I-CCZ.
IMO, the best ship in the game. And not because I'm biased as an ISC pilot.
2 PPDs for ranged sniping / setting up a castle. 2 Forward Plasma Ss for in-close extra-strong deterrent. 6 Pl-Is allow 2 Plasma Fs per turn out the tail. Enough phasers to stuff just about all 12-drone waves sent at it's front end.
It is probably the best plasma ship to use for the standard "droner" tactic of running away from the enemy, shooting at an enemy directly on your #4 shield. Capable of running near 31 while recharging 4-5 I-torps with 4 ECM. 40 damage to the face nearly every turn at ranges up to 12. Drop speed to 28 or so and it is a solid 40 every turn...
The could be said for F-BCE as that seems t be over looked and if I could change my vote this one I would vote for.The I-CCZ has to slow down in order to charge its plasma torps. down to at least speed 10.That being said the F-BCE doesn't need to to slow down to charge its photon torps. and can do it at speed 28 it has an excellent power curve and it can maintain the speed for as long as you want it to.
The photon torps. can be fired at proximity for as long as the person using it want to and when it has done enough damage it can switch to phasers.This ship is often overlooked.This would be my pick if I could change my original vote.This is in IMO
CCZ is only slow when recharging all weapons.
I've fought "running" battles where I've spent an hour dropping Pl-I out the rear, launching 5 torps in every 3 turn period, slowly wearing down a pair of Rommie BBs. I never dropped below speed 31, with 4 ECM, except to charge up the 6th Pl-I. Granted, the forward weapons were offline, but I wasn't using them anyway...
I've spent battles dancing around range 15 firing all PPDs and Pl-Ss chugging along around speed 26-28, with ECM.
It's only when you start tossing phasers and all weapons at once does the CCZ start running into power problems...
I would debate this with you some place else but don't forget I-CCZ has 44 power and F-BCE has 51 and it speed is recalibrated in the energy panel and I-CCZ is't.
BCE also has a move cost of 1.25 to the CCZ's 1.00.
BCE has no AMD
BCE can't turn
BCE is one of those ships that look interesting until you actually play the game.
CCZ is probably the best (I've never flown it though)
I actually prefer the BCHP to the DBCP,~ but that's because the BCHP can take a little more damage.
and I prefer the 2 Ph1's over the 2 extra Dizzes. (Although that's just me)
The C7 is hands down the most "fun" to fly.
Also the firing arcs work a bit better with the 3 turn mode than the Arcs on the BCHP.
I double check the speed of the F-BCE and it goes 38.8.That will out run any plasma or drone for that matter.You would want to look in your Energy panel to find out the prober speed .I did this against I-CCZ setting Admiral using 5 points of eccm had it going between 25 and 35.I was watching the energy panel the hole time.This the fastest ship in the game its even faster than an unfitted Excelsior in SFC3 its top speed is 27 or 28 depends if you have legendary engineer.I know the F-BCE may not look great but untill FireSoul finds a nice model out there this it.I never lost my 5 points of eccm the hole time and torps charged up fine.There is no way the I-CCZ can catch this ship.
I took out the I-CCZ with F-CB,F-CAI,F-CLC,K-D7Lmod.K-D7L stock.K-D7K.C,T,that LDR BCHP,L-CLWP,L-CLWF and a few good Mirak and Hydran CAs to CLs.I just love picking on that ship and seeing it get destroyed or captured.The K-D7L mod has 4 times photon FX and has a cloaking cost of 5.I still hace a stock one though.The plasma based Empires are pretty much the easiest to fly.The Feds,Klinks,Lyrans,Mirak and Hydran are the toughest to to learn how to fly.The Feds,Klinks and Lyrans allways have to watch their EW panel for thier defence and attack shifts.This most toughest on the Feds as balanceing the power becomes the trick.I would say that I-CCZ is not the best around it is if don't mind speed 10.I think I am getting a little of topic so hope fully this will bring this to a close on this ship or subject.The reason I mention the Klingons is that is the secound Empire I fly best at.