Nova

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Argon Nova
ClassM3 Fighter
Buy:Argon Accepted Advisor @2,420,118 Cr
Speed (Min-Max)60 - 150 m/s
Acceleration (Min-Max)10.99 - 27.48 m/s2
Steering (Min-Max)21.51 - 53.78 RPM
Hull Strength10,000 / 20,000 (AP)
Max. Shield (Total)3 x 25 MJ (75 MJ)
Shield Reactor750 MW
Cargo Class (Min-Max)86 - 236 @ L
Laser Capacitor5,600 MJ
Laser Recharge140 MW
                                                                                                         Main x 8
                                                                                                         Rear x 1
Argon Nova Prototype
ClassM3 Fighter
Speed (Min-Max)75 - 187.50 m/s
Acceleration (Min-Max)14 - 35 m/s2
Steering (Min-Max)25.13 - 62.83 RPM
Hull Strength10,000 / 20,000 (AP)
Max. Shield (Total)4 x 25 MJ (100 MJ)
Shield Reactor825 MW
Cargo Class (Min-Max)81 - 236 @ L
Laser Capacitor6,720 MJ
Laser Recharge168 MW
                                                                                                         Main x 8
                                                                                                         Rear x 1
Argon Nova Raider
ClassM3 Fighter
Buy:Argon Accepted Advisor @1,607,266 Cr
Speed (Min-Max)76.2 - 190.5 m/s
Acceleration (Min-Max)13.0 - 34.0 m/s2
Steering (Min-Max)25.2 - 62.9 RPM
Hull Strength9,500 / 19,000 (AP)
Max. Shield (Total)3 x 25 MJ (75 MJ)
Shield Reactor825 MW
Cargo Class (Min-Max)77 - 216 @ L
Laser Capacitor5,600 MJ
Laser Recharge140 MW
                                                                                                         Main x 8
                                                                                                         Rear x 1
Argon Nova Sentinel
ClassM3 Fighter
Buy:Argon Accepted Advisor @3,066,889 Cr
Speed (Min-Max)49.2 - 123 m/s
Acceleration (Min-Max)9 - 22 m/s2
Steering (Min-Max)17.6 - 44.1 RPM
Hull Strength10,000 / 20,000 (AP)
Max. Shield (Total)3 x 25 MJ (75 MJ)
Shield Reactor825 MW
Cargo Class (Min-Max)77 - 214 @ L
Laser Capacitor5,600 MJ
Laser Recharge140 MW
                                                                                                         Main x 8
                                                                                                         Rear x 1
Argon Nova Vanguard
ClassM3 Fighter
Buy:Argon Accepted Advisor @2,820,656 Cr
Speed (Min-Max)66 - 165 m/s
Acceleration (Min-Max)12 - 30 m/s2
Steering (Min-Max)22.6 - 56.5 RPM
Hull Strength9,500 / 19,000 (AP)
Max. Shield (Total)3 x 25 MJ (75 MJ)
Shield Reactor825 MW
Cargo Class (Min-Max)81 - 224 @ L
Laser Capacitor6,720 MJ
Laser Recharge168 MW
                                                                                                         Main x 8
                                                                                                         Rear x 1
Pirate Nova
ClassM3 Fighter
Buy: @1,610,680 Cr
Speed (Min-Max)38.8 - 97 m/s
Acceleration (Min-Max)7 - 19 m/s2
Steering (Min-Max)15.4 - 38.6 RPM
Hull Strength10,000 / 20,000 (AP)
Max. Shield (Total)3 x 25 MJ (75 MJ)
Shield Reactor660 MW
Cargo Class (Min-Max)86 - 236 @ L
Laser Capacitor3,700 MJ
Laser Recharge92 MW
                                                                                                         Main x 8
                                                                                                         Rear x 1
Pirate Nova Raider
ClassM3 Fighter
Buy: @2,415,980 Cr
Speed (Min-Max)58.1 - 145.3 m/s
Acceleration (Min-Max)13 - 34 m/s2
Steering (Min-Max)25.2 - 62.9 RPM
Hull Strength9,500 / 19,000 (AP)
Max. Shield (Total)3 x 25 MJ (75 MJ)
Shield Reactor825 MW
Cargo Class (Min-Max)77 - 212 @ L
Laser Capacitor5,600 MJ
Laser Recharge140 MW
                                                                                                         Main x 8
                                                                                                         Rear x 1

Overview[edit]

The Nova is a good all-rounder as M3 class ships go. Moderate speed, average weapon power, shields on the heavier side for Commonwealth ships and the unusual addition of a rear turret, the Nova and its variants are popular choices for pilots looking for a heavy fighter.

The Raider variant is widely regarded as the variant of choice, in part because of the significant reduction in cost when compared to the other Nova variants. This makes it ideal for cheaply equipping large wings of M3's.

If you can get a hold of one, the Prototype variant is easily the best version thanks to its well-balanced stats and addition of one more 25 MJ shield, despite the lack of an ability to mount the PBG.

Background[edit]

When the long serving Argon Elite was originally retired, the Argon military was left without an M3 fighter, until a group of shipwrights in Omicron Lyrae came up with plans for a new type of ship. Shortly afterwards, the Nova was born, and after two years of testing virtually all of the older Elite class ships had been replaced with this new craft.

Variants[edit]

Nova[edit]

This version is the unembellished variant of the Nova. It features average speed, heavy shields, and good firepower for a heavy fighter.

Nova Prototype[edit]

The Nova Prototype is not available for sale. However, this is widely regarded as the best version, since it combines the Raider's speed, the Sentinel's shield recharge rate, the Vanguard's energy weapon recharge rate, and the regular variant's cargo capacity all into one package, while adding one more 25MJ shield mount, giving it greater endurance compared to its other variants. Given time and money and reverse engineering its blueprints into the player Headquarters, this also makes it quite capable of being fielded in numbers as a carrier fighter, extending the versatility of this craft as more than just a personal player ship. The Prototype, however, does lose its ability to mount the PBG, which is its only downfall. Otherwise, an excellent all-rounder.

Nova Raider[edit]

The Nova Raider remedies the primary deficiency in the Nova design, speed.
It is a great ship of choice, with powerful shielding and weaponry. Players generally stuff the front with HEPT, and back with PAC to shoot missiles. However, this ship is not as agile as the Mamba, and so many players choose to instead hand off their Nova Raider to NPCs.

Nova Sentinel[edit]

The Sentinel features greater energy capacity for shields at the cost of speed and cargo capacity. Unfortunately, unlike most Sentinel variants, this version of the Nova does not include an additional shield slot, therefore making it the second worst and most avoided variant of this craft.

Nova Vanguard[edit]

The Vanguard features greater speed, weapons and shield capacity at the cost of cargo capacity.

Pirate Nova[edit]

This version is widely regarded as the worst and most avoided variant due to sacrificing more energy and even more speed, making it even slower than the Teladi Kea. Often treated as cannon fodder, despite the ability to mount a PBG.

Pirate Nova Raider[edit]

Slower than the Argon Nova Raider. Similar characteristics to standard Argon Nova.

Physical Characteristics[edit]

The Nova has the typical symmetrical airplane-like design of most human-made spacecraft, except for the location of the cockpit, which is mounted in the rear of the craft instead of the usual front-faced designs that most spacecraft come with. Its frame reeks of rust while it sports incomplete paintwork and vaguely vivid scorch marks that make it appear to be like it was somewhat rushed in its production. Curiously, it resembles the Discoverer frame-wise, but much larger in size while sporting straightened wings and a single empennage as well as more weaponry.

Combat[edit]

Combat in the Nova is simple; point and shoot. The rear turret is used by most players in missile defense mode with a light weapon such as the IRE installed but it can be used with a bigger gun to provide a little more fire support in a dogfight.

Equipment[edit]

Missiles
Lasers

Availability[edit]

The Prototype, Pirate Nova, and Pirate Nova Raider are not sold at shipyards and must be captured or purchased in space or bought from used ship sellers.

In Albion Prelude, the Argon Peacekeeper starts with a Nova Prototype.

Availability
Variant Argon Prime Cloudbase South East Omicron Lyrae Light of Heart Legend's Home Argon Sector M148
Nova x x x x
Nova Raider x
Nova Sentinel x x x
Nova Vanguard x x x x

Suggested Roles[edit]

Good As

Space Superiority Fighter

Fighter escort

Corvette Killer

Sector Patrol

Player ship

Poor as

Capital ship killer, unless it carries a good amount of Hammerhead missiles.

Interceptor, due to its usually low speed, unless it's the Raider or Prototype variant.

Point Defense fighter

Prolonged Dogfighting

See Also[edit]


Ships by Class
Capital  M1M2 / M2+M7 / M7M / M7C
Escort  M6 / M6+M8
Fighter  M3 / M3+M4 / M4+M5
Transport  TLTS / TS+TPTM
M3 Ships
Argon  Nova (Raider) (Sentinel) (Vanguard) (Prototype)
ATF  Thor
Boron  Barracuda (Raider) (Sentinel) (Vanguard) (Advanced) (Prototype)
Goner  none
Kha'ak  Kha'ak Fighter
OTAS  Venti
Paranid  Perseus (Raider) (Sentinel) (Vanguard) (Advanced)
Pirate  Blastclaw (Prototype) • Nova (Raider) • Falcon (Vanguard)
Split  Mamba (Raider) (Sentinel) (Vanguard) (Advanced)
Teladi  Falcon (Hauler) (Sentinel) (Vanguard) (Prototype)
Terran  #deca.cefaScimitarSpitfyreXperimental Shuttle
Xenon  L
Yaki  Susanowa (Hauler) (Raider) (Prototype)
Argon Navigation
Core Sectors Argon Prime | Herron's Nebula | Home of Light | Legend's Home | Light of Heart | Montalaar | Omicron Lyrae | Red Light | Ringo Moon | The Wall
Border Sectors Aladna Hill | Albion Alpha | Albion Beta | Albion Delta | Albion Gamma | Akeela's Beacon | Antigone Memorial | Argon Sector M148 | Belt of Aguilar | Black Hole Sun | Cloudbase North West | Cloudbase South East | Cloudbase South West | Circle Of Labour | Elena's Fortune | Elysium of Light | Interworlds | Getsu Fune | Midnight Star | Nathan's Voyage | Nyana's Hideout | Ore Belt | Power Circle | President's End | The Hole | Three Worlds | Treasure Chest | Wastelands
Capital Ships M1: Colossus | M2: Titan | M2+: None | M7: Cerberus | M7C: Griffon | M7M: Minotaur
Fighters M3: Nova | M3+: Eclipse | M4: Buster | M4+: Elite | M5: Arrow, Discoverer, Starburst
Escort Ships M6: Centaur | M6+: Heavy Centaur | M8: Gladiator
Transports TL: Mammoth | TM: Magnetar | TP: Express, Phantom | TS: Mercury | TS+: Lotan
Shipyards Argon Prime | Argon Sector M148 | Cloudbase South East | Legend's Home | Light of Heart | Omicron Lyrae
Racial Wares Argnu Beef | Cloth Rimes | Meatsteak Cahoonas | Space Fuel