Ok, so thanks to my new PbP, I have some... observations and questions, about high guard, and space combat in particular.
1) Low-level capital ships, particuarly those without spinal mounts, occupy a strange space that is weirdly similar to some earth naval history. Back before HMS dreadnought, in the age of the iron-clads, there was a weapon invented called the Quick-firing breech loading 6 inch gun. It had a rate of fire of about one shell every 5 seconds, and could actually do more damage to an enemy ship than could a twelve inch non-quick-firing gun (quick firing versions of larger guns had yet to be invented). Now, I would like to direct your attention to the particle barbette. This weapon is mean. It does almost as much damage as a fusion gun (or hell, two thirds as much as a particle beam bay), and takes up one tenth of the space. You can mount a load of them on a space ship (under 2000 tons) and be a credible threat in barrage combat to a ship 4 times the size. It doesn't bug me, it just makes me think of that time period, when ships main armament was not as good in ship to ship combat as its secondary armament...
2) Armour, in barrage combat. The book says "yes, this means armour is more capable in barrage combat than normal"... but is it really? I agree at a low scale, when you're only firing a relatively small number of guns in each barrage (under 50). But over this, isn't it less effective? It is only applied once to a whole battery of guns, and with large numbers and good crew skill, a beam laser barrage can damage ships with an armour of over 10...
3) I have a feeling like the cost of railgun bays are a misprint, or at least that I'm missing something. My reasoning is that the railgun 50 ton bay is 30 mega credits. However, the barbette is only 4 mega credits... this is a little odd. Even the particle beam bay is only 2.5 times more expensive than its barbette, and I consider it the much better weapon. And the particle beam bay ends up being cheaper. So, why is this so much more expensive? I don't understand this jump in numbers, even if the railguns are suppposed to cost so much.
4) why can a 100 ton small craft carry more weapons than a 100 ton space ship?
5) Anyone know the thrust rating of a torpedo? Also, when high guard mentions missiles, i'm assuming it means both missiles and torpedoes? (as it talks about anti-missile defences).
6) how many small craft can be launched per turn from standard hangers?
7) In the barrage damage table, what are the '10-dice barrage' lines there for? people who are bad at maths?
8 ) Again, barrage problems. it seems very very difficult for a barrage attack to do system damage. It takes a net roll, not a raw roll, of 8+ to do system damage. 8 is also the roll which does 125% damage... help?
9) the alternative movement rules are awesome. I wish I has worked them out while I was doing physics at college, they are perfect for learning momentum
And thats about it... wow I went on a bit. Anyone with enough time to read it, thankyou just for that
anyone who answers my questions, gets a free cookie...
1) Low-level capital ships, particuarly those without spinal mounts, occupy a strange space that is weirdly similar to some earth naval history. Back before HMS dreadnought, in the age of the iron-clads, there was a weapon invented called the Quick-firing breech loading 6 inch gun. It had a rate of fire of about one shell every 5 seconds, and could actually do more damage to an enemy ship than could a twelve inch non-quick-firing gun (quick firing versions of larger guns had yet to be invented). Now, I would like to direct your attention to the particle barbette. This weapon is mean. It does almost as much damage as a fusion gun (or hell, two thirds as much as a particle beam bay), and takes up one tenth of the space. You can mount a load of them on a space ship (under 2000 tons) and be a credible threat in barrage combat to a ship 4 times the size. It doesn't bug me, it just makes me think of that time period, when ships main armament was not as good in ship to ship combat as its secondary armament...
2) Armour, in barrage combat. The book says "yes, this means armour is more capable in barrage combat than normal"... but is it really? I agree at a low scale, when you're only firing a relatively small number of guns in each barrage (under 50). But over this, isn't it less effective? It is only applied once to a whole battery of guns, and with large numbers and good crew skill, a beam laser barrage can damage ships with an armour of over 10...
3) I have a feeling like the cost of railgun bays are a misprint, or at least that I'm missing something. My reasoning is that the railgun 50 ton bay is 30 mega credits. However, the barbette is only 4 mega credits... this is a little odd. Even the particle beam bay is only 2.5 times more expensive than its barbette, and I consider it the much better weapon. And the particle beam bay ends up being cheaper. So, why is this so much more expensive? I don't understand this jump in numbers, even if the railguns are suppposed to cost so much.
4) why can a 100 ton small craft carry more weapons than a 100 ton space ship?
5) Anyone know the thrust rating of a torpedo? Also, when high guard mentions missiles, i'm assuming it means both missiles and torpedoes? (as it talks about anti-missile defences).
6) how many small craft can be launched per turn from standard hangers?
7) In the barrage damage table, what are the '10-dice barrage' lines there for? people who are bad at maths?
8 ) Again, barrage problems. it seems very very difficult for a barrage attack to do system damage. It takes a net roll, not a raw roll, of 8+ to do system damage. 8 is also the roll which does 125% damage... help?
9) the alternative movement rules are awesome. I wish I has worked them out while I was doing physics at college, they are perfect for learning momentum
And thats about it... wow I went on a bit. Anyone with enough time to read it, thankyou just for that
anyone who answers my questions, gets a free cookie...
thankyou kindly...
