FT: ST designing

Thanks for the comments. My rebuttals:

> >How about shielded "armor"? It would represent the degrading

Armor isn't totally ignored, screens are by pulse torpedoes and missiles. Is
normal armor repairable in combat? I suppose you could make it so (this sounds
familiar?:)). All I did was up the cost by a point (equal to shields) and
distinguish it from regular armor. Screens in FT are all or nothing, I wanted
something to represent a degrading defense ("Shields are done to 42%,
Captain!").

> >

You cannot use point defense against pulse torpedoes, and you can against
missiles. Yes, I know, change the rules so PDS do not exist (blech). I like
pulse torpedoes as photons.
Generally, if you limit phasers to class-2 beams then pulse
torpedoes are longer ranged.  "Class-3" phasers could exist
on larger ships (BB+) and bases.
Yes, some ST shows and movies show a photon torpedo package, but pulse
torpedoes can be done similarly.

> >Class-3 beam weapon = disruptor (wait until I'm done).

They're not in the FB. Also, my impression is that they are not balanced.

> >Heavy phaser = class-2 beam, light phaser = class-1.

That's what I did, from class-1 to class-2 for cruisers
and smaller. I should change my Fed DN so it has a couple
"really heavy" phasers in the front (class-3s).

> >Btw, I've only considered the Federation and Klingons;

Why do I recall that the Klingons usually were making passes at the E?
Sometimes it was because of some plot device (warp engines down, can't ruin
our ambassadors luncheon, etc:)) but my impression is that those K cruisers
had maneuverability on the E but not the firepower or defenses. When the E did
make a maneuver it was more of a surprise or a matter of tactics ("attack plan
Delta, Mr.Sulu", I'm paraphrasing). There's only a 2 point difference in
thrust, anyway.

> But I have a dilemma: I'm in the middle of designing a

Thanks, I did.

> >

I changed the PDS to class-1s, which can work as point defense
in the normal rules (I recall one episode where the E easily took out some
planetary based missiles with phasers).

3 FCs for staying power. Scotty may be a miracle worker but players can get
lucky and knock two out easily, and the damage control can get unlucky and not
fix any. Hmmm, it would be more cinematic, though.

> >

Cheaper sfx (IMHO). I suppose all beam weapons on a K ship could be
considering disruptors of varying size.

> >

Sfx again (IMHO). I considered it (a pulse torpedo is the same
mass as a class-3 beam) but wanted to keep a definite K flavor.
It could be a variant (or mine is the variant). I also didn't include a
cloaking device, one can be added by removing the screen, reducing the thrust
by 1 and upping the cost. I don't know the cost change since Armageddon
Outfitter (thanks to whoever!) has a different cost than the FB. Btw, I think
the FT's cloaking device is too large IF based on ST.Kirk carried it aboard
the E when he stole it. Make it mass 1, points 50 (yes, I know, change it in
my game).

Has anyone noticed if any Romulan ships ever fired a shot in TNG or later
series? Maybe in a DS9 big battle scene but with all that's going on it was
hard to notice any such details.

> From: Alan E and Carmel J Brain <aebrain@dynamite.com.au>

I did look at your webpage and generally liked it. Although, you have the D7
bigger and tougher than the Fed CA. You seem to be trying a direct SFB
conversion (no choice when using SFB created races) while I'm trying to go for
the feel of ST, with some influence from other games.

Could the Romulan plasma torpedo be represented by an SML? The "number of
missiles on target" could represent how close the torpedo got to its target
before exploding.
With no PDS then class-1s can only reduce the "warhead"
strength a little. To simulate the dissapation based on range use this system
instead (borrowing from that new idea currently in discussion about SMLs):
1"-12" : 9 - 1D6 "missiles hit",
13"-24": 8 - 1D6,
25"-36": 7 - 1D6,
37"-48": 6 - 1D6.
Smaller plasma torpedo launchers could start with a smaller base number (8
instead of 9). One problem I see is that the current SMLs have a magazine
so it limits the number of shots.  But a SML-rack works for
F-torps (from SFB).

> You cannot use point defense against pulse torpedoes, and you

This is an OK compromise similar to A. Brain's TOS rules.

> Yes, some ST shows and movies show a photon torpedo package,

Known as a spread. You can abstract it out in the PT sure but the SLM gives a
better mechanic and feel.

> Railgun

I wouldn't constrain myself with the FB, more do an EFSB for ST and derive a
set of appropriate weapons. The Railgun works well as a powerful heavy weapon,
just like the Disruptor and it has different mechanics to give an alien
flavour. They have a few design constraints that could be exploited, but we
are delivering up canned ST designs so this isn't a problem.

> There's only a 2 point difference in thrust, anyway.

Big difference, if anything the later TNNG shows fed ships on a par with
klingon. The actual klingon vs E encounters are the Enterprise Incident and
Elan of Troyous, so sign of superior K thrust in those shows really.

BTW the 'ambassador incident' was an Orion pirate ship with over-loaded
engines

> PDS don't fit the background IMO.

Patterns of force, Nazi nukes.

> Cheaper sfx (IMHO). I suppose all beam weapons on a K ship could

Thats certainly true for the romulans, the K's later add photons but we never
see phasers on K ships in the shows IIRC.

> >

Didnt you see ST III, VI and Generations? The BOP without a torpedo isn't a
BOP IMO. ST VI gave the best photon vs shields battle to date the way the
photons leaked through the shields and then penetrated is what we are looking
for.

> It could be a variant (or mine is the variant).

> Btw, I think the FT's cloaking device is too large IF based

I think you will have to roll your own cloak and costs as you suggest.

> Has anyone noticed if any Romulan ships ever fired a shot in TNG

OTTOMH:

Tin Man The Pegasus Timescape The Enemy Unification?

The later Roms are disruptor only dudes (I still think you should try the
railgun :-). The wave gun is a possible fit for the plasma torp in
'Balance of Terror'

The Cardassians initially phasers only - going on 'The Wounded' and
early DS9

[snip]
> >Klingon Bird of Prey, 48 mass, 157 points. Thrust-6, average

You're welcome!

It does have the same cost as the FB, though.
P. 11:	 Cloaking Field    Mass 2 or 10%, whichever is greater
                           Cost 10xMass
Normal rounding on mass (<.5 rounds down, >=.5 rounds up).

- Sam