Sandcasters, Screens and absorbed damage

[Golan2072]

Both sandcasters and screens work by absorbing 1d6 or 2d6 of damage from their respective weapons. Does that mean that they absorb a whole die (e.g. a Meson Gun would only do 3d6 damage instead of 5d6 against a ship with Meson Screens as the screens absorb 2d6) or do you roll their dice and subtract that from the damage roll's result?

Also, if you install more than one screen on a ship (or fire more than one sandcaster at once), is their effect cumulative?

 

[Infojunky]

Both sandcasters and screens work by absorbing 1d6 or 2d6 of damage from their respective weapons. Does that mean that they absorb a whole die (e.g. a Meson Gun would only do 3d6 damage instead of 5d6 against a ship with Meson Screens as the screens absorb 2d6) or do you roll their dice and subtract that from the damage roll's result?

I ruled roll, the rule are ambiguous in this respect.

Also, if you install more than one screen on a ship (or fire more than one sandcaster at once), is their effect cumulative?

Again Yes. But that is for my game.

 

[SSWarlock]

I'd also rule "roll" because MongTrav is very explicit when it uses a set value for armor (i.e. the melee armor rules). Anything stated as "xD" requires a die roll.

Don't forget to add in the Effect of the defensive screen operator's skill roll though.

I can see multiple sandcasters firing vs the same attack to combine their effects but I see only one screen of a certain type as being effective. IMO, two or more active screens of the same type would just interfere with each other's effectiveness.

 

[Golan2072]

Hmmm... Are screens effective against all attacks against the ship or does each screen unit has to be assigned to one incoming attack (and used once)?

 

[captainjack23]

Hmmm... Are screens effective against all attacks against the ship or does each screen unit has to be assigned to one incoming attack (and used once)?

I'd rule that they can be combined against different attacks from the same source if sand (or deflectors &/or focussed dampers) ...screens likely would effective against all, unless they are seen as localized.....not much help, I guess.

The idea is that since most of them have to get between the attack and the ship, the defenses are most likely going to be out of position for other attack sources.....unless they are a spherical barrier.

 

[SSWarlock]

I also believe screens are good against all attacks as the screens englobe the defending ship. The upcoming High Guard may say differently but I think screens have always englobed in previous Traveller versions.