Pity we cannot delete previous uploads. Please ignore the previous (non MK2) version. There was a problem with the display of the previous version that I hoped to rectify with this upload (did not work apparently). In the interim, I reduced the size of the ship so as to better not waste firepower on fighter/bombers. The improperly displaying weapon here is not a 'particle cannon, but rather a Muon Gun. The way to look at this is not as a half space weapon, but with the rack mount rather as an extremely rapid firing 4.5 space weapon that is excellent at delivering internal damage to any ship and great at clearing the sky of smaller craft.. This gun's firing rate is at significantly less than one second at good range doing fighter/bomber obliterating damage, half of which ignores armor. It does not out range fighter torpedoes, but it can close to range 'very' fast whereupon things die quickly. The ship is fast enough to cover serious territory, getting where it needs to be fast and chasing down absolutely anything.

I've continued of course to fiddle with this design. I tend now to field these ships using a .25 space Muon gun. It is loads of fun watching these ships zip up to the bad guys and go "Rat-tat-tat-tat..." like a machine gun and watch stuff start blowing up everywhere. I increase the repair bay by the way.

I have used these Ishtarian Battlecruisers extensively, and I have to say they are GREAT! I have used them to great effect defending my star systems from massive invasions. It is great watching a fleet of fifty 500+ Scale warships with 200Million or more health get wiped out by a comparatively smaller number of these Scale 64 beasts. Great design, specially for base defense since they are fairly quick to build later in the game. The only reason I don't use them for assaults is due to a lack of a jump drive, though with some tweaking one is possible.

Try using a Plasma Thrower instead of a Muon Gun. It requires A LOT of power but the results have to be seen to be believed.

If you have Nano armor, I'd say drop the shield. Instead, use that space for a jump drive. The nano armor repairs fast enough at higher levels that a shield on top of it becomes pointless. At level 20+ the nano armor repairs more hp than it has per second, which means you have to one-shot the bastards to actually kill them. And if you are going for a fleet, consider a repair tool instead of a repair bay. you will get an overall faster regen for less control cost. (more ships .25 repair tool focused on one damaged ship).