Good point.

I was thinking mizia effect. And a way to utilize the double capacitor better. (I.E. Currently, a P1 that is destroyed would lose the capacitor and any energy left in it.)

Then again, if there was less than 12 phaser DAC hits in the "hose", this phaser would keep firing the maximum of 12 impulses.

Perhaps more of these phasers with a lesser capacitor would do the trick?

Possibilities:

2 X2 P1 - 6 impulses of fire, 12 point capacitor.
3 X2 P1 - 4 impulses of fire, 8 point capacitor.
4 X2 P1 - 3 impulses of fire, 6 point capacitor.

The chances are that all of the phasers would survive intact by spreading the phaser DAC hits evenly to the capacitors.

This is based on a 12 P1 equivalent.

One could increase the capacitor or add more X2 P1's to handle the "hose problem".

It is a weird idea!

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Sunday, September 24, 2017 - 01:54 pm: Edit

John Stiff, just my personal opinion, not that that carries any weight... but this might better work as a stellar shadows mad scientists item.

The Federation is a core empire in the star fleet universe, and the phaser 1's portrayed in canon and legacy source tapes do not function as you describe this idea. Might not be well received as a X2 feature for multiple empires.

By John Stiff (Tarkin22180) on Monday, September 25, 2017 - 05:05 pm: Edit

Noted.

If an idea is not proposed then there is zero chance that it would be looked at!

By Jay gustafson (Jay13) on Tuesday, March 27, 2018 - 11:32 am: Edit

I would do a new type of ph 1 like a ph 1 b

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Tuesday, March 27, 2018 - 12:32 pm: Edit

Proposal for 2X phasers.

Overview: All X-2 ships have all Ph-X. The Ph-X is similar to a Ph-1 on a 1X ship, but it has more sophisticated targeting computers, giving it a 1-hex extension at close range and a -1 shift at very long ranges.

Specifics: The Ph-X can fire as a Ph-X for 1 power. The Ph-X, uses the ph-1 table extended by 1 hex. So, for example, the Ph-X uses the range 0 ph-1 table at ranges 0-1, the r1 table at r2, etc., until using the range 9-15 table at range 16. Beyond range 16 use the normal ph-1 chart, but instead get a -1 shift to the die roll. The maximum range of the weapon is still 75 hexes. Each Ph-X has a 2 point energy capacitor.

The Ph-X can also fire as 2*Ph-3X. Use the same procedure (extend 1 hex, but at ranges 4+ instead get the -1 shift).

This weapon system gives the 2X ship a significant but not insurmountable advantage relative to *either* 1X ships or general war era ships.

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Wednesday, March 28, 2018 - 11:21 am: Edit

Slight edit to fix a typo:

Proposal for 2X phasers.

Overview: All X-2 ships have all Ph-X. The Ph-X is similar to a Ph-1 on a 1X ship, but it has more sophisticated targeting computers, giving it a 1-hex extension at close range and a -1 shift at very long ranges.

Specifics: The Ph-X can fire as a Ph-X for 1 power. The Ph-X, uses the ph-1 table extended by 1 hex. So, for example, the Ph-X uses the range 0 ph-1 table at ranges 0-1, the r1 table at r2, etc., until using the range 9-15 table at range 16. Beyond range 16 use the normal ph-1 chart, but instead get a -1 shift to the die roll. The maximum range of the weapon is still 75 hexes. Each Ph-X has a 2 point energy capacitor.

The Ph-X can also fire as 2*Ph-3X. Use the same procedure (extend 1 hex, but at ranges 5+ instead get the -1 shift).

This weapon system gives the 2X ship a significant but not insurmountable advantage relative to *either* 1X ships or general war era ships.

By Jon Murdock (Xenocide) on Wednesday, March 28, 2018 - 12:10 pm: Edit

Interesting idea. I would say that you should just change the phaser chart at range to give the equivalent of the negative 1 as opposed to changing it.

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Thursday, March 29, 2018 - 09:20 am: Edit

Jon, yes you could do that - but it does not have the same tactical effect. By extending the *range* you actually change the way X-2 ships will fly, as they will try to take advantage of that 1 hex advantage to effective phaser range. Changing the dynamic of how X-2 ships are played is more interesting me than just changing their damage output.

By Jon Murdock (Xenocide) on Thursday, March 29, 2018 - 10:55 am: Edit

Sorry, I probably said it badly. I meant change the ranges to match as you said and then change the long ranges on the chart as if they had a negative 1.

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Thursday, March 29, 2018 - 03:46 pm: Edit

Ah, yes. It would be simpler just to have a new chart.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Friday, June 21, 2019 - 01:36 am: Edit

Note to include some kind of non-plotted deceleration

By Jay gustafson (Jay13) on Monday, October 28, 2019 - 05:58 pm: Edit

Cheaper HET like 4 points of energy

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Monday, October 28, 2019 - 06:07 pm: Edit

And along those lines, more "breakdown free" HETs. and/or an improved breakdown rating for ships (i.e., a 2X cruiser breaks down on a "6" and/or gets it's +2 BD bonus twice).

By Jay gustafson (Jay13) on Monday, October 28, 2019 - 09:29 pm: Edit

Cheaper EM.

By Shawn Hantke (Shantke) on Tuesday, October 29, 2019 - 01:06 am: Edit

I would like to see x1 and x2 ships get a new Warp Transmission that allows them to have a slightly higher Tactical Warp Speed before they shift into High Warp Speed and disappear from the map. The in game effect would be that General War ships still have their max speed of 30+1, but x1 ships could then reach up to 35+1, and X2 ships could reach up to 39+1 if they have enough movement (WARP). Effectively moving twice on up to four impulses for X1 Ships and twice on up to eight impulses for X2 Ships. I would also like to see X1 and X2 Drones and Plasmas get similar speed upgrades.

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Tuesday, October 29, 2019 - 10:19 am: Edit

@Shawn,

While totally understandable, not sure if that will fit with the design parameter that X-2 must still be somewhat playable against equivalent BPV of general war ships. An X-2 ship moving at speed 40 can out-run even a sabot plasma torpedo, and can outmaneuver a speed 32 plasma. That could make GW plasma races nearly obsolete against X-2 and X-1 units.

On the flipside, note that sabot plasma can already manage speed 40. So, if you propose that X1 and X2 drones and plasmas get similar speed upgrades, the speed of those plasmas and drones would have to exceed speed 40 - say, at least speed 44 for X1, and speed 48 for X2, or even faster. However, general war ships will be hopelessly out-matched against such ultra-fast seekers.

While such a capability would be balanced against other X-1 and X-2 ships, it would likely kill any kind of balance against GW era ships.

My guess: increased ship speeds won't "fly," so to speak.

Just food for thought.

By Shawn Hantke (Shantke) on Tuesday, October 29, 2019 - 11:41 am: Edit

@Ted, by your logic the Drone Empires would also be outclassed as their drones would also be out run.

I agree it would make it harder to hit with Drones and Plasmas, but I have played plenty of games and scored hits with Speed 8, 12 and 20 Drones. Speed 32 Drones are nice and easy to hit with, but not always available. I also remember in the very old SFB days Gorn (G) and (GII) Plasmas were only Speed 20, again harder to achieve hits with, but possible. Plasmas also have the ability to Bolt. I have also scored a ton of Suicide Shuttle hits, and they are only Speed 6.

As for the speed of ships, the majority of ships have to use all of their WARP boxes and one Impulse box to achieve their max speed. I believe it should be the same for X-Ships. A ship going that fast will have no reinforcement so they are vulnerable to sniping, they won't be able to Turn very well and aren't arming Heavy Weapons. There are advantages to the ability to have the extra speed, but there are also disadvantages. The double move Impulse can screw up firing and range opportunities.

By Jon Murdock (Xenocide) on Tuesday, October 29, 2019 - 12:27 pm: Edit

Drones are okay going slower as they last longer. You have to run at high speed for three turns to outrun them. Plasma did not last long enough and needed sabot once ships could consistently run at high speed.

The early Gorn G torps were not fighting late war ships that could fly at speed 20+ while fighting and imagine trying to use them against Andromedans.

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Tuesday, October 29, 2019 - 12:46 pm: Edit

@Sean, yes, all true. However, consider the other way as well: Speed 48 seekers, for example, against GW ships. Every other impulse those seekers are moving two hexes. Yikes! *Most* GW ships will have no choice but to dedicate most of their direct firepower at seeking defense, and even then probably can't stop all those advanced seekers. WW is not a solution, not in the face of such a vastly superior maneuverable foe.

A lot of SFB is about maneuver. You were able to hit with those slower speed seekers because you were able (probably) to maneuver into a situation where when you launched the seeker, the opponent had to deal with it or be hit - and that requires close range.

However, hyper-fast ships are able to control that range over GW ships, making it very hard for the GW ships to setup such a hit in the first place. Plasma bolts help, yes, but it's a sub-par solution, particularly when the X-2 ships will have superior EW.

Additionally, if X-2 have hyper speeds, they will be able to control when and where battle passes happen. That means the X-2 ship can simply leave for a while, use its superior repair capabilities, and come back after having been sniped for a while.

I'm highly skeptical that GW ships can seriously compete in an environment where they are up against hyper warp capable ships (hyper warp being defined as any speed over 31 in SFB). A huge part of SFB is maneuver, and giving any ship a very broad maneuver advantage (i.e. clearly superior speed) will render an older class of ship obsolete.

Bear in mind I'm not arguing that a GW ship would be totally helpless in the face of an X-2 ship, but I seriously doubt they could seriously compete on a BPV per BPV basis.

I see similar problems happen when Y era ships go up against GW era ships. Generally speaking, pound for pound, the GW era ships can completely outmaneuver the Y era ships, and thus dominate the battle.

Now, that doesn't mean that we don't *WANT* X-2 ships to dominate in the same manner. After all, in the march of technology, older classes of ships and weapons are rendered obsolete. X-2 could dominate over GW just like GW dominates over Y era ships. I could go for that.

All I'm saying is that, if I recall correctly (which isn't a given), X-2 is supposed to "play nice" with GW ships on a BPV basis. My argument is that giving a speed advantage to X-2 or even X-1 ships breaks that design parameter, or at a bare minimum makes it MUCH more difficult to balance the two technology levels.

By Shawn Hantke (Shantke) on Tuesday, October 29, 2019 - 04:29 pm: Edit

I don't think "play nice" is realistic at all. In my experience pound for pound and equal BPV even a 20 point difference in BPV is a game changer. Newer ships always win, especially from different eras. Refited ships beat ships without refits from the same era.

I imagine that the X1 ships won't change as they are already published and established. X2 ships getting a Speed boost to 36 might not be as big a deal as Speed 40.

Ships with more WARP than they could use in the game always has bothered me, sure they are faster Strategically but SFB is a Tactical game.

By Mark Steven Hoyle (Markshoyle) on Tuesday, October 29, 2019 - 04:51 pm: Edit

Nothing against what you say Shawn, seems a good statement to add my thoughts to the discussion.

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Quote:

Ships with more WARP than they could use in the game always has bothered me, sure they are faster Strategically but SFB is a Tactical game.

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By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Tuesday, October 29, 2019 - 05:07 pm: Edit

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Quote:

I don't think "play nice" is realistic at all.

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By Gregory S Flusche (Vandor) on Tuesday, October 29, 2019 - 05:42 pm: Edit

The first thing that X1 and X2 ships should have is an advantage in the EW environment.

Extra speed for drones and plasma not needed. Give them longer endurance. I would love a plasma Rx that moves speed 40 and travels for 44 impulses. ATG for all drones standard. Bigger warheads for drones as well.

I think that phaser 1s can be fired like a phaser G was coming up as well for X ships?

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Tuesday, October 29, 2019 - 06:11 pm: Edit

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Quote:

I would love a plasma Rx that moves speed 40 and travels for 44 impulses.

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By Remco Mul (Remco) on Wednesday, October 30, 2019 - 04:42 am: Edit

The title suggests X2 is planned for 2022. Assuming that is correct, is there a product release schedule what is planned in the meanwhile?

(I searched but I didn't see another obvious place to ask this).