Use of Fire Control Software

[Egil Skallagrimsson]

The description of how fire control software works in p113 of the CRB makes sense if you are flying a small vessel with up to 5 turrets, but seems very limiting for more powerful vessels, especially larger military ships (destroyers, let alone dreadnoughts). It also seems to differ from how the Fire Control adjustment is used in the worked example in HG, where it seems that (p74) a whole barrage benefits from one use of Fire Control software, but, as far as I can see, that is not made explicit in the rules (if I have missed something, please correct me).

So, I suggest an amendment on the following lines;
"Fire control software allows any number of the same type weapons, assuming the weapons can bear, to fire at the same target in a round. Alternatively, it can give a positive DM to an attack equal to the listed number to each weapon of the same type firing at the same target, or any combination thereof. The rating can be split amongst different types of weapons and different targets, e.g., a four turret Gazelle (as CRB p123) with fire control software of 4 has a number of options available, it could do any of the following, without any crew in the turrtes, fire all turrets at four different targets (all at +0) or the same target at +3, or, assuming crewed turrets, could allow the laser turrets to fire at +4 if both fire at the same target, +2 if they fire at diffferent targets, allow the missile turrets the advantage instead, fire missiles and laser at the same target, with both different types of weapon gaining a +2, or allow all four turret +1, etc etc."

A needless complication, or a managable way to bring out the advantages of using powerful, expensive, targetting software in a space battle?

Any comments?

Egil

 

[rust]

The way I handle it, fire control software gives its full
bonus to every weapon connected to the system and
against every target the system has a sensor lock on.

 

[Egil Skallagrimsson]

The way I handle it, fire control software gives its full
bonus to every weapon connected to the system and
against every target the system has a sensor lock on.

Good idea, even more generous than my suggestion, especially for a (probably military) ship with numerous turrets and good fire control software, with the added advantage of giving the sensor guy more to do.

Also much easier to explain, a not inconsiderable advantage!

Egil

 

[Captain Jonah]

I tend to design most larger ships with a CIC rather than weapon stations next to the turrets and have rooms or sections representing fire control for each battery.

So all those 1Dtons for each turret or bay then becomes a 10 or 20Dton CIC where all the gunners are sitting.

If the ship is designed with a gunner in each turret then each gunner gets the bonus for just his turret.

If it has a CIC then the gunners there get the bonus for each turret under their control. Put the turrets or bays into batteries under a chief gunner. So a cruiser puts 20 Triple lasers with the same arc into one battery under a single master gunner in CIC and gets the fire control software for all those turrets.

The difference is a hit which takes out a turret on a small ship kills one gunner and takes one turret off line. On a larger ship a hit on the CIC kills 20 gunners and takes the whole battery of 20 turrets off line.

 

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

The Fire Control software can control one turret or one Barrage. So larger ships use Barrages with the same software. After all, a Barrage has identical weapons firing at the same target, so the Targeting info is identical for each turret within the Barrage.

 

[Egil Skallagrimsson]

The Fire Control software can control one turret or one Barrage. So larger ships use Barrages with the same software. After all, a Barrage has identical weapons firing at the same target, so the Targeting info is identical for each turret within the Barrage.

In terms of barrages, very much my thoughts, seems obvious, and apparently implied in HG, just doesn't seem to be written down anywhere.

Egil

 

[Egil Skallagrimsson]

I tend to design most larger ships with a CIC rather than weapon stations next to the turrets and have rooms or sections representing fire control for each battery.

To be honest I go with the individual turrets with a gunner purely on aesthetic and "game feel" reasons (and mainly use a 3I background), any hard science ship designs would be more on the lines of a heavily computerised CIC, and many weapon systems being automated and computer controlled (and certainly without gunners sitting in a seat in the turret), as is the case with many naval weapons today, and increasingly "fire and forget" aerial and land based weapons. The gunner or commander identifies a target, or allows a weapon to automatically cover a specific area, and leaves the weapons system to get on with it. But that all reduces the opportunities for the characters to grasp the gun turret joy sticks, and let rip. :twisted:

Egil

 

[IanW]

Egil,

Everything under Classic Traveller, High Guard and so on will make more sense when you read 'Computer' as 'Computer, Centralised Fire Control and Sensors'.

This means that 7 dton, 55 MCr Mod 6 computer is actually the active and passive sensor suite, a small CIC and, yes, the ships computer.

 

[Egil Skallagrimsson]

Egil,

Everything under Classic Traveller, High Guard and so on will make more sense when you read 'Computer' as 'Computer, Centralised Fire Control and Sensors'.

This means that 7 dton, 55 MCr Mod 6 computer is actually the active and passive sensor suite, a small CIC and, yes, the ships computer.

Thanks

Egil