Star Trek vs Battlestar Galactica

[Shai-Hulud]

Picard, Sisko and Janeway vs Helena Cain, Adama and Starbuck (remake versions).

Each side gets a fleet of equivalent ships and crew.

Strategy is planned out for a week, then fleets move into contested space at opposite ends.

[BitVyper]

Depends a lot on the ships, in the end. Both sides are accustomed to working in such different environments. Which tactics work are going to depend entirely on what they're working with, and that's going to decide who wins. Both sides are competent enough not to get beaten by beginners and both sides are basically beginners in the other side's version of warfare.

Trying to imagine "equal" federation ships against BSG ships doesn't really work either because anything with transporters and shields is an instant win, and anything without pretty much getting rekt.

[Shai-Hulud]

Depends a lot on the ships, in the end. Both sides are accustomed to working in such different environments. Which tactics work are going to depend entirely on what they're working with, and that's going to decide who wins. Both sides are competent enough not to get beaten by beginners and both sides are basically beginners in the other side's version of warfare.

Trying to imagine "equal" federation ships against BSG ships doesn't really work either because anything with transporters and shields is an instant win, and anything without pretty much getting rekt.

All that's granted, but it shouldn't be at issue here.

Plot God fiat grants each side equivalent ships and crew with which they are both equally familiar.

The point being, it's purely the minds of the admirals that makes the difference here.

[The Arbiter]

They are both fairly competent in terms of general strategy and the ability to overcome the odds, but honestly the type of space combat both are accustomed to might as well be foreign languages to each other.

Gonna back the Trek crew just simply on the basis that they have overcome adversity on more occasions. Not to say the Galactica crew hasn't had it's fair share of troubles, but they are more predictable in nature. It's always the same enemies and issues (food, water and fuel) working against them. Trek crew has fought off more varied crap.

[Shellhead]

IIRC, Battlestar Galactica lacks shield technology. If so, they lose.

[Shai-Hulud]

IIRC, Battlestar Galactica lacks shield technology. If so, they lose.

But see here:

All that's granted, but it shouldn't be at issue here.

Plot God fiat grants each side equivalent ships and crew with which they are both equally familiar.

The point being, it's purely the minds of the admirals that makes the difference here.

For specificity's sake, let's revise the OP a bit.

In addition to both sides getting equivalent ships and crew with which they are both equally familiar, let's fill in some blanks.

Let's say the ships and crew are a midway point between Starfleet and Colonial. So in all respects the difference is split, and both teams will find an equal number of things familiar and different.

Let's also say that both teams get a full six months of prep. This includes both holodeck simulations and actual, physical drills.

So, equivalent ships and crew with which they are both equally familiar.

[The Arbiter]

But see here:



For specificity's sake, let's revise the OP a bit.

In addition to both sides getting equivalent ships and crew with which they are both equally familiar, let's fill in some blanks.

Let's say the ships and crew are a midway point between Starfleet and Colonial. So in all respects the difference is split, and both teams will find an equal number of things familiar and different.

Let's also say that both teams get a full six months of prep. This includes both holodeck simulations and actual, physical drills.

So, equivalent ships and crew with which they are both equally familiar.

My answer remains the same.

[Shai-Hulud]

My answer remains the same.

It's a good point, too, that Team Trek has more varied experience.

[BitVyper]

Let's say the ships and crew are a midway point between Starfleet and Colonial. So in all respects the difference is split, and both teams will find an equal number of things familiar and different.

This really boils down to "are fighters relevant?" And that depends a lot on how Trek the ships are. So I'll just say that if fighters matter, BSG wins and otherwise Trek probably wins.

[Shai-Hulud]

This really boils down to "are fighters relevant?" And that depends a lot on how Trek the ships are. So I'll just say that if fighters matter, BSG wins and otherwise Trek probably wins.

Of Team Trek, the only one with any real experience overseeing fighter tactics is Sisko, as they were used in the Dominion War.

Unless Picard and Janeway are very quick studies, Team Galactica might have an advantage here.

Although there may be other mid-way points where the advantage is in the other court.

[Slade1]

Picard and Janeway both have been through a lot of crap and have tons of experience. I don't see battle tactics being a deciding factor here.

In sci-fi battles I always back the one with better tech and that's Trek.

[Captain Smith]

I would like to know what equivalent weapons are before opining. Why, because 6 months of simulated prep are not the same as years of experience with such.

If the ships have energy weapons and shields, then ST has the advantage.

If they only have nukes and missiles, the BSG fighters will out fly the ST folks who only did simulators. The Galatica is a physically tough ship as it can take a nuke going off next to it. A ST ship without shields would disappear if a nuke went off next to it.

So, to evaluate this - we really need to know the ship characteristics and weapons.

[greatmetropolitan]

Their ships may be equivalent, but their actual scientific knowledge isn't. The Trek crews study astrophysics and time travel and all sorts of crap as cadets, their working knowledge of physics and tech is much greater than the Galactica's. Give them a week of prep and they're more likely to be able to pull of something interesting that's more than just military strategy - which they are also very good at. Picard who strategised agaisnt the Ferengi to the point of having a maneuver named for him and Sisko who commanded fleets much bigger than the Galactica has seen.

On general intelligence and military acumen, Trek takes this.

[Sharpandpointies]

Going with what greatmetropolitan says, here. The Galactica folks will come up with a pretty decent battle-plan that uses some crazy flying from whomever is their ace of the day. The Trek lot will counter with 'yeah, but we altered this part of our ship into a gigantic force field emitter' or some weird thing, and that'll be that.

[Captain Smith]

Still depends on ship characteristics. Waiting for that. Saying half way between doesn't cut it for me. Energy weapons or nukes. Energy shield or not. Fighters or not. Propulsion - warp or that jump drive that seems to teleport the Galactica at times.

If fighters count, as I said before, the extreme level of actual combat performance and tactical experience of the officers of BSB will make ST fighters at an extreme disadvantage. Flight time is the variable as compared to simulator time.