Re: [FT] Scenario for review

On Wed, 19 Jul 2000 11:44:36 -0400, "McCarthy, Tom" writes:
>I suggested an escorting scheme which not only reduced the damage to
the
>target ship, but also caused a net loss of damage inflicted.  Matthew
>suggested this was an error, but I had done this intentionally, and it
comes
>down to PSB who's right.

I appologize if I said it was "wrong".	Just that I was worried about
other applications.

>If the escorting ship is physically interposing itself in order to take
the
>hit, then yes, it should take probably take all the damage aimed at the
>target.  If it is interposing itself semi-successfully but
deliberately, the
>target should	take some damage and the escort should take some,
possibly
>with a net increase in damage done.  If the escort is using
countermeasures
>and ECM to protect the target and itself and happens to be hit by some
>misdirected fire, than the target should take some damage and the
escort
>should take some, but there should be a net reduction in damage
inflicted by
>the attacker.
>
>The situation I deliberately tried to create was one where you could
>outmaneouvre the escort to attack the target at 100% efficiency, but if
the
>escort outmaneouvred you, you had to attack the escort at 100% or the
target
>at something less than 100%.  The escort has surrendered any movement
>freedom he might have, so I choose to penalize or force a choice on the
>attacker then, not the defender.  Your suggestion is that I should be
able
>to choose between attacking the escort at 100% or the target at 80%
with the
>extra 20% plus some extra applied to the escort, which I find
unpalatable.
>
>I said I find it unpalatable; both are workable rules and people should
use
>the one they prefer.

My worry is that with a net reduction, you could build pairs of ships,
one with shields, and one without.  Then have the shielded ship escort
the unshielded one.  Attacks the the shielded ship are as normal.
Attacks on the un shielded ship end up doing net damage equal to about
level 0.5 shields.  So its the ebtter target, but you get a net
increase in mass available for weapons with no loss.  Or you're
getting level 0.5 shields for free.  Thats what worries me.

I think doing not more damage is acceptable, as the civi ship takes
less damage than it should, and the military ship ends up taking less
damage than if it was targeted directly.  I just worry that if there
isn't a down-side to this escorting, military ships will do it to each
other, and not just to merchants in a time of need.

-=- Matthew L. Seidl		email: seidl@cs.colorado.edu		
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