Re: FT: Missiles and Gas Tanks

>I don't have a problem with them at all. It depends on what
>assumptions you make about scale, power sources, etc. If the missile
>is trying to impact a maneuvering target, it will be constantly be
>burning whatever it uses for fuel (antimatter, peat moss, whatever) A
>missile, by definition has limited tankage for such, as it must carry
>sensors powerful enough to track a target, a warhead of sufficient
>yield to severely damage a target, and thruster arrays to maneuver
>with. If you are assuming fractional cee missiles, those are more
>properly railguns anyway. As far as fighter endurance goes, the
>endurance rule is (like all rules in the game) optional. I can see if
>a weapon on a fighter took a great deal of energy to fire how it's
>batteries might run low for it's weapons. Just a thought. A great use
>for missiles BTW is to herd an enemy task force into a killing zone
>for Wave guns....
>Mike Wikan
>Game Design\Conceptual Art
>n-Space, Inc.
>A Producer of 3D Entertainment Software

Actually a missile, by definition, is "an objcet thrown or projected so
as
to strike something at a distance".   A bullet from a gun is a missile,
an
arrow from a bow is a missile, and ICBM is a missile.  It does NOT have
to
have a fuel tank and engines, nor does it have to have a warhead.  If
the
ship expended the energy to launch the missile on its current velocity,
it
would only have to expend small amounts of energy to alter its vector
and
not its velocity.  The velocity would remain the same after launch.  If
you
could lauch it fast enough, a small engine probably couldn't add that
much
velocity to the object in a short time.   Besides, I liken it to a
battleship trying to dodge or outrun an anti-ship missile today.   You
better have good armor or point defence systems, cause you're not going
to
get away.  You could launch missiles with differeing velocities,
according
to the power of the launcher and NOT the missile, then you could still
use
them to herd in the enemy.

Jerry McVicker

"Don't worry soldier, weapons will be available in a moment."