Steve Jackson Games Forums - [Spaceships] Armor Density

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Re: [Spaceships] Armor Density

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crakkerjakk (Post 1093512)

Anthony's right. It's just an assumption that falls out of the math used in Spaceship's combat system. If you have an equal probability of hitting each of the systems (neglecting core), then they all have the same surface area exposed to be hit. Thus, the simplest assumption is that each segment not only has the same mass but also has the same volume.

No, he's not.

We have an equal probability of hitting something relevant in a given section. Sure, a cargo bay may take up 500%+ of the volume of a stardrive, but if you hit something in the much more compact stardrive it's likely to be relevant, where a lot of shots can pass through the cargo bay and hit nothing.

So, the game abstraction is simply that you have an equal change of hitting something relevant in large, relatively diffuse system, as you do in a compact, dense system.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crakkerjakk (Post 1093512)

Sure, it's a gamable abstraction, but what that abstraction ends up implying is that all systems have identical mass AND volume, even though you're only designing ships by looking at the mass.

It doesn't presume that they have identical volume. You're more likely to hit something vital in a compact system then you are in a larger one. Hence the identical chance for damage.

Re: [Spaceships] Armor Density

Each segment of the design has equal mass, but volume is a variable, as is surface area. The real numbers would be a pain to work out and not very gameable.
The surface areas for floorplans would suggest armour averages three times the density of non-armour segments, therefore, volume is not the same.

I like Trachmyr's idea (although, based on the surface area required for the given dDR for steel armour, I figure the relative density as 0.7).

Following on from that simple idea (modify SM for targeting and armour), Sphere's should have armour for +1SM. If all other shapes could be said to fall into a "ballpark" surface area; a sphere would fit the diamond:)
And something from old VDS: cheap armour is 1/2 price, -1 SM; Expensive +2cf, +1SM; Advanced +9cf, +2SM.