Re: [FT] Islamic Fed SSDs

Charles Lee wrote:
> As to the new Heavy Missles, I don't like them. Easy to stop and no
selective targeting.

Quote:
"A HM can spend an endurance factor to gain a secondary move, then 
attack, in the same phase. This can be to gain additional range, or to 
choose which target to attack by moving so that target becomes the 
closest one."

They either have longer range, or selective targetting.

Essentially, you move to within 6 MU of a group of ships in your turn - 
then have 2 options (assuming you have 1 endurance left).
a) Ignore them
b) Use your 1 endurance to move on top of the desired target with your 
6MU bonus move. It will then be "the closest".

Note that a "Misericorde" (3D6) missile only has 1 endurance, so is 18 
MU range and no selective targetting. It's much easier to shoot one down

than to get rid of *all* missiles in a SM. But if it hits, it does 3D6 
damage - comparable to an unintercepted SM - and it only costs/masses 
half as much. It's best use is as a "coup de grace" vs a crippled 
target, with the best ratio of damage/cost of any weapon. They *have* to

be easy to shoot down, or they'd be grossly unbalanced for their
mass/cost.

Compare 1 SM incoming with 2 Misericordes. Or, at longer range, 1 SM(ER)
with 3 Standards. They take multiple turns rather than 1 to come in (a 
big disadvantage), but have the advantage of either a 54 MU range, or 36

MU plus selective targetting.

Sometimes one alternative will be better, sometimes another.

The Long Lance with a puny 1D6 damage and vulnerability is not often 
used - except that with an effective range of 90 MU, it can either do a 
"drone bombardment" a la Drone Frigate in SFB, or (more often) a swarm 
plays "chase the escorts", getting rid of Banzai Jammers and small fry 
so that the main punch can follow-up later. If all you have is 1 
launcher but a large magazine, you can swamp the enemy defences by 
having a few "loitering". For 5 magazine spaces, you could have 5 
missiles incoming at once, 2 LL, 2 N and an M.

Oh yes, EMP missiles are a reason why SuperShips tend not to work. The 
point of diminishing returns is about mass 200-250. Below this, a 
Misericorde is better. Above this, and EMP missile. A 10000 mass 
Dreadplanet hit by even 6 EMP missiles is toast - whereas 18D6 would be 
shrugged off, a mere 63 pts of damage on average.

-- 
Alan & Carmel Brain
http://aebrain.blogspot.com
mailto:aebrain@webone.com.au