Re: [FT] Heavy Beams - 4321

From: "Charles Taylor" <charles.taylor@cableol.co.uk>

> Does this mean that Class-1 Heavy Beams do _no_ damage? or am I
> misreading?

No, you're not misreading: you can't make a class 1 Heavy.

> If I'm right - couldn't you just say - 'Heavy Beams cost the same as
> normal beams of a class 1 higher - and roll the same number of dice as
> beams of the _same_ class'?

I did that initially in another post, but there was more verbiage
explaining
that way.

> Hmm.. according to my calculation, and assuming that screens do not
> apply vs. re-rolls (like with beam batteries),

That's right.

> that averages to 2 damage
> points (dp) per dice vs. unscreened targets, 1 1/3 dp vs. level 1
> screens, and 5/6 dp vs. level 2 screens. That makes them 2.5 times as
> effective vs. unscreened ships, 2 1/9 as effective vs. level 1
screens,
> and 1.79 times as effective vs. level 2 screens. All for twice to cost
> of an equivalent number of beam dice - they may be a bit on the cheap
> side (only slighly).

Close enough - and remember that Class 2Hs are very short ranged, and
you're better off with 3 class 1's. A  Class 3H is comparable in cost
to 3 Class 2s with the same arc and range. It's only the BIG beams
where they become more effective vs lightly shielded targets.
Where they come in to their own is not when you're comparing a single
3-arc Class3H with 3x 3-arc Class2s, it's when you're comparing a
single 1-arc Class-3H with 2 Class-2s.

> > * Finally, the same principle could be extended to a "Super Heavy
Beam",
> > which does 5,4,3,2,1,0 but rolls 2 less dice, and so on. But these
would
> > have to
> > be at least of Class 6 to match the effectiveness of conventional
beams.
> >
> >
> Hmm.. 3.75 as effective as beams vs. unscreened, 3.42 as effective vs.
> level 1 screens, 3.21 times as effective vs. level 2 screens, but
rolls
> 2 less dice (level 3 rolls dice as beam level 1) is equivalent to 4x
> mass of beam battery of equal class - so I think they're a bit
> _overpriced_ this time.

As I said, Class 6's and above before they get comparable. This is a bit
of a throw-away line, I haven't done much work on the idea. But the 4321
beam seems good. Simple, balanced.

Thanks for the feedback, anyway.