I was looking up history on the steamrunner class and came across one of the original concept art pictures from its development, and I absolutely love the look:
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http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/memoryalpha/images/f/f2/Steam_Runner_class_final_design_by_Alex_Jaeger.jpg/revision/latest/thumbnail-down/width/340/height/210?cb=20130222223308&path-prefix=en</img>
(Having issues posting images for some reason)
It's a bit more angular and aggressive than the standard steamrunner, with the nacelles underneath the saucer instead of above it.
Apparently there were 3 or 4 other concept designs as well, including one with 4 nacelles, before the final version was picked.
So how about these as a t6 steamrunner variant on the cstore? Call it an advanced blockade runner escort maybe. Not sure about the class name, though - ironclad maybe? Seems to go along with steamrunner.
Id say make it a little more engineering focused and with some command hybrid seats.
Could use the basic steamrunner parts for costume as well, maybe even heavy escort parts since the zephyr class was heavily based on the steamrunner, and the steamrunner was based on the akira.
Comments
might not apply if that is actual "official" concept art, it is likely owned by cbs already
that said, we wont see anything else from STO concerning the Steamrunner, since cryptic pwe sto would just as soon not have valve involved in the game and force everyone to ARC
The steamrunner class was around long before steam and STO. It was used in first contact and DS9.
The name was originally streamrunner, based on a song that the designer liked. At some point during concepting, the R was accidentally left out due to a typo, but a lot of the people working on the show liked the retro/steampunk feel of the name "steamrunner", and so the name stuck. I agree with the change, but then again I'm a big steampunk fan =P
The only reason that the steamrunner class ever had anything to do with steam/valve is because the name aligned with their product and was an easy push for an exclusive sale. However, that does not mean that a new T6 ship with a similar visual design, but a different class name (as suggested: Ironclad Class) could not be added to the game without any connection to valve or steam at all.
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