The Romulan Sovereign: Mogai Warbird

If there were two things that Nemesis got right, it was the Mogai class, and the absolutely gorgeous Romulan uniforms.

[@kevreid82]

I did like the uniforms. Way better than the goofy tng ones.

[@thesenate5770]

They really are the best romulan uniforms. So much drip

[@rbarger71]

I would have preferred Commander Donatra show up to help Picard with 3 D'Deridex warbirds versus the 3 Valdore she showed up with that quickly met their fate.

[@JeffreyHAREWOOD-m5o]

@@rbarger71 She only showed up with 2 if memories serves me correctly.

[@rbarger71]

@@JeffreyHAREWOOD-m5o Yes, you are correct.

[@Daedalus-BC308]

I've always loved how the Mogai is basically a D'Deridex cut in half horizontally and then trimmed down a bit.

[@347Jimmy]

I thought the same thing! Reminds me of a Razee, a concept from the age of sail. Take a 1st or 2nd rate ship of the line, and remove the upper deck, creating and oversized/overgunned frigate.

[@itsOasus]

if you think about it honestly the D'Deridex was pretty wasteful in the size department. I mean yeah it was BEEG but what did that size accomplish exactly? It wasn't for housing a bigger crew compliment that's for damn sure.

[@Lonovavir]

I got the impression that the D'Deridex class was built to be imposing and that the Dominion war forced a major rethinking of ship design.

[@bermanmo6237]

Sort of like the modern MEKO concept where you take a hull that can be scale up and build different size ships with different weapons and sensors using different modules.

[@KevinTheID]

The Mogai has always reminded me of a Romulan version of a Vor'Cha with a Bird-of-Prey's maneuverability.

[@daveh7720]

Yes! I've been sitting here trying to remember what other ship it reminds me of.

[@Watcher1134]

Wasn't there a Refit of this class although fictional in Lower Decks

[@bermanmo6237]

Mogai more like a heavy cruiser versus battleship size D'Dervieux class.

[@williamcorvinus8240]

Vor'cha is extremely maneuverable for its size. Had no problem chasing the Defiant around...

[@chrisbingley]

Definitely my favourite Romulan ship. I wish they had more screen time.

[@Sealhunt]

I think you should do a video on the scimitar next, as a companion video for this one, so fans can get a better understanding of why such a incredibly designed vessel got so stomped on.

[@kevreid82]

Its interesting the federation and romulans built smaller but more powerful ships, but the klingons built bigger

[@bermanmo6237]

Bragging rights from the Klingons. The Negh'Var is more avoujt the firepower even though it maneuvera like a brick. In the now defunct Last Unicorn role playing games, it always traveled with a fleet of 2 Vorcha class and a squadron or 2 bird of preys. In STO, it was succeeded by an even larger battleship that carries its own 2 bird of prey, a couple of runabout size shuttle and a squadron of fighters,

[@kevreid82]

@@bermanmo6237 I assume the federation had mission specific designs in their ships that required large space to fit science modules and crew support functions. The klingons probably always packed as much firepower as possible into their ships and the only way to make a more powerful ship was to build bigger. The sovereign is more powerful than the galaxy but much less massive because it focused more on combat than the galaxy ever did. Starfleet didn't waste any space on the sovereign class.

[@theodoremccarthy4438]

The D'deridex remains my favorite Romulan design, but the Mogai is gorgeous and very high in my personal rankings.

[@johnmlln9982]

Romulans always had great ships, the FASA Romulan Ship Recognition Manual was peak joy.

[@chrisbritt4266]

I love those Romulan designs too.They've always been my favorite

[@JuniperFinch538]

"Ye" I could HEAR the proud little smile

[@casbot71]

Okay Rick, we need a list of your *favourite, most beautiful Starfleet* designs. Not the ultimate powerhouse ships, but the ones with the best aesthetics and lines. And I fully expect to see the Excelsior on that list.

[@emergingloki]

4.58 Almost went all Stargate on us! The music and that sweep along the wing...

[@PaulJohn01]

4:58

[@CanisAnubis]

Hands down, one of my favorite ship designs from Star Trek. It's so visceral, yet so poetic and agile. It's like a hand-forged, specially made dagger. Beautiful, artistic, yet fully functional and incredible. Love this ship. Love, Love, Love this ship.

[@michaelmutranowski123]

I liked this ship alot in Nemesis because it showed that the Romulans could learn, adapt, and change things that weren't working. The Dominion War showed them that comprising their entire navy of frigates and battleships was a dumb idea so they finally built some heavy cruisers.

[@yodaslovetoy]

"Does it come in black?" - Bruce Wayne

[@Kainis80]

*Ba'ul vanity shield intensifies*

[@S1337theoddoneout-ip9xc]

Yes mister Wayne, it comes in back.

[@Shatterverse]

Star Bat? Bat Ship

[@sithisarcanis]

@@Kainis80Section 31 Vanity Shield is really good too

[@michaelaldredge-greenwell1692]

Giggles

[@bipolarminddroppings]

what a great looking ship, by far the best looking large Romulan ship. Some of their support craft and fighters are pretty too, but for fully fledged starships, I don't think anything else in their fleet compares.

[@SilverAranda]

The Mogai is such a beautiful vessel, one of the designes that deserved more screen time on a serie or movie, curious that one of the most "untrustful" faction uses mixing attack and defense patterns.

[@Gigas0101]

I often wonder how Star Trek would've turned out if the Bird of Prey wasn't bungled in its movie debut and remained a Romulan design... Doesn't take away from how great the Mogai looks on-screen. I'd love to see more of 'em show up, maybe two or three of them backed up by a D'Deridex, ominously approaching the Neutral Zone border. I'm surprised you said only two Romulan Warbirds were shown. I always counted three, the Mogai, D'Deridex, and the original Plasma Torpedo Warbird from Balance of Terror.

[@karljackson2670]

IIRC, it was the Cardassian Obsidian order that was forbidden from having their own fleet - Tal'Shiar officers could "hijack" any ship for their own purposes (c.f., "Face of the Enemy"). So entire battlegroups could fall under the Tal'Shiar (or the Jad'Vaj or whatever organization that doesn't exist) by the time we get to Picard Season 1. This takes nothing away from the Mogai being the coolest ship in the franchise IMO. And I love the Sovereign... And the D'Deredex... And...

[@3Rayfire]

Drop Dead Gorgeous. She's sleek. A supermodel of a warbird.

[@CarnorJast1138]

I would still rather have a Galaxy Class Enterprise D, or Big D, over almost ANY ship in ANY fleet! Love the Galaxy Class Starship!!!

[@Obiwan7100]

I love this design Look like a modern Klingon Bird of Prey.

[@krisgonynor689]

At first, I thought those outermost pods, out beyond the large warp nacelles, were large sensor pods. But your explanation of them being for use while clocked at warp makes sense as well.

[@BNuts]

My favorite Romulan design is the Heavy Destroyer that you get with the Lifetime Subscription. It's also my most-used ship in _STO_ because of the battle cloak and firepower. Although I don't think its mode transformation looks quite as cool as the Manticore's does.

[@barrybend7189]

Now the Scimitar. The only ship i fly exclusively in stock skin in STO.

[@marcusplatzer1667]

Rick, we all love Romulan Design. And you're absolutely right, the D'deridex is still an icon. By the way, love your content, the STO content is amazing.

[@BlitkriegsAndCoffee]

I like versions of it best that show it as a smaller class than the D'Deridex. Helps fill out some holes in the Romulan fleet.

[@dainishauka7205]

i do love this ship... at the same time i find the centurion (ST fleet command ship) with its absence of long neck to look more sturdy.

[@scottwalker6947]

It is a graceful design.

[@colinmelton3815]

Very nice! I play Star Trek Fleet Command and the Valdore is going to be my next Romulan ship. Beautiful design

[@philliphall1563]

Such a gorgeous ship 💚💚💚

[@FeeriiEekii]

Also one of my favorite non-fed ship in Star Trek. Great video, however I did miss mention of the variant seen in Lower Decks with the tail fin.

[@maxskullic9879]

Can we have more, please? More ships! We crave the knowledge of trek ship breakdowns.... well I do at least... and I don't play with my little ships while watching, I'm just cleaning them while making phaser noises 😅

[@DocWolph]

They really needed to do MORE with this ship.

[@ArtistryBranson]

Great video, Ric. And I agree that the Romulan designs are just gorgeous.

[@Sasuke81a]

This is my favourite Romulan Warbird design.

[@AberrantChibi]

Despite a shared origin with the Klingon Bird of Prey, you can tell it's still a Romulan ship by it's use of negative space, within the neck and wings.

[@johnsledge3942]

Always loved this design too, it definitely feels like the Romulan version of the Sovereign class. I’d love to see a video on the larger 2399 warbird that Commodore Oh had. (Even if it is smaller than the older warbirds based on the bridge shot in Picard S1.) I doubt there’s much info on it, but it’s a pretty cool design that doesn’t get talked about much.

[@alancoll1987]

I can see why you like it. So sleek. :D

[@austinm5630]

My favorite design in Trek will always be the D7. The sheer audacity of putting everything important except for the warp core out on the end of that long, skinny neck and basically daring everyone to try to cut it off. Nothing could be more Klingon. The Mogai ain't bad either, though :)

[@Twitchguy]

It’s my favorite romulan ship!

[@jeffhallam2004]

Love all these ship videos!

[@worldtraveler930]

I Totally and Wholeheartedly Agree with you!! It's a Very Slick and Interesting design!!! 🖖🤠

[@blazechicken6822]

Always loved the design. Feels more like a warbird than the D'Deridex as that ship was just intimidating. The legendary Valdore is one of my favorite ships on STO tho not gonna lie...it would look awesome in an assimilated Scimitar paint job.

[@Mosxutus]

I LOVE this ship too! I love it more than the Sovereign, I love it more than the futuristic Statfleet designs, it's just so... elegant yet deadly! Not much of a fan of the D'Deridex Class, but tje Valdore... MWUAH! 😍

[@3Rayfire]

John Eaves knows his stuff.

[@archmageofmetal8883]

Definitely the best looking ship from the Romulans

[@Kreachie]

6:08 Actually the Mogai has Six impulse engines, the ones you pointed out yes, Plus 4 more that are built into the structure of the wings. I do like the Mogai, it’s powerful but not too big.

[@rodan9773]

My 3rd fav ship in Star Trek The NX-01 is my second and The D'kyr Type is my First i love those Vulcan Ship Designs. Respect and keep up the epic work.

[@martinjrgensen8234]

Absolutely gorgeous ship this❤ It looks so sleek and deadly

[@tobys4197]

Yep - the cooolest Romulan ship design.

[@lightryu33]

One of my favourite ships with the b'rel bird of prey, everything in the mogai/valdore seems to shout "I am fast manouvrable and deadly". By the way, I like to mix valdore and mogai elements in Startrek online (just my stuff) but the default mogai look is awesome.

[@HORNOMINATOR]

this ship is just beauty

[@krisfrank84]

I'm with you, man. Romulan's just have some of the best ship designs besides some great starfleet models.

[@originaluddite]

This video makes the Valdor look really cool, but I remember being disappointed, watching Nemesis, thinking it looked _too_ Klingon. Even now, I'd have preferred if they'd accentuated the way its material folds around empty space, like the older warbirds, without being as bulky as its predecessors.

[@90lancaster]

The Mogwai warbird... Don't get it wet Don't feed it after midnight

[@sheilaolfieway1885]

Ahh the mogai a sleek lovely romulan vessel.

[@-johnto6303]

2nd? No. D’dex and the little scout ship the romulan defector uses that self destructs when he beams aboard 👌

[@AdmiralJT]

Romulan ships do have a beauty and presence to them ❤

[@hildemel]

Love the Mogai. Just got one in STO.

[@zenkomenhi]

The Mogai is hands down one of the best alien ships in Star Trek. Like, ever.

[@andrewmalinowski6673]

I'd have two exceptions; the Mazzerite warship (partial D'Deridex model) and the imposing-looking D'Kyr-class. Aside from the Valdore-class only the D'Kyr or Surak classes can compete in elegance, but they're definitely not as battle-hardy as the Valdore

[@archmagosreductorsethyrh7558]

What a beauty.

[@DrHenrik]

uhhh love that ship!!!

[@futo]

I love this ship, but it's barely feature in any of the latest star trek show, except it showed up on Lower Deck

[@feralprocessor9853]

Right off the bat, a vessel amongst the red cosmos.

[@nonyabisness6306]

kinda sad that all the klingon/romulan ships look so similar. which is why i really appreciated the ENT romulan warbird with the nacelles on top. just had enough of the spindly stick with a big head and two wings with underslung nacelles.

[@mattblair7883]

Beautiful ship.

[@dinoben65]

In my own Star Trek online story, most of my characters on Star Trek online are eighteen. My klingon character is sixteen along with my romulan Republic character. I am inspired by your Star Trek online story series.

[@justinwallace269]

I would have thought they had plasma torpedoes on this. It's an outstand ship, and easily one of my favorites in Trek. They actually gave the Scimitar are pretty solid pounding, but yes, the Scimitar was just an unusually powerful ship. Speaking of plasma torpedoes, I wish they'd add more Gorn ships to Star Trek Online. I enjoy their current vessels but it'd be nice to see some warships that are more like the ones in Starfleet Command II. I know that's a bit of an off topic tangent, but I'd love to know what you think about Gorn ships. I always felt that the Orion models were actually more fitting for the Gorn, than the actual Gorn ships. Romulans and Gorn had fought each other in the past and often copied each other's technology, hence the shared use of plasma torpedoes and similar ship designs in the 23rd century. I really wish they'd elaborate more on the Gorn and Romulan conflicts.

[@kineuhansen8629]

my favorite romulan warbird

[@T0ffik1]

Valdore/Mogai showed nicely that it had huge forward firepower, its speed/agility and dmg instantly was noticed by shinzon and forced him to focus it first, but for that i did pay at durability. 4 big cannons + 2 torps is similar firepower to one side of D'deridex (it wasnt focused forward but spread out for strafe runs for good arcs and run away after strike position) who had 3 big beams/cannons + 3 small + 1 torp. But lacked on side's and rear when compared to other side of D'deridex. It lacked also in durability, but on screen its way over 2x more agile then sovereign, so it can just sit in ships of similar size or bigger in blind spots and pound. Even when you count it that it were point blank shots that hit first Valdore and other was also short range focus fire, while he was playing with sovereign to not destroy it, Sovereign showed move firepower on arcs and tbh durability even if you ignore plot armor. Also its volume overall if excluded wings (that will be max 1 deck wide) is quite small, smaller then sovereign. I would compare Valdore to an overgrown defiant more then Sovereign tbh, its just a augument/replacement to existing D'derixe's that because of size of their frame probably can be upgraded for 100+ years and at some point will be stopped produced just by the existing numbers (as you never lack room for new bigger stuff or more powerfull singularity cores). Also look at the gondoles, they are huge and you have 2 mini ones. I dont know from where the numbers of sustain warp are, but when you look at the ship size and gondoles it will be superb in warp and probably superb fast in longer distances (faster then sovereign or ships like that).

[@samronin1141]

Very much top of my Romulan ships list along with other non Canon sleek designs like the Griffin/Griffon class from the Armada and Away Team games. I really hoped that would be in the Legacy of Romulus pack but alas it wasn't.

[@LMG1792]

It's my favorite ship

[@andrewmalinowski6673]

I will always call it the "Valdore-class" because both 'Norexan' and 'Mogai' don't work for me, but the design is beautiful and makes the class look so much better than either the D'Deridex or the TOS/23rd-century Bird-of-Prey because it's sleeker and has an aggressive design that makes it look like you'd be a fool to challenge it while the D'Deridex looked more like going against the largest kid in a schoolyard and trying to fight them. It's clear from a behind-the-scenes standpoint why both exist; competing with the Federation flagship class, but they also (unfortunately) also match the elegance or bulk of their rival It should have had a presence beyond a blink and you'll miss it "cameo" during Season 1 of "Prodigy" even if the fight against the Scimitar definitely showed it could compete alongside the Sovereign, love the mention of how the Scimitar was basically an overpowered ship

[@militaryguy27]

would you be able to do a supercut of each factions ships?

[@Jennifur68]

I have a T5 Mirror Mogai in Star Trek Online and I love it, its maneuverable, packs a punch but lacks in hull. Eventually I want to replace it with the T6 version but it's a Zen store ship and money has been tight since the last US presidential election.

[@richardmcgowan1651]

Always thought the Mogai more of a strike craft rather than a heavy combat ship. In Nemesis they were doing well working with the more heavy sovereign class. But once they got broken up. They were finished off easy enough.

[@drthompson65]

The Romulans always had the fun toys...

[@hendrikmoons8218]

2373 introduction => 2376 full production & 2373 to 2375 Dominion war: So I disagree that it 'missed out' on this event. In my humble opinion it came at he best of times; It could abuse the war to test all it's systems and get rid of any shortcomings. If it would not be for their sun going nova, my guess is these warbirds + modernised D'Deridexes would rule tha Alpha quadrant.

[@davidedens6353]

I will never call her a Mogai, it sounds too much like Mogwai

[@joescarborough3925]

This my favourite ship in all os star trek

[@deinekes9]

This ship posed some real deep questions for Starfleet. What would it take for us to counter it? How useful is it in a big battle? Why won't Commander Donatra step on me?

[@Seth90]

gorgeous birb 🤩

[@MonCappy]

It is a fucking gorgeous ship and deserved to be in a much better movie alongside the Scimitar (which is the best villain ship in all of Trek).

[@jdsim9173]

This is a nice looking ship.

[@smileygabe22]

You should look into the ships of the romulans in Star trek Klingon Academy game. They are beautiful

[@Taiko206]

The Mogai and Sovereign class being somewhat on par with each other is indeed somewhat disturbing, especially since it would not be the first time that things like Starfleet's ship designs and specs would be leaked to other powers. One only has to look at the similarities between the Defiant and the Cardassian Hideki class. Really says something about Starfleet Intelligence being sloppy.

[@maybetoby]

I loved these ships in Nemesis Do a video on the negh'var class please

[@AC20sAkimbo]

The Romulans stopped using the plasma torpedo's then? When did they give up on those?

[@ashtiboy]

well its more like they realy meant photion torpido launchers is just a term in star trek of any ship ewapon sistem that fires torpidos has are usaly in the later 23rd centry and later can acaly have any kind of tropdio launcher can use any kind of torpido pod ammo tpyes that they can use. but photon laucher is just the defalt weapon name calsfaction tpye term for any startrek tropido launcher due to how alpha and beta canon works in a in depth tach star ship spefcaltions. so teacly in star trek any photon torpdio laucher can fire any torpdio that can be used by any faction ship. the thing is with the toripodo laucnhers is just we all call them photon torpeido luanchers by defalt. like star trek online also allready bacly waters down the complexty of how actaly the way photon torpio laucnhers even work so its way easier for your ship in gameplay mehcinics. this is so you arent forced to not waste so many invtory strage slots to carry like a huge invtory of a more reasltic mangament of of all of thsoe diffrent tpyes of torpedio pods for every photon laucher. not how like they like they did in the real far more to the offcal sroce aplha canon offcal tectcal combat logtcial stuff that is done by the startrek brige comander game seres. by the way just bescue its called a photon torprido laucher bascly means it can fire the many difrent kinda of tropidos ammo pod types we see in ofca aplha and beta canon sorces. in this case romains normaly have there photon tropido laucher are normaly fireing there plasma tropedio pods in this case.

[@AC20sAkimbo]

@@ashtiboy Didn't they set up a big installation with them on one of Bajor's moons in a Cuba style power move?

[@GuardianSage]

I personally feel that the Mogai class would have looked better with a smaller wingspan. Talking about favorites among the Romulan starships, have you checked out the Daeinos class and the Aelahl class ships? Venom Geek Media has videos on both of them.

[@DASBIGUN]

Hay there Certifiably Ingame Have you thought about doing a series about the UNIQUE vessels of the Star Trek Universe?

[@Monody512]

Is the 'e' in Valdore really silent? I would expect it to either be pronounced or absent.

[@chrismurphy5629]

This ship is cool but just love the K'VORT is my favorite ship besides the Akira class

[@hansjorgkunde3772]

In space you have a problem. Excessive heat can only be transported via radiation as there is no other medium like air. So i'd not say the wings are wasted space. Just think about 2 large radiators to get rid of the weapon fire excess heat. Thus allowing for longer and more intensive battles.

[@rohenthar8449]

Valdore is my favorite ship from the movies and shows, followed by Akira, Daihakama and finally Sovereign. If, if I had a choice to serve on one or captain one of them, then I would choose either Valdore or Akira, depending on allowed faction. Ps: Im not considering here any STO ships, which are also great, like for example Arbiter class, Qu'Daj class, Faeht class, Mat'Ha class or Baratan class.

[@Sephiroth144]

The first Romulan ship that could take over the top spot from my precious Nova Z-1

[@feralprocessor9853]

Straight away, the Nemisis cover art.

[@S1337theoddoneout-ip9xc]

Near the rear of the Mogai, you can see 6 glowing small nearly flat cylinders, does anyone knows what are those? I recall seeing similar structures on the Defiant-class too.

[@orusandornots1915]

Considering the ease in which Shinzon dispatched these ships i never gave this class much respect. I always thought it was a bad decision to create this new Romulan Warbird and also not give it a more impressive debut.

[@user-to9ge8ii9n]

3:22 - oh, maybe thats what that lady meant!

[@ProvokeMe64]

All these ship designs assume ships will be met "face to face". The likely hood of that is pretty much nil. Very sleek when met head on. But if you enter the engagement from the z axis this ship, along with most others, is like hitting the broad side of a barn. A full volley of photon torpedoes from "above" would probably take this ship out.