PPD extended ol range
Star Fleet Universe Discussion Board: Star Fleet Battles: SFB Proposals Board:
New Rules:
(E) Weapons:
PPD extended ol range
Just a thought, being that the PPD has a minimum range(can't fire at range 0-3), I would think it's only fair to extend the ol range to 10. I hardy ever see the PPD overloaded. The only times I've seen it used is when the opponent turns off or towards the end of games where the players ships are damaged & they aren't moving fast.
I'm inclined to agree. The PPD OL is simply the addition of 1 or 2 pulses, not an actual damage increase output (though you could argue that it is the same, but have to agree its unlike any other OL weapon).
However, this has been a core rule for so long, I seriously doubt there's any chance that such a change would ever be implimented.
Extending the OL range of the PPD out to 10 would take the ISC tourney cruiser from "above average" to "very good."
Funny. I fly the ISC looking for PPD OL shots...
As do I. I overload the PPD almost every game I fly in the ISC and have little difficulty arranging shots for it.
What might be cool is to just allow the OL damage to be added dynamically while firing. If the target closes to R8 during the last pulse you can add energy from reserve to OL the PPD and continue with two more pulses. This would require a rewrite of (E11.24).
But anything proposed so far is addenda, right?
No offense guys on this but isn't the "VAUNTED PPD" already powerful enough ?
Why don't we give ALL HEAVY WEAPONS extended overload ranges ? Can't anyone see a "spiral going out of control in the future" possibility here ?
Or better yet, how about OVERLOADABLE MAULERS ?
Get the point everyone ?
To tell you the truth, I think this whole topic is going to get crazy real quick like.
This comes up about once every other year.
It usually gets ignored.
The overloaded PPD is fine as is.
It should be ignored.
The PPD is already a hellacious weapon that's difficult to fight against - particularly with the uphill plasma fight after the PPD ship turns off.
The assertion about "not an actual damage ouput increase" is just not right. The PPD *shreds* your shields - and multiple PPDs make ships melt. The effect of an overloaded PPD is simply devastating - you're talking a probable total of 36 points of damage from a *single* weapon, with a non-zero chance of 24 of that damage on a single shield.
Friends don't let friends allow range 10 OL PPDs. 
I've not found the PPD to be too hellatious but seriously an irritant and attack plan screwer-upper.
But my point in my post was that there could be a number of minor things done to address the myopic zone issues some have with the PPD, but ALL of them require addenda.
The Doomsday rule is no more addenda (except for the X-Rules, ADB gets a pass on that one).
Overloaded weapons must all come in range at the same time in order to keep play balance with each other.
To give the ISC or any other race overloads at a range greater than 8 is playing with fire, and tends to create ships with hard-to-balance advantages and un-fun RPS battles.
Loren, here's the basic strategy of the OL PPD:
1) Lob plasma.
2) Slip away from the plasma, while closing on target. If target wants to run into PPD myopic zone, he eats torps.
3) If (most likely when) target turns away from plasma, look at impulse chart. If you can get range 8 and stay there, there are excellent odds that you're getting your PPD to hit on the same shield, with the target pointed away from you, giving you time to turn off, lob another torp next turn while re-arming the PPD.
Ken, I used to be a big ISC fan and had that very tactic soundly defeated but rapid and agressive maneuver (and let's not even start with Andros). If there were more PPD's allowed they would becoem equally more dangerous. Putting together enough PPD's in something short of a fleet is hard and it's hard to keep a continous flow of PPD fire.
You mention eating torp during PPD reloading but that's fine. You face the same issue with Romulans and Gorns.
Most ISC tactics weaken against agressive maneuver.
You guys know we're not going to change this, right?
If it amuses you to discuss it, go right ahead, but it's not going to change.
Against most opponents, aggressive use of the OL PPD can cancel out an aggressive opponent. The Orion and WAX, with enough power to brick even an OL PPD are the exceptions, but the tactic is even effective against Hydrans, against whom, the ISC are otherwise just a moving target.
Don't think just about 1v1 (tourney) tactics.
I blew up a Hydran HUNTER in Masters Maze 2 with nothing but 4 PPDs.
In mass, PPDs don't just annoy - they kill.
Um....the old X-Ships module did increase overload ranges and that didn't work out so well. I distictly remember mauling the hell outta many a player with the 4 PPDs on the Cruiser. Nothing like unloading 4 PPDs on some fool near the end of the turn and then following up with another volley later the next turn. Absolutly brutal and game breaking.
Well guys thx for all the comments. Well, I guess it's a moot point asking for the rule to change. The reason why I brought it up was to offset the weapons penalty(myopic zone). What is the reason why the weapon has a minimum range anyways? Just curious I guess. As far as people employing an ol ppd, I really don't see it that often. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but it's uncommon. Yeah, Moose I've seen you do it on occasion, but that's all I've seen in the last few years.
I would imagine it's a play balance issue.
The PPD is a natural mizia weapon, making it very effective at stripping weapons from a ship.
Brook. You're just not playing in the right crowd My goal in the ISC is to OL the PPD at least once per game.
Don't get me wrong, I try to ol the PPD whenever I play it too. However, I really think your opponent has to oblige you in order for it to be feasible. Something like slowing down, stopping, or turning away.
It is better to propose something and be rejected than to never try. You learn something about the game every time.