Nebulon-B Frigate
Picket Frigate (Imperial / Rebel)GM · Enemy ShipThreat 14Imperial picket frigate that became a Rebel mainstay. Iconic for the Medical Frigate scene at the end of Empire Strikes Back.
- Size
- Large
- Length
- 300 m
- Speed
- Average
- Reference price
- 7,500,000 cr
Lore
The Nebulon-B frigate is Kuat Drive Yards' Imperial picket warship — a 300-meter capital ship designed for anti-pirate work and convoy escort, mass-produced through the Galactic Civil War era and serving both the Empire and the Rebellion in different markings. The Empire ordered Nebulon-Bs primarily for Outer Rim patrol and anti-Rebel picket duty; the Rebellion acquired Nebulon-Bs through defection, capture, and (later) New Republic-era purchase.
The ship's most famous canon appearance is the Medical Frigate Redemption — the Nebulon-B at the end of Empire Strikes Back where Luke receives his new hand and the Rebel fleet regroups after the Hoth evacuation. Other Nebulon-Bs serve as Imperial pickets in Galactic Civil War-era engagements, command ships for smaller Rebel squadrons, and (post-Endor) New Republic escort frigates.
For GMs, the Nebulon-B is the "multi-faction capital ship" — its allegiance depends on the campaign. Imperial Nebulon-B intercepting smugglers? Rebel Nebulon-B serving as the players' base of operations? New Republic Nebulon-B escorting a diplomatic convoy? Pirate-captured Nebulon-B operating out of an asteroid field? All canon-consistent uses.
Default Loadout
| Weapon | Mount | Attr | Range | Acc | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy Turbolaser Battery | turret | DEX | Long | +3 | 6d10 energy |
| Heavy Turbolaser Battery | turret | DEX | Long | +3 | 6d10 energy |
| Heavy Turbolaser Battery | turret | DEX | Long | +3 | 6d10 energy |
| Twin Laser Turret | turret | DEX | Medium | +3 | 3d10 energy |
| Twin Laser Turret | turret | DEX | Medium | +3 | 3d10 energy |
| Twin Laser Turret | turret | DEX | Medium | +3 | 3d10 energy |
| Heavy Tractor Beam | turret | INT | Long | +4 | — |
| Heavy Tractor Beam | turret | INT | Long | +4 | — |
| Concussion Missile Battery | missile bay | INT | Long | +2 | 5d10 explosive |
| Proton Torpedo Battery | missile bay | INT | Long | +2 | 6d10 explosive |
Reference loadout for a stock chassis. Players swap, add, or customize weapons in the Starship Builder, subject to hardpoint caps and GM approval.
Special Conditions
Capital-Grade Hull
Starfighter weapons that lack proton torpedoes or capital-rated ordnance suffer Disadvantage on damage rolls against the Nebulon-B hull.
Multi-Faction Service
Nebulon-B frigates served the Empire as anti-pirate picket ships, then served the Rebellion (and New Republic) as escort and medical frigates after defection or capture. A given Nebulon-B's allegiance is a story question; the hull is identical.
GM · Tactical Notes
Nebulon-B is the "real frigate" tier — significantly tougher than a CR-90, lighter than a Star Destroyer. Long-range heavy turbolasers are the primary threat; the dual tractor beams let it lock-and-board capital-class prey. Players engaging a Nebulon-B should expect to need fighter screens, capital-grade ordnance, or a clever angle. As a player ally, a Nebulon-B is a reliable capital escort (the Rebellion's default Nebulon-B role) — fold one into the encounter as a friendly capital that the players coordinate with.
GM · Adventure Hooks
- An Imperial Nebulon-B intercepts the players' freighter carrying Rebel intelligence. The Imperial commander is willing to negotiate a manifest check, but the intel is illegal even off-paper.
- A defecting Imperial Nebulon-B commander wants to bring his frigate over to the Rebellion. Players are the smuggler intermediaries — Imperial intelligence is hunting the defector.
- A pirate-captured Nebulon-B is raiding shipping near a New Republic colony. Players hired to retake the ship; it has 75 surviving original crew held hostage in the medical bay.
How to use this chassis
This is a GM-side stat block — an NPC ship for the GM to fly against the player crew. Use it as-is for a quick encounter, or fold it into a larger fleet engagement alongside other entries from the enemy ship catalog (filter to "Enemy / GM" on the catalog grid). For combat resolution, see the Starship Combat rules page. Enemy ships do not appear in the Starship Builder.
Similar Enemy Ships
More combat craft-category ships in the catalog.