Combat Showcase 2037

[43Supporter]

Originally Posted by Racer

Thunderkits were nice gadget - pity they were made illegal in 1989/2039 when new Rules on Top Speed calculations came in ...

Somewhere in my notes is the rewrite I did for Thunderkits -- in the same way the original writeup of what is now the "Sport" PP was the "Large Sport" PP, "Thunderkit" became a "booster pack" for Cycle PPs (in the process, fixing the problem created when Trikes were permitted chassis upgrades, and X-H Trikes now had more available weight than any Cycle Plant with upgrades could move).

FGs: I also need to find my "riot control" APC from _CW Tanks_, which never got published -- it had a brace of FGs.

[swordtart]

Originally Posted by 43Supporter

FGs: I also need to find my "riot control" APC from _CW Tanks_, which never got published -- it had a brace of FGs.

Why?

:)

[43Supporter]

Originally Posted by swordtart

Why?

:)

Why do I need to find it again? Or Why was it never published? Or Why did it have a brace of FGs?

[swordtart]

Originally Posted by 43Supporter

Why do I need to find it again? Or Why was it never published? Or Why did it have a brace of FGs?

Why FG? I found it a weapon with absolutely no redeeming features.

[43Supporter]

Originally Posted by swordtart

Why FG? I found it a weapon with absolutely no redeeming features.

It's for scenarios involving Lots Of Pedestrians -- if one doesn't play those, then the FG isn't useful for much than "cheap tire-shredder" (and in our arenas, "no aimed tire shots" was the rule, so...).

[swordtart]

For lots of pedestrians I would use Frag Grenades (or flechette if I was worried about my paint work). You catch a lot more in a 2" radius burst than in an area effect. You don't even need to be that accurate, anywhere within an inch is plenty good enough.

You can go passenger* equipped with a GL to a firing port (my preferred choice), a vehicle mounted GL (too bulky) or heck even just toss them out of the firing port (though that natural 2 is always a worry).

If you can't be bothered aiming flechette dischargers always hit. With large vehicles you get many overlapping arcs that shred anything. Of course they are only one-shot but nothing says "get off'n my tank" more unequivocally.

When considering the FG I'd prefer to spend a couple of hundred more and buy an LMG (or frankly a MG). At least that can fire through cover, blast away riot shields and the like and not be a one-trick pony.

The FG would need to be much cheaper or lighter for it to find its way into one of my designs, similarly the VS. Both offer interesting features, but they are not good enough to be competitive at the price and weight.

*Basically a passenger takes the same space and weight as a FG and they are free. They also provide an additional firing action (which could be used to trigger an PFE) Equipping them with an effective anti-ped weapon should be easy. Even a double barrel shotgun without upgrades stacks up pretty well against an FG, 4 points damage is enough to injure someone in BA. A rifle with anti-personnel ammo is only $5 per shot and it guarantees 6 points of damage per hit against peds ($5 defeats $1500 in IBA). Or if you want to go overboard, an SMG with extended mag, laser scope and hollow points is a shade more expensive per shot (though, does the same damage as the FG, has the same to hit and can do half damage to vehicular components. A big chunk of the cost is in the scope which is used to offset the ped firing in a moving car penalty. For an extra $360 overall you get real damage, the option to buy extra mags that take no space (but cost a bit more), and an independent firing action.

You lose the area effect, but I rarely encounter peds that are dumb enough to stand close enough for it to ever be an option.

[juris]

The FG doesn't work because of wheelguards. It's okay against pedestrians where you're trying to avoid 'collateral damage'.

My solution would be to get rid the FG altogether and have VSGs do double damage to pedestrians and tires, and permit them to use AP ammo (flechette rounds).

Originally Posted by swordtart

The FG would need to be much cheaper or lighter for it to find its way into one of my designs, similarly the VS. Both offer interesting features, but they are not good enough to be competitive at the price and weight.

.

[Daimyo_Shi]

Originally Posted by 43Supporter

Somewhere in my notes is the rewrite I did for Thunderkits -- in the same way the original writeup of what is now the "Sport" PP was the "Large Sport" PP, "Thunderkit" became a "booster pack" for Cycle PPs (in the process, fixing the problem created when Trikes were permitted chassis upgrades, and X-H Trikes now had more available weight than any Cycle Plant with upgrades could move).

FGs: I also need to find my "riot control" APC from _CW Tanks_, which never got published -- it had a brace of FGs.

When you say Brace what do you mean? I use to the term being paired pistols [Likely coming from the term Case for two swords [Often Rapiers]

[43Supporter]

Originally Posted by Daimyo_Shi

When you say Brace what do you mean? I use to the term being paired pistols [Likely coming from the term Case for two swords [Often Rapiers]

That's what I mean -- "a grouping of". IIRC: It was a Light APC with at least one FG out each of the main facings, plus a 2-sp. turret with AP-loaded MGs.

[howitzer7]

For clarity, a "brace" means two of something.