[FT] graser-1 slightly overpowered?

From: Hugh Fisher <laranzu@ozemail.com.au>

> I've been running solo escort vs escort test battles with
> the new UNSC beta test ships and analysing the results.

Thanks for such a thorough treatment. It was interesting looking at you 
results.
I have a couple comments, though I do not have the various statistics 
at my command.

First, is that comparing Mass of Grasers to beams is not sufficient. 
Grasers cost more per mass than beams and this must be factored in, 
because the cost is there specifically to account for some of the 
Mass/Power imbalance.

Second, I agree that Grasers power is maximized in escort battles. Some 
of this advantage will evaporate when escorts accompany larger 
(especially screened) ships that can take a 2-hit graser shot without 
thresholding. I think escort battles are the showcase for Graser's 
maximum effect. Next you should try cruiser groups (both cruisers alone 
and cruiser escort mixes). My bet is things will be a bit different.

Third, Head-on passes against grasers are not the best way to survive. 
As you mention, if the NAC could keep out of 12-18MU range, they stood 
a much better chance. This may not be easy, but I wonder if a two 
player game would see the maneuver component evolve rapidly as this 
point was driven home. The role of maneuver is very hard to playtest 
solo (or even with small numbers of two+ player games).

There's probably more, but these are the my thoughts. The first is easy 
to think about - and may be enough in and of itse;f, the second is easy 
enough to playtest, the third will take a large number of nearly 
identical tests were different maneuver strategies are attempted and 
countered.

Noam

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