System defence boats: an experiment

[BP]

Not necessarily gravitic - not with the low Gs typically in the setting...

Pulsed EM acceleration in a ring rail configuration (ala high energy particle accelerators) till ejected... at hundreds (many!) of kps. :roll:

Still, really only 'plausible' for ships with nearly matched velocities or a significant initial velocity difference for the attacker.

(IMTU I don't use kinetic weapons or even missiles/'torpedoes' for spaceship combat - and slug weapons/cutlasses, flak jackets, etc. are also generally not the norm for personal combat. Not that this is necessarily any more 'realistic' - rather it is more Science Fiction-ish.)

 

[DFW]

(IMTU I don't use kinetic weapons or even missiles/'torpedoes' for spaceship combat - and slug weapons/cutlasses, flak jackets, etc. are also generally not the norm for personal combat. Not that this is necessarily any more 'realistic' - rather it is more Science Fiction-ish.)

The only missile I use are nuc's. Don't use sand either as it is useless if the deploying ship is under acceleration.

 

[locarno24]

Not necessarily gravitic - not with the low Gs typically in the setting...

More a comment based on the fact that it appears as a weapon at the same TL as the gravetic M-Drive - if the particle beam is feasible at TL8 then one would think the magnetic railgun would be.

 

[rinku]

(IMTU I don't use kinetic weapons or even missiles/'torpedoes' for spaceship combat - and slug weapons/cutlasses, flak jackets, etc. are also generally not the norm for personal combat. Not that this is necessarily any more 'realistic' - rather it is more Science Fiction-ish.)

The only missile I use are nuc's. Don't use sand either as it is useless if the deploying ship is under acceleration.

Mm? I thought that post-CT sand was tied to the ship by a magnetic or gravitic field? Pretty sure MGT follows that line. The description of the "sandcutter" round in High Guard suggests the cloud is composed of charged grains.

In any case, even if the sand is dispersing along its release vector, a ship accelerating away from the firing ship, or which otherwise is keeping the sand between them will still get the benefit. A ship using its thrust to evade rather than to add velocity is a good example.

Being useless under a specific situation doesn't make it not worth having.

 

[DFW]

Mm? I thought that post-CT sand was tied to the ship by a magnetic or gravitic field? Pretty sure MGT follows that line.

Nope. Nothing about that in the rules.

In any case, even if the sand is dispersing along its release vector, a ship accelerating away from the firing ship, or which otherwise is keeping the sand between them will still get the benefit. A ship using its thrust to evade rather than to add velocity is a good example.

In a 3D maneuver environment (with defending ship accelerating rather than coasting), sand would be useless.

Being useless under a specific situation doesn't make it not worth having.

Sure, under a VERY narrow parameter, it could be used. It's just too narrow to justify putting on a ship in place of other weapons. It would be useful for "fixed fortifications".

 

[BP]

... post-CT sand was tied to the ship by a magnetic or gravitic field?

HG does state

• Sandcutter rounds fire a hail of electromagnets into
  the midst of an enemy sand cloud. These magnets cause the sand
  to coagulate, reducing the effective protection.

Though, dragging sandclouds around seems kinda weak...

As a simple defense against lasers, being continuously pumped out as needed in a point defense role, I could 'buy' - as to their offensive uses (i.e. pebbles) only seems 'reasonable' if their is some drastic 'speed' difference between objects - and that doesn't make sense with the RAW (and certainly throws the thrust mechanics out the window). Missiles are required to be shot from medium range, one supposes, for that reason (again, rather weak, since it assumes a lot).

Pebbles as a weapon from Sandcasters could make handguns viable anti-ship weapons... 'Open the airlock, Jimmy - I got my 45 cocked... we'll show that SDB...'.

 

[rinku]

In a 3D maneuver environment (with defending ship accelerating rather than coasting), sand would be useless.

Not at all. The COMMON situation of pursuit with a ship attempting to close range against another ship attempting to open range results in pretty much a one dimensional environment. Sand released by the fleeing ship against the pursuer should remain between them long enough to be quite effective, especially at longer ranges. As long as the sand cloud is between the ships and the defender is able to maneuver so that it remains so, it's a valid concept, even without manipulating the cloud by magnetism or gravitics, though for it to be as effective as presented, I'd expect that that is the case. High Guard implies magnetic sand.

 

[zero]

But as far as I can tell, Trav space combat isnt truly fully 3d in its implementation, I mean, its more like Battlefleet Gothic as far as I can see.

 

[DFW]

Not at all. The COMMON situation of pursuit with a ship attempting to close range against another ship attempting to open range

Right. But, I'm talking about combat not a hide and seek scenario.