Re: [OFFICIAL] new ideas!

On Thu, 27 Feb 1997, Allan Goodall wrote:

> Another problem with rear arc ships is that the movement rules make it
> impossible to maneuver in formation. Try turning a battle line running
line
> astern. Because of FT's movement rules, a line astern turning will
result in
> a line abreast formation. You can't order one ship to follow the exact
> course of another ship.
> 
Actually it is possible, but difficult.  Each ship in the line makes the

course change one turn after the ship in front of it.  THe ships must 
maintain constant velocity. So the effect would be ship 1 turns left, 
ship two occupies the space vacated by 1 with the following ships moving

up one position.  Next turn ship 1 goes stratight, 2 performs the left 
turn and the rest move up one position.

Due to the complexity of planning something like this the amount of time

it would take to actually complete the maneuver it's not very practical.

--Binhan Lin