Questions on cloaking (bit long)

In message <011d01c07e5f$95f30ae0$e4a9bfa8@mycroft>
> "Pat Connaughton" <patconnaughton@earthlink.net> wrote:

> Our group got together last night and we're working to

Well, my take on Star Trek type cloaking devices;

A ship that is cloaked cannot fire weapons (including pds), neither can it
power a screen generator. If sensor rules are in use it cannot use active
sensors either. A cloaked ship cannot be fired upon (but can be affected by
area effect weapons) unless it has been 'lit up' by something.

Cloaked ships in Star Trek never seem to be bothered with 'flying blind'
so assume that they _can_ use passive sensors.

In game terms, when a ship cloaks, mark its last known position and vector,
and remove the figure. The controlling player should plot movement in secret
(except from the ref, and I really think that a ref is needed if you're using
cloaked ships). Movement is still plotted turn
by turn, and the player can have the ship de-cloak on whichever turn he
pleases.

Cloaking and De-cloaking must be written in the orders, it takes a full
turn to cloak, in which the ship suffers all the limitations for being cloaked
(q.v.), but can still be targeted normally.
Similarly, it takes a turn to de-cloak, with the same limitation, it may
get a 'surprise bonus' if it wasn't spotted - but I can't think of a
good way to implement that just now :-(

Cloaked ships _can_ be spotted with sensors, at least enough to know
that something is there and roughly where it is. Using the rules on sensors in
More Thrust, Sensors can spot cloaked ships, as follows:

Range Basic Enhanced Superior
0-6 mu  4+      2+              automatic
6-12    5+      3+              2+
12-18   6       4+              2+
18-24   -       5+              3+
24-30   -       6               4+
30-36   -       -               5+
36-42   -       -               6

This is best handled by a ref. If the cloaked ship is spotted it still
cannot be targeted except by area-effect weapons.

For MASS and COST, I'd say use the More Thrust values, MASS = 10% of MASS of
ship (minimum of 1), COST = 20 x MASS of cloaking device (2x MASS of the
ship).

Extras from the Undiscovered Country.

'Fire while Cloaked' Fire Control (FWCFC) This advanced Fire Control enables a
cloak ship to attack while cloaked, but it is limited to only working with
pulse torpedoes or missile systems (MT or SM), and only 1 weapon system per
FWCFC. Firing while
cloaked gives a +2 bonus to sensor rolls to spot the cloaked ship.

MASS 2, COST?

Anti-Cloaked Ship Missile.
This is a variant of the More Thrust missile that can track a cloaked
ship. It has reduced firepower (1d6+1) compared to a standard MT
missile.

MASS 2, COST?

***
A cloaked ship cannot be fired upon (but can be affected by area effect
weapons) unless it has been 'lit up' by something.
***

In the original, didn't they think they could shoot, but only a hit on the
wildest luck? Admittedly, even the 'legendary helmsman of the legendary crew'
having this much trouble indicates ALMOST, but not quite, impossible.

Of course, in the movies, Kruge's caused a flickering of background stars, and
in another, there WAS outgassing, but that whole 'our sensors aren't equipped
to detect, but this survey module is' is one of those things that has us true
trekkies having our suspension of disbelief running in
hyperwarp. ;->=

On the other hand, I think my inability to quote an entire episode or movie
probably disqualifies me.

***
Cloaked ships in Star Trek never seem to be bothered with 'flying blind'
so assume that they _can_ use passive sensors.
***

Again going back to the original, the Fed ship was almost as cloaked to the
bird as vice versa. Except in the case of Crazy Ivan's, subs pretty much
assume that flying blind is non-hazardous, and Balance of Terror WAS a
sub movie.

The_Beast

-Douglas J. Evans, curmudgeon

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