Lyran ECM-ESG system
Star Fleet Universe Discussion Board: Star Fleet Battles: SFB Proposals Board:
New Rules:
(G) New Systems:
Lyran ECM-ESG system
Noting the advantages of the ECM drone employed by their Klingon allies, and having some knowledge of the new ECP torpedo being employed by plasma-using races, the Lyrans attempted to develop some type of ECM generating device to be used by their ships. Lyran\LDR ships may, after (Y182?) apply extra power to their ESG in addition to the normal ESG cost. This extra energy can come from any source, including reserve power, even if that ESG is already operating. If this power comes from the ESG capacitor, it must be used at the time of ESG activation announcement. Note that this power is in addition to the ESG field cost, and will not in any way increase the strength of a respective ESG field.
EFFECT: Lyran\LDR ships may apply a maximum of 2 points of power to their ESG's to create up to 3 points of ECM. If 1 (one) point of power is applied to the field, the ship receives 2 points of ECM. If the ship applies 2 points of power to the field, the ship receives 3 points of ECM. These ECM points DO count against the limit on received EW points. (Enter technobable here as to why this is). Note that these ECM points protect only the generating ship of the ESG, not any object(s) inside the ESG field, because the ECM is caused as much by the generator onboard the ship, as the field itself. Because of this fact, the ECM is applied to seeking weapons as well, (unless of course, the impact of the seeker on the ESG causes it to collapse before it strikes the ship itself).
RESERVE POWER: If the power used for the ECM effect is applied by reserve power (during the (6B6) ESG step segment of the sequence of play), said ECM effect will last only as long as that particular ESG field remains active. e.g. if an ESG has been active for 28 impulses, and reserve power is applied for the ECM effect, the ECM benefit will last for only 4 impulses, or until the ESG field is reduced to zero strength by any legal means. Also note that this power cannot be transferred from one active ESG to another active ESG field on the same ship.
LIMITATION: The ECM system shunts more power to the ESG than it is normally able to use, which blows a “fuse” in the ESG when it is used. This fuse is easily replaced, but not during a scenario. Each ESG may use this system once during a scenario.
A ship may have any or all of its ESGs using the ECM system, but they are not cumulative. The player must write down which is the “active” and which is the “passive” generator. If the active generator is reduced to zero or destroyed, the passive generator begins “lending” its ECM to the ship with no delay. A ship will only have one active field, but may have many passive fields.(I figured some sort of availability\use limitation would be needed, since ECM drones and ECP torpedoes are in limited supply for the using races).
This rule could be seen as a partial exception to rule G23.8. While it will not block enemy fire, it will make it more difficult to hit the target.
Chad, I proposed a similar system several weeks ago called the EES (Expanding EW Sphere) in the Proposals/The X-Files/ X2 EW topic. The rule has been pretty well discussed and hashed out.
Ah. Didn't see that. Thanks, ill check it out.
This would make the ESG like the Vudar IPG's which would in turn eliminate the uniqueness of the IPG. Not sure that I like this.
Revisiting old haunts (long quiet threads)- I can see where people would look for parity in EW...after all, Plasmas finally got it. A little more explainable solution might be a limited deployment of Drones my a drone hating race.
Background: Lyrans have limited seeking weapon control on all ships. 2. They use drones (reluctantly) on fighters (carrier groups/bases) 3. We are going to face the techno-slosh and "me too" argument from AT LEAST the Hydrans.
I can see this most likely applied in the 170s or 180s. One plus for the concept is that it wouldn't require any SSD changes as it can be addressed under things like "force total" selected for the mission.
Potential approach: a mobile "rack" (read forklift with ONE rail- ala Carnavon "rack") that can launch T-I drones. Say that the few of these in circulation were only used on BIG ships (CA or larger). Make it REALLY expensive. After all, it is a limited production/import of drones. Not many crew get extra training because Lyrans don't like drones. Say that captains might be willing to take some risk to the ESG from drones for the additional benefit of ECM but not for any offensive use.
All this said, I am not sure I have even sold myself on the drone rack in the bay/limited use & deployment idea, let alone am not going to scream NOOO! when sitting on my 3-leg milking stool (Hydran play 'chair').
What about a device similar to the ECM drone but which fits the Lyran "Gimmick;" the Mech Links that are so common on their ships. If the Lyrans were to have a "Protective ECM gizmo" that they carry on a Mech Link, it would enable them to make up for no ECM drones (or ECP) WITHOUT having to change anything aboard ship.
Two thoughts come to mind; the cost involved (namely losing not just a single drone or a PPT, but instead having to sacrafice a whole gunboat to have one) might justify this unit having more capability (duration? more EW points?) than ECM drones or ECPs. For Lyrans, it might also serve as a compensational element for the greater demands on their power systems (the energy cost for ESGs compared to drones?)
Sure, other races could be "Allowed" to carry them, but if there's an artificial BPV cost to them doing so, it might discourage abuse of a potentially powerful system
I think that might just leave their not-so-friendly neighbors, the Hydrans, in need of an EW munition. Modified Stinger, anyone? 
There are sensor drogues. Mind you they come out latter then ECM drones and ECPs. Now you could do a early version of that with it giving ECM to the deploying ship? Make them limited tech are some such?
The problem I see with anything that doesn't become abandoned tech (Klingon jump rack/Carny concepts) or something that everyone else TRULY can't use (ECM Plasma) is that now we currently have two races that are 'behind the EW curve' and to resolve this (should it be addressed- remember the Gorns didn't get the carronade and plasmas didn't get ECM Plasma overnight) is going to take something that others either don't want (explosive shuttle bays) or can't use (a'la non-plasmas have difficulty using plasma).
Honestly, given the swarms of small maneuverable, and rearmable, targets the Hydrans have, and the ability of ESGs to ignore EW, I'm not sure they really need something, and I say this as a Lyran player. What about the LMC or Omega, are we going to find new toys for those areas as well?
Not everyone gets, or needs, everything.
For the Hydrans, a thing that replaces a fighter (under remote control) and uses some kind of secret tech (handwaves about the special crystals that are only found in the Off Map area) as a ECM thingy would do it.
For the Lyrans, I would expect something like a ESG function added (aka the Ion Field Generator) or perhaps a single shuttle replacement using ESG tech as a "one shot"...
I'm with David on this. Asymmetrical development has already been sacrificed far too often on the altar of equality in this game.
When I first saw postings on this thread, I hadn't considered David's point. In considering it, I agree that his reasoning is good.
May I withdraw my earlier suggestion? Thanks.
The more it is discussed I am with the leave it asymmetrical; but then again I hadn't realized that the Plasma beings were feeling so.....inadequate about their EW until ECM Plasma was in the works. So, the revival was more looking at *IF* we do, then how do we keep it isolated. Being I do a lot of computer stuff, the whole abandoned tech that doesn't work well made some sense....nobody *wants* a Core 2 or the AMD counterpart if they can get an i9 or A10. Well, unless it is all you can get your hands on to get the job done. About 5 years back I know of some school districts that would have cried if they could get hand-me-down Core2s.
I think the Romulans needed a form of ECM to help deal with big nasty photon attacks. Giving it to the Gorn was not a huge deal even though I thought they needed it less.
I am not as convinced the Hydrans and Lyrans need anything. They generally do not face crunch ships like the Feds. The closest thing to that is the short range Hydran fusion strike and the ESG is a good counterweapon there. Also, the fusion beam is a range of effect weapon and is less susceptible to EW.
Romulans have cloak which is very effective at stopping photon attacks the last I checked.
The Lyran problem is best demonstrated when faced with their Kzinti opposition. The Kzinti can conduct a longer range disruptor fight while being protected by ECM drones; protection the Lyrans lack. Making it worse, the Lyrans have to spend additional power recharging the ESGs to help defend against long range drone strikes leaving the Lyrans without the power to also have ship supplied EW. Taking much heavier damage at range and being equal in close is not a recipe for success or fun.
Quote:I am not as convinced the Hydrans and Lyrans need anything. They generally do not face crunch ships like the Feds.
Well, the Lyrans did face the Federation from time to time. And the Hydrans could do so in a "non-historical" patrol battle (or campaign). I'm not arguing that the Lyrans or Hydrans (or Tholians*) need their own special ECM system. Every empire has its own individual strengths and weaknesses. But I'm not comfortable with Jon's rationale that they don't need ECM gadgets because they don't face the Feds. I think it's better to simply ascribe it to individual tech differences between empires. Why did no one but the Romulans ever figure out how to cloak ships? Why did no one but the Klingons ever develop stasis field generators?
*I would argue that the Tholians are even weaker in terms of ECM than the Lyrans and Hydrans are, at least in open space. Lyran fighters can carry ECM drones and can use them to protect Lyran ships. And class-for-class, Hydran scouts usually generate more power (for EW lending) than do their Tholian counterparts. In spite of this EW inferiority, the Tholians are tremendously strong at the tactical level (not strategically, of course) once they have access to Neo-Tholian technology.