I'd like to propose a new drone type, which could have some interesting tactical uses.

Basically, it is a standard drone with special external armor. Like standard external armor, the armor will reduce the drone's speed. However, this armor will drop off the drone under one of two circumstances:

1. At a time determined prior to launch
2. After the drone has taken damage sufficient to destroy the external armor

In either case, the armor will break away from the drone. As a result, the drone will increase to its full speed, and continue towards its target.

This would improve the survivability of the drone, as standard armor does, but carries an additional tactical advantage. This could be useful for foiling drone defense planning; the drone that you thought would not hit until your weapons cycled next turn now will be there on impulse 32.

This could be especially useful during the "cusp" years of drone speed technology, as the drone could simulate a slower drone type, then give a nasty surprise when it suddenly accelerates to a faster type.

This would probably be simpler than a variable-speed drone engine, and as above, has a twist to it.

Thoughts?

By Bennett Eugene Snyder (Planner) on Saturday, December 09, 2006 - 04:27 pm: Edit

Not certain, but I don't think seeking weapons are allowed speed changes.

By John Trauger (Vorlonagent) on Saturday, December 09, 2006 - 05:37 pm: Edit

Commonsense exception: ECM drones when they're in the same hex as the unit they're targetted on.

By michael john campbell (Michaelcampbell) on Saturday, December 09, 2006 - 09:41 pm: Edit

It might just work.
I'm not sure if some people will argue that the shield generator modules ( which is what external armour is ) burn out and therefore there must be at least one point of damage that can be taken before the external modules are boosted away...but it definately worth examining. Kinda like firing on an enemy SP, you actually have to kill it or it'll bloom.


Also MW drones and SPs seem to be seeking weapons with varried speeds.

By John Trauger (Vorlonagent) on Sunday, December 10, 2006 - 04:00 pm: Edit

The counterpoint is that a MW or Starfish drone doesn't increase speed when it shoots off its submunitions.

There may be more to armoring drones that can be solved with a set of explosive bolts.

By michael john campbell (Michaelcampbell) on Sunday, December 10, 2006 - 07:02 pm: Edit

Perhaps so...but I certainly think it's worth toying around with.
Maybe background listing in a CL saying that the explosive bolt had exactly the same effect on the drones as the hyper-velocity projectiles of an ADD round (E5.31). But I think the steves might find the idea...intreaguing???


The counter point to your counterpoint is that MW and starfish drones are not mounted on external mounts and also leave their "launch rail" behind. Although perhaps if suckfish drones are added to the rules this question might need to be looked at?

By Richard Wells (Rwwells) on Sunday, December 10, 2006 - 11:08 pm: Edit

The initial posts mechanics seem likely to cause some rules disagreements. For example, would (G23.52) damage order change after the external armor is lost? Nothing creates more divergent opinions than having a rule interpretation that ensures one player's victory.

Timed speed change rules have been done before. In general, they would double or triple the value of all drones, including the drones that lack speed change mechanics since defenses become that much more complex. Drones are already powerful; they don't need to become game breaking.

Two of the power tactics I have seen with such a rule before include:

Weasel beater: drones launched at a ship under weasel move slowly. The ship launching drones can then make close attack passes daring the opponent to void the weasel. After the close pass was expected to be complete, the drones would speed up. Either the target eats the enemy attack or the target voids the weasel and dies under a mass of fast drones.

Base destruction: Drones vary in speed from slow to fast and back to slow to create the optimum clearance of defenses. Start the launches of drones at slow speeds to group multiple turns into one flight; speed up to get close to range 8; ATG equipped drones slow down to stagger arrival; all drones speed up upon reaching range 3. A few simple tweaks and the base's drone killing ability is halved.

By John Wyszynski (Starsabre) on Sunday, December 10, 2006 - 11:42 pm: Edit

Auto-Reject List:

Systems to change the target or speed of a drone in flight.

Been tried and died many times before.