Some House rules for comment (SFB universe)

Since I have picked up the Fleet Book I'm considering rewriting my Star
Trek rules (based on the SFB version of the universe).	I wanted to
present
a few systems here for comment.  While I'm not a big fan of the ST
universe, I have a decent model collection and it is an easy way to
introduce people to the game.

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The first option uses screens in place of ST shields.  Since most ships
in
SFB had stronger forward shielding than in other areas I have been using
the following rule.

Point Screen

Allows an additional screen level through one arc only.

Mass:	1  (or	2% of ship MASS if greater)		Cost:  MASS X 3

This is Vs the 5% cost of a normal screen.  I've considered going down
to
1%, but that seems too efficient.

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The second option, the one I favor now, is dropping the use of screens
for
shields.  Instead, a modified Hull armour rule will be used to model
shields.  Effects from weapons and re-rolls are as per normal Hull
Armour.

General Shield 

Works and costs the same as the normal Hull Armour rules.  The exception
is
that damage control parties can repair General Shield points.  This
bonus
should probably cost an extra point per mass, but if the General Shield
isn't used against the normal Hull Armour rules (universe specific) then
there shouldn't be a problem.

Point Shielding

Mass:  1 mass per  3 boxes of shielding/defense Cost: Mass X 10

Each box of shielding will absorb damage through only one arc.	When the
ship is designed the player must state through which arcs each box
provides
protection.  One method is to place the boxes at the top, corners, sides
or
bottom (depending) of the ship display.  The boxes being marked off as
the
ship takes damage through the represented arc.	As with General Shields,
Point Shielding can be repaired by damage control parties.  Point
Shielding
is damaged (marked off) prior to General Shielding being damaged.

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The idea with the second option (less so with the first) is to add the
tactical challenge of not just moving your ships to keep your weapons in
arc and your opponents weapons in arc but also to maneuver so as to keep
arcs that have lost their shielding away from an opponent while
attempting
to maneuver into an opponents like arc.  The two may not always be the
same.  Point Shielding (hull armour variant) is easily changed to a Hull
Point Armour variant for those who want to experiment with ships
designed
to with stand damage better from one direction.  I'm considering
something
like this for the Kra'Vak.  The Point Shielding (Hull Armour variant)
should probably have a limit on the amount of shielding placed in one
arc,
something like any one arc cannot be twice as strong as an arc beside it
perhaps.  Before I make any decision I wanted to see what others might
have
to say.  Option two is where I'm going to go, but I had been using the
first for awhile and thought I would include it also.

Just a few thoughts at the moment

Chad