Seeking and Devastating

[Meliadus]

Just a question about the above statement, devastating adds what ever number it is onto a critical hit.

But under Seeking you don't throw to see if you penetrates the shields, so if you don't throw, how can you get a critical hit ??

cheers.

 

[Ardith]

when shields are down you still have to roll each hit to see if any damage is caused. thats when a critical hit is possible with seeking weapons.

 

[Lincolnlog]

Seeking weapons must expend their energy against the shields, and do no internal damage until the shields are down. Once the shields are down, roll 1 die for each point of damage, discard 1's, remove 1 point of damage for the ship for 2-6, re-roll 6's against the critical chart. On devastating +1 each crital increaces by 2 levels. :| Ouch!

 

[Meliadus]

Ah right, so once the shields are gone is when you check for crits, cheers guys.

 

[Lincolnlog]

Ah right, so once the shields are gone is when you check for crits, cheers guys.

Remember, you do not normally roll to hit with seeking weapons (okay, yes you do with drones over 18") but with Plasma and Drones, all damage goes to the shields, then once the shields are gone roll on the damage table for each point of damage.

With Phasers, disruptors and photons you are rolling to hit, then a natural 6 causes a check on the damage table for each point of damage (this damage bypasses the shield), with 6's then being rerolled against the critical table for photons and disruptors, and 5 & 6's for Phasers since they are precise.

It's very important to understand that checking for criticals is different between seeking weapons and energy weapons, until the shield is gone, then it all works the same. Energy weapons may bypass the shield on a natural 6 to hit roll, possibly causing criticals. Where as seeking weapons must hit the shield first.

Caution should be used in designating which weapons will fire first. If the shield is almost gone, you may want to finish the shield with the phasers, this insures drones, photons and plasma all use their devasating effect to maximum advantage.