Special Actions questions - Star Fleet Battles

[texican]

I am confused about some of the Special Actions.
1. All Power To Engines - How can I increase speed to 16 with this action when it has a power drain which slows speed to 6?

2. Close Blast Doors - Why should shutting blastdoors cause an power drain?

3. High Energy Turn - Why does a turn which causes great stress on the engine not cause a power drain?

thanks
Sam

 

[Iain McGhee]

1) Power drain only requires you to pick one of the three penalties. Taking the speed reduction penalty with APE would be a bit.........pointless

2) It's a range of defensive measures, not just closing bulkhead doors, which I'd imagine takes a significant portion of the ship's crew and energy to accomplish (extra damage control parties, emergency force fields etc) so it hampers it's normal functions.

3) You're pushing your engines beyond normal levels, so no power drain (and the chance to damage them).

 

[texican]

As is usual I read more into the rule than was there. I thought all penalties took effect.
thanks for the prompt reply.
Sam

 

[Allerka]

Yeah, the "pick one" is news to me too. I always thought they all applied as well. I guess that makes power drain a little less crippling, then.

 

[tlee33]

I wish the High Energy Turn was just a Power Drain, instead of a Crew Check and possible damage. It would make it more useful. As-is, its usually not very helpful.

 

[scoutdad]

I wish the High Energy Turn was just a Power Drain, instead of a Crew Check and possible damage. It would make it more useful. As-is, its usually not very helpful.

It's not supposed to be used willy-nilly, it's most often the last ditch effect of a desperate captain. The HET, when used at the proper time has completely changed the effects of the games in which we've used it.

Sometimes being able to get those last few weapons in arc mean victory...
And sometimes the failed Crew Quality check means utter adn ignomious defeat.

If it was just Power drain, it would be used much more often and would lose some of its appeal.
Just my two Quatloos worth, YMMV.