Is Cargo a Valid Hit Location if There is no Actual Cargo?

[swordtart]

I had various goes at this but I kept running up against the component with DPs but no space and the component that has space but no DPs issue.

There are also plenty of other anomalies elsewhere in the damage allocation* rules that once you start unpicking it you end up creating more problems than you solve. Accept it and move on... these aren't the droids you are looking for....

* e.g. The fact that a high damage out of arc hit on the front will hit front weapons and then work it's way through the vehicle until it comes out the back without hurting the side armour or weapons that are broad-side to you. The fact that not all spaces represent volume, rather the amount of volume they deny other components. The fact that random weapon fire will miraculously home in on the 1/3 space mini-rocket in the side mount of a 20ft van trailer just because it is the only weapon there etc.

[43Supporter]

Originally Posted by swordtart

I had various goes at this but I kept running up against the component with DPs but no space and the component that has space but no DPs issue.

See my earlier post -- for ex.: The fuel tank is 0-sp., but still appears as a "minimum 1/6" to be hit. Something which takes space, but has 0 DP -- well, the shot whips through without stopping.

[juris]

As Sword said this rule never really comes up, but I'd never assign more than a 1 in 6 chance to hit an empty cargo space on an internal hit. There's nothing there!

[kjamma4]

Originally Posted by juris

As Sword said this rule never really comes up, but I'd never assign more than a 1 in 6 chance to hit an empty cargo space on an internal hit. There's nothing there!

What about a van with only a driver and the smallest engine possible?

[juris]

That's just silly ;)

Originally Posted by kjamma4

What about a van with only a driver and the smallest engine possible?

[43Supporter]

Originally Posted by kjamma4

What about a van with only a driver and the smallest engine possible?

Someone tried a Van with extensive CA once.

*ONCE*. :)

Anyhoo: One would be looking at a 6-sp. cargo area, a 3-sp. engine (150cid w/ Turbo and Headers), a 2-sp. driver, and a 0-sp. fuel tank, so:

1: Fuel
2-3: Engine
4: Driver
5-6: Cargo

[Mettius]

So, in the end, are you all ignoring empty cargo, or treating it as a "hit-able" location that damage can just pass through, skipping other components? :)

[swordtart]

Originally Posted by Mettius

So, in the end, are you all ignoring empty cargo, or treating it as a "hit-able" location that damage can just pass through, skipping other components? :)

Treating it as "hit-able" - you just end up stripping the armour on the other side so the damage isn't "wasted".

[43Supporter]

Originally Posted by Mettius

So, in the end, are you all ignoring empty cargo, or treating it as a "hit-able" location that damage can just pass through, skipping other components? :)

The latter, in essence -- a component with 0 DP (or 0 DP left). If it's getting hit, the next round may well hit something a little more important.... :)