Missile boats

Yeah, there is a big difference in efficiency between a 26 point 4 mass FTL
missile boat and a
16 point 2 mass non-FTL missile boat.

Chasing after small ships with other small ships makes a lot of sense.
However, small ships are just a cheap way to get more fire control. The reason
they are effective is because they can efficiently take missile boats down.

One of the benefits of having tenders is that it is
a lot easier to turn out a non-ftl 18 mass frigate
with 14 mass for weapons than a 28 mass cruiser with 14 mass for weapons. A
lot more facilities will be
able to turn out the non-ftl frigates.  My guess
is that most ship building facilities aren't geared to producing 100 mass
ships. A lot more civilian ship building plants could be converted to making
frigates than making cruisers.

In a campaign game I'd _cloak_ my tenders, establish
secret asteroid bases in my enemies system and then cruise away for another
load. One tender load of gunboats isn't very efficient, but shuttling them
into a system until you have three loads of gunboats makes the cost of the
tender much easier to bear.

Maybe we'd go commerce raiding with them...

-------------------- Begin Original Message --------------------
a16 point 2 mass non-FTL missile boat."
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While it is possible under the rules to build a mass 2 non-FTL
missile boat. I feel that this is streaching the rules past the breaking
point. In this desing the hull, engine, sensors, and crew mass *zero*. I would
probably refuse to play against this design.

Mass 3 non-FTL gun boat is still streaching it (2.25 mass) using
only.25 tons for hull, engine, sensors, and crew. But I would probably allow
this. (18 points).

Jon, for FT3 perhaps you will add a mass rating for crew and
controls (5%-10% round up)?

> Brian Bell wrote:

Brian, While I basicly agree with your point, I feel duty bound to point out
the Pandoras Box of other points people could lobby for:

1) Crew accomidation/expendable supplies based on mission duration.
2) Fuel supplies vs range vs acceleration vs mission duration. 3) Energy
output in combat vs weapons requirements.

I for one do not want to go down the Star Fleet Battles road.

I feel you gave the key statement in saying, "I would refuse
to play...".

If it isn't fun, don't do it.

Bye for now.