Totenkopf said:
To be honest I don't understand how the confusion arose, from my reading and the context of when "weapon system" is used in the rules the only logical conclusion is what Da_Boss and hermitbob said.
I'll explain how the confusion arose. I don't play SFB of FC, so I am learning the rules by simply reading the book as written and reading the forums.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What was said about "Weapons" as I read the book:
On page 2, the last paragraph talks about fire arcs that... "the various
weapons can fire into.
On page 3, a ship's roster is described in detail. Here they mention
Weapons in bold.
Weapons: ... Every weapon is defined by its Range, which Fire Arc it can fire into and the number of Attack Dice it uses.
The title above the column in the Ship Roster says
Weapon. It doesn't mention
Weapon System so I've already made the assumption that each entry is just called a
Weapon.
On page 4, under the heading
Attack Phase it states that ships "are allowed to fire their
weapons".
On page 5 the term "weaponry" is used in the first paragraph, but this is flavour text so I don't take it as a "game term".
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What was said about "Weapon Systems" as I read the book:
On page 7, the term "weapon suites" is mentioned in the first paragraph, but again this is flavour text, so I don't take it as a game term, however, under the heading
Attacking it states:
"Each
weapon system listed on a ship's roster has an Attack Dice (AD)score listed." then later says "If a
weapon system is firing at a target great than half it's range..."
I swear that as I read through the book, I didn't note the change in term from
weapon to
weapon system until page 8. On page 8, there is a bolded heading
Weapon Systems in Star Fleet. Here it states:
All weapons mounted on combat vessels can be graded into a series of designs, as listed here.
It then provides a table in which the first column,
Weapon, lists types Disruptor, Drone, Phaser-1... It doesn't say "a Weapon Systems can be defined by...", but I make the assumumption that
Type of weapon equates to
Weapon System.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That's how the confusion arose. Different terms were used for the same thing, and only one of the terms was "defined", and it was the first one used.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For those of you who bothered to read through my "analysis" of how this rule comes across as confusing, I commend you for your patience.
For the Mongoose staff, I am already a devoted follower and I love this game, even though I've only played one game and just finally got some ships today. My intention is to provide feedback that helps make the second printing of the rules much clearer so that it will be easier to to get more people into ACTA: Star Fleet. This is a selfish desire, so that I can ensure the game keeps selling so that I can "create" more opponents in my area.
I've already started to compile a list of things that I (a seasoned gamer) have found very confusing about the rules, and ways that I feel the rule book could be updated to make it clear to everyone (new and seasoned gamers). Heck, I'd be willing to rewrite it for you. ;-)
