[FT]: re: RE: HBW and Cutter Beam

>>>>>>>>>>
Date: Fri, 26 May 2000 09:58:53 -0400
From: "Bell, Brian K"

I can't remember if there was any conclusions either (and I can never 
fin= d the archives). Since FB2 came out, my biggest objection to the 
Heavy Beam Weapon (HBW), that of an auto-hit at close range, has been 
overridden. The K-Guns use t= his mechanic. :-/ 
<<<<<<<<<<

for my FT B5 universe, i use a differing HBW concept which springs 
from Schoon's Beam Capacitor System/Beam Emitter.  to quickly 
summarize, the BCS generates energy points and the BE can shoot upto 
its rating in these energy points.  so a BE-3 may shoot 1-3 energy at 
any one time.  this is like schoon's system.  the main two differences 
that i introduced are:

a) each energy point translates into 3 FT dice for hit/damage by young 
races and 5 FT dice for first ones.  this takes care of the auto-hit 
problem and keeps the game consistent.

b) my house rules do not allow the 1/3 BCS capacity recharge/turn 
since that would allow BE to fire low-powered shots every turn given a 
sufficient sized BCS.  this was getting munchkinized in our group, so 
now energy point recharge is:

   1 EP/turn - younger races
   2 EP/turn - minbari, drakh
   3 EP/turn - first ones

so no matter how big the BCS capacity is, the recharge rate is the 
same.  mass and cost are about 3X higher than the equivalent FT beam; 
the advantage for HBW is that they dish it out all at once.  YMMV for 
your universe.

dave