ZADs??? & DSII assistant application

9 posts ยท May 8 1997 to May 9 1997

From: Kevin Walker <sage@c...>

Date: Thu, 8 May 1997 01:12:25 -0400

Subject: ZADs??? & DSII assistant application

I've recently started working on design specs for an application that will
assist play of DSII (and later I hope to add in stuff from SGII and
FT/MT,
but one step at a time). I've been reviewing the material in DSII, and I
seemed to be confused a little about ZADs (Zone Air Defence). I hope I'm
not re-iterating something that's been brought up before - sorry if I
am, but I can't seem to find any mention of cost or space requirements for
this system.

Is ZAD an extension of the ADS system, there is mention of ADS several
paragraphs latter on page 42 in the Air Defense section?

There is mention in paragraph six of the above mentioned page that [...
vehicle-mounted Point Defence Systems may NOT engage aircraft...], I'm
assuming that this definitely means PDS systems can't be used, but does this
also carry over to ADS systems. I realize the answer may be obvious to many of
you, but I wanted to clearify this, as it would be a pain in the rear end to
find out that this wasn't the case after I've coded things up for the Mac and
possibly Win32.

Thank you for your time,

From: Ground Zero Games <jon@g...>

Date: Thu, 8 May 1997 04:19:04 -0400

Subject: Re: ZADs??? & DSII assistant application

> I've recently started working on design specs for an application that
Would
> anyone find it useful if you were allowed to edit the chit mix that was

Kevin -
Sorry for the confusion - which arises from the (probably unnecessary,
in hindsight) use of two terms, ZAD and ADS, for what is essentially the same
thing. Yes, ADS can engage aircraft, up to 36" range; it can also engage
missiles up to 12". Essentially, ZAD is a "role" - ADS is the system
that performs that role. PDS are small systems optimised for antimissile use,
and cannot function as either LAD or ZAD roles. Hope this clears it up.

From: Phillip E. Pournelle <pepourne@n...>

Date: Thu, 8 May 1997 11:06:26 -0400

Subject: Re: ZADs??? & DSII assistant application

I have an additional question that hinges on this issue. If Air Defense
systems cannot engage the aircraft themslves, only their weapons in flight,
then can Guided missile systems engage them instead, or are they simply
Anti-Armor?

From: Paul Calvi <tanker@r...>

Date: Thu, 8 May 1997 11:53:48 -0400

Subject: Re: ZADs??? & DSII assistant application

> At 12:12 AM 5/8/97 -0500, you wrote:
Would
> anyone find it useful if you were allowed to edit the chit mix that was

Yes, This would be great.

From: Ground Zero Games <jon@g...>

Date: Thu, 8 May 1997 16:51:01 -0400

Subject: Re: ZADs??? & DSII assistant application

> I have an additional question that hinges on this issue. If Air

ADS CAN engage aircraft (acting in their ZAD role); it is PDS that can't. As
to targetting aircraft with GMS, I would say that as the basic rules stand,
the answer is no, but (as always) if you want to designate a particular kind
of GMS system as being multirole and having AA (LAD or ZAD, your choice)
capabilities then do so, working out a suitable additional points cost (you'll
have to argue this one out with your gaming group).

From: Chen-Song Qin <cqin@e...>

Date: Thu, 8 May 1997 22:04:40 -0400

Subject: Re: ZADs??? & DSII assistant application

> On Thu, 8 May 1997, Kevin Walker wrote:

> P.S. In the interest of making this application (if I ever finish it)
Would
> anyone find it useful if you were allowed to edit the chit mix that

This is definitely a good idea. One important concept in software design
is to have user-enabled customization.  After all, if the users don't
like the feature they can simply ignore it. But if they like it and you don't
have it... well:)

From: CmdrDuh@a...

Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 11:18:18 -0400

Subject: Re: ZADs??? & DSII assistant application

You might want to get ideas from the list here to find out all the features
people would look for and then build your application.

just an idea

From: gentloser@t... (David & Anita Crowhurst)

Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 15:05:29 -0400

Subject: Re: ZADs??? & DSII assistant application

> ADS CAN engage aircraft (acting in their ZAD role); it is PDS that

But I thought that vehicles direct fire weapons could fire at aircraft if they
were at low altitudes.

> Jon (GZG)

regards gent
---
Slums may well be breeding-grounds of crime,
but middle-class suburbs are incubators of apathy and delirium.

      ****************************************

From: Ground Zero Games <jon@g...>

Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 17:43:53 -0400

Subject: Re: ZADs??? & DSII assistant application

[snip]
> But I thought that vehicles direct fire weapons could fire at aircraft

If you check the highlighted para at the top of P.42 (first column), it