TSN Scout

The TSN Scout is a light starship, built for exploration and long range patrol. It is considerably faster, and more maneuverable than the TSN Light Cruiser, easily capable of achieving a relative speed of Warp 5.3. "Relative", that is, because all TSN ships calibrate their Warp scale to the ship, so Warp 4 for a Scout is called Warp 4, even though it is faster than a Light Cruiser's Warp 4. Because of the Scout's smaller size, it is also more efficient, and has a much greater range than a Light Cruiser, even at higher speeds. Its Impulse speeds are proportionally higher as well.

Unfortunately, the Scout is not built for combat. It is designed for hit and run attacks, and Captains are advised to use caution when approaching enemies, and attempt a strategy of divide and conquer. Its shielding is three quarters the strength of a Light Cruiser, and it carries only a single beam weapon. While it does carry a single torpedo launcher, it lacks the ability to carry Nuclear Torpedoes. It can dock with friendly starbases to resupply its energy stores, as well as its stock of torpedoes. It is possible for friendly ships in the sector to offer a side mission which will equip the Scout with 2 Nukes, in return for some needed assistance.

As the Scout's primary role is reconnaissance and exploration, it carries advanced science equipment, allowing the science officer to detect enemy vessels, monsters, and other stellar phenomena like nebulas and black holes. While the investigation of such features may not be important in a combat situations, scientific investigation missions may call for the scout to scan these locations. As with all TSN ships, the science officer is able to detect the shield signatures of enemy ships, and provide the proper beam frequencies to the weapons officer. TSN ships are able to share their science information, so in fleet combat operations with limited sensor range, the Scout may be called upon to get close to the enemy and scan them, (or at the very least reveal their location) for use by the rest of the fleet.

In Artemis 2.7, the Scout's role as a scientific research vessel was expanded with the addition of probes, tags, and beacons. These new torpedo types open up new possibilities for dealing indirectly with enemy forces, such as by setting up a beacon to attract monsters into an area where they can defend the sector. Artemis 2.7.1 finalized this supply of ordinance at 8 of each, giving the Scout class the largest supply of probes and other scientific instruments.

As with all TSN starships, the Scout is equipped with a sophisticated power allocation system, allowing the ship's engineer to adjust the flow of power from the ship's generators. This allows the engineer to augment the performance of many of the systems on the ship, simply by providing the system more power. As the Scout already has very low energy use, a clever engineer can extend a Scout's range dramatically. Note that the TSN Scout is designed for warp drive, and as noted above, it is both faster and more efficient than most other TSN ships with warp drive. Although the Scout can exchange its warp engines for jump drives, its space frame is not designed to take advantage of this FTL type, and this will severely limit its range.

The Scout also has the typical TSN communication system. In lone battles, the Scout's ability to command allied warships in the sector can go a long way towards evening the odds in favor of the lightly armed Scout. 

Although the Scout has not undergone the same external upgrades that the TSN Light Cruiser has recently, internal changes to the Scout's engines have resulted in improved efficiency of all ship's systems and the warp drive. However, jump drive has become less efficient due to these changes. (Prior to Artemis 2.4, the Scout's efficiency was calculated using a method that would result in about 77% of standard fuel use, on the current scale. If you are playing Artemis 2.3 or earlier, energy use will be a little higher)