[Spaceships] Fighter Pilot Campiagn

[scc]

Originally Posted by weby

Note that if you want fighters in a nearly hard science campaign you need to basically do the following:
-Use safetech, as else unmanned drones will be better due to no need for life support and the ability when needed to send on one way missions not worrying about the delta-v to get back.

Inherant in this sort of setting. Unless the pilots are the AIs

Originally Posted by weby

-Ignore realistic detection ranges, as any use of energy is way too easy to detect at insanely long ranges making any sort of "surprise" impossible.

I don't think this is as much of an issue. For you to be detected they not only have to be looking in your direction but realize your drive flare shouldn't have occurred, both of which are very unlikely.

Originally Posted by weby

-Do not allow beam weapons or make the really low power or allow really log engagement ranges. As there would be no "dodge" against something coming in at light speed if you are at small fraction of a light second distance. They will detect the fighter, aim at it and hit it before it has moves any real distance. If the distances are long enough then continuous evasive maneuvers might well work, but drain a LOT of delta-v.

So noted

Originally Posted by weby

On the pilot types:
There is also a few other types seen every now and then:
Lucky Luke: not as good as the other pilots but somehow the superior enemy fighter following him gets suddenly gets engine trouble. When the patrol is ambushed he is a bit behind because of some trouble so he has more time to react and so on.. Basically serendipity and luck in play with lower skill levels.
The master tactician: Might not be as good pilots as the best, but is the master of being calm and calculating odds, thus tending to be in the right place to maximize the use of his skills. Strategy/tactics and such to allow gaining upper hand.
and then there are of course a lot of variations for the two you mentioned.

I'll have to figure out how to model these, but extra niches is always good