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Fighter RL Guardian5

Fighter RL Guardian

A Guardian exploding under fire.

RL Fighter Guardian2

The Guardian´s cut-away view presented in the Interceptor rulebook.

RL Fighter Guardian4

A belly view of the Guardian.

Fighter RL Guardian MarkyMark1

Guardians in the skies above Gustaviv's Regret during Operation: Distant Fire. (Miniatures courtesy of MarkyMark Ortiz)

The Guardian is a relatively common point-defense light[1] starfighter in use with both the Commonwealth fleet and the Renegade Legions. Though quite painfully slow, the Guardian packs tremendous offensive punch and is capable of absorbing damage that would devastate any other fighter of its class.

Production History[]

After the catastrophic loss of the Alesia Grand Dukedom in 6783, the Commonwealth was in dire straits. To replenish their capital squadrons´ fighter complements, they had to strip local garrisons nearly bare. This left many systems without adequate space defenses. By this time, the Guardian had already been around as a limited distribution model, but production was ramped up to shore up the defenses on those systems. The simplicity of the design and low production costs meant that it could be churned out quickly and in huge numbers.[2] Since then, the Guardian has been a mainstay of the Commonwealth navy and can be found in nearly every star system.

After fifty (50) years of operational service, the Guardian may be nearing the end of its usefulness. Because of the great number built and their effectiveness when deployed skillfully, it is expected to continue to serve in system defense forces for a long time. Its success has influenced the development of the Hawk medium fighter[3], which operates in a similar tactical role and is designed to replace it.

Design Philosophy and Tactical Role[]

A single, rather weak engine is the core of this one-seater craft. It carries a very large weapons loadout for a light fighter, all of which are chosen for low energy consumption, and its armour is on par with heavy fighters like the Avenger. By sacrificing speed and manoeuverability, the Guardian manages to have the offensive and defensive capability to stand up to much larger craft.

Since its low thrust makes the Guardian vulnerable to enemy missiles, the single hardpoint mounted in the fighter´s bow is usually fitted with an ECM pod rather than a missile of its own.

The Guardian is a difficult craft to deploy properly. Its low thrust and manoeuverability means that it is utterly unsuited to deep space interception. If it strays too far from the asset it is guarding, faster fighters can bypass it and attack before the Guardian can return and engage them.

If potential targets for enemy fighters are distributed throughout the system, each needs its own Guardian squadron for protection; the fighter´s low thrust translates into a very limited operation range envelope. This is balanced by the fact that Guardians are very cheap for all their combat efficiency; a system can afford to field many. Tactical doctrine calls for the Guardians to stay close to their assigned installations. In-system interception is managed by high-thrust fighters like Cheetahs, Penetrators and Avengers.

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Legionnaire RPG Values: Guardian Standard Variant[]

Hit Location Sub-Location Damage Boxes / Damage
[1] Structure - [][][][][] [][][][][] []
[2] FTL Drive - None
[3] Shields - [][][][][]
[4] Engines / Thrust - [][][][] ::: Thrust 4 g
[5] Armour - [][][][][] [][][][]
[6] Crew Pilot [][][][][]
[7] Weapon Computers - [][][][]
[8] Sensors - [][][]
[9] Life Support - [][][]
[10] Weapons [1] EPC 18 Damage 7
- [2] EPC 18 Damage 7
- [3] 5/2 Laser Damage 3
- [4] 5/2 Laser Damage 3
- [5] Hardpoint *

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Leviathan Values: Guardian Standard Variant[]

The Guardian is rarely used to accompany capital ships. It has the dubious distinction of being nearly as slow and ponderous as its carrier vessel. Leviathans attacking planetary targets or space installations, however, often encounter Guardian squadrons or flights defending those assets.

Group (72 Fighters) Armour Missile Attack Value CRA LRA Thrust
Armour Row 6 [][][][][][] [][][][][][] [][][][][][] - 50 165 43 4
Armour Row 5 [][][][][][] [][][][][][] [][][]- - 138 36 -
Armour Row 4 [][][][][][] [][][][][][] - - 110 29 -
Armour Row 3 [][][][][][] [][][]- - 83 22 -
Armour Row 2 [][][][][][] []- - 55 14 -
Armour Row 1 [][][][][][] - 28 7 -
Flight (24 Fighters) Armour Missile Attack Value CRA LRA Thrust
Armour Row 3 [][][][][][] [][][]- 0 55 14 6
Armour Row 2 [][][][][][] []- - 37 10 -
Armour Row 1 [][][][][][] - 18 5 -
Squadron (6 Fighters) Armour Missile Attack Value CRA LRA Thrust
Armour Row 1 [][][][][]- 0 14 4 8
Single Fighter Values Armour Missile Hardpoints CRA LRA Thrust
Guardian 90 1 46 12 4
Fighter TOG Verutum4-2

A Guardian entering a battle between Cheetahs and Veruta.

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Variant: High Thrust Modification[]

This variant is called "high-thrust" in keeping with the same kind of modification on the Penetrator medium fighter, although the change in weapons loadout has only a very marginal effect on the Guardian´s acceleration. It is a common and quick refit for specialty missions; ground technicians remove the two 5/2 lasers and install missile hardpoints instead. In this configuration, the Guardian is capable of delivering up to three missiles, giving it a strong one-time punch. Its low speed still prevents it from strike missions, and it cannot duplicate the Spiculum´s or Lancea´s usual tactic of firing its missiles at long range and retreating to reload.

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Legionnaire RPG Values: Guardian High Thrust Modification[]

Hit Location Sub-Location Damage Boxes / Damage
[1] Structure - [][][][][] [][][][]
[2] FTL Drive - None
[3] Shields - [][][][][]
[4] Engines / Thrust - [][][][] ::: Thrust 4 g
[5] Armour - [][][][][] [][][][]
[6] Crew Pilot [][][][][]
[7] Weapon Computers - [][][][]
[8] Sensors - [][][]
[9] Life Support - [][][]
[10] Weapons [1] EPC 18 Damage 7
- [2] EPC 18 Damage 7
- [3] Hardpoint *
- [4] Hardpoint *
- [5] Hardpoint *

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Leviathan Values: Guardian High Thrust Modification[]

Guardian flights aboard capital ships are often refitted with missiles to provide a single-strike attack. Their large, ponderous formations tend to draw a lot of fire, but if anything can be said about this fighter, it is that it is resilient and soaks up large amounts of damage that would otherwise be directed at other fighter assets.

Group (72 Fighters) Armour Missile Attack Value CRA LRA Thrust
Armour Row 6 [][][][][][] [][][][][][] [][][][][][] - 100 65 22 4
Armour Row 5 [][][][][][] [][][][][][] [][][]- - 54 18 -
Armour Row 4 [][][][][][] [][][][][][] - - 43 14 -
Armour Row 3 [][][][][][] [][][]- - 32 11 -
Armour Row 2 [][][][][][] []- - 22 7 -
Armour Row 1 [][][][][][] - 11 4 -
Flight (24 Fighters) Armour Missile Attack Value CRA LRA Thrust
Armour Row 3 [][][][][][] [][][]- 50 22 7 6
Armour Row 2 [][][][][][] []- - 14 5 -
Armour Row 1 [][][][][][] - 17 2 -
Squadron (6 Fighters) Armour Missile Attack Value CRA LRA Thrust
Armour Row 1 [][][][][]- 10 5 2 8
Single Fighter Values Armour Missile Hardpoints CRA LRA Thrust
Guardian 90 3 18 6 4
RL Fighter Guardian3

A Guardian´s EPC scoring a hit on a Spiculum at close range.

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Annotations[]

  1. In the Interceptor rulebook, the Guardian was erroneously classed as a medium fighter, even though its engine power output of 900 is consistent with a light fighter.
  2. Interceptor rulebook.
  3. Renegade Legions Fighter Briefing, p. 18/19