Are SFU ships atmosphere capable?
- Thread starter gord314
- Start date
Reynard
Emperor Mongoose
Check ACTASF rules... there are no landing rules. The one rule says "Ships can fly 'over' a planet without penalty." That seem to say there is a penalty for flying into the boundary of a planet and that sounds a lot like an airplane flying into the boundary of a mountain.
I would like a clarification to the statement "...unless either ship is actually on the planetary template,...". Since there are no landing rules and there are already orbiting rules above the planet wouldn't entering the template mean hitting the planet?
I would like a clarification to the statement "...unless either ship is actually on the planetary template,...". Since there are no landing rules and there are already orbiting rules above the planet wouldn't entering the template mean hitting the planet?
The shuttlecraft aren't streamlined, and they operate in atmospheres. The PSB for that is that they are protected by 'force fields' that produce an aerodynamic shape around the utilitarian (i.e. box) shaped shuttle.
Can't see any reason why that can't be scaled up to work for a ship. As Rambler said, in FC all ships can land on planets.
Can't see any reason why that can't be scaled up to work for a ship. As Rambler said, in FC all ships can land on planets.
Reynard
Emperor Mongoose
As we saw in the shows, shuttles landed by use of anti-grav and thrusters. In Star Fleet Battles they are listed as Power Landing, they're a form of VTOL. These are SFB ships capable of safe landings and takeoff.
Another form of this, usable with actual starships, as a powered takeoff and landing, is the Gravity Landing System and needs an actual tractor beam (set to repulse). In ACTASF terms the Orion Destroyer and the Tholian Corvette and Destoryer can use this.
The Romulan Battle Hawk, Snipe, War Eagle and King Eagle configuations can land and take off aerodynamically. Everything else crash lands with some, like the Federation saucer sections, having a chance to have some survivors.
"@Reynard They mean that space is in fact 3d, so you can fly over the planet template to represent orbiting it along the Z axis. This is a pretty common rule in space games."
You know what? Simple rules, I'll go with it.
Another form of this, usable with actual starships, as a powered takeoff and landing, is the Gravity Landing System and needs an actual tractor beam (set to repulse). In ACTASF terms the Orion Destroyer and the Tholian Corvette and Destoryer can use this.
The Romulan Battle Hawk, Snipe, War Eagle and King Eagle configuations can land and take off aerodynamically. Everything else crash lands with some, like the Federation saucer sections, having a chance to have some survivors.
"@Reynard They mean that space is in fact 3d, so you can fly over the planet template to represent orbiting it along the Z axis. This is a pretty common rule in space games."
You know what? Simple rules, I'll go with it.
adm said:
It's not the landing that upsets their captians. Its the sudden violent stop at the end...
But in all seriousness yes in Fed Com ALL ships can land on a planet but I would hesitate to do it too often with a cruiser or larger. The stress on the ship and power/fuel expenditures may make it cost prohibited. Can they do yes should they do it? No, that's what transporters and shuttles are for not to mentioned parked on the ground tends make one a sitting duck.
The 'force field' streamlining isn't important for the landing, but it does come in useful when you're accelerating to Mach 20+ (on Earth, more on some other planets) to leave the atmosphere and enter orbit.
I've only ever actually landed a ship in FC when it's an enemy-held planet and I've got an assault ship.
(Outpost commander) "Hmm. He'll send down four marine squads with transporters per turn, and perhaps another eight in shuttles, some of which we'll shoot down. We can handle that. Hang on, what's that noise?"
(Outpost commander's assistant) "It's a Hydran commando cruiser landing on top of our barracks block...and squashing it flat. That new rumbling sound is coming from the squadron of main battle tanks she just offloaded"
(Outpost commander) "Oh S..."
I've only ever actually landed a ship in FC when it's an enemy-held planet and I've got an assault ship.
(Outpost commander) "Hmm. He'll send down four marine squads with transporters per turn, and perhaps another eight in shuttles, some of which we'll shoot down. We can handle that. Hang on, what's that noise?"
(Outpost commander's assistant) "It's a Hydran commando cruiser landing on top of our barracks block...and squashing it flat. That new rumbling sound is coming from the squadron of main battle tanks she just offloaded"
(Outpost commander) "Oh S..."
Captain Jonah
Mongoose
All space going ships are capable of "entering an Atmosphere". :lol:
All space ships are capable of landing on a planet (by which I mean stopping moving when they reach the planets surface :shock: ).
The trick is to be able to reverse the procedure and take off or fly back out. :roll:
Star trek force fields are air tight, ships shields tend to be rounded blobs. That makes a ship with a functioning shield a streamlined sphere.
As for landing, aside from the likes of commando ships and shuttles how many are of a design that could land or which have landing gear.
A Fed heavy cruiser sitting on its lower hull is going to be more than a little unstable where as most Klingon ships are the right shape for nice stable three legged landing legs. I remember that a non licensed Star Fleet Ship (begins with Voy and ends with ger) did land on planets and had landing gear in its lower hull.
All space ships are capable of landing on a planet (by which I mean stopping moving when they reach the planets surface :shock: ).
The trick is to be able to reverse the procedure and take off or fly back out. :roll:
Star trek force fields are air tight, ships shields tend to be rounded blobs. That makes a ship with a functioning shield a streamlined sphere.
As for landing, aside from the likes of commando ships and shuttles how many are of a design that could land or which have landing gear.
A Fed heavy cruiser sitting on its lower hull is going to be more than a little unstable where as most Klingon ships are the right shape for nice stable three legged landing legs. I remember that a non licensed Star Fleet Ship (begins with Voy and ends with ger) did land on planets and had landing gear in its lower hull.
Reynard
Emperor Mongoose
gord314 said:
What kind of story reasons? Plot devices and/or game objectives?
In ACTA:SF terms there is no actual game mechanic for traversing an atmosphere. Even if you skim the planetary template there are no penalties or bonuses. Maybe there will be an advanced rule suppliment detailing use of an atmosphere (as well as rules for other space hazards from SFB). Best I can see that may fit the basic game mechanics of the game is allowing a ship to enter a planetary template purposely but it's treated as landing on the planet and that ship is out of the game as if it left the edge of the play field and would count that way for objective and victory.
