Hello Esteemed Navigators and Weapons Analysts
There is just a couple of things in the FB book I'd liked clarified. Under the
VECTOR system you have half the Main Drive rating available for the
manoeuvering thrusters and you can still use all the Drive to alter velocity.
The example about rolling the ship appears to contradict this. It says that
a thrust-4 ship that has 2 points available to alter facing (in this
case rolling and rotating) would only have 2 thrust factors available to alter
velocity. Also the VECTOR system says that you only need one point of the
thrust factors to rotate a ship to any facing but the example of movement in
the paras on Rolling ships and Odd numbered thrust factors imply that it costs
1 point for each point of facing change. Now is this a mistake or are the
above sections actually talking about Cinematic movement.
In the optional rule on Aft-arc fire it says that those weapon systems
with 360 degree arc may only fire to the rear arc if the ship did not use it's
Main drive, presumably as it would be difficult to aquire targets due to the
interference from radiation and EM backwash (PSB) but does this also apply
to PDS and class-1 beams used in that role? If not, why not?
Vector:
Yes, you have 1/2 (round down, minimum of 1) engine rating to maneuver
and full rating to use for main drive. Yes, 1 point of Maneuver will allow you
to turn to any clock facing. Any
other maneuver points may be spent for "pushes" and/or to roll.
Rolling: The example given is using Cinematic movement.
Aft Arc Fire:
PDS and Class-1s in PDS mode are not effected by MD because the targets
are MUCH closer. Fighters and missiles are assumed to be darting in to do the
actual attacks. Our group read the rules differently than some others. That is
that, with the weapons that have an Aft arc may fire and that limiting them to
turns when the MD did not fire was the optional rule. What is the difference
between Push of 3 and a MD burn of 3? If pushes do not incur the penalty then
using MD at less than half of its rating should also not incur the penalty (or
a push should incur the same "blocking arc" penalty).
<tinker mode>
If I were to re-write the vector rules, it would have the following
changes: 1. Movement points would be double the rating for the ship. 2. MD and
Rotation would come out of the same movement point pool (as it takes time to
spin a ship. And during that time, the ship may not fire its main drive, or at
minimum, the MD firing is less effective at putting the ship on the desired
course). 3. I would eliminate pushes as they would result in less than 1"
(1000km) movement on the map. 4. I would allow multiple rotations (turn, fire
MD, turn) as long as the ship had the movement points to accomplish it. 5.
Rolls would cost 1 movement point <end tinker mode>
-----
Brian Bell bkb@beol.net
http://members.xoom.com/rlyehable/ft
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> -----Original Message-----
> "Bell, Brian K" wrote:
> Aft Arc Fire:
We play the same way. We opt out of not being able to fire aft when the main
drive has fired although we don't often see ships firing through their rear
arcs.
> <tinker mode>
That would definately increase the tactics in the game since ships would be
less pradictable but then you'd have to rewrite the rules for missiles and
you'd also be looking at thrust 6 ships out distancing fighters
> 2. MD and Rotation would come out of the same movement point pool (as
This makes sense to me to, though is starts to really restrict mobility in
ships.
> 3. I would eliminate pushes as they would result in less than 1"
(1000km)
> movement on the map.
What you have here then is the ship would rotate then apply main thrust then
rotate back to shoot, sounds like a push to me:)
> "Bell, Brian K" wrote:
> 4. I would allow multiple rotations (turn, fire MD, turn) as long as
Brian,
I like all of your ideas to re-write vector movement. Have you
done any paytesting with the turn, thrust, turn variant you mentioned?
-Mike
Yes. It works well. You need to double the movement points as I mentioned, and
have to "pay" for turns for it to work well. It restores the more maneuverable
small ship concept of FT that was lost with the Fleetbook changes.
As Jaime mentioned, you do have to change Fighter and Missile movement (we
used 36" for Fighters and Salvo Missiles. And 60" for Fast Fighters, MT and ER
Salvo Missiles). We also increased the range of Wave Guns to 54" (3x18) and
Nova Cannons to 72" (3x24) but kept the width of the blast the same.
-----
Brian Bell bkb@beol.net
http://members.xoom.com/rlyehable/ft/
-----
> -----Original Message-----
> Anthony Leibrick wrote:
> There is just a couple of things in the FB book I'd liked clarified.
> The example about rolling the ship appears to contradict this. It
That's because the example in the "Rolling Ships" was written for Cinematic
movement, not for Vector. That rule can be used in both movement systems
(which is why it is under the main header "New Fire Arc Rules" <G>).
Cinematic is the original system (and therefore standard, from the rules'
perspective) while Vector is purely optional. Don't expect the examples in all
optional rules to take all other optional rules into
account, like :-/
> Also the VECTOR system says that you only need one point of the thrust
> Now is this a mistake
No.
> or are the above sections actually talking about Cinematic movement.
Yes.
> In the optional rule on Aft-arc fire it says that those weapon systems
It does not apply to PDS and C1s used in PD mode. Same reason as why PDAF and
ADAF were allowed to fire through the rear arc at all in FT2 while beams were
not: game balance.
If you want a PSB explanation, assume that fighters and missiles make an
attack run from the position of their marker to their target ship and that PD
fire takes place at ranges far, far shorter than 1 mu. Ships, OTOH, are
assumed to be at the position their model (or the
center of the base of their model, to be more exact) is, and long-range
fire control is worse affected tha point-blank ones.
Regards,
> Hello Esteemed Navigators and Weapons Analysts
Both the examples you quote refer to using the rules for Cinematic -
sorry
if it isn't clear in the book! ;-)
> In the optional rule on Aft-arc fire it says that those weapon systems
Well the intention of the rule is that PDS fire IS possible through the rear
arc evenm when the drives are in use; the PSB we usually use is that
PDS (and Beam-1 used as PDS) fire is at pretty close range and the PDS
fire directors can punch through the mush, while the main firecons can't get a
lock on a more distant target through all the EM junk. Mind you, the fighters
would probably get pretty scambled themselves from flying in
through the drive wash.... ;-)