Editing Star Fleet Battles (section)

=== '''The Tholian Assemby''' ===

Tholians are not a native species to the Milkyway. They are intergalactic refugees from a unnamed galaxy where they once had a massive empire that was overthrown in a revolt so large that the Tholians had to flee their own galaxy to ensure their survival as a species. In fact in Y178 some former Tholian vassal race calling themselves the Seltorians contacted the Klingons looking for assistance in tracking them down. And of course the Klingons were more then happy to point these newcomers in the right direction.

Their "home planet" of Tholia is actually a small Dyson sphere that once served as a provincial capital. In a remarkable feat of engineering, they managed to bring it with them when they fled from the other galaxy. 

After an unknown amount of time in intergalactic space they eventually found refuge in a hospitable solar system near the edge of our galaxy. Sadly for them it was space that the Kligons had claimed long ago. It was years later that the Klingons would discover their new tenants and react predictably. The Tholian group that made it to our galaxy were a small unit of civilians so they lack the ability to build any real warships (relying on the small Patrol Class corvettes) and so never venture away from the Holdfast where they are safe behind their massive Web network. Tholians are renown for being arrogant to the point of ridiculousness to the other races of the galaxy which they see as lesser primitive species. Even after the Federation gave them photon torpedo technology for nothing they still asked the Feds to thank them for the opportunity to serve. Gee I wonder why their subjects rebelled.

Tholians are unlike any other galactic species as they are silicon based and resemble a man sized red crystal spider (and you thought the Hydrans were strange).They live in comfortably in temperatures that would melt steel beams and at radiation levels that would cook a lobster in seconds.  Which makes the Klingon territory issues rather pointless as neither race inhabits the same type of planet or has the same physical needs but Klingons will be Klingons.

Tholian ships are broken into two types; the old Patrol Corvette style ships which are under gunned and out matched anytime they're forced to fight on equal terms. Lacking shields, internals, and armed with only Phasers and a Web Generator they are only able to hold their own behind preexisting Web networks.  They eventually are given Photon Torpedoes by the Federation to help combat the Klingons and salvaged Disrupters technology from Klingon wrecks but no matter how many PC hulls the Tholians weld together (the Tholian CA is 3 PCs literally welded together) they are no match for any equal BPV ship.

The second type of Tholian ship are the Neo-Tholians. Who arrived at the height of the final attack by the Klingons in the Holdfast to save the day. They are a remnant of the old Tholian Empire space fleet and so were deigned for combat and they reflect this but in lore, since they are unique and irreplaceable assets, are never seen outside the safety of the Holdfast's Web network.  Neo-Tholian ships are warships that are more then capable of winning battles with their Web Caster/Fist, photons and powerful phaser suite. Good power curves, middle of the road manoeuvrability and good shielding makes for a solid combat ships.  

The primary weapon of the Tholians is the Web. Which is a tractor beam based technology (kinda, the galactic powers don't really understand it and the Andro's TR beams and DD's laugh at it) that act like a spiders web. If your ships (non-Tholian, Tholian ships ignore Webs) movement power is less then the strength of the Web in your hex you ain't going no where. In fact if your going too fast and hit a extremely strong Web your ship will suffer the effects of a HET breakdown. Now Webs do need to be powered as their strength decreases every turn. Webs also block direct fire weapons and degrade plasma torpedoes quite effectively, all in all the Web is a great defensive tool. 

A good rule of thumb to remember about firing through webs is; "in to or out of but not across". 

The Neo-Tholians have a device called a Web Caster that allows them to lay web anywhere within a certain radius of their ship. No more shitting out webs behind you as you go whoohoo!. This is a very powerful tool to control the board and restrict the movement of your opponent.  A typical stratagem is to lay a web straight down the middle of the map and force your opponent to choose a side to go down. You fly down the opposing side and use your phasers to snipe the enemy while remaining pretty much immune to return fire (remember only Tholian phasers can fire thru webs without penalty). Just be aware your opponent may dive into the web to take a shot at you (remember in to or out) but then he's stuck sitting there until he can power his way through the Web hex. The Web Caster can also fire a strand of Web directly at the opponents ship doing high damage but is usually more useful to cast web to control the map.

Tholian ships are only really effective when fighting behind pre-set Web networks and suffer from low power curves, low firepower, low shields and decent manoeuvrability. When fighting behind Webs your at least dangerous but your opponent will usually dive into your Web, chase you off and then allow the Web to decay. Repeat ad nauseum until your out of Webs to hide behind and your forced to fight a warship in open space.  Not good times.
The Neo-Tholian ships are powerhouses. Great map control through the Web Caster, good power curves and good weapon arcs with solid shields and decent manoeuvrability. The heavy phaser-1 suite and photon torpedoes make for a great and flexible knife fighter. Just remember only your phasers can fire through Webs without penalty. Those photons need to be planned for. The Neo-Tholian ship are supposedly restricted by being irreplaceable but in game who cares about lore issues (unless it's part of the scenario) so that's not really a negative. 

Overall the Tholians offer a very unique play-style but be warned they do suffer a lot more then other races at the hands of the Andromedians. As the Andro DD allows them to literally hop over a Web without a pause or happily slamming right into a Web hex to drain it's power into their PA's then use said power to chase you down and kill you.  Oh those wacky Andro's!