Re: [FT] WotW #6: Targeting Lidar

----- Original Message -----
From: Izenberg, Noam <Noam.Izenberg@jhuapl.edu>
To: 'FT List' <GZG-L@csua.berkeley.edu>
Sent: Friday, March 30, 2001 6:09 PM
Subject: [FT] WotW #6: Targeting Lidar

> In parallel to the current SG(?) WotD discussion, I thought the next
FT
WotW
> could be the Targeting Lidar - a Firecon enhancing system. I suppose
their
> not the same concept, but one reminded me of the other.
>
> Targeting Lidar
>
> MASS: 1, Cost: 4
> When used in concert with a Fire Control, each Targeting Lidar system
> subtracts 2" from the effective range of a single target ship. TL
effects
> are cumulative up to a point. A given weapon can receive
> benefits of 1 TL for each 12" (or part thereof) of range.
>
> Point Defense weapons may not use TL's. They are too weak to have
their
> range
> extended significantly.
>
> TLs are not Fire Controls - a FireCon must be used to target a ship
> normally, and
> the TL used in addition.
>
> Examples:
> 1) A Class 1 beam or needle using a TL can fire effectively out to
14",
but
> neither can
> benefit from more than 1 TL because each weapon's power is too low for
the
> increased accuracy to be useful beyond that range.
> 2) A P-Torp can benefit from up to 3 TLs to make effective range 6"
closer,
> extending
> the 2+ to hit band to 0-12" and the 6+ to-hit band to 30-36"
>
>
> -Noam
>
As Richard and Emily Bell said, I already see firecons as operating as
this
sort of system. If you do have such a system, i could see some benifits
and
disadvantages to it. The biggest would be from missiles, in that you
could
target your SML`s onto a specific target ship, and not just the nearest
to
the marker. I would also have the missile scoring more missiles on
target
(say, 1D6 + 1, max of 6). Corespondingly, I would also see enemy ships
having the ablity to follow the same beam from your ship with their own
missiles, so having the same bonuses without lighting themselfs up. The
bit
of increasing the effective range of the beam weapons, I don`t know if
this
would be valid, due to the light speed lag in info returning to the ship
so
equipted with this system. A missile would be different in that the
missiles
would be closer and being able to follow it without the lag. My thinking
runs along the lines of the MT missiles rule given by Beth and her
better
half <G>. Also, would someone out there more conversant with the effects
of
partical beams (is there such a person?) answer me a question. Would
there
be any detectable scatter/reflection/diffusion effect from the beam
it`self
reacting/interacting with the targets hull? If so, the weapon would
function
as it`s own lidar targeting system anyway, and would be used with the
normal
firecons (if you assume the firecons were a targeting
radar/lidar/computer
system anyway). Just my take on the way technology works in FT (in
absence
of specifics, which is why I like FT in the first place).

BIF
 "yorkshire born,yorkshire bred,
 strong in arms, thick in head"