RE: [FT] Simultaneous Fire

> > In my mind, I picture the ships firing throughout
> > the turn, some earlier and
> > some later, while others fire constantly.
>
> If that's the case, it seems to be modelled poorly.

And all ships firing at exactly the same time is better ;-)

As a game mechanic to simplify combat, firing is resolved at one time
with
one set of ranges when a more 'realistic view' has the ships in constant
motion during the full turn with ranges constantly changing and ships
firing
throughout the turn.  From this point of view, simultaneous fire in my
mind
moves it even farther from realism since some ships will want to fire
that
turn, but unfortunately will be destroyed before they get the chance.

> > ...To me it's pretty broken for someone to
> > > be able to wait to see if his battleship destroys
> > > the enemy cruiser before he decides whether to
> > fire
> > > any of his other ships at it.
> >
> > But in the flow of battle wouldn't that happen?
> > Since some ships will be in
> > a better position first, I'd hope they would fire
> > when at optimum range and
> > then the ships following would fire...
>
> A ship might CHOOSE to wait, but that's not what
> is happening here. A player would clearly like
> to fire everything first if he could arrange it.
> There's no tactical choice of firing later (as
> in SFB's phased movement for example). And no I'm
> not advocating phased movement.

I believe there is a tactical choice if firing later.  Finishing off
ships
crippled with long range shots for example.  I wouldn't want those ships
for
fire early, their few points of damage wouldn't eliminate a ship early
in
the fire phase but they could finish off a ship heavily damaged during
that
turn so it won't show up next turn.

Firing early is good for getting rid of ships before they can fire at
you
and firing your wad before your opponent can get rid of your ship.
Firing late is good for spreading fire where it is needed the most,
especially for ships with limited firepower if not in danger of
destruction
before they fire.

> > > Part of the fun is
> > > not allocating enough to destroy that cruiser or
> > > inadvertently allocating massive overkill.
> >
> > I do understand this, I just personally find the
> > decisions in initiative
> > based firing more interesting and tactically complex
> ...
>
> To each his own.

Yup, ain't it great ;-)

> ...Most space games I've played have
> > > simultaneous fire (tank games too) and I guess
> > I've
> > > gotten used to it. This sudden asynchronous fire
> > > feels very wrong to me.
> >
> > True, but look back on how those systems do
> > movement.  Most that I can think
> > of off hand have phased movement and fire or have
> > initiative based movement.
> > FT is different in that initiate is in the fire
> > phase instead of movement.
> >
>
> Only SFB. What other phased movement games are
> you thinking of?

I plan on putting up a table of turn information like this on my website
someday, but for now I'll have to go from memory (which is going) and I
just
can't remember the turn sequence on a bunch of other games (space game
overload in my head).  I know the list will let me know if I am wrong
plus
add more if needed

SFB - Phased movement and phased fire
Star Trek Tactical Combat Simulator - 3 phased movement and fire (?)
B5 Wars - Initiative Movement and simultaneous fire
Star Blazers FBS - Initiative movement and simultaneous fire
Starmada - Pre-plotted movement and simultaneous fire
Silent Death - Initiative movement and (?) fire
The Stars Our Decimation - Initiative movement and Initiative fire

> It's just not practical for this group. Perhaps
> the next group I play with will be receptive, or
> perhaps things will change at some point in the
> future, but I don't think it will fly. I have
> brought up things I've seen on the net only to
> be accused of trying to change the game. The
> group dynamics seem pretty delicate as they are
> with this group.

Sounds like they learned gaming from GW......

Dean Gundberg

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