re: FT-Fighters and launch bays

I know Jon is the best source for this sort of thing,
but it kind of looks like between the original fighter
rules and FB1&2, the rules were abstracted out to 
make it simpler to launch fighters (and operate them).
We should be careful we don't add those limitations in
and give the fighters extra capability as a result.

In other words, 

situation 1 -- fighters have launch restrictions and
		  cost X points.

situation 2 -- fighter have launch restrictions 
		   abstracted out, but don't change
		   in cost.

situation 3 -- fighter launch restrictions back, but
		 now fighters are cheaper.

I'd like to know what GZG (Jon?) thinks 
launch restrictions are worth in terms of points
and mass for these sorts of "slower" carriers.
There WERE such restrictions before, right? So
there must have been a lot of playtesting. Maybe
it would be useful to know why they were dropped
in favor of launch all at once rules.

--- David Reeves <davidar@nortelnetworks.com> wrote:
> 
> sorry this is late in the discussion -- one downside
> to digest format....
> 
> small correction: 
> in the B5 show ships are not "all launch at one
> time", but phased.  the B5W
> game also has per-turn launch limitations as well,
> especially the carrier
> hulls.
> 
> we do something slightly different for our FT B5
> universe.  each fighter
> purchased uses 1 mass of hanger space (not cargo)
> and each launch bay
> requires 3 mass.  furthermore, each launch bay may
> launch OR recover 6
> fighters per turn.	that means there is are
> command decisions in
> coordinating fighter operations and designing ships
> with sufficient hangers
> for their mission type.  for example, CVLs may have
> 2 launch bays but 4 ftr
> flights, taking two turns to get 2 squadrons into
> action.  CVHs would have
> 4-6 bays but much larger ftr complements.  another
> cool thing: damage the
> bays and no ftrs may launch/land -- another command
> decision where to employ
> Damage Control!  
> 
> "spare" and ready fighters may exist, but take up
> active hull space.
> unlaunched fighters are also valid threshold
> targets, since they take up
> hull space sitting in hangers (I believe already
> part of the FT rules)!
> another command decision of determining when to
> launch if the ship may
> suffer fighter casualties....  with the above, we
> usually have more ftrs
> aboard than number of bays.  decreases  bay
> operations, but increases the
> ftr complement.
> 
> just my 2 credits.
> Dave
> 
> 

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