(G__.0) HEAVY CARGO TRANSPORTERS (HCT)
Did you ever wonder how they get large loads transferred from place-to-place? They use cargo transporters.
(G__.1) GENERAL RULES
(G__.11) GENERAL: Heavy cargo transporters (HCT) function under the transporter rules (G8.0) except as follows.
(G__.111) Heavy cargo transporters require dropped shields to operate between units (G8.2).
(G__.112) Heavy cargo transporters require fire control to function (G8.17).
(G__.113) A HCT can use the (G8.113) “bouncing marines” rule. This rule cannot move explosive ordnance (G25.3).
(G__.12) SSD: Each box marked “HCT" on the SSD represents one heavy cargo transporter. As with all systems, a ship must have undestroyed heavy cargo transporters to use them.
(G__.13) ENERGY: Each heavy cargo transporter requires 1/2 energy point to operate.
(G__.14) RANGE: The maximum range of heavy cargo transporters is two hexes.
(G__.15) RESTRICTIONS
(G__.151) Heavy cargo transporters can never be used to beam enemy objects (including shuttles, cloaking devices, etc.) without permission (due to security systems).
(G__.152) Heavy cargo transporters can never be used to beam personnel. [Exceptions: escape (D21.3); see also (G__.3).]
(G__.153) Captured equipment can be transported as friendly equipment could be.
(G__.154) Heavy cargo transporters can never be used during combat (G__.21). [Exceptions: escape (D21.3); see also (G__.3).]
(G__.16) CYCLE: A given unit or object cannot be transported twice within a period of 1/4-turn.
(G__.17) LOCK-ON: The unit operating the transporter must have a lock-on to both the origin and destination of the transporter action; see (D6.623). (Obviously, the transporter always has a lock-on to itself.) Exceptions include escape (D21.3), friendly cloaked units (G13.421), and docked ships (C13.955) or (C13.45). Units using EM cannot use transporters.
(G__.2) OPERATIONS
(G__.21) COMBAT RATE: Heavy cargo transporters cannot be used during combat. Exceptions include escape (D21.3), and special scenario rules.
(G__.22) NORMAL (NON-COMBAT) RATE: Each heavy cargo transporter can perform one action each turn. Each action can transport 20 cargo spaces [or 5.0 spaces if explosive ordnance (G25.3)]. This cannot be into a “combat situation."
(G__.221) Each transporter could transport one mine. They are capable of transporting large mines (G__.4).
(G__.23) EMERGENCY RATE: In an emergency situation (D21.3) when a ship is being completely evacuated, the capacity of heavy cargo transporters in not increased. They can only transport the normal amount (20 cargo spaces).
(G__.24) LIMITATIONS: There are some objects that cannot be transported.
(G__.241) The following cannot be transported by HCT: ships, shuttles (including fighters), PFs (including interceptors), direct-fire weapons (e.g. photons, disruptors, hellbores), seeking weapons that have been launched (unlaunched drones can be transported as cargo), previously laid mines, terrain, monsters, or bases. See (G__.15) for additional prohibited items. See (G25.0) for cargo transfers.
(G__.242) Heavy cargo transporters cannot transport part of an object; they must move the entire object. Thus you cannot transport the phasers off of an enemy ship or the back half of an enemy fighter a hex or two away from the front half. Exception: Items designed to be transported in sections.
(G__.243) Heavy cargo transporters cannot remove weapons or ammunition, such as drones from a drone rack or chaff pods from a fighter.
(G__.3) PERSONNEL TRANSPORTS
(G__.31) Personnel can be transported by HCT during escape (D21.3).
(G__.32) Personnel can be transported by HCT if allowed by special scenario rules.
(G__.33) Transporting personnel by HCT carries certain risks due to the lack of some safety features and controls.
(G__.331) For each transport by HCT involving personnel roll two dice. A roll of 5-9 results in a successful transport. Any other result is unsuccessful (the result is dead or deformed personnel).
(G__.332) If a legendary engineer is at the transporter controls a roll of 4-10 results in a successful transport.
(G__.34) If used to transport personnel a HCT can transport 4 crew units. There is no increase in number allowed during escape (D21.3).
(G__.4) MINELAYING
(G__.41) HCT can transport and lay large mines. This functions in the same manner as transporter mines laid by transporter.

By Andy Palmer (Andypalmer) on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 08:24 am: Edit

Jim. The key benefit of such a system would be to be able to transport GCVs to remote areas during invasions. (transporting combat units to remote areas is a common occurance). You have, however, appeared to have removed this useful function. Without it, it has no benefit as standard transporters can do everything they can do, and without the combat limitations.

By Loren Knight (Loren) on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 11:52 am: Edit

I have a proposal for cargo transporters as well in the X2 threads.

By Jim Ryan (Jrr) on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 06:56 am: Edit

Loren: Sorry did not know there was another proposal.

By Loren Knight (Loren) on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 11:14 am: Edit

That's OK. No one gets dibs on proposals. May the better of two (or more) proposals win!

By Jim Ryan (Jrr) on Sunday, January 22, 2006 - 02:40 am: Edit

Try this:

(G__.154) Heavy cargo transporters can never be used to transport explosive ordinance during combat. They cannot transport personel or objects carrying personel at any time.[Exceptions: escape (D21.3); see also (G__.3).]

AND

G__.2) OPERATIONS
(G__.21) COMBAT RATE: Heavy cargo transporters can be used during combat at a rate of 20 cargo points per turn each.
(G__.22) NORMAL (NON-COMBAT) RATE: Each heavy cargo transporter can perform one action each turn. Each action can transport 40 cargo spaces [or 10.0 spaces if explosive ordnance (G25.3)]. This cannot be into a “combat situation."

Note this allows the transport of GCVs during combat. The main purpose was to prevent laying NSM via cargo transporter during combat or transporting fighters/shuttles directly from cargo to operational (way too powerfull).

By Jim Ryan (Jrr) on Sunday, January 22, 2006 - 02:46 am: Edit

Also:
(G__.4) MINELAYING
(G__.41) HCT can transport and lay large mines. This functions in the same manner as transporter mines laid by transporter. They cannot be transported/layed during combat.

By Andy Palmer (Andypalmer) on Sunday, January 22, 2006 - 09:18 am: Edit

Jim. NSMs can't be laid by Transporter and Fighters/Shuttles in a prepared state are 50 cargo boxes. I would therefore remove the limitation on "personnel or objects carrrying personnel."

By Jim Ryan (Jrr) on Sunday, January 22, 2006 - 05:32 pm: Edit

Andy.
Thanks - Found that in transporter bomb rules after quite a search - looked elsewhere and did not see it.
Thought it would be help minelaying ships lay minefields since it was restricted to non-combat areas/periods. Ever tried using existing ships to lay an entire minefield? Take a F-ML and try to lay a standard mine package around a base sometime (without destroying it with the mines).
I had a lot of time one weekend ~13yr ago. It did not work after ~12 attempts.
Eliminate (G__.4)? Problably - someone would find a way to abuse it.

The reference to "personnel or objects carrying personnel" was to prevent GCV being transported with crew, BP, etc. aboard on transporters not designed to transport living beings.