I haven't trolled around all the FAQs for this, so if I err, please club me
with the appropriate URL..
VTOLs can be in three modes: Grounded, Low and High. Grounded isn't a problem,
but the other two are causing some confusion in my group.
1) What can a High VTOL shoot at? Firstly, can it shoot down at a ground
target, and if so at what penalty? Secondly, can it shoot at another High
VTOL? Again, is there any penalty for this "dogfighting"?
2) Can a Low VTOL shoot at one in High mode? If so, does any penalty apply?
Does a Low VTOL receive any benefit if it is being shot at by High aircraft?
DS2 pg 41 doesn't address these issues, though pg 42 does give us the "only
LAD and ADS can attack High aircraft" rule.
3) Can ZAD attack Low VTOLs, or is that the preserve of "ordinary ground units
using direct fire"?
In our DS games, Confidence appears to manifest itself in three levels:
Exuberant, Cheerful and Doggedly Determined. Rumour has it there are other
levels, but we've yet to experience them. We've tried to tighten up our games,
taking every confidence test and (most) reaction tests the rules throw at us,
but nothing seems to run away. I can't think of more than two occasions in
four games where a unit failed a reaction
roll, with the near-certainty that it would perform
next turn.
Lacking lists, we're using a random table for Quality and initial Leadership.
All units are Confident to begin with, mostly Regular and average Leadership
perhaps 1.6 or thereabouts.
Granted, we're not using leader markers so none of
those +3 threat tests are popping up, and our units
are fairly small (typically three or four figures)
but lethal so they tend to "buzz-saw" each other
before morale can really take effect.
Given the above, should our games be fairly "morale-
free" or have we got something completely wrong?
-- ================================================
> VTOLs can be in three modes: Grounded, Low and High.
> 1) What can a High VTOL shoot at? Firstly, can it shoot
Acording to the rules as I rember them (I'm afraid its been a while...) VTOL
may not engage anything in high mode. I do rember seing an FAQ somewhere
answered by St J himself (cue angelic choir harmonies) who's reponse to the
question "could VTOL in high mode engage each-other" responded "Sure Why
not". (please don't excomunicate me if I am misquoting).
> 2) Can a Low VTOL shoot at one in High mode? If so,
No, being in high-mode makes a VTOL imune to any fire from ground level
except air-defense weapons.
> DS2 pg 41 doesn't address these issues, though pg 42
Um... I hadn't thougth of that, I guess they should really be allowed to,
particularly guided weapons type things.
Must go now, food is calling, hope that that is of some help.
G'day,
Sorry this reply took so long I've been trying to get enough time to answer
(still don't have enough time for a proper answer sorry)
> 1) What can a High VTOL shoot at? Firstly, can it shoot
I'm not sure if this in the rules or not (probably not), but we use:
HIGH = fired at by other vehicles in HIGH mode and ZADs (I've been toying with
LADs and GMS too though I may be in fantasy land here re: realistic stuff) LOW
= direct fire from GROUND and LOW, missles etc from HIGH
GROUNDED = bombed by HIGH/LOW and direct fire from GROUNDED and LOW
> 2) Can a Low VTOL shoot at one in High mode? If so,
Don't think so explicitly, but once again I've though about a secondary die,
much like what VTOL's get in pop-ups.
> 3) Can ZAD attack Low VTOLs, or is that the preserve
I let them, though many people don't actually bother as they just use ground
troops to do it.
> In our DS games, Confidence appears to manifest itself
You're probably not going to see too many "bad results" that way. I'd
definitely add leader tests for one.
Cheers
> --- Beth.Fulton@csiro.au wrote:
> > 1) What can a High VTOL shoot at? Firstly, can it
Ruleswise, can be fired at by LADs within 12".:)
Further, there is nothing in the rules to prevent a VTOL from firing at ground
targets at any time regardless of altitude.
> LOW = direct fire from GROUND and LOW, missles etc
Yup.
> > 3) Can ZAD attack Low VTOLs, or is that the
ZADs firing at ground targets (which low VTOLs
effectively are) are treated as twin RFAC/2 mounts.
G'day,
> Ruleswise, can be fired at by LADs within 12". :)
Them too;)
> Further, there is nothing in the rules to prevent a
We said that for some weapons but erred on the side of caution (i.e. no) for
things like APSWs etc.
Cheers
> --- Beth.Fulton@csiro.au wrote:
> > Further, there is nothing in the rules to prevent
Yeah, I have a hard time seeing a.50 cal shooting from that high accurately.
On the other hand, a buddy of mine told me 20mm and up works just fine.:) Or
that was the gist of his
description of watching an AC-130 work over some hills
in Aghanistan.
> At 6:51 PM -0700 8/6/02, John Atkinson wrote:
Was he talking about the 20mm coming down or going up (there is a diff ya
know)? 20mm in WWII was very much a close in thing, usually only effective in
the last mile or so of the aircraft's run into the target.
> --- Ryan Gill <rmgill@mindspring.com> wrote:
Ummm...
AC-130s generally fly into combat. Driving a C-130
(of any variant) off of the runway and up a mountain is not in accordance with
the operator's manual. If it breaks, the Government can take the cost of
replacement out of the pilot's salary.