
The Manubalista as it appeared in the TOG Fighter Briefing.

A damaged Manubalista being repaired and reloaded with missiles. (Source: Prefect rulebook)
Etymology[]
In the New Roman tradition of naming starfighters for the weapons used by ancient Roman legions, the Manubalista (pl. manubalistae) is named after a heavy reinforced crossbow. Carried by auxiliary troops, the weapon hurled an iron-tipped dart by force of a steel bow and could penetrate even heavy armor.
Production History[]
The Manubalista was placed into production as a result of the delays in the Telum project. Because those delays were preventing construction of a test platform for the Thorium Plasma Projector, and the Mass Driver Gatling system, the TOG military began to cast about for another suitable test bed for these new weapon systems. Most of the major aeronautic firms could not design a ship within the year time-limit that the Board needed. Standard procedure called for at least two years of design and computer-simulation testing before the first prototype could be delivered.
One small firm, however, founded by Retired Commodore Frazer Graf, promised delivery of a prototype light fighter armed with a small TPP, within six months of a signed contract. Commodore Graf had a reputation for achieving the impossible. On Saguntum III, he had led the 3241st Strike Legion fighter wing to a singlehanded defeat of the 121st Commonwealth Legion. TOG was desperate enough to try anything.
Forgoing computer-generated solutions and accepted design procedures, Commodore Graf designed a totally new fighter based solely on his 40 years' experience as a combat pilot. As promised, the Manubalista prototype was ready within six months. To the amazement of everyone (except, perhaps, Commodore Graf), the Manubalista was free of the minor flaws and glitches that plague most prototypes. Testing was accelerated, and in 6827, the Manubalista, virtually unchanged from the prototype, was issued to various Imperial Navy light squadrons.
Deployment[]
Renegade and Commonwealth forces have encountered squadrons equipped with Manubalistas at Wuj and Rolunitu. Pairs of Manubalistas are also reported assigned to protect small installations on Yols and Ve'Fros.
Design Philosophy and Tactical Role[]
The Manubalista is a good light fighter. Its armor protection is superior to most light fighters, while its weapon and ordinance load is more than adequate to successfully perform a typical mission. The combination of lasers and a TPP gives the "Manu" the ability to undercut armour, and its side shields and armour are adequate to keep it alive in a dogfight with opponents of similar tonnage. Because of this, is used both for reconnaissance and as a light space superiority fighter, and fills both roles well.
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Legionnaire RPG Values: Manubalista Standard Variant[]
Hit Location | Sub-Location | Damage Boxes / Damage |
---|---|---|
[1] Structure | - | [][][][][] [][][] |
[2] FTL Drive | - | None |
[3] Shields | - | [][][][][] |
[4] Engines / Thrust | - | [][][][][] [][][][] ::: Thrust 9 g |
[5] Armour | - | [][][][][] |
[6] Crew | Pilot | [][][][][] |
[7] Weapon Computers | - | [][][][] |
[8] Sensors | - | [][][] |
[9] Life Support | - | [][][] |
[10] Weapons | [1] TPP-9 | Damage 3[1] |
- | [2] 5/2 Laser | Damage 3 |
- | [3] 5/2 Laser | Damage 3 |
- | [4] Hardpoint | * |
- | [5] Hardpoint | * |
- | [6] Hardpoint | * |
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Leviathan Values: Manubalista Standard Variant[]
Group (72 Fighters) | Armour | Missile Attack Value | CRA | LRA | Thrust |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Armour Row 6 | [][][][][][] [][][][][][] ------ - | 100 | 68 | 25 | 9 |
Armour Row 5 | [][][][][][] [][][][]-- ---- | - | 57 | 21 | - |
Armour Row 4 | [][][][][][] []----- - | - | 46 | 17 | - |
Armour Row 3 | [][][][]-- ---- | - | 34 | 13 | - |
Armour Row 2 | [][]---- -- | - | 23 | 8 | - |
Armour Row 1 | []----- | - | 11 | 4 | - |
Flight (24 Fighters) | Armour | Missile Attack Value | CRA | LRA | Thrust |
Armour Row 3 | [][][][][]- ---- | 50 | 23 | 8 | 11 |
Armour Row 2 | [][][][]-- -- | - | 15 | 6 | - |
Armour Row 1 | [][]---- | - | 8 | 3 | - |
Squadron (6 Fighters) | Armour | Missile Attack Value | CRA | LRA | Thrust |
Armour Row 1 | [][][]--- | 10 | 6 | 2 | 13 |
Single Fighter Values | Armour | Missile Hardpoints | CRA | LRA | Thrust |
Manubalista (Standard Variant) | 45 | 3 | 19 | 7 | 9 |
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Variant: High Thrust Modification I[]
The High Thrust modification, done between missions by deck crews, removes the two wing lasers and installs missile hardpoints in their place[2]. The fighter´s acceleration compensator is tweaked for higher power output. While this reduces the Manubalista´s secondary armament to just the small Thorium plasma projector, it turns the small fighter into a high-acceleration platform that can quickly deliver five missiles and outrun almost any pursuit. If caught in a dogfight, though, this variant is in deep trouble with only the very short-ranged TPP to defend itself.
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Legionnaire RPG Values: Manubalista High-Thrust Modification I[]
Hit Location | Sub-Location | Damage Boxes / Damage |
---|---|---|
[1] Structure | - | [][][][][] [][] |
[2] FTL Drive | - | None |
[3] Shields | - | [][][][][] |
[4] Engines / Thrust | - | [][][][][] [][][][][] ::: Thrust 10 g |
[5] Armour | - | [][][][][] |
[6] Crew | Pilot | [][][][][] |
[7] Weapon Computers | - | [][][][] |
[8] Sensors | - | [][][] |
[9] Life Support | - | [][][] |
[10] Weapons | [1] TPP-9 | Damage 3[1] |
- | [2] Hardpoint | * |
- | [3] Hardpoint | * |
- | [4] Hardpoint | * |
- | [5] Hardpoint | * |
- | [6] Hardpoint | * |
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Leviathan Values: Manubalista High Thrust Modification I[]
This variant punches way above its weight, delivering one heavy missile strike. It is often deployed in flight strength to make the most of its missile armament. In longer engagements, high-thrust Manubalistae usually dart in, deliver their payload and quickly repair to a carrier vessel waiting at standoff distance to reload. If forced into a dogfight with intercepting craft, the little fighters tend to die in droves, so wise commanders keep them out of the fight to have them swoop in and deliver a coup de grace to a damaged capital ship.
Group (72 Fighters) | Armour | Missile Attack Value | CRA | LRA | Thrust |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Armour Row 6 | [][][][][][] [][][][][][] ------ - | 100 | 32 | 4 | 10 |
Armour Row 5 | [][][][][][] [][][][]-- ---- | - | 27 | 3 | - |
Armour Row 4 | [][][][][][] []----- - | - | 22 | 2 | - |
Armour Row 3 | [][][][]-- ---- | - | 16 | 2 | - |
Armour Row 2 | [][]---- -- | - | 11 | 1 | - |
Armour Row 1 | []----- | - | 5 | 1 | - |
Flight (24 Fighters) | Armour | Missile Attack Value | CRA | LRA | Thrust |
Armour Row 3 | [][][][][]- ---- | 100 | 11 | 1 | 12 |
Armour Row 2 | [][][][]-- -- | - | 7 | 1 | - |
Armour Row 1 | [][]---- | - | 4 | 0 | - |
Squadron (6 Fighters) | Armour | Missile Attack Value | CRA | LRA | Thrust |
Armour Row 1 | [][][]--- | 25 | 3 | 0 | 14 |
Single Fighter Values | Armour | Missile Hardpoints | CRA | LRA | Thrust |
Manubalista (High Thrust Modification I) | 45 | 5 | 9 | 1 | 10 |
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Variant: High Thrust Modification II[]
This modification completely removes the two wing lasers[2] and installs a new acceleration compensator. With the reduced weight and power requirements, the Manubalista´s thrust is pushed to 11g. It takes a very experienced pilot to be able to exploit this top acceleration to its fullest without losing control of the fighter, though.
While the missile load remains at three hardpoints, and the fighter is nearly helpless in a dogfight with its sole remaining TPP armament, its high top acceleration makes it very suited to quick reconnaissance passes. This variant usually carries sensor equipment on its hardpoints and is never supposed to get in a fight. It can outrun most intercepting craft with ease.
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Legionnaire RPG Values: Manubalista High-Thrust Modification II[]
Hit Location | Sub-Location | Damage Boxes / Damage |
---|---|---|
[1] Structure | - | [][][][][] [] |
[2] FTL Drive | - | None |
[3] Shields | - | [][][][][] |
[4] Engines / Thrust | - | [][][][][] [][][][][] [] ::: Thrust 11 g |
[5] Armour | - | [][][][][] |
[6] Crew | Pilot | [][][][][] |
[7] Weapon Computers | - | [][][][] |
[8] Sensors | - | [][][] |
[9] Life Support | - | [][][] |
[10] Weapons | [1] TPP-9 | Damage 3[1] |
- | [2] Hardpoint | * |
- | [3] Hardpoint | * |
- | [4] Hardpoint | * |
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Leviathan Values: Manubalista High Thrust Modification II[]
Never intended to get into a fight, high-thrust Manubalistae are often carried by Corvette-class carriers making reconnaissance passes at enemy star systems. Where it is caught in a naval battle, the three missiles carried by the fighter may give it a moderate one-time sting, but in a dogfight or protacted engagement it is outclassed by nearly any other vessel.
Group (72 Fighters) | Armour | Missile Attack Value | CRA | LRA | Thrust |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Armour Row 6 | [][][][][][] [][][][][][] ------ - | 100 | 32 | 4 | 10 |
Armour Row 5 | [][][][][][] [][][][]-- ---- | - | 27 | 3 | - |
Armour Row 4 | [][][][][][] []----- - | - | 22 | 2 | - |
Armour Row 3 | [][][][]-- ---- | - | 16 | 2 | - |
Armour Row 2 | [][]---- -- | - | 11 | 1 | - |
Armour Row 1 | []----- | - | 5 | 1 | - |
Flight (24 Fighters) | Armour | Missile Attack Value | CRA | LRA | Thrust |
Armour Row 3 | [][][][][]- ---- | 50 | 11 | 1 | 12 |
Armour Row 2 | [][][][]-- -- | - | 7 | 1 | - |
Armour Row 1 | [][]---- | - | 4 | 0 | - |
Squadron (6 Fighters) | Armour | Missile Attack Value | CRA | LRA | Thrust |
Armour Row 1 | [][][]--- | 10 | 3 | 0 | 14 |
Single Fighter Values | Armour | Missile Hardpoints | CRA | LRA | Thrust |
Manubalista (High Thrust Modification II) | 45 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 10 |
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Annotations[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 No damage value was given for the Thorium Plasma Projector in the Legionnaire RPG rulebook. The number given here is conjecture. Since the TPP uses an inverted Neutron Particle Cannon (NPC) damage template, I substituted the Legionnaire NPC damage rating for the TPP.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The TOG Fighter Briefing, on p. 10, describes the High Thrust Modification as "(w/ Lasers removed)" rather than the usual "(w/ Lasers replaced)" (i.e. by missile hardpoints). Whether this is a typographical error or deliberate is unclear. The Ship Construction Rules given in the Interceptor rulebook would give the first interpretation a Thrust of 11 and the second a Thrust of 10. Because of this discrepancy this article on TOG Academy presents two "High Thrust Variants".