Hi, I'm new to the board and to the game. I just picked up my copy of the Core Rulebook. I had a question about how the Meson cannon interacts with shields. I haven't played yet, since I just bought the book and thumbing through the rules it wasn't clear. I do wish the book had a few more examples of how things work. Anyway thanks.
Question about Meson cannon
- Thread starter Bellicose
- Start date
Greg Smith
Mongoose
Meson cannon does not burn out shields. So any hit has its damage reduced by the shields, but shields don't go down.
Example:
A Hazat Adonais drednought fires its meson cannon at a Li Halan Dragon destroyer.
Meson Cannon: 1AD Devastating +2, multihit 36d.
Dragon: Hull 5, 4 shields, 30 damage.
Rolls one dice - a bit hit or miss!
The dreadnought' player throws 5 - a hit!
Because the cannon is multi-hit 3d6, he rolls 4,3,6 - inflicting 13 hits. The Dragon's shields stop 4 of those hits, but shields are not reduced. 9 hits are now rolled, on the attack table.
1,1,2,3,4,5,5,6,6 - which gives 2 bulkhead hits, and 2 criticals, for 7 damage plus crits.
Crits are: 1 & 4 - but because they are devastating +2, they are level 3 crits. 14 extra damage and a whole load of other problems, including a level 1 crew crit for another damage.
The destroyer is left on 8 damage and crippled. But it still has full shields!
Example:
A Hazat Adonais drednought fires its meson cannon at a Li Halan Dragon destroyer.
Meson Cannon: 1AD Devastating +2, multihit 36d.
Dragon: Hull 5, 4 shields, 30 damage.
Rolls one dice - a bit hit or miss!
The dreadnought' player throws 5 - a hit!
Because the cannon is multi-hit 3d6, he rolls 4,3,6 - inflicting 13 hits. The Dragon's shields stop 4 of those hits, but shields are not reduced. 9 hits are now rolled, on the attack table.
1,1,2,3,4,5,5,6,6 - which gives 2 bulkhead hits, and 2 criticals, for 7 damage plus crits.
Crits are: 1 & 4 - but because they are devastating +2, they are level 3 crits. 14 extra damage and a whole load of other problems, including a level 1 crew crit for another damage.
The destroyer is left on 8 damage and crippled. But it still has full shields!
Greg Smith
Mongoose
Meson fighters have to wait till the other ships in the fleet have taken down shields. It does mean you have to move your fighters to attack a ship that you know is going to be targeted by your ships.
So it is a disadvantage compared to missile armed fighters.
So it is a disadvantage compared to missile armed fighters.
Greg Smith
Mongoose
Bellicose said:
It would be a distinct advantage to fire the Adonais' blasters first, thereby burning out the shields before the Meson gun hit.
On other ships - blasters first, lasers last. Lasers are more likely to cause criticals.
