Can you divide a missile bay's salvo?
- Thread starter Sageryne
- Start date
Limpin Legin
Emperor Mongoose
There is no rule for that in the Core Rulebook or High Guard rules. CRB, pg 172 says "Missiles are launched in salvos. A salvo is all the missiles launched by a ship against a single target in the same combat round." The exact number of missiles depends on the rack size and number of turrets aimed in the same salvo.
Sageryne
Cosmic Mongoose
OK, another question, the salvo from a small missile bay is listed as 12 missiles. Do you have to fire 12 missiles at one time? Could you fire less?
Same scenario, ship with a small missile bay being attacked by four fighters. Could the ship launch three missiles from the bay at fighter #1 on round one, three missiles at fighter #2 on round two, etc?
Same scenario, ship with a small missile bay being attacked by four fighters. Could the ship launch three missiles from the bay at fighter #1 on round one, three missiles at fighter #2 on round two, etc?
MasterGwydion
Emperor Mongoose
I am unaware of any reason that you could not.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
No one thought of it, or bothered to describe a scenario for it.
If you can group the fighters together, they become a single target for one salvo.
You could put it down to fire control, one per weapon system.
If you can group the fighters together, they become a single target for one salvo.
You could put it down to fire control, one per weapon system.
AnotherDilbert
Emperor Mongoose
Yes, you can divide the missiles as you see fit.
All the missiles of the same type launched by a ship against the same target is a salvo.
Arkathan
Emperor Mongoose
You do not have to fire all missile tubes.
For purposes of High Guard, those four fighters would be a single squadron, and thus a single target. You can split fire between them using the normal rules, or use fleet combat rules.
Where it gets dicey is a single gunner firing against multiple ships.
A medium bay has two gunners and a large bay has 4.
I would rule that a medium bay can split fire between two targets and the large bay could split between 4 targets without penalty. BUT, there is no rule for that, that I am aware of... admit I only skimmed fleet combat
For purposes of High Guard, those four fighters would be a single squadron, and thus a single target. You can split fire between them using the normal rules, or use fleet combat rules.
Where it gets dicey is a single gunner firing against multiple ships.
A medium bay has two gunners and a large bay has 4.
I would rule that a medium bay can split fire between two targets and the large bay could split between 4 targets without penalty. BUT, there is no rule for that, that I am aware of... admit I only skimmed fleet combat
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
In theory, sensors can track ecks number of targets, and engage why number simultaneously.
One issue is that the time frame is six minutes, and, in theory, a lot can happen within that period, but doesn't, in game turns.
An Aegis type battle control system would assign each weapon system a suitable target, and the fighters would need to deal with layered defence.
One issue is that the time frame is six minutes, and, in theory, a lot can happen within that period, but doesn't, in game turns.
An Aegis type battle control system would assign each weapon system a suitable target, and the fighters would need to deal with layered defence.
Sageryne
Cosmic Mongoose
Aegis is why I asked this question. Earth, somewhere about TL 7 or 8, a Ticonderoga class cruiser can launch multiple missiles from the same "bay" at multiple targets. I can imagine that tech levels 4 to 6 levels higher would have problems simultaneously targeting one target per missile.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
We do have some form of an Aegis system described, I tend to think it may be in Trillion Credit, but can't recall.
Also, how it would be integrated in the current rules set.
In theory, you could spread firing off missiles from a launcher every thirty seconds, rather like a launch tube, which should allow each missile to be assigned it's own target and for that target to be acquired after launch.
In practice, it looks like each weapon system individual fire control concentrates on one target, for that turn.
And if in a multiple weapon system turret, one type of weapon system.
Also, how it would be integrated in the current rules set.
In theory, you could spread firing off missiles from a launcher every thirty seconds, rather like a launch tube, which should allow each missile to be assigned it's own target and for that target to be acquired after launch.
In practice, it looks like each weapon system individual fire control concentrates on one target, for that turn.
And if in a multiple weapon system turret, one type of weapon system.
MasterGwydion
Emperor Mongoose
It isn't against the current rules.
Oh look! A touch screen. Fire at that dot, that dot, that dot, and that dot with 2 missiles for each target. Fire! Small missile bay fires off 8 missiles and reloads those launchers.
Can you point to the reference?
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Some spacecraft are fitted with double or triple turrets, which allow two or three weapons to be mounted in the same turret. If these weapons are different (a pulse laser, missile rack and sandcaster in the same triple turret, for example), then only one type may be used in a single combat round.
MasterGwydion
Emperor Mongoose
That doesn't say anything about different targets. If you have a triple turret with one pulse laser and two missile racks, you can fire off 2 missiles at two different targets. Clearly, you cannot use the pulse laser in the same round, but that has nothing to do with targeting more than 1 enemy.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
I have no objection to switching to six second combat rounds.
Then, it's a question of how many of those you need for a specific task.
And within six minutes, sixty of those allow you to acquire a target, launch, and acquire another target, rinse and repeat.
In theory, in six minutes, you can light up a lot of different targets with the laser.
Whether you can do this all simultaneously within the same combat round, whether within six seconds or six minutes, would appear to be a different question.
Then, it's a question of how many of those you need for a specific task.
And within six minutes, sixty of those allow you to acquire a target, launch, and acquire another target, rinse and repeat.
In theory, in six minutes, you can light up a lot of different targets with the laser.
Whether you can do this all simultaneously within the same combat round, whether within six seconds or six minutes, would appear to be a different question.
MasterGwydion
Emperor Mongoose
I am not aware if a character is permitted to participate in two different types of combat round at the same time. My guess is that, if you take a personal combat round (6 seconds) action, you could not also perform a ship combat round (6 minutes) action.
Arkathan
Emperor Mongoose
Which is why I put forward that you needed another Gunner to target another ship.
MasterGwydion
Emperor Mongoose
Does targeting require an action? If you target two ships, it requires two rolls. So, it might count as dividing actions and have the appropriate penalties.
Arkathan
Emperor Mongoose
Missiles use their salvo to hit. Can't find a MgT rule though, so however you want to handle yours is fine - which is the case even if I found a rule.
Beams, etc use gunner. But only one type of weapon fires, and if more than one of the same type fire, they use one roll.
Beams, etc use gunner. But only one type of weapon fires, and if more than one of the same type fire, they use one roll.
