Simple Sensors III

OK Folks, for those who don't want to wade through the whole thing, here are
the changes...

(1) Changed all Size Class references to straight MASS based system. (2) Upped
MASS for higher Class systems to dissuade those who might try for a cheap
range extender. (3) Changed effects so "1 hit" no longer effects combat range
for the same reason. (4) Most effects are now only applicable to the ship
mounting the system.

Electronics Systems

These systems represent a combination of ECM, ECCM, stealth shielding, or
other deceptive and detective technologies.

ALL ships receive a Class 0 system with the hull.

Class 0 Electronics - Included with Hull
Class 1 Electronics - Mass 1
Class 2 Electronics - Mass 4
Class 3 Electronics - Mass 10
Class 4 Electronics - Mass 22...
Point Cost is Total Mass x 5

The Class 0 system will be inherent to all ships, so it should give the same
info that we get now:

Range (Info): 24" 48" 72" 96" 120" Class 0 Passive All MASS Bogey None None
Class 0 Active All All MASS Bogey None

Ships using Active detect & are DETECTED at the listed ranges.

Ships using active mode roll a number of dice equal to their sensor class.
These dice are scored just like beam weapons, including re-rolls on a
natural 6. The "Hits" are then spent:

1 Hit - Increase/Decrease sensor range by 24", OR falsify MASS
information by 50 MASS*
2-3 Hits - Increase/Decrease effective firing range by 6", OR
increase/decrease effective sensor range by 48", OR falsify MASS
information by 100 MASS*
4+ Hits - Increase/Decrease effective firing range by 12", OR
increase/decrease effective sensor range by 96", OR falsify MASS
information by 200 MASS*

*All effects are solely for the ship mounting the system, though information
may be freely distributed to the rest of the fleet for
non-targeting purposes.

> On 1-May-00 at 00:24, Sean Bayan Schoonmaker (schoon@aimnet.com) wrote:

I personally would call this complete. We need to playtest it but if it checks
out I would be more than happy to have this reviewed by "The Man":)

> On Sun, 30 Apr 2000 21:22:40 -0700, Sean Bayan Schoonmaker writes:

Any ideas on what an area effect system would end up costing? Maybe massed as
one class higher and effects everything in a 6" radius? Then can spend hits to
increase the radius?

> On 1-May-00 at 12:49, Matthew Seidl (seidl@vex.cs.colorado.edu) wrote:

My vote would be for no area affect, or affect that can't do everything the
local one can. If I were going to do area affect I would say
it _only_ can be used for increasing the range, and I'm not sure I
like what that would do for game balance.

A more pressing thing in my mind is how do you do drones that fake being
ships? Maybe you have to do "battle riders" of mass 3 or 4? Or allow drones
that mass the same as a MT missile, fake being
a mass 30-50(?) hull and last X turns, possibly recoverable?

> Any ideas on what an area effect system would end up costing? Maybe

It would be impossible to balance such a thing, so I left it out
intentionally. It would reward super-dense fleet formations... and
though I like the idea of what a few SMLs would do... I think it's
unnecessary.

Oh, on looking at the Simple Simon sensors I realized you left an important
range band out.

Range 0-12 should be look at SSDs, as the version posted by Naom
(and as a version I posted long ago that we are using).

> Range 0-12 should be look at SSDs, as the version posted by Naom

Good point, I'll work on it