Richard's Animorphs Forum

Animorphs Section => Animorphs Forum Classic => Topic started by: esplin on March 12, 2009, 12:28:08 PM

Title: The Blade Ship
Post by: esplin on March 12, 2009, 12:28:08 PM
I feel like I should know more stuff about it then I do.

(http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/animorphs/images/3/3b/Blade_Ship.gif)

This is awesome^^

Does anyone know anything about it?
*Besides the obvious*
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: Chad32 on March 12, 2009, 04:28:20 PM
I'm not sure I know much. Like, how many engines does it have? How many guns? Why is its shielding as good as the pool ship's, as stated in book 54? I would think a larger, more important vessel, would have better shielding.
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: goom on March 12, 2009, 06:29:44 PM
haha, nice.
i always imagined it looking slightly different though.
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: Horsefan1023 (Seal) on March 12, 2009, 07:17:51 PM
OMG those pics are amazing.  Where did you find them?

And all I know is what you know.  And those are good questions, Nohensen.  Now I wanna know!
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: esplin on March 12, 2009, 07:19:23 PM
I found it on seerowswiki or something like that.
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: zaprowsdower on March 12, 2009, 07:40:57 PM
Ya mean Seerowpedia? ;)

I always pictured that the number of blades would depend on the rank of the Visser that possessed it: V3 would have three, V2 two, etc; and V1 would have a single rotating blade 8)
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: goom on March 12, 2009, 08:08:55 PM
Ya mean Seerowpedia? ;)

I always pictured that the number of blades would depend on the rank of the Visser that possessed it: V3 would have three, V2 two, etc; and V1 would have a single rotating blade 8)

that would be expensive for a higher-ranking visser. wouldn't 1 get the most? :P
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: Terenia on March 12, 2009, 08:09:21 PM
I would like to know how big it is, comparable to a Pool Ship. Sometimes it is described as massive, but other times it seems small (comparably).

We know a Pool Ship is at least 15 floors (#5), and I'm going to go out on a limb and say it may be as many as 30. So how big is a Blade Ship? How many Bug Fighters can it hold? How big is the docking bay? How is it laid out?

I wish I knew! I do know it is partially made of Ramonite (a la MM1), but I think that's just like holding areas/cages...
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: esplin on March 12, 2009, 08:14:13 PM
The blade ship does have fighters.... I'm pretty sure. 
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: Chad32 on March 12, 2009, 08:15:32 PM
Yeah, actual sized would be good. We know blade ships can dock inside pool ships, and likely more than one. But how big is a pool ship?
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: esplin on March 12, 2009, 08:18:33 PM
Quote
Visser Three's ship was built like some ancient weapon. It reminded me of one of those
battle-axes the old-time knights used when they were hacking off the heads of their foes.
There was a main part, like the handle of the ax, with a big, triangular point on the front. That
part had to be the bridge. At the rear were two huge, scimitar wings. It was eight or ten times
the size of the Bug fighters.

The first book says this.
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: Chad32 on March 12, 2009, 08:19:51 PM
I forgot that. And bug fighters are about the size of buses, right?
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: esplin on March 12, 2009, 08:23:34 PM
Yea so if a bus is 37-39 feet then a blade ship is 304 - 380 feet long.
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: Chad32 on March 12, 2009, 08:44:41 PM
So that's bigger than a football field, which is a hundred yards long. Man, how did he land that thing in a construction site?
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: esplin on March 12, 2009, 08:46:56 PM
Good quesiton, also, is that how big it is? or how long it is.
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: Essam 293 on March 12, 2009, 09:43:46 PM
OMG those pics are amazing.  Where did you find them?

You can see all schematics here:

http://www.hiracdelest.com/downloads/full-gallery.htm
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: esplin on March 12, 2009, 09:50:09 PM
Those are pure awesome.
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: Dameg on March 12, 2009, 11:29:00 PM
So many questions, Esplin ^^ Are you planning to make one for yourself? It'd be sweet. But I thought you already had one...
... Oh I see... It was a different one and you saw that schematic drawing, and you liked it... So good luck for your new Blade Ship ^^
I'd like to have one myself...
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: esplin on March 12, 2009, 11:30:18 PM
I could have one built for you :]
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: Xan on March 12, 2009, 11:39:13 PM
I wonder if the Avatar

(http://www.eve-online-fan.co.uk/images/eveships/avatar.jpg)

Was copied off the dome ship at all?
Well, not to equal size, an Avatar is about 16-17km long and has a planet-destroying AOE weapon.

+ The Bug Fighter looks like what a NOD Fighter would be with all the little miniature laser obelisks on it.
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: esplin on March 13, 2009, 09:40:01 AM
EVE obviously copied animorphs.  :P
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: Azguard on March 13, 2009, 11:30:01 AM
so...how big is a dome ship compared to a pool ship? I always thought they'd be around the same size, but it seems like the Pool Ship is a bit bigger...as well as more expensive.
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: esplin on March 13, 2009, 12:10:41 PM
The dome ship is like half a mile across at the dome and probably about a mile and some down the 'trunk.'
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: Azguard on March 13, 2009, 12:34:19 PM
oh wow. who would win in a fight?
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: JFalcon on March 13, 2009, 12:40:52 PM
The Dome Ships are described by the Andalties ( ::) )as being more than a match for anything the Yeerks have, still it's implied that when this is said Blade Ships weren't widespread, in fact I got the impression that the one Elfangor sees in TAC was the first and that it had been designed with Alloran's ship building expertise, but I believe this theory was disproven at some point in the series.

Also I believe the Blade Ship does hold bug fighters, I'm thinking two for some reason and does anyone else think it looks an awful lot like a klingon ship?
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: Terenia on March 13, 2009, 04:14:25 PM
The Dome Ships are described by the Andalties ( ::) )as being more than a match for anything the Yeerks have, still it's implied that when this is said Blade Ships weren't widespread, in fact I got the impression that the one Elfangor sees in TAC was the first and that it had been designed with Alloran's ship building expertise, but I believe this theory was disproven at some point in the series.

The first Blade Ship is built in the Hork-Bajir Chronicles. By the beginning of the canon series they would be much more widely disseminated.

Quote
Also I believe the Blade Ship does hold bug fighters, I'm thinking two for some reason and does anyone else think it looks an awful lot like a klingon ship?

If the Blade Ship only holds two Bug Fighters, how come there are always so MANY Bug Fighters zipping around. Maybe it's just my mental block, but I always figured there were enough Bug Fighters for a small "swarm". At least a dozen or so.

Which, I guess, wouldn't make sense if the Blade Ship is only 8 or 9 times the size of a Bug Fighter. Then again, as Esplin said, is that length or overall size?

Also, is there a Pool Ship in orbit over Earth the majority of the time, or just when Visser One is there?
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: Xan on March 13, 2009, 04:41:48 PM
I think there was one in orbit 24/7, as during #11 they have to shuttle controllers up to it continuously.
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: Azguard on March 13, 2009, 10:31:12 PM
yeah, i think the blade ship could hold quite a few.

and I thought the pool ship was in orbit...kinda like the huge ship in Independence Day.
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: esplin on March 14, 2009, 11:01:23 AM
During the whole series.  Its like their mother ship.
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: goom on March 15, 2009, 06:17:02 PM
the blade ship.
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: Hylian Dan on March 15, 2009, 07:19:19 PM
More (unofficial) Blade ship.

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y254/hyliandan/BladeShip1.png)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y254/hyliandan/BladeShip2.png
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y254/hyliandan/BladeShip3.png
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y254/hyliandan/BladeShip4.png
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y254/hyliandan/BladeShip5.png
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y254/hyliandan/BladeShip9.png


I think one of the books mentioned that the Blade ship holds two Bug Fighters.
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: Terenia on March 15, 2009, 07:21:36 PM
Love it! Great pic!
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: esplin on March 15, 2009, 09:58:33 PM
I love the blade ship :]
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: Starsword on March 15, 2009, 10:01:50 PM
I like the submarine blade ship. I wonder if that ever panned out in the end for him. I'd like to think something went his way.
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: JFalcon on March 16, 2009, 03:41:22 AM
If the Blade Ship only holds two Bug Fighters, how come there are always so MANY Bug Fighters zipping around. Maybe it's just my mental block, but I always figured there were enough Bug Fighters for a small "swarm". At least a dozen or so.

Which, I guess, wouldn't make sense if the Blade Ship is only 8 or 9 times the size of a Bug Fighter. Then again, as Esplin said, is that length or overall size?

Also, is there a Pool Ship in orbit over Earth the majority of the time, or just when Visser One is there?

They're escort, show of force, I need to finish re-reading the books but I'm pretty sure they do say that the Blade Ship can hold fighters, I just don't know how many, still again two seems to be the number that sticks in my mind, and its a decent number if you assume, as has been implied, that the Blade Ship is meant as a destroyer, not a carrier. The pool ship, which is in constant orbit around earth, would be the more likely carrier as in book 8 it's the one reported launching the swarms of bug fighters at the Galaxy Tree.

Being a Visser's personal vessel it would make a degree of sense that the Blade Ship is never forced to use just its own fighters in fact might not even launch its own fighters unless actual battle errupts. See if it and its escort leave the Pool Ship at the same time it has a constant escort and the landing of all craft is less of a logistical hassle, if it leaves the pool ship then scrambles its own fighters later there's a window where it has no fighter cover, and it would have to take them back in before docking or going to Z space. There might be a middleground of it launching its own and still recieving an escort as then it doesnt have to wait to launch them if it does get ambushed, and could always take them back aboard while the bug fighters are docking, assuming the Visser wants to wait, I think they may have played it by ear.

The two bug fighters would be more of a door stop than an actual force, in the event that a Blade is found alone without an escort and comes afoul of an andalite ship the fighters would provide some cover or a distraction while the Blade retreats, Yeerks after all, don't fight battles they cant win.

I miss the old Wing Commander games . . .  :-[

The first Blade Ship is built in the Hork-Bajir Chronicles. By the beginning of the canon series they would be much more widely disseminated.

Oh man I just read the Hork-Bajir chronicles like a couple weeks ago and I forgot that, now I'm really embarassed.  :P
However the statement about Andalite superiority is made by Elfangor in the TAC, and he himself didn't recognize the Blade Ship when he saw it, suggesting that during TAC at least, Blade Ships were at least somewhat rare, or at least classified under "not so inferior" so that he wouldn't have been told about it. In The Alien Aximili recognizes the Blade (so it's taken out of the "classified" file drawer I guess) and is properly nervous suggesting that Blade Ships can and have defeated Dome Ships in the past in fact Visser Three's ship makes short work of the brand new Galaxy Tree.

Which leads me to wonder why the Andalites didn't try to design their own anti-Blade sooner, were they that convinced of the superiority of their Domes?
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: Hunter on March 16, 2009, 04:10:14 AM
the blade ship.

holy cow goom... thats awesome!
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: Hylian Dan on March 16, 2009, 08:54:01 AM
Quote
If the Blade Ship only holds two Bug Fighters, how come there are always so MANY Bug Fighters zipping around. Maybe it's just my mental block, but I always figured there were enough Bug Fighters for a small "swarm". At least a dozen or so.
There was also that huge Bug Fighter station in the Yeerk Pool in book 45.
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: Azguard on March 16, 2009, 06:08:10 PM
Well, i assume the Blade Ship might also have an escape pod along witt the big fighters.

And if the Blade Ship is that strong to take down a Dome Ship, how much stronger would the Pool Ship?

BTW, GREAT pictures Hylian Dan. How did you create them?
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: Hylian Dan on March 16, 2009, 08:22:20 PM
Thanks. I made them with Maya (http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?id=7635018&siteID=123112). I've modeled the Blade ship and Pool ship now, based on the schematics at hirac delest. I might make more models of Animorphs ships over the summer depending on whether I'll have access to Maya then (my trial version expired).
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: esplin on March 16, 2009, 08:45:04 PM
I wish they would make a model we could build or something, or a lego!

*dreams*
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: Starsword on March 16, 2009, 10:09:25 PM
I really can't imagine the pool ship being very strong. It doesn't need to be. It just needs to have good shielding, and perhaps a small fleet of bug fighters.
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: JFalcon on March 18, 2009, 03:16:03 PM
And if the Blade Ship is that strong to take down a Dome Ship, how much stronger would the Pool Ship?

The Pool Ship is described (by the Andalites I admit) as being weaker than a Dome Ship. It doesnt have to be very powerful if the Pool Ships are carriers and troop transports, and the Blades were the brawlers meant to take out the Andalite Dome Ships.

I imagine a typical anti-fleet Yeerk task force would contain multiple Blade Ships, but only one Pool Ship for the fighter support, whereas a fleet meant to take a planet would need more Pool Ships and fewer Blade Ships. This theory (because without a series bible that's all it is) is discredited by the fact that the Blade Ships are often described as being a Visser's personal ship on the other hand, but saying "only a Visser commands a Blade Ship" might be no different than saying "only a captain commands a destroyer" and I don't see the Pool Ships being designed for fleet engagements so much as maintaining a presence over a planet.
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: Azguard on March 18, 2009, 04:07:04 PM
i would think it would have some sort of defense...at least because if the pool ship is taken out it leaves forces without a central command or gathering point.
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: Brad the Brit on March 18, 2009, 04:12:08 PM
yer but if it did the animorphs wouldent have been able to do anything to it. so u shuld thank your lucky stars it dident
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: Azguard on March 18, 2009, 07:02:14 PM
well...maybe the series would have lasted longer? ^^
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: Brad the Brit on March 18, 2009, 07:05:37 PM
aha toche...

but still. i stick to my origional statment
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: Azguard on March 20, 2009, 01:11:12 AM
or...the animorphs would have been dominated...haha
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: Aquilai on March 21, 2009, 07:45:10 AM
Yeah. I would have liked to see the specs on each ship too. Weaponry, shields (if any), speed, armour, power. I just can't believe there are so few different types of ships though.
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: Azguard on March 21, 2009, 03:59:41 PM
maybe they started with a bit...and were weeded down for effectiveness? or maybe they Yeerk mindset is just different?
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: Brad the Brit on March 21, 2009, 04:07:47 PM
or was it because the yeerks were being secret....
so they dident need many ships
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: Azguard on March 21, 2009, 04:23:52 PM
hahaha....yes....th at too...
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: Brad the Brit on March 21, 2009, 04:25:02 PM
lol captin obvious
 
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: Azguard on March 21, 2009, 04:39:21 PM
well. I guess we can stop this thread now. hahaa
Title: Re: The Blade Ship
Post by: Brad the Brit on March 21, 2009, 04:41:54 PM
yes i officaly killed it