[FT, EFSB] Guardian array = ADS ?

G'day,

One of the guys here has got himself a Centauri fleet and as they're his only
fleet we're madly converting them over so he can have a few games of
FT/EFSB. So far the only system we've had to put any thought into is the
guardian array (everything else has either been covered by existing
conversion rules - thanks guys - or by "well that's a beam 3 equivalent"
etc.). I'll jot some of my ideas down here (feel free to rant as I've put all
of 2 minutes thought into them), other than that, have any of you guys come up
with an equivalent of the Guardian array yet? I wouldn't mind hearing how you
deal with it if you have. Thanks.

Idea 1: Make a system that's very much along the lines of EFSB (this would be
Derek's preference, but then he's played more of it than I have). Make it so
Centauri can use interceptor grid in an area defense kind of sense
-
e.g. if in same arc of target ship as firing ship and the interceptor grid is
online (i.e. not damaged in the arcs needed for this operation) and hasn't
been used already then can act for the target ship too (i.e. pretty much as of
B5 wars, but the symbols and the rest of its function etc are as of the
interceptors). And make the costs (for FB use) along the lines of:

System Mass Cost
Level-1 array           3 or 5%                 4xmass
Level-2 array           6 or 10%                4xmass

- is a cost of 4xmass enough or should it be 5 (or more)?
- should the mass be more?
- EFSB costs would be as of interceptors + some extra (would have to
look at how much they cost etc. in EFSB before saying anything here)

Idea 2: I've had little to do with EFSB so far (only just getting a few Narn
ships now) so my first reaction was to make some kind of area effect screen.
Something like ADFC except it applies to a screen not a PDS. So, say, must be
within 6" of ship you're protecting and then it acts as if its
got level-1 screen if you're using one area defense screen (ADS) to lend
one of your own normal screens (which then can't be used to protect
yourself) and acts as if got a level-2 if use 2 ADS to lend 2 screens.
The costs could be something like:

System Mass Cost
Level-1 screen          3 or 5%                 3xmass
(i.e. as of FB)
Level-2 array           6 or 10%                3xmass
(i.e. as of FB) ADS 3 9 (i.e. 3 x mass)

- I tried to make the mass of the ADS a reasonable size so I wasn't
opening
a loop-hole whereby big ships could be screened at much reduced costs
(as only paying for the screen of the escort etc.). Maybe I should put the
mass up higher (if I made it, for arguments sake, mass 9 and cost 27, then the
mass/cost of the normal screen + the ADS would be the equivalent of
paying for one screen on a mass 300 ship and so should cover any ship we're
likely to see in the average game), though the higher the mass the less likely
you are to see escorts etc. carrying one (let alone 2).

So what do you think guys? Or do you have some even better/more polished
ideas out there?

I was going to muck around with this a bit more and then present it as an IAS
invention just to see how many ubernation comments I could coax out of
you guys..... ;)

Is it my imagination or have things gone eerily quiet since Master Atkinson
departed? Talk about life of the party...;)

Cheers

Beth

Howdy,

I'm pretty new at FT but I've found all the info I needed for B5 at Richard
Bax's excellent site:

http://bax.nobigdeal.net/tbp/design.htm

Its got pre done control & order sheets for about 30+ B5 Ships, all done
to the FTFB standard, not FT2.

Its also got a conversion system for AoGs B5W so you can convert other ships
(and a spread sheet to simplify it all).

This should cover everything you would need in the situation described I
think...?

Cheers

John

"In war one sees his own troubles and not those of the enemy."
 - Napoleon