Re: Carrier status, was Re: More Fleet Book questions

twilko@ozemail.com.au on 06/02/98 04:29:01 AM

Please respond to FTGZG-L@bolton.ac.uk

To:   FTGZG-L@bolton.ac.uk
cc:    (bcc: Jared E Noble/AAI/ARCO)
Subject:  Re: Carrier status, was Re: More Fleet Book questions

At 10:59 1/06/98 -0900, you wrote:
<Snip>
>>1) FireCon - the standard we all know and love
>>
>>2) FlightCon - Any ship with fighters (or landing craft) may launch
>>    OR recover 1 group per turn (and I would have restrictions on
>>    the carrier's allowed actions that turn - only half-thrust or
>>    something like that). With FlightCon you have no carrier move
>>    restrictions and 2 simultaneous activities. Each additional
>>    FlightCon provides 2 more simultaneous activities (maybe only 1)
>>    So really big carriers can do a lot at once (by sacrificing
>>    mass for FlightCon)
>>     <Brian's rules were a bit different - each Launch control
>>	allowed 1 extra launch per turn, and a ship could land half
>>	that many (round down) - I don't distinguish which activties
>>	can be performed, only how many>
>>
>
>    Must say I do like the above idea. Under the new design rules you
are
>better able to design carriers carrying more than 6 groups but such
ships
>are hampered by the time it takes to get all the groups out. Personnaly
I'd
>stick with Brian's ("Welease Bwian!", opps sorry, Monty Python
flashback)
>idea of increasing launches by 1 and recoverys by half)

In retrospect, I agree.  Recovery operations seem more involved by their
very nature-so limiting them to half does seem reasonable.  So it could
be
reworded that FlightCons "allow a ship to launch 2 groups or recover 1
group every
turn for each", to quote from Kelvin Henderson's reply (I'm
consolidating
replies.)  Score another one for Brian.

>>3) FleetCon (or Flag) - Here we start into fleet coordination.  I
>>    haven't worked out the specifics, but I'm thinking about
>>    bringing chain-of-command and morale type rules to FT - ships
>>    with FleetCon enable a small squadron to share targets with
>>    a bonus - A squadron is the flagship +1 ship per flag in the
>>    group. All ships may share data,engaging at the range of the
>>    closest ship in the group.  No real ideas on the morale
>>    structure, but flag should weigh heavily.
>>    Maybe Flagships could activate other ships out of Sequence?
>>    (I'll activate my Flagship, then use it to activate my heavy
>>     cruiser using my flag abilities - 2 ships in a row -)
>>    Note: I'm not thinking DSII style 're-activation' here - And
>>    Flag cannot replace 'free' firecons - Extra installation only!
>>
>
>    The fleet book has optional "Core" systems which represent bridge,
life
>support and basically a reactor (called engineering IIRC as some @#@$%
>friend has borrowed my FB) which come as standard. What you're talking
>about here is basically the bridge from the Core systems only much more
>vulernable as there are special rules regarding Core systems. Both
Bridge
>and your Fleetcon would work well with Schoon's "Crew Qaulity and
>Experience" rules posted on 12-5-98.
>
I have GOT to get my hands on a Fleet Book!  What does this bridge
involve?
(without reposting all of Jon's hard work). I looked at Schoon's post to
refresh my memory, and while it does touch somewhat on what I have
thought
about, not really.  I'm thinking more on the lines of Formation Flying.
A
group of ships flying in formation, which satisfies certain requirements
(say squadron coherency) and is linked through the Fleet Control system
gains special benefits.  If one ship in the squadron has it's drive
damaged, the whole squadron must adjust their behavior or the wounded
must
drop out.  While in squadron, the ships could perhaps share their
tactical
defense net (maybe similar benefits as ADS, but only within the
squadron)
and share targeting information, etc. Presence of the Flag also has a
benefit to Morale. The fact of Fleet Withdrawl and individual ship
surrender I feel is relatively important. I see the individual crew
quality
issue and even the difference of captain leadership ability to be a
separate (but worthy of development) piece of the puzzle.  Right now
fleets
seem to be a collection of individual ships that do their stuff in the
same
general area - I would like to see cohesive unit actions.  Or to get
new-agey, SYNERGY!

>>4) New ADS control system from Fleet Book - I have absolutely no
>>   idea how this works in replacing *DAF, but from the posts I've
>>   read it seems to be a control system. Can anyone enlighten me?
>>
>
>    The new ADS replaces the old ADAF. It uses the same symbol but
allows
all
>the PDS mounted on a ship to target any fighters/missiles attacking
another
>ship within 6". PDS are normally only able to shoot at fighters and
>missiles attacking the ship that they are mounted on.
>
So is ADS only the PDS upgrade, or is it also a PDS? In other words, if
I
have an ADS but no PDS, do I still have any defense?

>>So, what do you think? (puts on flame-retardant clothing)
>>
>
>    Are we that bad?
>
>    Tony
>    twilko@ozemail.com.au
>

Nah, just exercising my persecution complex...