From: Charles Taylor <charles.taylor@c...>
Date: Sun, 09 Jul 2000 14:53:47 +0100
Subject: Yet another Sa'Vasku Pod design
Yes, yet another Sa'Vasku pod design - I've recently collated all the ones posted to this List, and this brings the total to 11! So I think we have enough, for now :-) (Even though there is some overlap in functionality - compare my Gunge Pods with Brian Bell's EMP Pods - both knock out systems in a ship-wide basis, but use slightly different game mechanics (and vastly different PSB) to do so. Any, cut to the chase- Mine Pods These pods are the SaÂVasku equivalent of human mines. They float freely in space until an enemy ship moves with their sensor range, at which point they release a stinger-like pulse of energy, inflicting damage upon the ship that triggered them, and consuming themselves in the process. Mine Pods require a variable amount of power to fire, and consume 1 biomass. The power used determines the eventual strength of the Mine Pod, and can be up to 6 power points, +1 to lay the mine, thus it requires 2 to 7 power points to lay a Mine Pod. Laying Mine Pods is the same as using a minelayer system (Full Thrust page 18-19). A Mine Pod has a trigger range of 3 mu, any enemy ship entering this space will trigger the Mine Pod. When a Mine Pod fires, it does a number of beam dice of damage equal to the number of power points invested in it (re-rolls apply). For example, a SaÂVasku ship uses 4 power points and 1 biomass to lay a Mine Pod, if the Mine Pod was triggered, it would inflict 3 beam dice of damage on the triggering ship. All normal screen, armour/carapace, and vapour shroud defences apply as normal. Notes: I'm not sure whether or not the maximum power limit is necessary - but if you take it out, imagine a scenario where the Sa'Vasku can pre-lay a minefield - send out a Vas'Sa'Rosh - which pootles around at thrust 1 laying 3 mines a turn - 2 are strength 1, and the remaining one is strength 31! (That would be one _scary_ minefield :-) I did consider the option of laying dummy, strength 0 mines (1 power point + 1 biomass) - but who would bother? Any thoughts, comments, suggestions, criticism, etc.