MountainMan
Mongoose
Our group has had a long discussion on exactly what and how a starship's missile system works. This conversation has led into a divergence of thinking and how gameplay is effected. The books are not clear and this lack of clarity is causing some friction in the ranks. The three main concepts are:
1) The missile system works like a submarine torpedo system. Missiles are loaded one at a time by trained persons from a ship's magazine. This is facilitated by either semi automated machines or robots. This means another person besides a turret operator is needed to allow for reloading of the missile system.
2) The missile reload system is like a T-72 MBT auto load system. The gunner(turret operator) uses controls to choose a missile from a central ship's magazine. The missile is then loaded into the launcher by fully automated equipment. There is no need for a "loader" who is independent from the turret operator.
3) A ship's missile rack is like a modern day MLS system. The missiles are prepackaged in a modular rack which is loaded into/onto a ship. While the turret operator can choose from each specific rack the specific missile they want, once a certain ammout of missile type is expended, the rack would have to be changed. This change would have to be done in port,by trained crew, or by some means other than a simple switch selection (i.e., see #2).
Perhaps there are other choices. What I don't want to hear is that the GM is always right. :roll: I've been doing gaming for 35 years and I've heard that enough. What I'm looking for is the generally accepted concept on what and how most starship missle systems work and the needed game mechanic. Your help is appreciated.
1) The missile system works like a submarine torpedo system. Missiles are loaded one at a time by trained persons from a ship's magazine. This is facilitated by either semi automated machines or robots. This means another person besides a turret operator is needed to allow for reloading of the missile system.
2) The missile reload system is like a T-72 MBT auto load system. The gunner(turret operator) uses controls to choose a missile from a central ship's magazine. The missile is then loaded into the launcher by fully automated equipment. There is no need for a "loader" who is independent from the turret operator.
3) A ship's missile rack is like a modern day MLS system. The missiles are prepackaged in a modular rack which is loaded into/onto a ship. While the turret operator can choose from each specific rack the specific missile they want, once a certain ammout of missile type is expended, the rack would have to be changed. This change would have to be done in port,by trained crew, or by some means other than a simple switch selection (i.e., see #2).
Perhaps there are other choices. What I don't want to hear is that the GM is always right. :roll: I've been doing gaming for 35 years and I've heard that enough. What I'm looking for is the generally accepted concept on what and how most starship missle systems work and the needed game mechanic. Your help is appreciated.