Re: Plasma Torpedos (was Cosmic Balance + FT)

 Chad Taylor wrote:
 
 >How about an S-torp with a mass of five and an R-torp with a mass of
ten. 
 
 OK, I can go along with that.
 
 >  I would like to see a mass 10 R-torp because that is the size we
have 
 >for most racial spinal mount weapons and that is what I intended the 
 >R-torp to be, I'm just not sure it is that useful. 
 
 How about allowing the capacitor to be overcharged on the R but with a 
 chance of blowing itself up.  Usually the capacitor is set to bleed off

 any extra charge over the limit (charge of 7, roll a 5, max charge
allowed 
 is 10 so 3 points added, 2 bled off).	At the beginning of the turn you

 could turn this function off and the capacitor could try to hold the
extra 
 charge (the example now has a charge of 12).  The extra charge could 
 destroy the capacitor so roll a d6 and a result less than or equal to
the 
 overcharge (2 in this case) will destroy the torp system and cause
damage 
 equal to overcharge (2 damage in this example).  If the overcharge is 6
or 
 greater, a roll of 6 should still mean the capacitor safely held the 
 charge (in the example, if after rolling a 3 and not exploding, the
next 
 turn a  6 is rolled charging the capacitor to a total of 18, overcharge
is 
 8, on a 1-5 the capacitor explodes, on a 6 it holds the charge safely).
A 
 new bleed level could also be set so any charge over the new defined
level 
 would bleed off (charge was 12, set level at 14, roll a 6, add 2, bleed

 4).  The point of all of this is to allow torps with initial strengths
of 
 6d6, 7d6, or more if the player is willing to take the risks associated

 with overcharging.  The capacitor on the type S would not be able to 
 handle overcharging.
 
 How is that for adding some zip to the type R?
 
 >Each launcher can launch any number of pseudo plasma torpedoes (only 1

 >per turn and not on a turn an actual torpedo is launched).
 
 Personally I don't want a ship with plasma torpedo capability firing 
 something every turn, either a real torp or a pseudo.	If I remember
SFB 
 right, they limited the number of pseudos a launcher had available. 
Just 
 my feelings that don't have to be shared by the world.
 
 >A pseudo can only be revealed as being a fake if it is allowed to hit
its 
 >target.
 
 Again my feelings are that a pseudo should not be able to take the
damage 
 a real plasma torp could take so at some point, beam fire would destroy

 it.  How about damage equal to its initial strength in turns?
 
 >>  Would a painted cotton ball make a good plasma torpedo miniature? 
 >I think it would make a very good Plasma Torpedo.  How would you paint
it 
 >though?
 
 First fuzz it out a little then spray a base of white-yellow then add
some 
 orange and red dry-brushing on the raised areas.  The paint should keep
it 
 stiff to some extent.	Other color combinations could be fun like blues

 and purples :-)
 
 >We haven't actually used this yet.  It will probably appear as an
enemy 
 >'NPC' race in the campaign.  So I am rather interested in your
 >opinion (everyones that is).

Let us know how they work in the campaign.

Dean Gundberg
dgundberg@bcbsnd.com

"What are we going to do tonight?"
"Same thing we do every night, try to take over the world!"
       The Brain (of Pinky and the Brain from Animaniacs cartoons)