Spaceships Questions: Guns

[Dark_Daemon]

On the guns and launchers tables, pg 68, all guns/launchers have range, which is explained as the maximum range.

However, pg 59, ballistic attacks, says that "range modifiers are irrelevant."
Physics, specifically Newton, also says that in space, bullets/guns/missiles will keep traveling until they hit something- ruining someone's day, somewhere, sometime.

I'm probably going to rule that if firing within range, a "hit" is contact (less defensive fire/dodge), while out of range, a "hit" is good placement of shot- the target may have a chance to leave the area you shot, however.

Any suggestions/info?

[Langy]

The maximum range bits are more accurately called 'max range if the target is capable of maneuvering at all'. At longer ranges, it will take multiple turns before a ballistic attack can possibly hit - and in that time, even a space station with station-keeping thrusters could probably move enough to dodge it.

On the other hand, if it's something with no maneuverability at all, I'd ignore those 'max range' statistics for the ballistic weapons, though I'd note it'd probably take a long time to hit anything at real long ranges.

[Dark_Daemon]

That's what I was thinking, but theres the question- what if the attacker can predict (or thinks he can) the movements of the target?

I think I'm going to go with something along the following lines: The projectile moves its range every turn. A gunner may use (Tactics?) to predict where the target will be, with a -4 per "range increment".
I dunno. Something like that.

[Langy]

That's what I was thinking, but theres the question- what if the attacker can predict (or thinks he can) the movements of the target?

Over the course of ten minutes (for a conventional shot at greater than C range) or fifteen minutes (for an electromagnetic shot at greater than S range)? Not particularly likely. It gets much worse at longer ranges - at X range (50,000 miles), it would take greater than twelve hours for a conventional shot to reach the target (assuming zero relative velocity between ship and target).

Besides, remember that things are ridiculously easy to detect in space. If the target has a functional sensor suite, it'll detect your bullets from way far away and it'd be quite simple to simply move so that it's impossible for you to hit. In other words, a Dodge would be automatically successful.

[gjc8]

Originally Posted by Dark_Daemon

That's what I was thinking, but theres the question- what if the attacker can predict (or thinks he can) the movements of the target?

It's only really relevant for stuff that follows utterly predictable paths.

If you're aiming at an unpowered, ballistic target (asteroids, etc), OK. Maybe for special cases (a "dumb" robotic ship that allows follows the same path, with no provisions for evasion).

Barring magical/psionic precognition, as Langy notes, you're out of luck for most targets.

[martinl]

Originally Posted by Langy

On the other hand, if it's something with no maneuverability at all, I'd ignore those 'max range' statistics for the ballistic weapons, though I'd note it'd probably take a long time to hit anything at real long ranges.

The aiming accuracy of the gun also matters, unless the projectiles can maneuver.

[Langy]

The aiming accuracy of the gun also matters, unless the projectiles can maneuver.

Of course - that's why you still roll to hit, even though the projectiles can maneuver by default (though only minimally).

[The Whiner Knight]

What about the recoil of the fired guns? Would it push the attacking ship off-station?

I'm working on a steampunk idea and although I'm breezily handwaving a laser attack as a modern Archimedean mirror or as a giant Fresnel lens, I have a tougher time suspending my disbelief concerning the impulse imparted to a ship by its broadside cannon discharge.

Because, of course, Space Is An Ocean. Hey, more successful writers than I have done it.

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by Dark_Daemon

That's what I was thinking, but theres the question- what if the attacker can predict (or thinks he can) the movements of the target?
.

Then he will be disappointed to realize that the other ships can detect the incoming projectiles and alter course if they are far enough away that they have some lead time.

[Langy]

What about the recoil of the fired guns? Would it push the attacking ship off-station?

Very slightly. The impulse imparted by a firing cannon is nowhere near enough to really move a ship all that far away.