[Spaceships] Long range weapons vs close range weapons

[soulnafein]

Last night our group have finally experimented with space combat in our GURPS Traveller game.

The player's spaceships is a SM+7 equipped with long range lasers (S).
The enemy was a smaller ship SM+5 equipped with plasma beams (C).
Both have reactionless thrusters 2G in total

The enemy movement would typically be Closing while the players were happy staying neutrals and keeping distance.

What would happened if the player had a long range weapon? (L).

In that case I would have used a Standard Scale encounter. The only manoeuvre that can get the enemy ship in shooting range is Closing but succeeding by 10+ (Collision course).

Is there something I'm missing? Are you screwed if the enemy have weapons with range 2 levels higher than yours?

[Nereidalbel]

Unless you have an incredible speed advantage? Yes. Your options are to run away, or be slagged as they stay out of your weapons range.

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by Nereidalbel

Unless you have an incredible speed advantage? Yes. Your options are to run away, or be slagged as they stay out of your weapons range.

Or armor that will let you ignore the long rage weapon.

Most of my trial combats during the playtest were with the tactical hex system where it's even more obvious. Rolling a 3 on a Pilot roll won't somehow let you violate the laws of physics there.

Still, it's a basic goal in any sort of combat. defeating your enemy while he's as far away as possible is always good.

In other Traveller combat systems the results would probably the same. Plasma weapons are usually mounted for anti-missile purposes or atmospheric battle or something like that. Perhaps fpr attacking enemies who must stand and fight rather than try and ru away. Their range is just too limited for general combat v. ships in free space.

[soulnafein]

Short and sweet.

Any recommendations for interesting space combat scenario to use with my players? They have a scout ship SM+7, with dDR 7 and they have a Medium Laser Turrets that does 3d damage and has 200.

[Phantasm]

Has 200 what? o.O

Anyway, for against a scout ship with laser turrets, I highly recommend pirates in fast SM +4/+5 ships and a single larger ship of SM +6/+7 size as a command/coordination/jamming ship, potentially for pulling in any salvage the smaller ships might leave when the pirates' target goes boom.