Restrictions of the Federation "G-Rack" in ACTA.

[Drummer]

My friend and I discussed the downside of the Federation “G-Rack” in ACTA – Star Fleet. Sure, it’s “flexible,” but with limitations. First of all, you lose the future ability to launch drones as soon as one roles the unlucky “1” with ADDs, therefore “losing their ammunition.” Hmmmm… let’s reflect on that a moment. Everyone else with a drone rack gets to launch drones indefinitely, while the Fed “G-Rack” gets to play double jeopardy (lose ADDs and drones). As a long time SFB player, I’m under the opinion that most Fed ships used their “G-Rack” mostly loaded with anti-drones in hostile drone environments and generally loaded all their drones in storage onto scatter pack(s). Therefore, they got to both use their “G-Rack” in an anti-drone role AND launch scatter packs getting their drones into play. They got to have their cake and eat it too. Not so in ACTA. And you know, that’s okay. I’ll admit, these game systems don’t have to be the same and I realize that (and these rules needed to be simplified). But consider the following…

Here’s the most egregious sticky point about the Fed “G-Rack.” All other races have their ADD Trait located under -guess what- TRAITS, while the Federation “G-Rack” is under WEAPON as a Drone. Here’s the problem. Everyone else gets to use their ADD function no matter the special action they perform. The Federation, if they perform a special action, likely lose the use of their “G-Rack” for drone defense unless they go through the trouble of selecting their drone rack as the single weapon’s line activated under power drain stipulations. Oy vey!

So, these are the shortcomings of the Federation “G-Rack.” It’s got these two restrictions limiting its use. It would be nice if the powers-that-be could reflect on this a little and show the humble “G-Rack” a little love. Maybe allow the “G-Rack” to fire drones even after it runs out of ADDs or allow the use of the ADD function even during Special Actions/Power Drain (if used in anti-drone role for the turn). This is my two cents thrown out there to ponder. I'm interested in what people have to say, pro or con.

 

[storeylf]

ACTA is based more on FC IMO, in that you don't get choose your ammo loadout, you get 4 ADD rounds and 2 drones.

Not commenting on anything else you are saying, just that SFB may not always be the best thing to look at first.

Though it is also worth noting that G racks do give some FEd ships huge ADD capability, far beyond what ships with ADD traits get - Drone 4 or ADD 4. So It's not entirely downside.

 

[billclo]

I can live with some of the restrictions on Combined Drone racks, but the one that gets me irritated is the inability to use it while selecting "Phasers Only" while under Power Drain restrictions. The racks require little to no power to use, and as such I think that they should be functional even under power drain.

I tried to get some players on board with the idea of "Commanders Options", wherein one could buy additional abilities/crew quality, etc. One idea would have been the ability to buy some drone/ADD reloads (subject to limits), but the whole concept never gained any traction.

 

[Myrm]

I can live with some of the restrictions on Combined Drone racks, but the one that gets me irritated is the inability to use it while selecting "Phasers Only" while under Power Drain restrictions. The racks require little to no power to use, and as such I think that they should be functional even under power drain.

Thats not really a G-Rack issue though, thats a drone issue in ACTA in general. Drones don't need energy to fire in SFB certainly, I don't remember any cost in FC from my Klingon Attack box (my sole C item). Yet all drones suffer under Power Drain.

 

[Da Boss]

re Power Drain

Drones are already one of the most powerful weapons in the game - they don't need any boosts.

The G-Rack as noted is already powerful providing options other races don't get. You also can't loose it due to random trait losss.

 

[Drummer]

The argument that the G-Rack has “flexibility” in regards to its defensive potential goes out the window as soon as a Federation ship tries useful special actions in the heat of battle. Federation players know that it’s a knife fight with phasers after photons are fired. Feds know the G-Rack is a “maybe-I’ll-have-it/maybe-I-won’t” proposition when trying special actions with power drain, depending on what one needs to have happen (and phasers become paramount). The G-Rack cannot be relied upon like a full ADD Trait in regards to as a defensive tool. So really, it’s flexibility is questionable in my opinion. This is a fickle defensive system that can hamstring a Fed ship and limit its choices as to what it can do when in the thick of a drone fight.

Drones are a powerful weapon in this game, that is why I feel the G-Rack should be available when in defense firing (ADD) mode and not be affected by power drain in this way. The Federation have this tool, the G-Rack, that has these negative restrictions placed on it making it tricky to use defensively.

 

[alansa]

Is that right?

I'm a complete newbie to this game (and haven't even played SFP or FC) so please don't mind my question from an upstart such as myself.

But, rules say that fed ships gain the Anti Drone trait so long as drones have not been fired (and presumably the drone weapon is not critted)
So in power drain circumstances you could choose to fire phasers and, since you aren't firing drones, you get the anti drone trait?

 

[Democratus]

That's how I read it, alansa.

Using a G-Rack for ADD means you acquire the ADD trait. Traits are not lost when under the restrictions of Power Drain.

 

[archon96]

i believe that is correct as well, if in ADD mode you do not loose the ability because it has a trait feature. I would surmise though that if you were using it in ADD and had to decide which traits to loose it should be on the table as a losable ability.

 

[Rambler]

Mathew had previously ruled on this yes the Drone Rack gives you an AntiDrone Trait but the Dront Rack itself is still a Weapon System and subject to effects of Power Drain. It is flexibility with a price.

 

[Drummer]

Yep. The G-Rack is under WEAPONS and subject to power drain, even if used as an ADD "trait." Federation ship captains r-e-a-l-l-y need to pay attention to this, because there's a lot of cool calculation you have to make because of it. I suppose that's what the game designers wanted. If I were the Federation Military Command, I'd stop outsourcing G-Rack construction from Qo'nos.

 

[archon96]

did he rule in the forums or in an official errata. I havnt seen an updated errata in a long time.

 

[archon96]

I just looked through both errata and FAQ and it didnt not clarify this question. If it was posted in forums as that is the way it works then the errata or FAQ should have been updated. Im not trying to be a problem child here but this is one of my biggest gripes. I dont read the forums non stop so if he rules on something like this and its not stickied then I will probably miss the entire conversation. Then it turns into a well Matt said this when I go to play. That just is not good enough. I realize Matt is the game creator but for the average player if he clarifies something in the game it needs to be more official then a forum post.

 

[Rambler]

This is addressed in this topic http://forum.mongoosepublishing.com/viewtopic.php?f=103&t=49677

 

[archon96]

You reaffirm my argument. If im a player and i never come on the forums that often I am going to interpret this rule wrong. Then when I show up at a tournament with my rule book, errata and FAQ and am corrected by someone based on a forum post. I suspect you see someone who will no longer be a player. I think its great that he clarified the rule. But it needs to get put into something more official then a forum post.

 

[kyrolon]

Mathew had previously ruled on this yes the Drone Rack gives you an AntiDrone Trait but the Dront Rack itself is still a Weapon System and subject to effects of Power Drain. It is flexibility with a price.

Flexibility with a price?

Seriously?

What flexibility is there here? It is NOT flexibility. It is having an additional penalty put on a system that doesn't need it. Once you add in the fact that you run out of drones, it makes the G-Rack a detrimental rule. You know, just like so much else about the feds.

 

[billclo]

You reaffirm my argument. If im a player and i never come on the forums that often I am going to interpret this rule wrong. Then when I show up at a tournament with my rule book, errata and FAQ and am corrected by someone based on a forum post. I suspect you see someone who will no longer be a player. I think its great that he clarified the rule. But it needs to get put into something more official then a forum post.

Very true. There are plenty of rulings Matt has made that don't seem to make it into the errata. Quite annoying.

 

[adm]

You reaffirm my argument. If im a player and i never come on the forums that often I am going to interpret this rule wrong. Then when I show up at a tournament with my rule book, errata and FAQ and am corrected by someone based on a forum post. I suspect you see someone who will no longer be a player. I think its great that he clarified the rule. But it needs to get put into something more official then a forum post.

This sort of thing is major problem that needs to be fixed. If it is not listed as official Errata how are you supposed to be tournament ready?

 

[archon96]

Well I am not expecting the book 2 or any revised book 1 rules any time soon. I've decided to shelve the game but keep my minis for the time being. I hope in a year or two this will all get worked out.

 

[Reynard]

If that's the only reason you won't play the game then munchkin it in your group's favor and keep playing.