that their speed and maneuverability make them extremely difficult to hit.

Developer Notes

None


Name origin

The Dragon's name derives from the mythical reptilian creature depicted in tales throughout the world.

Performance:

Statistics

Type Space Superiority (?)
Manufacturer Unknown
Maneuverability N/A
Max Velocity 75.0 - 90.0 mps
Max Afterburner Velocity 150.0 mps
Armor N/A
Hitpoints 100
Shields 700
Length 16 m

Armaments

Freespace 1 Freespace 2
Bank Guns Standard Loadout Standard Loadout
1st 2 Shivan Heavy Laser Shivan Heavy Laser
2nd 3 Shivan Heavy Laser Shivan Heavy Laser
Freespace 1 Freespace 2
Bank Capacity Standard Loadout Standard Loadout
1st 20 Interceptor Harpoon


Veteran Comments

Please read the Veteran Comments policy before editing this section.


The Dragon is widely considered the best Shivan fighter ever (though my personal opinion leans towards the Mara in that regard). It is small, well-armed with lasers though deficent in secondary weaponry, quick, and insanely maneuverable. On higher difficulty levels the Dragon borders on unkillable, and even on lower ones it can be a surprisingly nasty opponent. If at all possible, destroy Dragons at range with missiles rather then getting into a dogfight.


It is to be noted that the version of the Dragon you fly in FS1's Playing Judas is much, much weaker then the genuine article.


Hell in space. A wing of them show up in the last mission of the main FS2 campaign. If you're flying an Ares, you're screwed.


A nasty piece of work, to be sure, that'll rip you to ribbons if you're not careful. Best policy? Harpoon 'em at range and try and keep your distance(!) as much as possible. Once in close contact, do not succumb to target fixation; the Dragon can keep you distracted from other dangers. The only real way to take one down at close range is to make exactly the right counter-turn at exactly the right time, then open fire. Try and get all your wingmates on one at a time; isolate and obliterate.


Extremely maneuverable. Target profile is extremely small and speed is rather high as well. Gunpoints for the second primary bank are oddly placed, but still manages to hit the target with little adjustment. The only real flaws are that Shivan primaries suck and that the sole secondary bank is miniscule.


There is no other fighter that I dread encountering more than the Dragon. It's fast, agile, and packs a rather nasty punch for a fighter that moves as quickly as it does. Unfortunately, the one you get to pilot in FS1 is not anything like the ones you have to fight, which is a pity, considering how much effort you put into capturing it.