rear-arc fire, redux (was: Re: more Laserlight's FT Lite rules

bail9672@bellsouth.net wrote:
> 
[...]
> 
> Re: firing out rear arcs
> Frankly, I think that rule is stupid, but that's my opinion.	What
> sf show do people might see regularly?  Star Trek.  What do
> Star Trek ships do?  Shoot rearwards.  But that's a "universe"
> specific thing.  B5 never shot backwards (they spun instead,
> but you cannot do that in cinematic movement).  Didn't the
> Millenium Falcon ever shoot its turreted weapons rearward?
> It looks like it could even with drives activated.
> Yeah, we house rule it away.

Aaaactually, there was at least one scene in B5 in which a
ship fired out its rear - with engines active. See also the
opening scene of the 3rd season episode "Severed Dreams". The
Omega heavy beams the hell out of a cruiser (the Lexington)
that was pursuing it. Shot through the rear, while engines
active.

Come to think of it, later in season 4, when Sheridan's forces
were taking back Proxima III from President Clarke's loyalists
forces, I believe we saw weapons fire from the rear arcs of the
Omegas there, too - but it was from a distance, and it was
inconclusive whether or not the ships had engines thrusting at
that mmoment. However, since they were all maneuvering about,
it's reasonably safe to say yes they were.

Now, that record set straight, I've always been in support
of rear-arc fire. Starfire PSB'd it away, but I was always
uneasy about it. It does make for an interesting tactical
restriction, but that is what it is: a restriction. Why tie
your hands in a fight?

Mk