Ramming and Critical thoughts

[Johnny D]

I was wondering what other people thought about there being no opposed crew tests when it comes to ramming an immobilised ship. Once the crew of the ramming test has passed it’s qc check to ram I don’t see what the crew of an immobilised ship can do to oppose the ram.

Secondly what do people think about weapons critical 6 rather than stopping fire from every weapon arc stopping fire from all bar one. As knocking out all weapons for 1/2 turns minimum is probably the most potent critical on the list and definitely the most infuriating what about leaving ships a single randomly determined arc to fire from to give you something to do with the ship. The other option is to enable such ships to be allowed to ram even if they are not crippled. Even when inflicting the critical I’d feel better about it as at least they can do something with their ship as currently the effect is not only devastating, but also really annoying.

 

[Burger]

Makes sense, the enemy ship can't exactly dodge if it can't move.

I think the 4-6 crit is fine though, yes it is a very nasty one, I think it is fine as it is. The ship can still move, launch fighters and perform SA's (All Hands On Deck anyone ) normally.

 

[H]

I think Ramming should be allowed for non crippled ships, but that could just be me.

the 4-6 IS a bad crit, but then a 6-5 or 6-6 hurts like crap. At least a 4-6 can be repaired, and you can still do boarding actions, scouting, shielding etc.
How miffed would you be, you are sat in front of a victory, you are looking at a win or lose situation, you roll a 4D6, hallelujah, praise whatever god you worship, you roll, and bugger, his Forward arc is still functioning...., he stars making wwhhhoommmmm noises as he charges up his lightning cannon.....

 

[Burger]

Lightning Cannon is Boresight arc

Ramming with a non-crippled ship would be a bit silly, we're meant to be admirals commanding ships with real people on them you know. But being crippled and not skeletoned is a bit harsh... maybe Ramming Speed should be the only special action allowed when skeletoned?

 

[H]

meh... the point is still valid, picky bugger!

 

[Lord David the Denied]

Ramming with a non-crippled ship would be a bit silly, we're meant to be admirals commanding ships with real people on them you know. But being crippled and not skeletoned is a bit harsh... maybe Ramming Speed should be the only special action allowed when skeletoned?

Some folk wouldn't care about the lives of the ship's crews, though. A lot of the B5 races see their military as throwaway assets to be used as convenient. Ramming that Victory might be the best way to kill it, and there's plenty that'd be willing to give the order.

 

[Burger]

Most would try shooting it first though, and only see ramming as a last resort. Even the Narn!

 

[Lord David the Denied]

Last resort doesn't have to mean your own ship is falling apart around your ears, though...

 

[Da Boss]

I like the idea of ramming being easier - it is used in the show and as said certain races would be more than happy to do so.

 

[H]

Sometimes it's the greater need that wins through, that sho'kos won't do mutch to the victory and is liable to die any second anyway, may as well fly into the engines and try to take both ships out.

It's not a decision that should be taken lightly, but when you know you are probably doomed anyway, why the hell not, Death and Glory kinda thing

 

[Burger]

If you're not crippled then you can probably run away just as easily as ram. Live to fight another day and all that. I know it's not as fun in game terms, but it is more realistic. The only times ramming is used in the show is utter desperation (Churchill for example, is crippled when it rams!). The "desperation level" would be scenario-specific, in fact the Earth-Minbari War scenarios do give the EA bonuses to ramming actions.

 

[Locutus9956]

Not sure what the ideal solution would be but I do think ramming should be made a little easier. At the moment its nigh on impossible to do it!

 

[H]

in campaign turns though, using a patrol/Skirmish, or even a raid ship to ram a warship, IS a good plan, you then pay 5, 10, 15 to replace your lost ship, the warship pays to repair, recrew, repair criticals, depending on your enemies position, he might not be able to afford it, you just gaind 3 turns of him not having a warship, or at worst, you stopped him buying more ships!

 

[Johnny D]

I like the idea of only crippled or skeleton crewed ships being allowed to ram. The principle is fine to do it for non crippled ships, but too open for abuse when put into practise. No matter how often it’s used in the show I can’t thing of a way to sensibly translate it into the game. I think you’d just get people fielding packs of suicidal sunhawks and the like which would do more damage with one ram than they were likely to be able to do in a game’s worth of firing.
The mechanism mainly works I’d just like to not do the opposed test versus something that can’t avoid you. The only exception to this I think would to be allow ships with no other way of fighting (ie no guns) use it as a last resort as I think if you’ve lost your guns and have the option of risking a ram or just being shot for a few turns it’s a viable decision for a crew to make. Plus it stops such ships being effectively removed from the game.

 

[Hash]

I like the idea of only crippled or skeleton crewed ships being allowed to ram

I agree only problem is that when a ship is skeleton crewed you can't give special orders! It would be cool to have an exception in this case but then I don't like caveats (the more general a rule is the better IMO) so...hard to decide

I agree though it does make sense a stationary ship's crew can't oppose a ram though.

 

[Burger]

I agree though it does make sense a stationary ship's crew can't oppose a ram though.

Unless holdng hands and chanting "Miss! Miss!" counts...

 

[Target]

I once had a T'Loth ram my Centauri Station & that made a hell of a mess. I was so paranoid about a pair of them boarding me I concertrated on one with my fleet to only cripple her. It is unbelievable how damage it did. Least the station was destroyed not worth double points for being captured.
Agree with Hash about Skelton crewed comment.
I would stay away from healthy ships being able to ram.
We play no opposed roll if you are immobile.

 

[lastbesthope]

Well I still think there should be a CQ check to ram a stationary ship, maybe not an oppossed one, but definitely a CQ check.

Given that i play Whitestars if I want to ram a ship I try to fail a skin dancing check, much easier than succeeding in a ramming check.

LBH

 

[Da Boss]

hmm, so you would prefer non white star ships to have to make a roll where as you can just hope to fail with Skin dancing? :?:

seems a little unfair?

 

[lastbesthope]

I stated no preference, merely an opinion on what the rules could be changed to.

As for being unfair, well a WS that fails it's Skin Dancing check doesn't cause nearly as much damage as a successful ramming check so it evens out.

LBH