Hello All: There is a debate that is raging in my FT playgroup. The house
rules state that there will be no mixed technology ships in normal FT play.
However there is one major exception: Armor. Human ships can purchase Armor at
normal cost. How can this be when the rules of the house prevent hybrid tech
ships? The guy who runs the group states that it's because of the wording of
the rules in More Thrust. I refer you to page 25 and the rules under the
caption of "Kra'Vak Armoured Hull Costs:"
"When costing Kra'Vak ships (or indeed any other vessel fitted with an
armoured hull)..."
It's from that phrase where our fearless leader has devised the ruling.
Needless to say, some players (namely Kra'Vak players) don't like the ruling
because they claim that the rules are for backgrounds
other than the offical background. They think that the non-Kra'Vak
players are just trying to sqeeze a few more weapons systems into their
ships rather than paying the extra 3-9 MASS for protection.
Personally, I like the ruling. Who ever said we were playing in the offical
universe to begin with? Any thoughts?
Later,
In my small group we use armor on human ships. The justification is simple
in my mind, armor isn't a unique/exotic technology. We humans adapt
fairly quickly. If we were faced with an enemy that had kinetic weapons that
were penetrating shields, I believe there would be a few captains weld plates
of
armor to their ships. Also, it helps offset the _free_ mobility bonus
that Kra'vak get.
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> At 10:37 AM 5/10/97 -0500, you wrote:
In our games, the Kra'vak Armoured Hull is a Kra'vak armoured hull. That is,
it's Kra'vak tech. If you disallow hybrid systems, armour is only allowed on
Kra'vak ships.
Now, if you want a universe where Kra'vak armour can be mounted on a human
ship after they capture a Kra'vak ship, then that's different. But the ship
would still be a hybrid.
I took the phrase to mean that if you wanted to create your own universe and
allow armour on any ship, then it would be priced the same way as Kra'vak
ships. In the "official" universe, humans have shields and Kra'vak have
armour.
But if the guy running the group wants humans to have armour too, so be it. It
should help to balance out the costs of Kra'vak versus human ships (I don't
worry about the cost differences since I don't usually bother with the point
system, but your group sounds like they'll push the point systems to the limit
of cheesiness).
> Mark A. Siefert wrote:
One idea occures to me...try increasing the cost/mass of human armor
(inferior quality to the kra'vak's advanced armor)
of course, it is your universe...
> On Sat, 10 May 1997, Eric Fialkowski wrote:
We (my game group) tend to assume that human starships are already as
armored as much as the available technology will allow -- after all, the
human engineers aren't fools, and will min/max the armor on the hull
just the same as any other "combat vehicle." We assume that the Kra'vak armor
is superior alien technology, otherwise it doesn't make sense.
> Mark Siefert wrote:
Not sure if they are really hybrid. I would think armor technology, at least
to some extent was available before screens to human forces. The main
difference is in cost and maneuverability. The Kra-Vak armor is
something they have pursued to a higher degree than humans. They're increased
knowledge and experience would help keep their costs down, as well as give
them time to design highly maneuverable ships that integrate the armor as part
of their general configuration.
> "When costing Kra'Vak ships (or indeed any other vessel fitted
I would interpret this as a new system for everyone. Only Kra-Vak don't
pay extra to use it.
> Personally, I like the ruling. Who ever said we were playing in
Go for it! I thought the "official" universe meant anything taken from the GZG
rules.