Re: [FT] WotW (Finish EMP, Start Needle)

My thoughts on Needle Beams.

I have considered that Needle Beams (and PDS) are in fact Laser weapons
- this would explain the ability of both weapons to ignore screens
(which are designed to stop particle beams - using the traditional
Tuffleyverse PSB).

In this case, I would not have a problem (from PSB grounds) with
multi-arc needle beams - all you need to steer the beam is a moving
mirror array (actually, not _quite_ that simple :-).

One implication of this is that you _might_ be able to partly protect
your ship using a mirrored hull - but I'm not going there just yet!

If you allow multi-arc needle beams - it also answers certain queries
about pulsars in needle mode and variable focus needle/Cl.3 beams, but
raises questions about the pulsars - which are presumably some form of
particle beam weapon normally (assuming traditional PSB) (OTOH, maybe a
Pulsar is a versatile particle beam, capable of firing electrons - C
mode, protons - M mode, or neurons - L mode, in which case, needle or N
mode is a modification to C mode where the electron beam is used as a
Free Electron Laser - hows that for PSB :-)

I think the important question is - is a multi-arc needle beam balanced?

On a related topic, and something I forgot to put in my original message
- is the concept of allowing 'standard' weapons to fire at specific
systems - which I've seen a number of times.

My version (largely for Star Trek games :-):

Firing standard beam batteries at specific target systems:
This requires a firecon to specifically target the system.
Maximum range is 6 mu.
Roll damage as normal, if any of it penetrates screens and armour, roll
1d6 if the dice rolls a 6, the target is destroyed (or damaged if main
drive).
Elaborate as required.

Charles