Re: "Fuzzy Wuzzy" Kra'Vak (Was: KV 'house' rules for FB)

On Fri, 2 Oct 1998 07:19:40 -0500 devans@uneb.edu wrote:

Quoting me:
>> It shows how long it's been since I looked at the KV 
rules that I can't remember if RG units have different 
ranges, but ISTM that they don't -- in which case, the 
above calculation applies.
 
> They don't multiply the range (not included in the above 
analysis)
 
> Sorry, Phillip. Both for missing your comment, and, I 
looked at MT, and your memory is absolutely correct. <

'Sorright! Nice to know I remembered right.

[Snip]
 
> Now, by damage tolerant, are you speaking just of needle 
beams, or are you speaking of threshold damage? Statistical 
likelihood of damage is same, as more systems mean more 
system rolls, right? <

I was really referring to threshold checks, but the 
same consideration applies to needle beams -- three times 
as many targets, and a given hit doesn't reduce your 
firepower by as much. Of course, it's more likely that 
you'll lose at least part of the firepower at a threshold 
check, but _far_ less likely that you'll lose all of it.

Against that, the bigger RGs are more likely to put _all_ 
their firepower on target, so maybe it balances out. But 
add to that any defensive capabilities for the Class-1s and 
good KV design starts to look even more like the "bee 
swarm" school of ship-building -- as many little stingers 
as you can pack in, plus maybe a couple of big guns for a 
big punch. I would expect all KV classes to have far more 
Class-1 RGs than human ships have Class-1 beams.

However, put in a range difference and/or tinker with the 
Mass figures (it's beginning to look as though there should 
be a minimum mass for RGs -- more than 1 -- with smaller 
increases for bigger classes than occur with beams) and the 
calculations change completely. I'll wait to see FT3/FB 
Vol.2 before I dare to comment any further.

Phil
------------------------------------------------------------
"If you let a smile be your umbrella... 
   you'll get wet teeth!"
   -- a forgotten comedian, quoted by me: Phil Atcliffe
				(Phillip.Atcliffe@uwe.ac.uk)