MRSM - mid range standoff missile
This is something akin to a cross between an SM and a group of torpedo
fighters.
Concept: Fighters currently run a very high risk of being obliterated in a
high PDS environment as well as a risk of being annihilated by interceptors.
Enemy fighters are kind of hard to dodge, but the problems engaging ships
outside the PDS envelope suggest the development of some sort of standoff
weapon. It can't be hugely powerful or everyone will take it! It has to also
be costed appropriately.
The idea is this: PDS range is 6". A weapon which would allow a fighter to
attack from a range of 9" would allow a squadron of attacking fighters to
engage the target from range and eliminate PDS (except from other ships with
ADFC within 6") as a threat (thus leaving only the other side's fighters).
So, when we buy a torpedo fighter, we get a weapon which can (IIRC) do 1d6
damage per fighter but requires you to enter the PDS envelope to use it. It
also is a one shot, then home to reload kind of item.
Similarly the MRSM is proposed as a modification to a standard fighter to
replace its existing ordinance loadout. An MSRM fighter can fire one MSRM
salvo before rearming. So in this sense, things work like a torpedo fighter.
However, the MSRM may be fired from 9" out and therefore outside of PDS range
(however, if the fighter player is a little clueless, he might still put
himself inside PDS range....). So it can't do as much damage.
Each fighter fires its MRSM and the 6 (for a full squadron) come in as one
attack. Each MSRM
does 1d6-3. (average 1 pt, max 3). However,
MSRMs are subject to the PDS (their fighter platforms might not be, but the
munitions have to enter the PDS envelope to attack) and so the PDS can attack
incoming MSRM salvoes (when an MSRM fighter declares it is attacking, it must
identify that it is deploying the MSRM to give the defender a chance to allot
his PDS with this fact taken into account). Because the squadron
fires one salvo together, PDS multi-kill is
effective (that is, you can kill more than one of the 6 MSRMs with a given PDS
if you roll well). Screens have no effect on this attack form (its missiles).
I suspect a flight of fighters armed with MRSMs should be costed as torpedo
fighters.
This gives a standoff weapon that gives fighters a good chance to survive an
engagement, but they'll have to go home to rearm. Against a light PDS vessel,
they should be able to do a few points damage. Against heavy PDS, they'll
probably be moderately ineffective.
Thoughts?
Doesn't seem too objectionable. It's a little more effective than normal
fighters on one attack, but it's priced higher. AND they only get one attack.
I think I'd rather be attacked by these than regular fighters actually.
> --- Thomas Barclay <kaladorn@fox.nstn.ca> wrote:
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Suffer same penalty as Torpedo Fighters? I.e. They act as Attack Fighters in
fighter on fighter combat.
Over the long run, they would be much more effective than Torpedo Fighters, as
they would never have to make Morale checks (unless abushed by other
fighters). If you do even 1 point of damage with PDS against Torpedo Fighters,
there is a chance of them missing a Morale check.
If you put this in, I would think that you would also need to add an XPDS
(Extended Point Defense System). Mass 1, cost 3, may attack any fighter group
within 12mu, roll of 5 kills 1, roll of 6 kills 2 (and rerolls). Vs Hvy
Fighters, ignore rolls of 5. XPDS may fire each
round. Does not have anti-ship mode.
- ---
Brian Bell bbell1@insight.rr.com ICQ: 12848051 AIM: Rlyehable YIM: Rlyehable
The Full Thrust Ship Registry:
http://www.ftsr.org
- ---
- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-gzg-l@lists.CSUA.Berkeley.EDU
[mailto:owner-gzg-l@lists.CSUA.Berkeley.EDU]On Behalf Of Thomas
Barclay
Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2001 14:36
To: gzg-l@csua.berkeley.edu
Subject: [FT] Idea: Fighter MRSM
MRSM - mid range standoff missile
This is something akin to a cross between an SM and a group of torpedo
fighters.
Concept: Fighters currently run a very high risk of being obliterated in a
high PDS environment as well as a risk of being annihilated by interceptors.
Enemy fighters are kind of hard to dodge, but the problems engaging ships
outside the PDS envelope suggest the development of some sort of standoff
weapon. It can't be hugely powerful or everyone will take it! It has to also
be costed appropriately.
The idea is this: PDS range is 6". A weapon which would allow a fighter to
attack from a range of 9" would allow a squadron of attacking fighters to
engage the target from range and eliminate PDS (except from other ships with
ADFC within 6") as a threat (thus leaving only the other side's fighters).
So, when we buy a torpedo fighter, we get a weapon which can (IIRC) do 1d6
damage per fighter but requires you to enter the PDS envelope to use it. It
also is a one shot, then home to reload kind of item.
Similarly the MRSM is proposed as a modification to a standard fighter to
replace its existing ordinance loadout. An MSRM fighter can fire one MSRM
salvo before rearming. So in this sense, things work like a torpedo fighter.
However, the MSRM may be fired from 9" out and therefore outside of PDS range
(however, if the fighter player is a little clueless, he might still put
himself inside PDS range....). So it can't do as much damage.
Each fighter fires its MRSM and the 6 (for a full squadron) come in as one
attack. Each MSRM
does 1d6-3. (average 1 pt, max 3). However,
MSRMs are subject to the PDS (their fighter platforms might not be, but the
munitions have to enter the PDS envelope to attack) and so the PDS can attack
incoming MSRM salvoes (when an MSRM fighter declares it is attacking, it must
identify that it is deploying the MSRM to give the defender a chance to allot
his PDS with this fact taken into account). Because the squadron
fires one salvo together, PDS multi-kill is
effective (that is, you can kill more than one of the 6 MSRMs with a given PDS
if you roll well). Screens have no effect on this attack form (its missiles).
I suspect a flight of fighters armed with MRSMs should be costed as torpedo
fighters.
This gives a standoff weapon that gives fighters a good chance to survive an
engagement, but they'll have to go home to rearm. Against a light PDS vessel,
they should be able to do a few points damage. Against heavy PDS, they'll
probably be moderately ineffective.
Thoughts?
> On 3-Jul-01 at 23:40, Brian Bell (bbell1@insight.rr.com) wrote:
I don't know about this. Each one does 1d6-3. When they fire your
average damage is 1 point. The whole squadron is going to do 6
points and then go re-arm. If you are extremely cautious they
will get to fire twice and they cost many points. (Sorry, too
early in the AM here to figure 24 + hull + drive +xxx)