Artillery

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Agramer

Mortar is indirect fire weapon.No matter how small curve of parabola is.

Nope. While all mortars are high angle fire weapons they can be fired in "direct lay" where the gunner aims the weapon.

Sit B): You have visual to target:
Plotter can do math without FO

On a direct lay the gun crew lays in the weapon without a call for fire or commands from the FDC. The gunner sights in the weapon on the target not on an aiming stake.

The reason why I specifically the M224 is that it is designed to be fire-able without a bipod. It has a trigger grip which controls the firing pin and a water level based range scale to give you the proper elevation.

On 60 mm there is no ST roll(those mines are very light)...ST is applicable with heavy arty weapons.

My point is that if the Artillery skill is meant to be the skill of Fire Direction then this text in Basic Set is confusing (for any piece from a trebuchet to an orbital grav gun).

TL1-5 has "plotter" guy who is "targeting" them.Rest of crew is just preparing weapon...better crew ...higher rate of fire.

Usually 1st shoot is used to get "bearing" and from there accommodate for difference.

My point is that the rules for indirect fire support in High-Tech are only applicable for High (and possibly Ultra) Tech pieces. Which makes sense, but means that Low-Tech needs to have the rules for low tech pieces.

It is very rare occurrence for 1st shoot to be dead on target(today with high tech it is possible but still you can assume that 1st shoot missed by some margin).

Depends on the FDC and FO; first round fire for effects are not uncommon with skilled personnel.

Let's say the gun crew is five men. A single roll is more likely to succeed than a group of five roll which all have to succeed. A critical failure is also five times more likely. Hardly seems worth it to me.

If you want the abilities of each crewman to "matter" then make one roll against their average skill. Players can take turns making this roll if desired.

Yes, I've considered this. Ideally there should be some way to get that single Artillery roll for all firing pieces that the rules in High-Tech use.