Stopping in space

[cheirisophus]

Can a vessel start the game stopped?
Once stopped, can a vessel remain stopped?

A strict interpretation of the rules would say that stopping is only possible if you perform an All Stop, and that if you want to stay stopped, you must issue an All Stop every turn, which would prevent you from doing anything else. Otherwise, the rules imply that all vessels must move every turn.

 

[Iain McGhee]

The only way you can stay stopped is by using the All Stop SA (or All Stop And Pivot SA) each turn. Unless someone shoots out your engines
If your ship wasn't actively using it's engines and thrusters to hold position it would likely drift off. Especially if you start firing weapons and launching fighters.

The only ways you can stay at All Stop and issue another SA is if you have either a special character that allows you to take 2 SAs in one turn (most races have one in the Other Duties table and there is several named characters in SFOS and the Earth/Minbari War book) or start your movement in a gravity well.

 

[lastbesthope]

I don't remember anything in the gravity well rules that allows you to stay stopped, though I could be wrong, my brain is full of BF:Evo rules at the moment.

LBH

 

[Sulfurdown]

The Gravity well rules don't necessarily allow you to remain stopped, but they do allow the use of All Stop in addition to a second non-conflicting SA.

 

[lastbesthope]

The Gravity well rules don't necessarily allow you to remain stopped, but they do allow the use of All Stop in addition to a second non-conflicting SA.

Well I just read that section in the Rule Book 1 and can't find any reference to that. There is a bit that say sorbiting counts as not turning if you want to use SAs that require you to move in a straight line, but nothing about All Stop I could find.

LBH

 

[Sulfurdown]

Check the "All Stop!" rules. (pg12 of 1e) "If the ship is in a gravity well at the time, another Special Action may be attempted in the same turn."

 

[lastbesthope]

Ah yes, what was I thinking, expecting it to be in the gravity wel lsection of the rules,

LBH
(Off to check the floor for egg)

 

[Sulfurdown]

Given the cross reference between two possible topics it will A) not be in both and B) not be in the section you're looking in.

 

[CZuschlag]

Sulfurdown,

Great rules catch! I learned something new today.

 

[lastbesthope]

Likewise, thanks for the lesson. I didn't even need to put my face in the book :lol:

LBH

 

[Ripple]

KInda cracks me up...the only place in space where you couldn't just stop yourself due to the free acceleration turns out to be the one place you can in the game...silly....

Ripple

 

[Chernobyl]

Well, I'm sure its providing a mechanic where you've set yourself up in geosynchronous (sp?) orbit.

Chern

 

[Hash]

I introduced a friend of mine, who normally doesn't play wargames, to ACTA. We played Centauri vs. Narn at 5pt Battle and he very much enjoyed the game but thought it was supremely stupid that he could order his ship to "All Stop" but have to continually order "All Stop" to keep it still.

In his opinion, bringing the ship to a halt should bring the ship to a halt and logically I have to see his point!

Still in game balance terms you may not want to allow "bomabrdment" style play and favour movement...

A suggestion for a house rule maybe a ship can automatically not move (not All-Stop SA just not move) after an All Stop but would have the same penalties as a ship that lost it's engines (i.e. no dodge) and even perhaps , since its not moving at all, perhaps a "lock on" effect would be automatically granted? (i.e. same as scout re-roll) as the targetting system doesn't have to compensate for ship movement...

Just a thought...

 

[H]

the speed zero crit still grates on me. I have a raider flying at speed 14, it gets shot, it's engines blow out, but it somehow slams on the brakes and stops dead?!
with all stop repeatedly, it's like all spaceships have automatic gearboxes so they will move unless you stamp on the brake!

 

[Burger]

Yeah it is a bit unrealistic, its also unrealistic that you can't fire while performing All Stop And Pivot. Also it's not realistic for ships to have a "speed" at all, since in space only accelleration is important. But of course it's there for balance and simplicity both of these need to be present.

The only way to make it kind of realistic is to get into vector movement like B5 Wars... no thanks, too complicated!

 

[H]

I'd be happy if speed zero became "adrift" simple enough change

 

[Burger]

Nasty to drift at speed 14, hope you're not too close to the board edge and can repair it soon

 

[Greg Smith]

I'd be happy if speed zero became "adrift" simple enough change

Guess what... its in 2e.

 

[H]

Nasty to drift at speed 14, hope you're not too close to the board edge and can repair it soon

yeah, but it's also nasty to have engines to zero on a ship that explodes if you even look at it a bit funny

 

[thePirv]

Guess what... its in 2e.

Right boys, lets keep making suggestions for how the silly rules should be fixed and see if we can't get Greg to basically give us the rest of the new rules :lol: