Re: FT-Needle beams

>From BIF:

> Hmm, I worked out my ideas for the long range needle beam at twice the
> cost/mass of a normal needle beam, but at close range gives you only a
> single hit. 

The first half of the sentence argues for a beam-style mechanic, the
second
for a Pulser.

>Against this disadvantage you have to ballance the fact it only
>requires one f.con and a longer range (twice). 

In comparison to the Heavy Needle, a second firecon is needed only for
the
long range attack. At short range it behaves exactly like 2 seperate
needle
beams that must be fired at the same target (like anyone ever divides
Needle
fire), requiring only one firecon.

> I think it probably is too
> cheap or light, but 5 mass would be at a disadvantage at close range
> compaired to 2 needle beams (same mass as 2 needle beams + 2 firecons,
but
> only half the dammage). 

4 Mass (at 3pts/mass) for your Long Range Needle is arguably on the
expensive side. I'm still attempting to balance the Heavy Needle, as per
beth's question from last week sometime.

> The multi arc needle beams I was trying to balance
> mass wize against the mass of having separate needle beams in each
arc, vs
> the disadvantage of losing a multi arc beam to threshold check.

That balance favors multiple systems on larger ships ( more hits, but
smaller realtive loss per hit, and faster repair), single systems on
smaller
ships. Needle beams are most likely on smaller faster ships (though the
standard version is only practical in game terms on dedicated Needle
cruisers that can mount 4-6 or more).

> The focusable cl3 batt (the one that could fire as either a cl.3 or a
needle
> beam) was just a cl3 mass with a needle beam mass added. This would be
at
a
> disadvantage (one needle beam attack vs 3 beam die) in the needle
range,
so
>I think the player would have to only specify the type of attack he`s
using
>(needle or beam), and would be free to attack in any arc.

I see nothing inherently wrong with the focusable battery, but I'm still
trying to think of any situation where 1 Needle die is preferable to 3
beam
dice. Even vs. ships with Screen 2, the beam dice are superior.

>From Charles:

> Multi-Arc Needle Beam
> Well, so far there are people both for and against these - ignoring
PSB
> issues - is there really a problem with allowing Needle Beams with
more
> than 1 arc? for the right cost, of course.

Sigh. No. My gut doesn't like the feel, but that's easily PSB'd away.
Truth
of the matter is, multi arcs would go halfway to making the needle a
usable
weapon. Expanding range capabilities to 24" would go the other half. I'd
much rather not have then "scalable" beyond 24", though (again, that's
the
gut talking).

Noam