Re: Fleet Control System - Back on track (Was: Re: What the hell is this?) [long]

>At 08:36 AM 10/29/98 -0800, Sean Bayan Schoonmaker wrote:

>>>Game Use:  Any vessel with a Fleet Con rolls a D6 at the start of
each
turn
>>>and halves the result (round up).  The resultant number is the rating
of
>>>the Fleet Con for that turn.  Ratings do not carry over from turn to
turn
>>>so that a Fleet Con can only have a rating of 1-3 each turn.
>>
>>I like this bit, though I would consider making it one or two dice
which
>>are scored as beam batteries, giving a range of (1 die) 0-3 or (2
dice)
0-6
>
>Well, I didn't introduce ranges as it makes it a bit complex in working
out
>which ships can be commed to and which can't, how many you have in this
>band and how many in that one.  Just a straight roll that affects all
>vessels on the table made sense and kept it simple.  The suggestion of
>different levels of Fleet Cons (Basic, Enhanced, Superior) made sense
and
>seems interesting, so we could say that a Basic Con generates D3
ratings,
>an Enhanced one produces D6 and a Superior one produces D6+2?	This
makes
>Superior Cons far better (as they have a guarranteed minimum of three
as
>opposed to one), but the Mass and cost will compensate.

It seems that would lead to wild swings in the availablility of ratings
from turn to turn.  To smooth it out a bit perhaps consider rolling 1,2
or
3 dice for basic, enhanced, or superior systems, then score the dice as
beam batteries.
>>>The Fleet Con can be used to either predict enemy movements or to
>>>co-ordinate friendly vessel attacks.  The predict enemy movements, a
player
>>>with a Fleet Con can force their opponent to show them the movement
orders
>>>for one of the enemy vessels for each rating of the Fleet Con (1-3).
The
>>>Friendly player may alter any movement orders after seeing this
>>>information, but the enemy player MAY NOT.  Any Fleet Con ratings
used
to
>>>predict enemy movements CANNOT be used to co-ordinate friendly
vessels
as
>>>stated below and vice versa.
>>
>>I find this rule problematic. Any time you allow a player to modify
his
>>orders after all other orders have been written, you're asking for
trouble.
>>It invites one player to spend his points to peek and modify, and then
have
>>the other player do the same... It adds alot of time.
>
>O.K.  I put this rules in as an interesting aside.  I thought that the
>sophisticated electronics could be used to predict enemy fleet
movements,
>but as you say, its problematic.  I wasn't particularly happy with this
>one, but put it up anyway to get constructive criticisms like this.

I agree, nix the ability to rewrite the movement orders, but the peek
can
still be helpful.  for more flexibility, and to make ECM systems
actually
relevant, perhaps require 2 rating points to peek at ships protected by
ECM.

>>As an alternative, particularly in larger engagements where seeing
that
one
>>order might cause the rewrite of the entire fleet (!), just the
knowledge
>>of the orders can be particularly powerful when fighters and/or SMLs
are
>>involved. I don't like the peek/modification idea. A peek only system
might
>>be better.
>
>O.K.  Perhaps thats the best.	With SMs and Fighters, the knowledge is
>powerful enough anyway.  I may keep it at just a peek.
>
>>>Fleet Cons may also be used to co-ordinate friendly attacks.  When a
>>>friendly ship activates to fire, if the friendly player has Fleet
Cons
in
>>>their force, they may use them to activate other, friendly vessels
for
>>>simultaneous fire.  ONE extra vessel may be activated per rating of
Fleet
>>>Con used.  The other friendly vessels then activate at the same time
as
the
>>>original choice and carry out all firing simulatneously.  Previously
>>>activated vessels MAY NOT activate again in the same turn and vessels
>>>activated in this way MAY NOT activate again later in the same turn.
>>
>>I like it. I would limit it to ONE point allowed for any activation,
>>essentially limiting this to two ships acting at the same time without
the
>>other player getting a word in edgewise. He could then only spend
another
>>point on his next activation.
>
>O.K.  Sounds good.

One nitpick - limit to one Fleet Control Activity per activation - that
way
you can define more difficult actions that take more that one rating to
perform. (like peek at ships under ECM - see above)

>>>Opposing Fleet Cons may try to block any Fleet Con action by
expending
>>>ratings to do so.  A blocking player may only attempt to block a
single
>>>communication or prediction, not multiple ones (ie-only blocking comm
to
a
>>>single ship, even if two or more are being additionally activated in
a
>>>co-ordinated fire attempt).	By expending a single rating, the
blocking
>>>player rolls a D6.  The player being blocked also rolls a D6 for the
>>>original rating used.  These rolls can be augmented by spending
additional
>>>ratings, each additional rating expended adding +1 to the roll.  The
player
>>>who rolls highest wins the the attempt, either blocking the attempt
or
>>>getting it through.	You only get one chance to block a Fleet Con
use.
>>
>>I don't like the idea of a point war and blocking, much less one that
>>involves extra dice rolling. I say give them the points and allow them
to
>>creatively use them to improve their tactical situation. With this
rule,
>>you make it likely that "he with the most points will get his action"
as
>>opposed to "he who uses the points he has most creatively will get the
>>upper hand."
>
>O.K.  The blocking was only there to give the other player a chance to
stop
>what could be viewed as an unfair advantage, but as you suggested with
your
>modifications the limited actions and activations would make for more
>tactical and fair play.  I'll re-write the rules with some of these
mods
>and post them for review later today.
>
I agree that point wars are no fun - reminds me too much of Star Fleet
Battles Electronic Warfare.  As an alternative to the blocking described
above, Allow a player to expend 2-3 points to 'supress' or confuse
communications, sensors, whatever.  This has no effect on the turn it is
performed.  however, on the following turn when the enemy rolls for his
control ratings, the dice are scored as beams vs.level-1 screens, thus
reducing the control ratings he receives.  This seems to be quickly
approaching a description of new ECM abilities - I would consider
passing
this ability to ECM systems except they are very specific about which
ships
they benefit, while the Fleet control is a more generalized concept (at
least for the moment).

>-Kelvin....

Jared Noble