SPACE COMBAT - Sand Caster

George Kelln

Banded Mongoose
SPACE COMBAT - Sand Caster

Traveller Core Ruleboook Update 2022, Space Combat, Page 171:

Attack Step (Reaction)
Just as in other forms of combat, those on board a spacecraft can perform reactions in response to the enemy they are fighting. Reactions can only be performed by Travellers assigned to specific duties, as described below.

Disperse Sand (Gunner)
While cheap and versatile, laser weapons are easily foiled by dispersed particles or sand as it is often called. Sandcasters are designed to create temporary defences against incoming laser attacks. Using a turret-mounted sandcaster, a gunner can attempt to block laser attacks. The gunner must succeed at a Gunner (turret) check against a laser weapon and, if successful, will add 1D plus the Effect of the check to the ship’s armour against that laser attack only. Each Disperse Sand reaction uses one canister of sand.

Similar to personal combat, a Traveller's has the ability to block multiple attacks (Page 75). I therefore interpret the part in red as a Gunner can block more that one laser attack with his Sand Caster.

What is the consensus of the forum:
  • Yes the Gunner can block multiple attacks or
  • No the Gunner cannot.
 
As written, I believe he can block as many attack as he has canisters.

My house rule is one action, attack or reaction, per gunner (turret). That is probably a bit too restrictive to make sandcasters viable. I can probably be persuaded to allow Multiple Actions, with an appropriate negative DM.
 
I am in agreement with AnotherDilbert's interpretation, although I also can see logic in allowing, for example, two reactions to different attacks from a double Sandcaster turret instead of one reaction at a +1 to the effect using two cannisters. Both reactions would get a -2 penalty on the check roll, were I to allow it.
 
Sandcasters are already a bit weaksauce, I'm not sure they need to be interpreted in the weakest possible sense. They are purely defensive weapons that don't contribute to the other guy losing. Anytime you use a sandcaster, you are 1) not hurting the other guy 2) only possibly having an effect 3) Using up ammo to reduce the effect of an attack with unlimited ammo (lasers).

They aren't useless or anything, but they are definitely not something that we need to ensure is as limited as possible. I'd be inclined to interpret it as generously as possible. Worst case, the defender burns ammo faster keeping themselves safe. They still have to do something else (run away, shoot back) to actually win the combat rather than just delay the defeat.
 
Yes it blocks multiple attacks. It is dispersed particles. It’s not a shield angled in a specific way. I have always treated it as an area-of-effect defense.

I vaguely recall in the CT/Mayday era using a stretched cotton ball to replicate sand on a hex map. And that you could vector away from your own sand cloud. Can’t find the reference but I’ll keep looking.
 
I don't think that sandcasting works as intended, if we're going to start disecting it.

First of all, it's meant to counter a light speed weapon system.

Second, the vehicle it's platformed on, is moving, possibly faster than the sandcaster launcher's muzzle velocity.
 
Each round is 6 mins. I always think of it as being more about the targeting computer predictions. I suspect that there are many more shots fired before one gets a chance to actually hit. The sand would be cast by the ship to provide cover, if the ship doesn't change it's speed or direction the cloud should move with the ship.
Or we can use the startrek analogy where they are able to detect the weapon systems preparing to fire. That could be the trigger to fire the sandcasters.
 
I think the original intent was rock paper scissors for missile laser sandcaster.

The problem with dogfighting mode is that it should be always on, so you could ripple off missiles that would overwhelm energy based point defence.

And if you think that wouldn't be an issue, there are two factors to consider, the energy pool is based on six minute rounds, and i kinda suspect that the laser barrels would have melted at that rate of fire.
 
Which brings me back to my house rules inspired by GURPS Traveller - shorter turn lengths at shorter ranges, dovetailing into the dogfighting rules.

But even using MgT 2e rules as written, it‘s hard for me to see a sand canister affecting only a single incoming attack, especially with a six minute turn.
 
Which brings me back to my house rules inspired by GURPS Traveller - shorter turn lengths at shorter ranges, dovetailing into the dogfighting rules.

But even using MgT 2e rules as written, it‘s hard for me to see a sand canister affecting only a single incoming attack, especially with a six minute turn.
It's hard for me to see to it affecting any attacks. Unless they are both parked at a space station :p
Any how about the effect on the ship's own lasers...
 
I think we used to read it as affecting all laser attacks to and from one attacker in the days of LBBs.
 
Wasn't it the early version of shields, since there was no hull armour?

In Mongoose One, the sandcaster seemed to have potential for a variety of uses, ball bearings probably wouldn't be healthy for missiles or torpedoes.

Also, did have the capability to minorly damage spacecraft hulls.

Under Mongoose Two, you might as well just stick to lasers.
 
Highguard gives a number of different canisters that can be thrown by the sandcaster, including anti-personel, anti-boarder, anti-sensor and anti-sand options.
 
Boarding party meets beam laser.

You have to get really close to use it.

Using it as chaff would be valid, but then it takes up a weapon slot.
 
I noticed that a lot of big (and, in some cases, heavily armoured) ships in high guard have a lot of sandcasters. What do they use them for? Aren't heavily armoured ships pretty impervious to lasers?
 
Sorry - just found the answer to my question: they also work against particle accelerators and energy weapons.
 
I noticed that a lot of big (and, in some cases, heavily armoured) ships in high guard have a lot of sandcasters. What do they use them for? Aren't heavily armoured ships pretty impervious to lasers?
They are copies of CT ships, that didn't have much use for them either.
 
As I recall, the item in question is reflective crystals.

So how does that work with particle accelerators and plasma streams?
 
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