Re: The Problem with EW

On 12-Apr-00 at 18:15, Andrew.Kelman@agso.gov.au
(Andrew.Kelman@agso.gov.au)
wrote: > 
> 
> >***
> >This is probably tactically correct, but the heart of my orginal post
was
> >not how effective ECM could be, but that it should have a flaw,
otherwise
> >it
> >becomes the 'holy grail'. All designs are therefore incomplete
without an
> >ECM system. So where does that leave all the published designs?
> >***
> 
> replying to above The_Beast wrote;
> 
> >Once again, speaking without fully thinking out the implications, may
I
> >suggest that the optional EW rules be written such that the current
> >designs have SOME ECM intrinsically?
> 
> I think this would be the easiest to implement. There is an
understated
> power allocation system inherent in the FT system where ships are able
to
> divert power from guns and manouvre drive and put it to FTL drive.
Surely,
> running silent, at least, would consist of not assigning power to any
> system, and thereby gaining some advantages of increased effective
range to
> potential firers, along lines that have previously been suggested.
> 
> Similarly, diverting the power from the guns etc, and putting it
through
> the sensors would enable active effects. One such ability might be to
> illuminate an enemy ship to make it easier to target. Another such
ability
> might along the lines of an SFB wild weasel, that attracts salvo
missiles
> within 6". This may be result in a better interpretation of the
'banzai
> jammer' as a escort vessel lights itself up (the crew rushing to
life-boats)
> and permit smarter missile seeker rules (eg; based on target size,
with wild
> weasels looking larger). 
> 
> For other functions; might it be possible to jam fighters, or
torpedoes, or
> shields, or ADFC?

No, no, please no.  Please forget you ever saw power allocation in SFB.
Please forget such a thing ever existed.  I like FT as a fleet game
and don't ever want to see it get to the level of power allocation.

Personally, I thought the jump limitation was because as the jump field
builds it totally disrupts fire control and it also has inertia, if
you try to turn the ship when the jump occurs your ship will reappear
spread over several light years.  (When someone else is in the jump
field similar things happen.)

Roger