I disagree to an extent, the Fox isn't so much a 'Starter ship' as it is a platonic example of an armed transport ship for a ground military.
......
Their logical next step, is a step down from the Fox-at least, in tonnage, something that can be produced in larger quantities and fill patrol, intelligence, convoy
escort/interdiction, and training roles.
1. Honestly, having your Starter be something that is an "Armed Transport" isn't entirely a bad thing.
It can be handed over to the Army & used exactly as planned.
It's also not a bad "Taskforce" ship in the 3050/60's when most Taskforces are a Warship surrounded by Jump/Dropships.
2. In an ideal world I don't disagree that a "proper" corvette is a must have v/s an "Army Transport".
But at the same time, I'm looking to work w/ what we have in canon or planned for in canon.
The Suns have never had a Corvette & the Durendal is something that was planned for & they have a history as a Destroyer Navy with the Davion-I/II.
I'm still pro Destroyer, a ship optimized for destroying Fighters, Dropships, and Missiles would be best as those are still going to be the main threats for any Fleet. Something more like the Baron but better. With fewer but more powerful lasers and a pair of dropships to make it a more versatile space combatant that doesn't need the deep bunkers of capital missiles an Avalon requires and can threaten a Thera Task Force or Clan Cruiser if necessary.
Agreed on Destroy, not on the Baron.
As I mentioned above, I'm more thinking a Davion-II/York type vessel, possibly with some Monolith thrown it since the FC seems to have a thing for Docking Collars these days.
I wouldn't be opposed to it being a smaller Destroyer since the Monolith idea originally came to me in a "using 3025 JS yards" post Jihad.
Something the size of a Vincent/Monolith that can be made at a JS sized shipyard isn't a bad idea for resources.