From: Brian Bell <bkb@b...>
Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2001 07:04:34 -0400
Subject: RE: [DS2] High/Low Tech (was: DS2 fire control modification)
I would hate to play in a game of DS2 where you can't do anything and you opponent can do everything. High on Low tech battles (such as you described), make for a very boring battle unless the low tech have overwhelming superior numbers. I think (and Jon or Mike can chime in and nix my argument) is that DS2, intended or not, is set, technologically, at the beginning of the Grav era. CFP is at maximum efficiency for that type of powerplant. HMT is established technology, but still growing in efficiency and power output. FGP is a new technology. It has been around in city power plants, starships, etc. for a long time, but Grav AFVs were not used enforce until 2110. I also think that in the error of DS2/SG2 sensor technology has reached a plateau. The best FCS is not that much better than the cheap FCS. Stealth can be done, but sensors are good and diverse enough, that it has become expensive. ECM & PDS are about a crap shoot with equivalent levels of missile guidance. EW is about even on both offense and defense. Just about any power in the GZG universe has the ability to travel from star to star. The technology has lifted many other technologies and made the differences somewhat flat. The point system assumes that all of those coming to a battle are either space-faring or have access to the technology. To make a High on Low tech battle, you will have to handicap the low tech side. Limit them to CFE. That eliminates Fast GEV (except for small vehicles [size 2 and less]), Grav, and Walkers. It limits the size of HEL and MDCs (the longest reaching weapons). If you then limit them to Basic level FCS, Guidance, ECM, and/or PDS (or a 80/20 split of Basic/Enhanced). Limit the size of weapon in a vehicle to the size of the vehicle (no tank-killers). And limit the class of armor to 1 less than the size of the vehicle. You will still have to look out for the massed attack, but they will be at shorter range and have a lower chit validity, they will be out gunned and slower. Of course they would have to have a large numerical superiority to have a balanced game. --- Brian Bell bbell1@insight.rr.com ICQ: 12848051 AIM: Rlyehable YIM: Rlyehable The Full Thrust Ship Registry: http://www.ftsr.org --- [quoted original message omitted]