Speed is Armor
Space Battle Cruisers in 'Imperium'
By Mike Bennighof, Ph.D.
April 2006

In the early 20th century, Terran designers of sea-going warships crafted the battle cruiser, a fast ship with heavy armament but lightweight protection. The concept faded quickly, as their great speed did not protect them from true battleships.

Two centuries later, spaceship designers revived the concept during the wars with the Vilani Imperium. A ship with a battleship’s striking power, the speed of a destroyer and the cost of a cruiser appealed to the civilian hierarchy, though the planet’s military leaders fretted over the lack of staying power and the surety of cost overruns. And they quite accurately predicted that the Empire would copy the concept after it had encountered the fast ships in battle.

In Imperium Third Millennium, a battle cruiser (BC) costs the Terrans or the Empire 14 Resources to build, and takes three turns to construct. The Imperial player may not build battle cruisers until a Terran battle cruiser has engaged an Imperial fleet in combat and B1 and larger warship construction has been permitted by the Emperor.

In both Galactic and Battle Movement, battle cruisers have the same movement capability as light ships. They are treated as capital ships for purposes of determining victory.

You can download the new battle cruisers here.

And click here to buy Imperium Third Millennium now!