09-08-2013, 09:33 AM | #1 |
Join Date: Mar 2006
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Spaceships: "improved" guns?
I'm trying to work out some stuff in Spaceships and came across something that seems to need straightening out, though I can't find any mention of it in the Errata.
A note on the RoF Table (pg 58) says "Beam or gun RoF is doubled for 'improved' beam or gun weapons." However, under Weapon Types on pg 28-29, the "improved" option is only listed under the Beam Weapons heading, and not listed as on option for guns. All the examples or sample ships I can spot with improved weapons only apply the option to beam weapons. So, can guns also use the "improved" option, or is that note on the chart an error? |
09-08-2013, 10:07 AM | #2 | |
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Yorkshire, UK
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Re: Spaceships: "improved" guns?
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Then again, I'm not sure it would do any harm to allow it. |
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09-08-2013, 10:28 AM | #3 |
Join Date: Jun 2013
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Re: Spaceships: "improved" guns?
An improved laser is more efficient, so it gets doubled RoF either by using a single weapon with a capacitor that charges twice as fast or by using two weapons that each weigh half as much as the original. As Spaceships assumes 19 seconds of Aim followed by a 1 second attack, I'd say the two weapons (in the same mounting) at half weight each seems the more likely.
For guns, you might be able to have better materials that can withstand the recoil more effectively, allowing you to double up on weapons, but this is a bit more iffy than the efficiency gains beam weapons enjoy. Off hand, I'd say you can manage to have "improved" guns for weapons of 2 TL lower. If I remember the way Spaceships works correctly, you'll be trading accuracy for rate of fire, because guns use TL to determine sAcc. |
09-08-2013, 10:44 AM | #4 | |
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Yorkshire, UK
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Re: Spaceships: "improved" guns?
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I don't think you need to really consider mechanically or technically how 'Improved' would work. Especially given the RoF variation by Turn length. |
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09-08-2013, 10:46 AM | #5 |
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Oregon
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Re: Spaceships: "improved" guns?
I'd have no problem allowing Improved versions of Emag and Gravitic guns, since their fire rate is likely limited by their capacitors, same as energy weapons. And since regular guns are already pretty poor compared to the other choices available, I'd allow it for them as well. Of course, this shouldn't increase the available ammo supply, so such guns will only be able to fire for half as long.
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09-08-2013, 12:29 PM | #6 | ||
Join Date: Jun 2013
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Re: Spaceships: "improved" guns?
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That's an important consideration. TL improvements may result in lower propellant weight for conventional weapons, allowing them to carry a bit more ammo, but it's probably not enough to make a serious difference. |
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09-09-2013, 02:18 AM | #7 | ||
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Yorkshire, UK
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Re: Spaceships: "improved" guns?
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Or where it says Spaceships assume 19 seconds of Aim and 1 second of attack? Even if it was, 18 seconds of Aim and 2 seconds of Attack, or 2x (9 seconds of Aim + 1 second of Attack) would double RoF. Quote:
It's an abstraction, and Improved Guns (Conventional, EMG or Gravitic) seems perfectly reasonable and playable, especially stacked against Improved Beams with unlimited ammo, and the Imp.Guns will be running through their, generally quite limited, ammo supply more quickly. |
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09-09-2013, 08:23 AM | #8 | ||
Join Date: Jun 2013
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Re: Spaceships: "improved" guns?
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All that said, I don't really have a problem with Improved Guns. Doubling RoF for +1 TL seems a bit much (I think guns have much less room for improvement than beam weapons), but it won't really break anything. |
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09-09-2013, 08:50 AM | #9 |
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Re: Spaceships: "improved" guns?
That's just the text on p. 30 of Spaceships where it says a "high efficiency or multi-barreled unit". It doesn't actually mention the source of the improved efficiency. Capacitors would be only one possibli9ty.
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Fred Brackin |
09-09-2013, 08:55 AM | #10 | |
Join Date: Jul 2008
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Re: Spaceships: "improved" guns?
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Not that 10 seconds instead of 20 is not plausible. IIRC the autoloading tank cannon in HT has an 8-second reload.
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I don't know any 3e, so there is no chance that I am talking about 3e rules by accident. |
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