SV: Re:RE-[FT] Starfire bug designs

bif smith asked:

> Do MT missiles require the use of a firecon?, because originally

They do need a firecon now, and they did back then as well :-/

MT says that the missiles have their own AI for guidance. What it *doesn't*
say is that this means that the ship doesn't need an FCS to
launch them. Some years back - 1995 or thereabouts IIRC - Mike Elliott
relayed a clarification from Jon (who wasn't on-list at the time) which
is now in the FT FAQ at
(http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Station/3565/faq-index.html) and which
says:

"Do missiles require a Firecon? Yes, one firecon must be allocated during the
missile launch phase. The firecon can be used again for direct fire weapons in
the same turn, this is to prevent the need to track which firecons have been
used."

The "have their own AI" bit could simply be an explanation of why the
launching ship doesn't need to guide the MTM all the way to its target
(a la wire/laser-guided anti-tank missiles or SFB drones).

> I`m asking because it would require the alteration of my

Starfire pods are fast compared to ships (though slower than gunboats
or fighters), but their movement is pre-programmed and have a very
short endurance - ie., they can't adjust their movement after seeing
the enemy deployment and they can't move very far before they "expire".
Depending on what rules you use for WP transits, thrust-4 pods could
work OK.

Regards,