From: Bruce S. R. Lee <bsrlee@w...>
Date: Wed, 2 Jul 1997 05:35:31 -0400
Subject: Further re Oceanic Grav-bikes
I am still waiting for my first patrol of Oceanic bikes to come in..... On the subject of Grav Bikes - size-1, armour- 1, all vehicles get a s.a.w. for free. Other things to consider is their role - in most modern armies 'cavalry; units are recon/light strike units and usually have the best sensors that can be obtained, anong with whatever stealth systems are available. As to the possibilities for additional armaments: Troopers - 2nd s.a.w ( or more - say up to 4 total? - there are 5 spaces available - all fixed forwards) Support weapon - Well a size 1 vehicle has 5 spaces for weapons beyond its free SAW, so a GSM-L (or 2) should fit as it takes only 2 spaces and a GSM-H only takes 4 spaces - from a modelling/p.s.b point, the actual missile could be quite small - think of the size of the standard infantry launcher which has 3-4 rounds already loaded - and as the missile is air launched it would not require as big a motor unit, just a 'sustainer'. If you were really sick you could fit 4 infantry sized launchers ( at 1 space each as per SGII page 32 para 4) in addition to the fixed Saw, you just have to gift one target with the lot or have 4 x 3 (or 4) shots over the course of the game...... As for other heavy weapons, again, once you have paid for the big, hi-tech power plant to run the gravitic drive, there should be sufficient power to charge a laser even if it has to rely on a capacitor bank to pump the tube exciters. Hel's also have the advantage of no expendable munitions at all, and as a spinal mount you should be able to shoe-horn at least a HEL- 2 in as well as the Saw. Everything else has to lug around expendable weight - GAC's & MDC's are probably the next lightest, followed by DFFG's ( ammo and tube are probably fairly heavy), and most weapons would also generate considerable recoil - except for the GSM's and HEL's. just a few thoughts until I get my hands on the models....