Modifications to Space Combat System

[sn0wball]

Okay. It is a modification to the system provided on GURPS Traveller, p. 163. Thus unless noted I keep to that system. I use 3e, but I guess that does not change much.

Originally Posted by rintropy

What about missiles? Do they use artillery rules? Are they piloted? Are they guided? What's the story?

Missiles are guided as per p. 158. The missile has to be guided into the targets hex. I only changed the to-hit roll from a contest between <Gunner - 3/hex + Size Modifier + 1/2 G-difference vs. Piloting>, which the missile will usually win anyway, to a straight Gunner roll.

Originally Posted by rintropy

Given the new rules for indirect fire, are there other combat options? Emplaced mirror-satellites for beam lasers? What about mass-drivers? In space or vehicle/vehicle combat, DR100 isn't that much. Particularly if you're working with munitions which have armor divisors.

No, direct fire stays the same, that means mostly Laser weapons with a bit of Fusion for extra fun. Combat is quite destructive, but the ships have a lot of Hitpoints.

Originally Posted by rintropy

On your PDF, what's the "Effective Gunnery x 2 - 37"? That's not clear.

Well, I calculate effektive Gunnery thus :

Gunnery + Accuracy limited by Gunnery, that is effectively Gunnery x2. You add +7 for ROF (as usual) and the Targeting Program bonus (usually TL -2).

This is as per the usual rules. Then I subtract - 37, including the - 39 for the same hex (range) and +2 for active sensor lock, for I assume that. You get - 2 with passive sensors only.

The formula is the same as in GT, only I calculate in the basic range modifier.

Originally Posted by rintropy

"Loser declares first"? Is that to reflect that the slower ship is assumed to start out in a defensive posture? Does that mean that the faster ship is forced into a reactionary position based on relative acceleration advantages?

As per the rules on p. 166, slowest Acceleration DECLARES first. All movement HAPPENS simultaneously. The faster craft has the advantage of being able to react to the slower vessels movement. I only changed this fix order with a more random one. While this adds another roll, it is a more fun this way and the commander of the ship (with the tactic skill) gets to roll during combat.