I played my first FT game with my Kra'vak fleet tonight, and came up against
something that is pretty common in our group, particularly in larger games.
Many of our pick up games tend to degenerate into the "stop and fire" variety,
where one or both sides will advance, then stop and spin to face the enemy.
While an effective tactic on the part of the halted force, it is a bit
discouraging to see it happen game after game. Since ships can spin to any
facing, it seems to me that it removes any maneuvering advantage the Kra'vak
may have. Do spinning ships have to write their facing down during the orders
phase, or can they spin whenever they want? If not, I'd like to suggest that
there be some sort of counterbalancing factor against ships that are stopped
(such as making them easier to hit, etc.).
Thanks,
> At 19:27 2000-06-20 -0700, you wrote:
My reading of the rule was that the "spin" was a turn (rotation) that cost 1
movement point when the ship was stationary. Thus, the turn would have to be
written in the movement orders.
---
Mark:
> larger games. Many of our pick up games tend to degenerate
Are you playing Vector or Cinematic? In vector there's no need to stop, you
can rotate at any speed. Either way, though, you have to write your order to
specify your facing.
KV maneuverability is less important in Vector--essentially the
KV have the equivalent of MD2 advantage over Human ships if they're turning.
> Mark Reindl wrote:
[On stopping and spinning]
> Since ships can spin to any facing, it seems to me that it
Depends a bit on what weapons the non-KV force uses. Against a
maneuvering foe the KV are usually able to fire their main guns between
one-third and half the time (depending on how good the players are or
how well they know each other), and the KV need their maneuvering edge
to get to shoot at all. If OTOH the non-KV force stops and spins, it
allows the KV ships to fire their single-arc weapons every turn - ie.,
they voluntarily remove the KV *need* for any maneuvering advantage,
and give up any advantage they gain from their own multi-arc weapons -
if they have any, that is :-/
> Do spinning ships have to write their facing down during the orders
Yes.
Regards,