Sorry bit confused by your reply.
> > Put simply can an ADS target missiles through smoke?
> Yes, if the smoke is vehicle smoke dischargers (unless it's armed with
It was a question about whether the ADS system can detect the missiles from
behind smoke. It was a question of differing systems. The ability of missile
targeting technology which is stopped by smoke against the ADS's tracking
system which doesn't appear to be.
If this was the case then the ADS vehicle could sit behind vehicle smoke
dischargers every round. This would help it reduced the increased signature
penalty with the increased range band, stop all enemy GMS and HEL fire against
it and still allow it to protect vehicles against missiles due to the fact
that it doesn't require an activation to do so.
Seems a bit powerful to me at this point.
With a new day, fresh clarity on a smoky topic! I'll try again.
First, some principles.
Artillery-laid smoke blocks all fire going through the smoke.
Vehicle smoke dischargers block GMS and HEL fire, and reduce fire control
for other weapons by one die type. This is for fire _at_ the target
vehicle, not nearby vehicles.
Vehicles, whether on fire or just smoking, _don't_ block line of sight
to other vehicles.
A vehicle pops smoke _instead_ of performing a fire action.
An ADS/ZAD can shoot at all GMS that pass nearby.
Next, ASCII art showing some situations with smoke.
TANK1 <GMS1< VTOL#1
SMOKE
SMOKE TANK2 <GMS2< VTOL#2
ADS/ZAD SMOKE
SMOKE
The block of SMOKE has been laid by artillery. GMS1 can be aimed at TANK1, as
the smoke doesn't block line of sight. GMS1 can also be targeted by the
ADS/ZAD as there's a clear line of sight from ADS/ZAD to GMS.
VTOL#2 doesn't have line of sight to the ADS/ZAD, so can't fire at
it.
It can see TANK2 and so shoot at it. The ADS/ZAD can't see GMS2 and so
can't
target it. That ADS/ZAD can't target the VTOLs until there's a clear
line of sight.
TANK1 <GMS1< VTOL#1
BurningTank
BurningTank TANK2 <GMS2< VTOL#2
ADS/ZAD BurningTank
BurningTank
Burning tanks don't block line of sight. The ADS/ZAD can shoot at both
GMS and can be shot at by both GMS. It can also attack the two VTOLs if they
move into its range. Again, with the one dice type penalty.
TANK1 <GMS1< VTOL#1
S
_SMOKE_SM
ADS/ZAD O TANK2 <GMS2< VTOL#2
_SMOKE_EK
E
Here the ADS has popped its smoke dischargers. It's immune to attacks by GMS
and HEL, yet, if the ADS/ZAD doesn't _itself_ use HEL or GMS, it can
still attack either or both nearby GMS, with a one dice type penalty for the
smoke dischargers. It can also attack the two VTOLs if they move into its
range. Again, with the one dice type penalty.
I hope that's clearer. :-)
> With a new day, fresh clarity on a smoky topic! I'll try again.
Nice art work:)
I haven't forgotten this discussion we were having it's just that I haven't
had time to read the Smoke rules again!
It's probably going to come down to a different opinion on how to treat
burning vehicle smoke.
Might ask Sir John for a DSII supplement entitled "101 uses of smoke on the
futuristic battlefield":)
> Jeremey wrote:
Absolutely. For a WWI, WWII or SF Gothic scenarios, burning vehicles act as
smoke. While for WWIII, modern, ultra-modern and SF scenarios, burning
vehicles don't act like smoke.
> Might ask Sir John for a DSII supplement entitled "101 uses of smoke
Smoke's good for separating out overlapping ADS/ZAD so you can pick them
off one at a time, with VTOL or Aerospace vehicles. We played a 60,000 total
points DS2 battle last weekend, and every player forget about smoke. They paid
the price, littering the battlefield with aerospace fighters that got a
little too bold, attacking ZAD/ADS.