power required to toast a missile/drone vs. a spaceship

[sideranautae]

While looking at point defense options vs. missiles and drones and the length of a space combat round I thought of something. Both an explanation and a possible point defense rule.

The energy required for a laser to damage a ships thousands of miles away would be orders of magnitude greater than what it would take to snuff a missile or drone at very close ranges.

So I thought about offering the option of many shots at missiles/drones (in a round) if not using that weapon the next round for ship to ship combat. (explained by the idea that most of a combat Round is spent charging the weapon's capacitors)

Thoughts?

 

[phavoc]

The other side of the question would be is the laser capable of firing multiple, lower power shots in rapid succession? If you look at normal weapons they are capable of firing rapidly over short periods, but without a chance for the barrel to cool it will warp.

Granted a laser turret shouldn't have external heat issues in space, but the internal firing mechanisms might be subject to similar limitations (since we know nothing about them).

Might be better off to have a dedicated, point defense system, say a gatling laser, that is optimized for short-range, rapid fire at a small, highly maneuverable target.

 

[sideranautae]

The other side of the question would be is the laser capable of firing multiple, lower power shots in rapid succession?

If the power used is proportionately lower then yes. It would be "easier" on the material than higher power usage. More chance for internal cooling if lower power used multiple times.

 

[Reynard]

I think the lasers now available already power down and rapid fire if I read the Point Defense rule on page 149 right. Targeting is within close to adjacent and the gunner keeps firing on incoming missiles until he misses - "Attacks can ne directed against different incoming missiles". The fact you can also shoot at incoming boarders says the system goes lower power, rapid fire. Ship lasers have the ability to switch between anti-ship and aegis.

 

[sideranautae]

I think the lasers now available already power down and rapid fire if I read the Point Defense rule on page 149 right.

No. It doesn't say anything about powering down and converting to rapid fire. The fire 'till miss is just plain bizarre and illogical. How does the laser know there is a miss? Does it then get discouraged and quit? Firing at people also doesn't state that it powers down and converts to rapid fire.

Hence I'm trying to come up with a mechanical rule that makes sense.

 

[Reynard]

It makes absolute sense, not that I can convince you. Don't reinvent the wheel.

It was most likely a game mechanic decision to keep things simple and the Point defense rule is describing the action as a rapid pulse for all turret lasers. Since you would need to vastly overpower the weapon too fire rapid at full power it only makes sense the weapons capacitors take a charge and distribute it over many shots with energy powerful enough to take out very small targets, boarders are overkill. We don't need to know megajoules or the lens array or actual number of mini-shots just that in the game the rules say it reasonably works and there is a reasonable limitation.

 

[sideranautae]

Okay. At much reduced power, getting off 5 shots vs. vehicle sized and smaller, nearby objects should not be a problem for Beam or Pulse lasers.

Hit = auto-kill.