2e Vorlon Beam Deflection?

[Alexb83]

Will Vorlon Heavy Cruisers (and I guess other ships) be getting the ability to absorb incoming beam attacks, as seen in the series?

As seen in the series where the Vorlons ambush/destroy all those shadow ships (Interludes and Examinations?), I believe it's a heavy cruiser that soaks up a shadow beam blast in the energy vortex between its 'pylons'.

 

[emperorpenguin]

not really, we see a Shadow blast scratch one of the tentacles. The people who say that is a forcefield are also the type to argue that the Primus has one based on the effects of Starfury fire in "the Fall of Night"

 

[H]

clearly they were bulkhead hits.

 

[captainsmirk]

Actually there is a scene where a VHC quite clearly blocks a shadow beam with an effect similar to the firing sequence, quite seperate from where the shadows damage the tendril.

This could be more of an interceptor type effect than a shield or energy absorbtion (hell the EA use their ships main guns as interceptors all the time, if fact B5 is the only thing shown to use a specialist system for this purpose), plus should only really work in the front arc.

However this would be contrary to the basic interceptors rules (blocking a beam) and since the Vorlons already have adaptive armour and self-repair probably not worth bothering with...

Here's a (admittedly very small) clip of it. You can see the Vorlon cannon charge up effect, which the shadow beam strikes and is cancelled out. I'd really would hesitate to call it a shield since it is connected to the main weapon system.
http://www.babtech-onthe.net/quicktime/shields1.mov

Hmmm... perhaps a special rule for the main Vorlon gun can block weapons fire but looses its own shot (since its the only shot the Vorlon gets it wouldn't be that easy a decision).


Nick

 

[Locutus9956]

Nope Im sorry but its clearly a shield on the VHC in that episode. That said, the Vorlons are quite tough enough already thank you!

and the people who argue the primus gets shields because starfury plasma weapons 'splash across' are just being silly.

But seriously, the VHC in that episode has a clear energy barrier that stops the shadow beam a good distance BEFORE it hits the ship.

I wouldnt mind there being shileds on Vorlons but Id like to see their ships a bit more fragile if they did of course!

 

[Burger]

Give Vorlons shields, and you have to take away their Adaptive Armour.
Then, they become just like Shadows... but if that's what the show says, then that is what should be done.

 

[Alexb83]

It's simple - you just make it a special action or a thing to do in lieu of firing (so yes, you can't shoot that turn). But you intercept the first d6 AD of beams shot against you, or something like that.

And no, I wasn't referring to the hit on the tendril, as has been pointed out, there is a clear interception of the beam by the lightning cannon vortex.

 

[Silvereye]

To be fair, the argument for Adaptive Armour is much better as Delenn explains that's how the White Star works and this system was Vorlon Technology.

 

[Locutus9956]

Definitely DONT get rid of adaptive armour. Id say give them BOTH but lower their actual dmg score (or even their hull values) correspondingly. And they wouldnt be just like shadows in either case if they took damage the same way, they still wouldnt maneuver like shadows, or use hyperspace like them etc etc.

As pointed out though adaptive armour is one of the few bits of technology thats actually explained in some detail on the show.

 

[Alexb83]

Yes, but adaptive armour is just one of doubtless many vorlon technologies, and this shield/lightning cannon effect is just as likely something they didn't give to the Minbari before they left.

 

[emperorpenguin]

Give Vorlons shields, and you have to take away their Adaptive Armour.
Then, they become just like Shadows... but if that's what the show says, then that is what should be done.

but the show actually says they have adaptive armour....

 

[Locutus9956]

Hence why I think they should have BOTH technologies. It wouldnt break them if you cut their acutal hit points back enough or better yet lowered all their hull values by one but gave them shields.

 

[emperorpenguin]

And no, I wasn't referring to the hit on the tendril, as has been pointed out, there is a clear interception of the beam by the lightning cannon vortex.

yeah sorry, I was going from memory there.

 

[Burger]

Give Vorlons shields, and you have to take away their Adaptive Armour.
Then, they become just like Shadows... but if that's what the show says, then that is what should be done.

but the show actually says they have adaptive armour....

So they are an uber overpowered race..
Give them shields and AA, and bump all the ships up a PL.

 

[emperorpenguin]

So they are an uber overpowered race..
Give them shields and AA, and bump all the ships up a PL.

Again!? :wink:

 

[Burger]

So they are an uber overpowered race..
Give them shields and AA, and bump all the ships up a PL.

Again!? :wink:

Yeah... heavy cruiser becomes Ancient level :lol:

 

[Alexb83]

Actually, the show says they have 'the vorlon defence field' (IIRC, in Lennier's words), that absorbs and deflects away the energy of incoming weapons, and leaves just the kinetic impact. It also learns and becomes more effective over time.

This has been 'interpreted' as a half damage system in the AA trait - does that really do what Lennier says it's supposed to do? Surely every turn it should become more effective.

 

[Alexb83]

So they are an uber overpowered race..
Give them shields and AA, and bump all the ships up a PL.

Again!? :wink:

Yeah... heavy cruiser becomes Ancient level :lol:

Not necessary - you make it something that you actively have to do, like the Technomage Pinnace attempting deflection, only you make it automatic, the tradeoff being that you can't fire that turn because your weapon system is generating the field (as shown in the video) - the upside being that you can try and stop incoming fire (including beams).

 

[emperorpenguin]

Actually, the show says they have 'the vorlon defence field' (IIRC, in Lennier's words), that absorbs and deflects away the energy of incoming weapons, and leaves just the kinetic impact. It also learns and becomes more effective over time.

This has been 'interpreted' as a half damage system in the AA trait - does that really do what Lennier says it's supposed to do? Surely every turn it should become more effective.

which episode was it?
I recall it was something like "Vorlon learning skin" not "defence field". Adaptive armour is the same thing, it adapts to incoming fire. B5 Wars had it getting steadily better but you can't do that in ACTA, too much paperwork and complexity

 

[Alexb83]

The first episode where the White Star is seen, which, IIRC is Matters of Honour (Season 3, ep1).

The ep with the Vorlon interception is I think Interludes and Examinations