Re: New Full Thrust point defence rules

On 22/03/2015 9:20 PM, Hugh Fisher wrote:
> On Sun, 22 Mar 2015 16:50:27 +1100, Zoe Brain <aebrain@webone.com.au>
> wrote:
>
>> textfilter: chose text/plain from a multipart/alternative
>>
>> One simple solution that works well:
>> A PDF can either attack *all* targets in a 60 degree sector. No more
>> than 1 PDF per sector in this barrage mode.
>> Or *one* target in any sector.
>>
>> It means that it's advantageous for fighter and missiles to attack
from
>> multiple directions, but swamping the defences is harder.
>>
> Solutions which make individual PDS more effective, like this and John
> Tailby's earlier, just increase the number of fighters / missiles
needed
> to swamp the defence. I call this the "N + 1" problem: the attacker
should
> not succeed only by bringing more fighters/missiles.
Not quite - after 6 PDS, there's a point of diminishing returns.
Vs 1 PDS, 1 fighter group will get X casualties . 120 will get 120X if 
coming in at the same sector.
A ship with 3PDS and with 120 attackers coming in over 6 sectors will 
kill 60X (assuming 20 per sector).
A ship with 3PDS and 120 attackers coming in over 1 sector will do 122X.
A ship with 6PDS and 1 attacker will only do 6X.
With 2 attackers over 2 sectors - 6X
With 3 attackers over 3 sectors - 6X
...
with 6 attackers over 6 sectors - 6X
With 7 attackers over 6 sectors - 7X

So small numbers of fighters are useful. Large numbers will swamp 
defences but take too many casualties to do it more than a few times.
Only in extreme fighter-rich environments will even the largest ships 
have more than 4PDS plus escorts.  Yet just 1 fighter group can be very 
handy even against the largest ships.

-- 
This message and its attachments may contain legally privileged or
confidential information. It is intended solely for the named addressee.
If you are not the addressee indicated in this message or responsible
for delivery of the message to the addressee, you may not copy or
deliver this message or its attachments to anyone. Rather, you should
permanently delete this message and its attachments and kindly notify
the sender by reply e-mail. Any content of this message and its
attachments received in error must be taken not to have been sent. No
warranty is made that the e-mail or attachments are free from computer
virus or other defect.