RE: FT: Wave Guns

It depends on what you are trying to do with a wave gun or nova cannon. 
I
use them to make my opponent maneuver in a way I have some control of. 
If I
can break a ship off from its escorts it becomes missile bait or a
target to
overwhelm while keeping away from the enemies main fire power. Wave guns
in
are group also tend to draw fire out of proportion to the damage they do
a
few of my wave gun ship designs are little more then beam sponges that
divert weapons away from my main attack.   Anything that cuts down an
opponents options helps, even if you only do a few points damage.  Only
in
very limited cases would I take a fleet of nothing but these weapons. 
They
work best combined with missles and/or fighters.

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-gzg-l@CSUA.Berkeley.EDU
[mailto:owner-gzg-l@CSUA.Berkeley.EDU]On Behalf Of GBailey@aol.com
Sent: Monday, May 15, 2000 2:28 PM
To: gzg-l@CSUA.Berkeley.EDU
Subject: Re: FT: Wave Guns

>>Do others think that Wave Guns are too expensively balanced?
>
>No, I played a SDN game at the last GenCon (or was it the one before?)
and
>had very little trouble lining up shots.
>
>Schoon

Were those shots on multiple targets?  Mine weren't since they
split up a little but I was able to target at least one ship with the
WGs on 4 of the 5 game turns.  But, that had a little to do with
a planet being in their way, their  ships' MD were 2 and mine
were 6.  But several of the ships did not have a target on most
of the turns so that massive weapon was useless.  Their secondary
weapons were minor (1 class 2, except the SDN with 7).
I guess I'd like to use the WG as a plasma torpedo ala SFB and
wonder how the rules can be modified for balance to be able to
use the WG, other weapons, and retain the shields.  One arc,
one target, roll to hit like a pulse torpedo (maybe extend each
range band a little to reach 36"), and keep its charge and damage
to own ship if hit?

Also, were you using vector or cinematic?  We were using cinematic.

Glen