Ok, now that Noam has set the archive up, which weapon or system shall we
evaluate first?
We could do them in alphabetical order, in which case the first is:
Antimatter Salvo Missile (AM-SM)
Ok, I'll kick off:
As Noam comments, this is a slightly over-complex SM / Plasma Bolt
hybrid, I'd suggest removing the damage drop-off effect, and treating
these as Plasma Bolts with a power equal to the number of missiles that
survive the PDS (all ships within 6 mu of the salvo are 'threatened' and
thus can use PDS - however, if they can do this to an AM-SM, then why
not to a normal SM?)
Damage is reduced by screens/shrouds in the same way as Plasma Bolts.
Right, crude cost comparison:
Salvo Missile - launcher is 3 MASS, ER salvos are 3 MASS each
1 use per Salvo Range is 24 mu
Plasma Bolt Launcher (PBL) - MASS is 5 times Class
1 use per 2 turns Range is 30 mu
both have COST = 3x MASS, so we can just compare on MASS
So, compare effects of defences:
Defence SM PBL PDS 1 beam die 1 in 6
Pulsar-PDS 1 beam die 1 beam die
Class 1 5 or 6+reroll no effect
K-1 5 or 6 no effect
Scattergun 1d6 1 beam die Fighters 1 beam die* 1 in 6 Screens same effect on
both
In general AM-SMs are more affected by defences than PBLs average
effects are as follows:
Defence SM PBL Difference PDS.8.1667 0.2083
Pulsar-PDS .8 .8 1
Class 1.8 0 0
K-1 .6667 0 0
Scattergun 3.5.6667 0.1905 Fighters.8.1667.2083 Average 0.27 (approx)
So defences are about 3 3/4 times more effective against AM-SMs than
against PBLs.
1 SML + 2 AM-Salvos is 9 MASS
this is equivalent to 2 shots of a PBL-6, but with the increased
effectiveness of the defences.
However, the 2 shots _can_ be on consecutive turns, unlike the PBL
also, the system is more vulnerable to thresholds - as there are two
systems to damage - either of which will KO the system.
A PBL-6 is MASS 30, for comparison.
reduce the range to 24 mu, and the MASS should reduce to about 19 (based on
Oerjan's range vs. cost calculations).
So, which would _you_ buy?
Charles Taylor wrote:
> Antimatter Salvo Missile (AM-SM)
Note: The AM-SM description says that point defence can reduce the
AM-SM effectiveness, but does not specify in which way.
> Defence SM PBL
The rule is rather ambigous, isn't it... FB2 p.36 says: "Phalon pulsers fired
in PDS mode roll as for normal point defence systems against plasma bolts.",
and since normal point defence systems get "1 in 6" against PBs that's all the
Pulsers get as well.
> Class 1 5 or 6+reroll no effect
Fighter hit normal SMs on 5 or 6+reroll. Why give them a full beam die
against SM-AM?
> Screens same effect on both
Clarification: the "difference" column gives the ratio between the PBL
and SM columns. (0.8-0.8 isn't 1, but 0.8/0.8 is :-/ )
Using the correct Pulser/PB interaction, the "average ratio" is approx.
0.14. Or, if you bake the Pulser-PDS into the other PDSs (since
they're identical) you get 0.12 :-/
> So defences are about 3 3/4 times more effective against AM-
3 3/4 is the inverse of 0.27. However, as described above 0.27 itself
is somewhat debatable.
> 1 SML + 2 AM-Salvos is 9 MASS
Yes.
> Robertson, Brendan wrote:
> With SML salvoes, we're not limited to making them 6 actual
Charles was talking about 2 salvoes for 19 Mass though, not a single
one. Still, 8 Mass ammo for one salvo does seem a bit excessive :-/
> How about simplifying the mechanics down.
Much cleaner mechanics, yes.
> PSB: Area detonation is harder to target, as the missiles aren't
The magazine vulnerability is a disadvantage compared to a PBL-2, but
I've very rarely lost a 2-salvo magazine before running out of ammo.
SMLs with 3-salvo or bigger magazines are far more like to be knocked
out before expending all the ammo. OTOH, the ability to launch two
salvoes on consecutive turns is a big advantage compared to the PBL-2.
The question to be asked here is: given the choice between 3 normal SM
salvoes and 2 AM-SM salvoes, which would you choose?
Also - though this is a PSB question only - a PB can be targetted by
PDSs even though it doesn't "close for the kill" the way normal missiles do,
due to its high energy signature. What is it that makes
the AM-SM possible for the PDSs to shoot at?
Later,
In message <200102081919.UAA29732@d1o903.telia.com>
> "Oerjan Ohlson" <oerjan.ohlson@telia.com> wrote:
> Charles Taylor wrote:
Well I assumed (dangerous) they were treated as other salvo missiles.
> > Defence SM PBL
Good point - and I agree for consistency reasons - I did wonder about
that - but, as you say, its a bit ambiguous.
> >Class 1 5 or 6+reroll no effect
My mistake - should _check_ rules before posting!
> > Screens same effect on both
Unfortunately my vocabulary chip seized up and I could remember the word
'ratio' :-)
> Using the correct Pulser/PB interaction, the "average ratio" is
Err.. sorry, I was talking about 2 salvos for 9 MASS - the 19 MASS was
a hypothetical reduced range PBL-6 (q.v.) - at least, thats what I think
I was saying!
> >How about simplifying the mechanics down.
I think we were hoping no-one would ask that :-)
Another question - although IIRC no one has mentioned it yet, what
happents if a ship looses a SML-Magazine to a threshold when there are
_Antimatter_ SMs in it? The chance of an 'accident' is rather higher
than for normal SMs? :-)
> Later,