From uwm.edu!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!newsfeed.internetmci.com!howland.reston.ans.net!news-e1a.megaweb.com!newstf01.news.aol.com!newsbf02.news.aol.com!not-for-mail Tue Feb 6 13:39:10 1996 Path: uwm.edu!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!newsfeed.internetmci.com!howland.reston.ans.net!news-e1a.megaweb.com!newstf01.news.aol.com!newsbf02.news.aol.com!not-for-mail From: cpsyop@aol.com (CPsyop) Newsgroups: rec.games.miniatures.misc Subject: [FT] Variant Rules Date: 5 Feb 1996 21:43:11 -0500 Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) Lines: 101 Sender: root@newsbf02.news.aol.com Message-ID: <4f6f7v$rqi@newsbf02.news.aol.com> Reply-To: cpsyop@aol.com (CPsyop) NNTP-Posting-Host: newsbf02.mail.aol.com Here are a few ideas and variants I've been kicking around for Full Thrust. They have not received extensive playtesting so try'em out and let me know what you think. 1) NAC/NSL Pulse Beam Batteries: Started during the Third Solar War, research was accelerated with the appearence of the Kra'Vak threat. While the ESU has concentrated on increasing the power (the AA MegaBattery) and range (Extended Range Beam Batteries- underdevelopment) the NAC has been tackling the problem of increasing the short-range firepower of their beam weapons. The result was the pulse battery which sacrifices range for increased hit probability and better screen penetration. Attack Dice Class Mass Cost Range: 8" 16" 24" Hit Prob: UnScr Sc1 Sc2 Sc3 A 4 5+4 per arc 4 3 2 1-2 M M M M B 3 4+3 per arc 3 2 - 3 1 M M M C 2 3+2 per arc 2 - - 4 1 1 M M 5 2 1 1 1 6 2 2 2 1 2) PDAF/ADAF Deadzone Firing: While PDAF/ADAF systems can engage targets in a ship's rear deadzone the gravitic distorsions still disrupt targeting solutions. All fires through this zone should done at a -1 to hit penelty in addition to other modifiers. 3) Fighter Close Assault: Fighters normally engage other ships with long range beam and missile fire. This fire however must pass through the target's screens. By throwing caution to the wind, fighter squadrons can close to "knife-fighting" range to attack the target from WITHIN the target's screens and with better accuracy but place themselves the tender mercies of the point defense arrays. Fighters closing to within 3" of a target ship may elect to conduct a close assault. All PDAF systems targeting the attacking squadron are allowed 2 attacks on the squadron. Note that the two attacks are only allowed for PDAF systems, ADAF which are designed for longer range engagements not the snap-fire targeting solutions required as the attackers skim the hull (but they still get their one shot as the fighters close). This attack is only allowed for general purpose and attack fighters. Interceptors don't mount the proper weapons for the job and the ordinance carried by torpedo bombers is not suited for close attacks. 4) Kra'Vak ScatterGat PDAF: This is an attempt to address the problems with Kra'Vak scatterguns. I've found these weapons to be entirely too powerful for their cost. At GenCon I watched a Kra'Vak battlecruiser gut a pristine NAC battledreadnaught with a six scattergun barrage. True, the BC just lost all it's anti-fighter defenses but it managed to kill a 431 pt ship in one shot for a cost of 6 MASS and 30 pts from the Kra'Vak ship. They also make hash of fighter squadrons. The ScatterGats I propose are similar to Human laser PDAF systems consisting of turret-mounted light railguns in a gatling configuration for rapid fire engagements. ScatterGats have a 360-degree arc of fire (with the same deadzone problems (-1 to hit) as Human PDAF/ADAF systems if you use my deadzone rule) and a 6" range. When attacking fighters they receive a +1 to the attack rolls (which evens out when they attack other Kra'Vak fighters). The ScatterGats can also attack starships. They roll 2D6 at 3" or less and 1D6 out to 6". They attack is treated as a beam attack but ignores screens. They are 2 MASS (all the ammo and heavy construction) and cost 6 pts. Well, that's what I have so far. Let me know what you think of the rules and how they can be improved. Projects I have under development include Kra'Vak missile systems (using Brilliant Pebbles-variations as opposed to laser heads), ESU extended range beam batteries, Spaceborne Warning and Attacker Control Shuttles (SWACS)(a Full Thrust-equivilant of the Hawkeye/ AWACS platforms for fighter control), and advanced/detailed electronic warfare rules. Enjoy! Morgul Sine Pari Airborne All The Way