Ship Design Philosophy

[Condottiere]

Spacecraft: Armaments, Ordnance, and Newton's Third Law

A. Casters are probably the easiest weapon system to obtain.

B. Giving it a bigger bite would allow commercial spacecraft to deter opportunistic hijackings.

C. At a cheaper cost than either missiles or lasers.

D. Default defence against energy weapon systems.

E. You need an option against missiles.

F. And a way to attack, if only at close range.

 

[Condottiere]

Spacecraft: Armaments, Ordnance, and Newton's Third Law

G. I think that a caster is a mass driver variant.

H. In theory, should have a lower muzzle velocity than a railgun.

I. Especially, since there is no discernible power requirement.

J. Based on quadruple turret configuration, the caster itself shouldn't be more than one eighth of a tonne.

K. As for ready rounds, your guess is as good as mine.

 

[Condottiere]

Spacecraft: Armaments, Ordnance, and Newton's Third Law

L. There's also the option of solid shot.

M. Effect very much depends on mass and velocity, the part that we don't really know.

N. However, we know that the mass would be fifty kilogrammes, and going by mass driver ammunition, five hundred starbux.

O. Damage would be two dice, and, I suspect, orbital bombardment would be a feature.

P. Though, might be quite fun shooting solid shot through hulls.