Re: 4th Heavy Beams

>From: Tom Anderson <thomas.anderson@university-college.oxford.ac.uk>
>>And: Sean Bayan Schoonmaker wrote:

>> [Two step BPS Damage]

>However, i query the intent: how do you justify BPSs taking two hits
like
> drives, rather than one hit, like every other weapon system?

Because it has the extra vulnerability of 2 systems on the SSD. The
better
comparison is the SML+ Magazine, and that's so subject to random factors
as
to be hard to compare with confidence.

>> When firing, each EP assigned to a BE allows one die roll. Subtract
one
>> from this die for each full 6 MU of range, and the result is the
damage
>> done to the target.

>iow, guaranteed damage at ranges under 6 MU.

You Betcha.  Anyone careless enough to get in that close and inside the
single arc deserves what they get.

> i disagree very strongly with this. could we have -1 for each '6 MU or
part thereof' of range instead?

Bleagh. Makes 'em weaker  _and_ more expensive than Ptorps. 
As is, HBW is only superior, per die, to P-torps below 12". A Ptorp is
superior to _2_ HBW dice at 18-24" with your system. Cripples it with
the
restricted arc and double system on the SSD.

Even with cost/mass adjustments, why not go for torps?

>... perhaps the range increment
> could be made 8 mu to compensate; max range goes from 36 to 40.

Still don't like it.  Still weaker and more expensive than Ptorps in
almost
all ranges P-torps can fire in. Is 0.167 points of damage per die
average at
range 32-40 compensation? I don't think so.

>> Screens and Kra'Vak type armor affect heavy beams the same way. Each
level
>> subtracts one from the roll for each EP. Heavy beams are affected by
Human
>> type armor in the same manner as normal beams.

>how is damage split between armour and hull? given that this is
supposed
>to be a deeply gouging weapon, i suggest half on each, in the manner of
>PTs.

If it's a gouger, then once it gets past the armor, it should all be
hull.
I'd say first point from each die is armor, the rest are hull, or
simplified, Armor up to number of dice thrown, the rest hull. I'll
settle
for half and half as long as it's rounded in favor of more hull damage.