I've given the problem a little more thought and I think that a log4 system
may work better:
Class 1 - 1-4 (fighters or gunboats)
Class 2 - 5-16 (scouts or corvettes)
Class 3 - 17-64 (frigates or cruisers)
Class 4 - 65-256 (battlecruisers through dreadnoughts)
etc.
This gives a wider range while still keeping the number of Classes down to a
reasonable number. I like this distribution much more than the one from my
previous post.
> I've given the problem a little more thought and I think that a log4
The question of bogey identification came up in a v-small PBeM game I've
been trying to run. What I would do is roll 2d6, keeping the rolls seperate.
One
would be a +/- roll (eg, odd = +, even = -). The other would detail the
very approximate Mass of the target ship. The numbers would range like this:
1,2 = +/- 20 Mass, 3,4 = +/- 30 Mass, 5 = +/- 40 Mass, 6+ = unable to
obtain a Mass reading
Now mind you, when I say '+/- 20 Mass', I mean it could be *anywhere*
within
20 Mass of the actual - eg, you could get a reading of 14 Mass off from
the actual:) This was the *really* kludgey bit (and I just rolled more dice to
work it out, which wasn't hard since I have enough d10s around to trip over)
Well, like i said, it's kludgey. Better for PBeM gaming than RL gaming.
Mk
[snip]
> The question of bogey identification came up in a v-small PBeM game
One
> would be a +/- roll (eg, odd = +, even = -). The other would detail the
The problem I have with this is that it's not easily represented on the
tabletop - and probably not on a PbEM map either I suspect. That was a
strength of the old system: three types of counters, and that's it.
IFF (sic) you went with the log4 base that I put out there, you'd need 4 or 5
types of counters (one for each Class). Or, if you went with a straight log10
that was suggested, you'd only need three.
I like the idea of SIMPLE, but not simplistic. Though you method provides
uncertainty and detail, I think it involves too much dice rolling. I'd prefer
a simple counter that cn be flopped out on the map by the referee at a glance.
In message <v04003a00b189153fb22e@[207.21.142.141]>
> Sean Bayan Schoonmaker <schoon@aimnet.com> wrote:
> I've given the problem a little more thought and I think that a log4
Are these numbers the masses of the ship? Does this mean that the Fleet Book
has finally got rid of the (effective) 100 mass limit? How big are the larger
ships now?
> Are these numbers the masses of the ship? Does this mean that the
Yes, yes, and the biggest design provided is 280.
[snip]
> Well, like I said, it was a kludge. It was something I whipped up to
I didn't mean for my comments to be taken as the nasty sort of criticism; I
personnally just don't go for it. I think that most of the stuff that gets put
out on the list is at least an idea generator to someone, even if it never
gets used in its entirety.
> At 03:39 PM 5/21/98 -0500, you wrote:
So is this your next PBEM, after your vacation? ^_^
> [snip]
Well, like I said, it was a kludge. It was something I whipped up to get us
into the game because we didn't have any good manners in doing bogeys. I just
offered it out here as a method I used, wasn't suggesting anyone
actually *adopt* it. ;-) (they'd hafta be more insane than I to do
so!)
Mk
[...]
> Class 1 - 1-4 (fighters or gunboats)
Yes. Yes. The largest ship in the FB is the freakingly HUGE FSE "Jeanne D'Arc"
class Fleet Carrier, weighing in at 280 Mass (outmassing the dreadnoughts of
other fleets by ~30%), mounting 7 fighter bays and enough
weaponry to take on/out a heavy cruiser. AND she's fast!
I want one on my side.:)
Mk
[re: FSE "Jeanne D'Arc" class Fleet Carrier]
> I want one on my side. :)
That a hint? ;-P~~
As a matter of fact, I was thinking that my next PBeM *would* be set in the
GZG universe...but don't swamp me yet with 'I want in!' msgs; this ain't gonna
happen 'til *autumn*!
Mk
In message <v04003a01b18a396c393f@[207.21.142.173]>
> Sean Bayan Schoonmaker <schoon@aimnet.com> wrote:
> >Are these numbers the masses of the ship? Does this mean that the
Excellent, though still a touch on the small side for my tastes:)
> Yes, yes, and the biggest design provided is 280.
Which brings up something I've been ruminating on:
Has anyone tried to game the Fred Saberhagen Berzerker series in FT? I've been
unable to come up with any truly satisfying designs yet; perhaps the FB will
open up some new avenues.....
P.S. Dear GeoHex: If The Gamer in Manhattan, KS hasn't ordered a Fleet Book
yet, ship him one anyway. I want that book!:)
In message <v0155010eb18c788d9c0d@[199.240.131.184]>
> jfoster@kansas.net (Jim 'Jiji' Foster) wrote:
> >> Yes, yes, and the biggest design provided is 280.
I've
> been unable to come up with any truly satisfying designs yet; perhaps
If you mean a big powerful ship capable of taking on entire fleets by itself,
of levelling worlds and generally being a pain in the backside for all
sentient lifeforms out there, you might want to look at my designs for
Imperial Star Destroyers:
http://www.bifrost.demon.co.uk/Gaming/FullThrust/StarWars/SW.html
Never actually tried using one in a game yet though:)
Personally, I prefer the Planet Killers of Greg Bear to Saberhagen's
Berserkers. Better written, and much more advanced, but roughly the same idea.
> At 16:45 5/23/98, Samuel Penn wrote:
Hmm... got a title or two in the series I could look up? I'm afraid Bezerkers
are the only literary 'flying Ogres' I'm familiar with.