Pumping equal amounts of plasma into two nacelles vs three nacelles may produce very different warp field configurations. So depending on what you want to do three nacelles may be better or worse than two nacelles at the same power.
Clearly the evidence says that for general purpose usage two nacelles is best, but for specialised purposes, one, three or four may be better. However, we've never seen five or more (the Prometheus doesn't count as it only uses four out of the six as single ship) so the cons presumably outwiegh the pros at numbers greater than four.
Personally I tend to subscribe to a similar view to that given in ealier posts by several people. Three nacelles gives extra warp-speed manoeuvrability (and possible also ac/deceleration) but makes little difference to top speed.
-------------------- "My theories appal you, my heresies outrage you, I never answer letters and you don't like my tie." - The Doctor
Registered: Mar 1999
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quote:Originally posted by Jason Abbadon: Some FASA designs are canon ad they appear onscreen as data searches the computer files during Contagen.
Don't be silly. They are no more canon than the idea that a parrot is commander in chief of Starfleet.
Actually, it was the episode Conspiracy. So, if Data was'nt viewing "canon" starships on his computer screens, he was looking at an old obscure spaceship-roleplaying game instead of following Picard's orders? What a slacker, that Data is.
Onscreen means Canon...for better or worse.
-------------------- Justice inclines her scales so that wisdom comes at the price of suffering. -Aeschylus, Agamemnon
Registered: Aug 2002
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No, onscreen means "canon except in unreasonable or unexplainable circumstances," Need I mention "Threshold"?
Or would you also like to say that the Enterprise-D was destroyed by the Dominion in "The Jem'Hadar" and also was part of the big fleet at the end of "Call to Arms"? There are so many things you just have to make allowances for. Canon can't be taken by its strict definition -- it's got to be interpreted.
-------------------- “Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.” — Isaac Asimov Star Trek Minutiae | Memory Alpha
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted
Yah, I know, but even if you dont accepy those two FASA designs as starfleet ships, they are cool enough to be canon in my book.
Just as "Threshold" and most of TNG's sevent season are some fever induced dreams.
-------------------- Justice inclines her scales so that wisdom comes at the price of suffering. -Aeschylus, Agamemnon
Registered: Aug 2002
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quote:Or would you also like to say that the Enterprise-D was destroyed by the Dominion in "The Jem'Hadar"
Are you referring to the unreadable hull while docked at the station, or the completely relabeled and readable USS Odyssey NCC-71832 during battle scenes?
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