While I favour a very simple but drastic solution to the fighter problem (ban
them) limiting the number of squadrons that can attack per turn looks pretty
good  simple and maybe even realistic  as long as we don't think about it
too much.
Instead of a finite limit though if you use too many groups you just start
getting nasty effects instead  the point defence fire becomes more effective
simply because there are more targets in the target area or a danger of
fighters damaging each other in the fur ball.
In the old days you could have tied the limit to the hull class (escort,
cruiser, capital) but I don't think we need to bother about this. The exact
number would have to be worked out by exhaustive playtesting. A bonus to the
number would be a nice perk for races, advanced fighter types or the like.
It would make close escorts and ADFCs much more attractive if you attack the
ships as a unit rather than individual ships  again vaguely realistic. Only
when the escorts start going pop do the fighters get a clear run at the
heavies.
> ...limiting the number of
Oh no it doesn't. No Sir.
If the MU was defined then I could perhaps see that if MUs were small enough.
But MUs arn't defined and could represent thousands of miles, kilometers,
etc..
I'd much rather see fighters treated as ships in the design rules. Base
cost for six fighters + options (weapon loadout and speed).
> ...limiting the number of
> If the MU was defined then I could perhaps see that if MUs were small
You could do both. Close range, devastating attacks are limited to N squadrons
at a time (and they take double the usual PDS hits), while long range plinking
is open to any squadron within 6mu.
> You could do both. Close range, devastating attacks are limited to N
I'm liking that. By "close range" are we talking about moving them into
contact with the target ship?
You could consider fighters are living SML shots. If they're within 6MU then
they plink away (roll 6 to cause a point). If they're moved into base contact
then they suddenly become more powerful.
Or something like that.
I said:
> You could do both. Close range, devastating attacks are limited to N
Damo said:
> I'm liking that. By "close range" are we talking about moving them
Determining the appropriate value for all variables is left as an exercise for
the student.
I've been out of town for the weekend, came back to massive number of
e-mails, and have only skimmed this.
Has the idea of dividing massed fighter v ship battles into a fixed number of
fighters per attack, and PDS shooting once per 'attack', as opposed to once
per turn been mentioned again? I had suggested the PBS of there's no problem
with room enough for an unlimited number of fighters attacking, but that there
was a limiting factor in coordinating the fighters to attack at the same time
to overwhelm PDS. Unlimited squadrons attack per turn, finite overwhelming of
PDS.
I never thought this was THE solution, but a bit of a balance against droves
of fighters. Of course, it does conflict the part of the rules that state once
per turn, fighters or SML's...
The_Beast
PS Twins are great, wearing daughter to a nub.