The Utility of Bombs [Spaceships]

AlexanderHowl · 09-02-2019, 10:50 AM

Bombs are an interesting weapon in Spaceships. They have the same diameter as missiles, but they have 1/3 the mass and 1/10 the cost, making them lighter and cheaper than shells of the same diameter. Of course, they are quite inaccurate, but they can represent a number of dumb munitions (and they can always carry nuclear warheads).

For example, a TL9 bomber could easily carry four bomber bays as main weapon batteries, each with 15 25-kiloton bombs, giving it a heck of a punch for such a small vehicle. With an HEDM engine and 10 fuel tanks, it could attack any target on the surface of a planet or in LEO, making squadron of AKVs equipped with such weapons the preferred orbital defense against large capital ships. If nothing else, the AKV can detonate its bombs as it rams it's target (1.5 megaton with a full load).

So, have you had much experience with using the bombs from the Spaceships series? How good where they? Would you say that they were worthy weapons or were they disappointing?

Ulzgoroth · 09-02-2019, 11:22 AM

I doubt you'll find the math friendly to bombs over missiles for anti-ship attacks. Bombs are light and cheap, but they're released from the same launchers at the same rate as missiles.

Aldric · 09-02-2019, 11:40 AM

Haven't even found them on the books, so no idea what their stats are. Will see how they work and compare if I ever get that far, stuck on other issues atm.

johndallman · 09-02-2019, 11:59 AM

Dumb bombs are only going to be useful against fixed surface targets or ballistic targets in space. They were obsolete at birth against surface ships under way or land vehicles that can move, unless you're willing to use large nuclear warheads.

Rupert · 09-02-2019, 01:52 PM

You can't just drop bombs on targets on the ground from orbit - you need to deorbit them, and unless they have a fair bit of delta-vee (i.e. they're a missile), you you do, they'll be doing it slowly (by aerobraking over several/many orbits) and thus will be horribly inaccurate.

As far ramming with nukes - you won't get them to all go off properly because some will vaporise the rest - you'll get a lot of fratricide.

AlexanderHowl · 09-02-2019, 02:43 PM

We have nanosecond timers right now, so I fail to see how bombs physically connected to the same clock will not go off at the same time.

Ulzgoroth · 09-02-2019, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johndallman

Dumb bombs are only going to be useful against fixed surface targets or ballistic targets in space. They were obsolete at birth against surface ships under way or land vehicles that can move, unless you're willing to use large nuclear warheads.

Spaceships bombs aren't dumb. They just don't have a lot of onboard delta-V.

09-02-2019, 10:50 AM	#1
AlexanderHowl Join Date: Feb 2016	The Utility of Bombs [Spaceships] Bombs are an interesting weapon in Spaceships. They have the same diameter as missiles, but they have 1/3 the mass and 1/10 the cost, making them lighter and cheaper than shells of the same diameter. Of course, they are quite inaccurate, but they can represent a number of dumb munitions (and they can always carry nuclear warheads). For example, a TL9 bomber could easily carry four bomber bays as main weapon batteries, each with 15 25-kiloton bombs, giving it a heck of a punch for such a small vehicle. With an HEDM engine and 10 fuel tanks, it could attack any target on the surface of a planet or in LEO, making squadron of AKVs equipped with such weapons the preferred orbital defense against large capital ships. If nothing else, the AKV can detonate its bombs as it rams it's target (1.5 megaton with a full load). So, have you had much experience with using the bombs from the Spaceships series? How good where they? Would you say that they were worthy weapons or were they disappointing?

09-02-2019, 11:22 AM	#2
Ulzgoroth Join Date: Jul 2008	Re: The Utility of Bombs [Spaceships] I doubt you'll find the math friendly to bombs over missiles for anti-ship attacks. Bombs are light and cheap, but they're released from the same launchers at the same rate as missiles. __________________ I don't know any 3e, so there is no chance that I am talking about 3e rules by accident.

09-02-2019, 11:40 AM	#3
Aldric Join Date: Nov 2015	Re: The Utility of Bombs [Spaceships] Haven't even found them on the books, so no idea what their stats are. Will see how they work and compare if I ever get that far, stuck on other issues atm.

09-02-2019, 11:59 AM	#4
johndallman Night Watchman Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Cambridge, UK	Re: The Utility of Bombs [Spaceships] Dumb bombs are only going to be useful against fixed surface targets or ballistic targets in space. They were obsolete at birth against surface ships under way or land vehicles that can move, unless you're willing to use large nuclear warheads. __________________ The Path of Cunning. Indexes: DFRPG Characters, Advantage of the Week, Disadvantage of the Week, Skill of the Week, Techniques.

09-02-2019, 01:52 PM	#5
Rupert Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Wellington, NZ	Re: The Utility of Bombs [Spaceships] You can't just drop bombs on targets on the ground from orbit - you need to deorbit them, and unless they have a fair bit of delta-vee (i.e. they're a missile), you you do, they'll be doing it slowly (by aerobraking over several/many orbits) and thus will be horribly inaccurate. As far ramming with nukes - you won't get them to all go off properly because some will vaporise the rest - you'll get a lot of fratricide. __________________ Rupert Boleyn "A pessimist is an optimist with a sense of history."

09-02-2019, 02:43 PM	#6
AlexanderHowl Join Date: Feb 2016	Re: The Utility of Bombs [Spaceships] We have nanosecond timers right now, so I fail to see how bombs physically connected to the same clock will not go off at the same time.