Where now? A Brainstorming Thread.

[Iapologisedon4chan]

I don't think Hellbores should have energy bleed, it seems counter thematic to the reasons Hydrans developed them as replacements for their overly short ranged Fusion Beams.

As for multiple AD over 1 AD with Multi-Hit, I think a compromise in between is best. Say, Range 22 / AD 2 / Accurate +1, Multihit D6 and then some kind of rule to represent it's ability to hit the weakest shield facing, which I still say should be an improved "leak through" chance, which I think it's important to remember that this doesn't just represent the old leaky shields rule, but also a ship firing at a shield facing that has been knocked down.

 

[Captain Jonah]

So, Plas-D racks, the KRC get's them, the ISC are famous for them, but at the moment they don't ACTUALLY seem to have any sort of defensive use, despite the D standing for Defensive.
So, how about this:

Plasma-D racks can be fired defensively and will reduce the AD of any ONE Plasma attack by D6. So using against and F-Type will pretty much neutralise it, but since most ships come in with multiple Plasma salvoes, it means that you have to pick and choose which Plasma you aim the Pl-D at.

Sorry but no.

Plasma D racks do NOT harm plasma torps. They are point defence for fighters in the plasma side of the map and work on drones when fighting the drone using races. Only Phasers hurt plasma torps. I suspect they will be a bit like ADDs but with an option to go seeking weapon against fighters (when they arrive)

 

[Iron Domokun]

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[Iron Domokun]

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[Da Boss]

Iron Domokun wrote:
There's a D6L, but it's a "historical footnote" because by the time they appeared the D7C made them pretty much useless.


Technically, doesn't the D6 PF tender pack enough sensors to count as a Scout?

Yes, the D6P has special sensors and is a scout. Someone asked about the command version of the D6 (that is, the D6 equivalent of the D7C). As I noted, there is one (the D6L for "Leader") but it was made obsolete by the D7C.

So is the D6L a squadron Leader - and hence a candidate for the bonus CQ or aan actual Command Cruiser?

Once I get my ships I'll stick up some ideas for ships

 

[Nomad]

The D6L was a command cruiser when she was built, but had been superceeded in that role by the D7C by the time of the General War.

I'd suggest she's better reflected as a squadron leader, along with D5Ls, F5Ls, Federation CLCs and everyone else's smaller 'command' ships.

Come to think of it, is a rule needed to prevent players rocking up with entire fleets of command ships?

 

[Iron Domokun]

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[Rambler]

I wouldn't worry to much about marginal varients in ACTASF. At most they would be a line item on a page in the next Rulebook like the Fed CC or DWD was in book #1.

What I am more curious in is why the interest in D6Ps. If people want Scout version why not go straight for the D6S Heavy Scout or the D6D Drone Cruiser or even the D6E Survey Cruiser. All three would have the scout trait and do not need gunboats.

 

[Greg Smith]

I really don't think there is any reason to include such a marginal ship in ACTA. It wouldn't be enough different to a D7C to matter, a few points cheaper and a little bit inferior.

The reason is in the points cost. If you are trying to build a fleet at a set points cost, you may not be able to squeeze a D7C into you fleet, but a D6L might fit.

 

[Da Boss]

I wouldn't worry to much about marginal varients in ACTASF. At most they would be a line item on a page in the next Rulebook like the Fed CC or DWD was in book #1.

What I am more curious in is why the interest in D6Ps. If people want Scout version why not go straight for the D6S Heavy Scout or the D6D Drone Cruiser or even the D6E Survey Cruiser. All three would have the scout trait and do not need gunboats.

Ah well no one mentioned those - sounds sensible

The D6 is at present, I think a better ship than the D7 pts for pts (*) - and the only D7 I look at is the commande cruiser variant - if there was a D6 variant with the same advantages at +30 pts that would be awesome Same with a Scout ship

(*) the difference is mainly in the Phasers 2 which seem to be fairly poor weapons.

 

[adm]

Most heavy cruiser variants were built on the D6 hull, leaving the D7s for combat/command type units.

 

[billclo]

Most heavy cruiser variants were built on the D6 hull, leaving the D7s for combat/command type units.

You have that about right.

Commonly built variants of the D6:
D6V carrier
D6M Mauler
D6D - drone bombardment/decent scout
AD6 escort (only one built, superseded by the AD5)
D6S Scout - a very good one.
D6P - Fast patrol ship tender built in the late war.
D6E Survey ship

Common D7 variants:
D7C
D7V carrier
D7E survey ship
D7N Diplomatic ship

 

[Iron Domokun]

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[adm]

The D7E is a one at a time hull as well.

 

[Nomad]

Variants I'd like too see in a .pdf or similar update;

Kzinti Drone Cruiser and Drone Frigate. The Klingon D6D and other drone ships aren't really needed so badly just yet. Or ever :mrgreen:

Scout conversions of frigates and War Cruisers for everyone (and I suppose the wretched Klingons will want their D6S, most powerful scout in the Alpha Quadrant, yada yada).

(Actually, that's a point. Apologies in advance to Spence, but in SFB and FC, scouts have differing numbers of "channels", meaning that cruiser-sized scouts are both more capable and more surviveable than frigate scouts. In SFB, raw power also matters, which is why the D6S is a thing to be feared. However, it seems that in ACTA a scout is a scout regardless of size, so perhaps just bother with the frigate-hulled versions?)

Rules for actually *capturing* ships with marines, rather than just hit-and-run raids, which will require...
A selection of Kzinti barbecue sauce recipes.

 

[Da Boss]

Variants I'd like too see in a .pdf or similar update;

Kzinti Drone Cruiser and Drone Frigate. The Klingon D6D and other drone ships aren't really needed so badly just yet. Or ever :mrgreen:

Happy to have less drone ships

Scout conversions of frigates and War Cruisers for everyone (and I suppose the wretched Klingons ill want their D6S, most powerful scout in the Alpha Quadrant, yada yada).


Why is it so good? the ACTA version I was thinking of would be something like just drop the dron rack for sensor arrays or some such

Rules for actually *capturing* ships with marines, rather than just hit-and-run raids.

Agreed

For that (and ramming which I like) you could just use ACTA: B5 or ACTA : NA rules

 

[Iapologisedon4chan]

Somehow, I can't see us getting ramming. Isn't there a fluff explained reason why ships don't ram each other in SFB?

Boarding though, I was surprised to find it not present in the rulebook. But certainly when they bring in Seltorians would be a good point to reintroduce the rules.

I'm not sure if the Kzinti need more drones at this point, they seem fairly balanced as is with the other races. Maybe this will change when the Lyrans are introduced.

Also, is it me, or would Fast Patrol ships (PF's) actually be EASIER to introduce and balance than fighters? Being, as they are, just very small ships?

Just make sure you limit the amount to player can take to the amount of Mech-Links he has, force them to be in squadrons regardless of point's value to prevent them from being used as near limitless initiative sinks and then reduce book-keeping by having criticals simply inflict +1 damage (or +D6, if were feeling really nasty) and were done.

 

[Nomad]

I don't think it's necessary to have a rule preventing lots of ships with the Command trait, since you're paying a premium for those ships and only one of them counts.

That's a wise and insightful assessment.

Unfortunately, amongst the more competitive gamers in these parts, it will translate as "pay 25 points, get two extra phasers!". You end up with whole flotillas of Leader/Command ships. Used to happen with SFB, still does in other games.

A two-line clarification to deter abuse would be nice.

 

[Da Boss]

or make the basic D7 better

the Command version is IMO the only D7 worth taking - if you want a basic cruiser the D5, D%W or D6 is better I feel.

re ramming not everyone will be playing RAW SFU games and so ramming may eb a fun house rule.

 

[Nomad]

@ Da Boss - I edited my earlier post about the D6S. I hope that made things a bit clearer.

PFs are a huge can of worms. They were a very late development the General War and games involving them tend to leave the actual *starships* playing second fiddle, or just trying to stay alive.

There are entire empires that need adding to the game before PFs become an issue, IMHO.