[Basic] Skill of the week: Artillery (and Forward Observer)

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by The_Ryujin

OK, that seems like a simple enough tweak though I wonder if we can count this skill as an optional specialty for artillery?

I wouldn't. It makes more sense as a required specialty of Forward Observer, but that's really just defining it as a new skill without adding a skill to the game.

As an optional specialty of Artillery, that would mean that Artillery includes it, but it really oughtn't (if Artillery is the skill of laying in and firing the guns, anyway).

Fair enough though I'd most def be intreasted in a article on this if it happens.

Maybe post over in the Pyramid forum that you'd be interested in a theme that would include this kind of thing?

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Ulzgoroth

For that particular snippet of phrase, yes, that sounds like the FO also doing the fire direction.

For the overall situation, the FO calling in whatever they'd 'usually' call for a fire request and the gunner converting to deflection could be done too. Maybe one or the other is less impractical, I couldn't say.

I'd say both are fairly equally impractical, except that the FO is likely to have a higher IQ and more general understanding of how fire missions actually work.

Possibly. On the other hand, if you do make that Artillery, then what about grenade launchers and low-velocity cannon? At what angle of elevation does the skill switch?

What level does it switch for Low-Tech mortars and bombards? If the weapon can only be fired in high-angle fire, then I'm suggesting that it only uses Artillery.

Also, when you get down to it...do you think it's an IQ/A skill?

Like a lot of things it's a bit of IQ, a bit of DX, and a bit of ST. The bigger the gun the more IQ and ST it is, I think, but I don't actually have any experience with howitzers or naval guns.

How? I mean, obviously, that would be a Gunner rather than Artillery roll under my take, but...

I meant that RAW Artillery definitely includes ST-based loading rolls; which is pretty far from Fire Direction.

We're pretty bare-facedly breaking with the way GURPS 4e is written to handle artillery, here. I don't think that insistence is applicable at this point.

I'm looking for an approach that changes the least amount of RAW possible for obvious reasons.

[Ulzgoroth]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

I'm looking for an approach that changes the least amount of RAW possible for obvious reasons.

Pyramid approval reasons?

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

I meant that RAW Artillery definitely includes ST-based loading rolls; which is pretty far from Fire Direction.

My interpretation of Kromm in this thread is that RAW artillery (small 'a' deliberate) willfully overlooks the entire subject of fire direction.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Ulzgoroth

Pyramid approval reasons?

Yes, I'd rather write an article that is both accurate and that Kromm is comfortable with. I think that it's not worth redefining Artillery as a skill, or actually necessary to do so. Assuming there's ever a theme that I can submit an article on this subject to.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Ulzgoroth

EDIT: So to the point, it seems like there might be situations where characters do in fact want to take indirect mortar shots without setting up a FDC.

In that case then the -10 from High-Tech probably applies, right?

Actually, in addition to the 'lack the manpower' case, there'd also be the 'don't have the space or gear' case, or the 'our FDC person is so inhumanly good so inhumanly good they don't want to bother with that stuff' case.

Well if there was a roll for the FDC, I'd think he'd still have to roll, just with the modifiers for no equipment and no FDC section.

Originally Posted by Ulzgoroth

My interpretation of Kromm in this thread is that RAW artillery (small 'a' deliberate) willfully overlooks the entire subject of fire direction.

That's the target I'd be adjusting fire on.

[Ulzgoroth]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

Yes, I'd rather write an article that is both accurate and that Kromm is comfortable with. I think that it's not worth redefining Artillery as a skill, or actually necessary to do so. Assuming there's ever a theme that I can submit an article on this subject to.

Well, good luck with that. I certainly do want to read that article.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Ulzgoroth

Well, good luck with that. I certainly do want to read that article.

Steven has said he wants feedback on themes, so I don't see how it can hurt to post over in the Pyramid forum that you'd like a Military themed issue (or whatever that can include artillery).

[Kromm]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

When do you use Gunner or Guns with mortars or light mortars, then?

When you aren't relying on an ally to serve as your aiming periscope.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Kromm

When you aren't relying on an ally to serve as your aiming periscope.

Yes, okay. Why does a TL4 bombard or mortar still use Artillery if they don't have an observer? Or does it? What happens at TL5, for that matter?

Also in the case you describe, somebody is still translating observer corrections into gun dope, right?

[Kromm]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

Reintroduce the FDC skill.

I'm a bit puzzled at "reintroduce," as I can find no evidence that artillery fire was ever handled by anything but Forward Observer and some sort of weapon skill roll in any edition of GURPS.