Re: [DS2]TD Design

Murray Baines <MBaines@vines.gems.gov.bc.ca> wrote:

>There are three points to address about TDs. I am referring to the
classic
>TD design as a WWII German approach. Fixed mounted, large weapon on a
low
>silhouette heavily armoured hull.
    Based on modifying an existing MBT hull design to fit a larger gun.

>Firstly the fact that a similarly equipped turreted and fixed mount
vehicle
>cost the same number of points. This is clearly unfair. The turreted
>vehicle should be worth substantially more points. This would require
more
>experience than I currently have but it may be worth reducing the
points
>cost of a fixed mounted weapon by 20%, thoughts?
	A turret mount weapon occupies size class * 3 capacity.
	A hull mount weapon occupies size class * 2 capacity.
    Therefore you can put more things into a vehicle with a hull mount,
or a
bigger main gun. A points cost differential isn't really required, as
the
capacity difference makes the difference.

>Secondly the classic TD design should allow the mounting of a larger
>weapon. To address this I would propose allowing fixed mount weapons to
be
>VSC+2 maximum. The vehicle would still have to use the proper space for
the
>weapon.
    Yes. I agree with this as well. Even to the extent of allowing size
6
main guns.

>This weapon would still be subject to the reduced cost of a fixed
>mount mentioned above.
    No, as I said above.

>Thirdly, to increase the armour the vehicle must use spaces equal the
VSC.
    Just move one level of armour from rear to front of vehicle is
easier.

>Armour increase is limited to one factor.
    Yes. We don't want too many changes at once.

>The signature of vehicle remains
>the same, you can just put more punch in a smaller chassis.
    Standard design system can take this into account already. Lowering
an
existing hull design by removing the turret should reduce signature
(increase signature die size). Using a smaller chassis is not the WWII
German design method. They used the same chassis design, modified to
accept
a larger gun in a hull mount.

>I think that it
>wouldn't be too unreasonable to allow the overall armour to be
increased by
>one, you still have to pay the points for it. Thoughts?
    No. Just move the armour around a bit from the rear to the front.

>Optional, if you think that the TD needs more disadvantage with its new
big
>gun and armour there are a couple of points you could incorporate. TDs
with
>oversize guns should pay for Fast Tracked/Wheeled and get Slow movement
and
>fast is not possible.
    No. Changes design system too much.

>Or limit the armour increase to only the frontal or ...
    Yes.

>... frontal and side armour.
    No. Lower hull silhouette should improve signature.

>Here are two examples of basic tanks:
>MBT Size 3, Armour 3, Signature 3
>15x1.6=24
>FGP 14.4
>FT 9.6
>MDC 4 Turreted 40
>Sup FC 24
>Enh ECM 30
>Total 142

>TD Size 2, Armour 3, Signature 2
>10x1.6=16
>FGP 9.6
>FT  6.4
>MDC 4 Fixed 40 or 32
>Sup FC 24
>Enh ECM 30
>Total 126 or 118

    Hey, who shrunk the tank! You switched hull sizes! The TD variant
should
stay the same vehicle size class as the MBT! That's what it's based on
after
all! You're making a different vehicle with similar stats!

>If the points spread seems to be too much I suggest that you try to
attack
>with several TD platoons. Their turreted opponents are much more
flexible.
    Absolutely. You destroy the assaulting tank force first moving
backwards
as necessary, then move forward to new defensive lines. If you're
getting
outflanked, move back.

>They are much like the Force, Yoda says you must use them for defence
and
>never for attack!
    Yes.

Andrew Martin
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