The Paravians in CL28 don't get any refits, and I think they need some. So:


(GJD1.0)Tractor Accumulator and Load Output Network (TALON)

This is a Paravian invention (from the alternate Paravian reality, of course). Essentially, it's a capacitor for tractors.

(GJD1.1) Designation

(GJD1.11) SSD: The Tractor Accumulator and Load Output Network (TALON) is an upgrade to Paravian tractor beams. It is not shown on the SSD, and a part is destroyed when a tractor is destroyed.

(GJD1.12) Repair: The repair cost of a tractor beam fitted with TALON is 6 points. A tractor box with TALON can be hastily repaired without it for the normal cost (3) in which case that tractor beam cannot use TALON and that part of the TALON capacitor does not work.

(GJD1.13) Technology Restrictions: TALON exists only in the Paravian reality and in simulators.

(GJD1.14) Availability: TALON is available as a refit to any Paravian ship with tractor beams from Y174. It costs 2 BPV per tractor and is applied to all tractors on a given ship.

(GJD1.15) Tactical Intelligence: The presence of TALON is detected at level J, or at level E when used with an operating tractor beam.

(GJD1.2) Arming Procedure

(GJD1.21) Energy: TALON for all tractor beams on a given ship are treated as a single system, which can hold up to 5 points of power per tractor beam. This energy can come from any source, in Energy Allocation or from reserve.

(GJD1.22) Holding: Energy in TALON can be held from one turn to the next for no power. Energy may be stored for up to 25 turns. If not used in this time, the energy is lost.

(GJD1.24) Allocated Tractor Power: Energy can be allocated to Tractor in EA or by reserve as normal. Any such energy is lost at the end of the turn if not used; it cannot be diverted into TALON.

(GJD1.24) Destruction: If a tractor beam is destroyed, the capacity of TALON is reduced by 5 points. Any excess energy is immediately lost. It cannot be diverted into the turn’s Tractor energy allocation.

(GJD1.25) Initial Energy: A ship entering a scenario may have energy stored in TALON depending on weapon status:
WS0 or 1: No energy stored
WS2: 2 points per tractor
WS3: 5 points per tractor

(GJD1.3) Operation

(GJD1.31) Use: Any or all energy in TALON may be used for tractor or negative tractor. This is in addition to any desired energy from EA or reserve, and lasts for the same duration that normal energy would. The tractor (or negative tractor) operates normally

By Jim Davies (Mudfoot) on Friday, February 27, 2009 - 07:10 pm: Edit

As well as that, the Paravians really, really need FP swivel mounts on the QWTs. As it stands, a Paravian who loses the #1 shield might as well go home.

I'd suggest +2 BPV, +1 BPV per QWT, from Y170.

By Loren Knight (Loren) on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 04:50 pm: Edit

I think five points of energy per tractor in an interchangable array is way too powerful.

Paravian ships are pretty low on tractors but a typical cruiser would have 10 energy for tractors available at any time. That's a lot.

I would suggest at least reducing it to three points. The logic being that the tractor can grab anything out to its full range and then be reinforced by additional energy. I'd further restrict it by separating the capacitors, but allow energy to be cycled back through available batteries at a 50% loss.

One could argue that since phasers only have one point of capacitor and a larger capacitor is X-tech, then there is no way the tractor would have such a large capacitor system and could only hope to get a 1 point capacitor (but hey, even one point is helpful).


edit: Oh yeah, and it should probably be disallowed for mech-links.

By Jim Davies (Mudfoot) on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 07:36 pm: Edit

On a Gorn, Rom or Kzinti, I'd agree. But a Paravian CA has a full-overload QWT alpha of only 40 plus splash, which is pretty feeble, so the anchor isn't the danger it might be.

An ESG capacitor can hold 7 power, so 5 points is IMHO not unreasonable. 10 power for tractors is quite substantial, but unless it gets to R1 an average opponent could expect to block it off batteries plus a point or two.

And once the power is used up, it's gone until it's been recharged, which means the Paravian essentially has to take a turn off combat.

This came out of playtesting a Paravian CA, which just couldn't threaten anything. Almost any other TCA can overrun it and come out on top because the Paravian has no crunch and (like a Klink) needs to keep piling on the pressure. This allows it to maintain some manner of deterrent.