[DS 2] design question - a little 1 capacity question.

Okay, we discussed if a Fire team counted towards the 1 weapon per
vehicle size class (page 11) included Fire Teams (I went with the "No"
group since like Cargo it wasn't a "weapon.")  

Now the question has come up (and it seems to follow the same types of
logic) that a Command/Communications system should or should not be
counted as a 'weapon' system either.  Basically there are two schools of
thought here - one says it doesn't directly kill a vehicle/fire team so
it doesn't count as a weapon system but the second says that it (like
your brain which is one of  a warrior's most powerful weapon [right up
there with a radio]) and, unlike the mass for a Fire Team or Cargo
space,
it actively participates in the combat process.  Unless I hear a great
reason for counting it as a weapon then I am going with the former
position.

The difference is as follows:

Class 1 - never mind.

Class 2 
HQ System = 8 Capacity - 1 weapon
LAD or PDS/Basic = 2 for a total of 10 - 2 weapons and no room for
debate

Class 3:
HQ System = 8 Capacity - 1 weapon
PDS/Superior = 4 [subtotal 12] capacity - 2 weapons
LAD = 2 [subtotal 14 capacity] - 3 weapons
1 capacity unused {emphasis not volume intended} UNLESS
HQ/Communications
Systems are not weapons then you get a APSW or APFC with one unused
capacity. Or you could substitute  PDS/Basic for the PDS/Superior and
get
room for a GMS/L for a 'fourth' weapon.  

*** At Class three this becomes a somewhat significant issue.  The
'fourth' weapon (GMS/L) makes every HQ vehicle a potential combatant. 
***

Class 4:

HQ SYStem = 8 capacity - 1 weapon
PDS/Basic = 2 [subtotal 10] -  2 weapons
LAD = 2 [subtotal 12] - 3 weapons
GMS/L = 2 [subtotal 14] - 4 weapons
1 capacity unused {emphasis not volume intended} UNLESS
HQ/Communications
Systems are not weapons then you get a APSW or APFC. personally I would
upgrade to PDS/Enhanced...

Class 5
HQ SYStem = 8 capacity - 1 weapon
PDS/Basic = 2 [subtotal 10] -  2 weapons
LAD = 2 [subtotal 12] - 3 weapons
GMS/L = 2 [subtotal 14] - 4 weapons
* ADS/Basic = 10 [subtotal 24] - 5 weapons
1 capacity unused {emphasis not volume intended} UNLESS
HQ/Communications
Systems are not weapons then you get a APSW or APFC. personally I would
upgrade to PDS/Enhanced...

* Or  those 15 points becomes a MDC-3 or HKP-3 or yada-yada-yada and the
"HQ Combattant" is just that, a highly expensive, potentially vulnerable
secondary AFV.

Not a big issue and I am willing to allow HQ/Communication system to not
count as a weapon towards the 1 weapon per Vehicle Class size in design
but if anyone has a good argument that it 'should' count as a weapon
design then posy  a reply please.

Gracias,
Glenn

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