Abbai Interceptors

[Obsidian]

We all know that the Abbai are the masters of defense, yet due to the mechanics of the game we see a case of diminishing returns as the number of interceptors goes up. Unlike a lot of things in the game you can't simply throw a higher number in there to make them better.

So what I'm wondering is if people might want to see the Abbai's interceptors work in the same way as Space Stations where you get to assign the dice being used to intercept the attack rather than rolling all of them for each hit. I'd like to hear the pros and cons on this from everyone. Especially those people who have lead assaults on space stations.

Poll will be up for 2 weeks.

 

[Wulf Corbett]

I vote 'You're overcomplicating'. They're Interceptors, same as any other Interceptors, except there are more of them. Diminishing Retirns? Sure, that's why you need much, much more to make a difference.

Wulf

 

[Obsidian]

Diminishing Retirns? Sure, that's why you need much, much more to make a difference.

I think you missed the point Wulf. Having more interceptors doesn't automatically make it better. Imagine rolling all 14 die for each hit against B5. After the 5th or 6th roll the odds are very high that they've all been defeated and you're down to 1 die at a 6 to stop the hit. That's no better than a ship with 2 - 4 interceptors.

Due to the sliding scale of the intercept number, simply throwing a bigger number in there doesn't make them more effective. No matter how many you have, they all get completely overwhelmed by the 5th or 6th hit.

 

[Silvereye]

I have not had the (mis)fortune to take part in a fleet action vs a station yet so I have no real feel on how interceptor pools work.

I guess however, that there is a degree of complecated record keeping involved. Whilst space stations have huge interceptor pools, there will only ever be one space station on the table, but there will potentially be loads of Abbai ships with interceptors. Keeping tabs on 1 object is so much easier then keeping tabs of what ship has what intercept capabilities left when there could be dozens of ships.

Also the Interceptor pools are designed with Space Station crew and control mechanisms involved, which can be a whole lot more powerful than one you have to fit in the limited available space within a spaceship bridge.

However it might be a nice touch to use on the Abbai OSATs.

 

[B5freak]

Obsidian,

Having played with the Abbai on a few occasions, I've definitely seen what you're talking about. I've often wondered if the rule for Interceptors shouldn't actually have it so that every die which makes the roll removes a hit. It would certainly make raising the number of dice more meaningful.

 

[herdleader]

I agree that the current system doesn't work quite right for the Abbai. However I can certainly see Silvereyes' position. You put 3, 4, 5+ Abbai ships on the board with a gazillion interceptors each; it could get hairy keeping track of what interceptors have fired and what number each one needs to roll to succeed. Just keeping track of EA interceptors can be confusing enough.

 

[Tredrick]

I think it might be better to give the Abbai improved interceptors. Say, let them intercept on a 5+ at worst. Maybe even give them the ability to intercept beams to represent rudimentary shield technology.

 

[Obsidian]

I guess however, that there is a degree of complecated record keeping involved.

Yep. This would definitely become a book keeping nightmare. Very good point that I had not considered.

I've often wondered if the rule for Interceptors shouldn't actually have it so that every die which makes the roll removes a hit. It would certainly make raising the number of dice more meaningful.

That's how a lot of people played them at first and it led to a large number of people not being able to score a single hit on their opponent. People thought of a ship with Interceptors 4 as virtually untouchable.

I think it might be better to give the Abbai improved interceptors. Say, let them intercept on a 5+ at worst. Maybe even give them the ability to intercept beams to represent rudimentary shield technology.

I like it. The 5+ shows that they are better than other races without making them overly powerful while also cutting down on the book keeping. I wonder though, for the sake of making it even simpler what if we leave the interceptor rules alone and give them a +1 on all interceptor rolls?

 

[Chernobyl]

I vote yes, but with conditions. limit the number of groups they can break the pool into, like 2 or something.

The 5+ idea has merit, but if I could add something to it - it would be that when depleted (all those 5+ have missed) it still rolls 6's like normal depleted interceptors.

Chern

 

[lastbesthope]

I voted no, an Abbaio ship doesn't have the advanced systems or crew levels of a space station to monitor the defense pool, and it'll get overcomplicated as well.

LBH

 

[homerun]

I wouldn't mind giving them a side note improved intereceptors but we have to make sure they don't beat the pants off guys without a lot of beam weapons. Even a nova would be pretty well deflected if the Lakara interceptors worked too well. Just played them with the drazi I need ot refine what i did but i got my but handed to me the guy was rolling dozens of crits with those combat lasers. I was being crippled then moved into his guns.

I guess however, that there is a degree of complecated record keeping involved.

Yep. This would definitely become a book keeping nightmare. Very good point that I had not considered.

I've often wondered if the rule for Interceptors shouldn't actually have it so that every die which makes the roll removes a hit. It would certainly make raising the number of dice more meaningful.

That's how a lot of people played them at first and it led to a large number of people not being able to score a single hit on their opponent. People thought of a ship with Interceptors 4 as virtually untouchable.

I think it might be better to give the Abbai improved interceptors. Say, let them intercept on a 5+ at worst. Maybe even give them the ability to intercept beams to represent rudimentary shield technology.

I like it. The 5+ shows that they are better than other races without making them overly powerful while also cutting down on the book keeping. I wonder though, for the sake of making it even simpler what if we leave the interceptor rules alone and give them a +1 on all interceptor rolls?

 

[Target]

I voted yes as i think all interceptors should work in this fashion.
To me it makes a lot more sense.

 

[Queex]

Nah. While it's true that you get diminishing returns, you still get returns.

And it has an impact on the early interception rolls. They're much more watertight against the first few hits. Makes them very good against missiles, for instance.

Of course, they could be revisited at some point in the future but there's no problem with them as it is. I think the mongoose guys can spend their time more productively on other facets of the game or new content.

 

[homerun]

Then a lot of ships will need a lot of modification. lakaras would be darn near impenetrable.

I voted yes as i think all interceptors should work in this fashion.
To me it makes a lot more sense.

 

[Target]

Yeh it would need some tweaking. It would have have a rating like 3+ depending on quality of interceptor and upwards and atleast one dice must be thrown per hit. Once the pool is depleted go to the intercept only on 6. Just my thoughts though.