Subtopic	Posts		Updated
	Archive through March 26, 2025	25		03/26 04:12pm

There's a relatively easy way to address this (sort of).

As previously noted, in the Commander's Edition, (R6.74) was a "D-Refit" (found on p 32 of Rules Update #2). It replaced the F-Refit on certain ships, and involved added a plasma-D rack in each wing, along with the type-III phasers of the F-refit, instead of a plasma-F launcher.

I know, this has long been superseded...and even when it was a thing, it was noted as largely limited to minesweepers, PF tenders, the CV, and of course formal escorts. But there was a nifty little note at the end of the first paragraph of this old rule: "Many Gorn ships sent to Kzinti territory had this refit."

Perhaps – just perhaps, mind you – it would not be such a terrible idea to reintroduce this refit, albeit restricting it to (1) expeditionary General War-era forces heading over to fight against the Klingons and (2) non-historical situations where the Gorn is fighting against a drone-using force (looking at you, Gorn-Klingon 500 BPV matchup).

No new SSDs needed, really, given the infrequency of its use; just a written note that the wing F-torps are replaced with D-racks on such-and-such ship.

By David Bostwick (Zarquon) on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - 10:58 am: Edit

I am currently involved in a campaign which has this issue (Gorns facing non-historical opponents). I like Jessica's suggestion and I think it would improve campaign play.

By Mike West (Mjwest) on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - 02:29 pm: Edit

I am completely cool with Jessica's solution. I like it.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - 03:28 pm: Edit

I cannot agree at this point but I will consult with Steve Petrick. I will comment that the Gorn MSSB was the place to do it and that starship has sailed. Last I heard, Steve Petrick was extremely dubious about the whole idea.

By A David Merritt (Adm) on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - 04:11 pm: Edit

Additional Argument for this change.

When this was removed during the switch to Captain's edition, there were significantly fewer none Kzinti drone platforms with more than two drone racks. The game has changed a lot in the last thirty years.

Jessica's solution should work well in limiting the spread of this refit, while still helping in edge cases, of non historic match ups, such as you commonly get in the game variants that are not historical SFB.

By Eddie E Crutchfield (Librarian101) on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - 04:22 pm: Edit

Well why not use something the plasma races can already do, shotgun. At some point in history 178 or so when the Gorns started to see the fast drones in other areas of the galaxy they applied the shot gun theory to the F-Torp. spend blank amount of power to divide an F-Torp into of all things 2 or 3 plasma K-torps. Uses an idea already in use, the shotgun and does not require a new SSD.

By Eddie E Crutchfield (Librarian101) on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - 04:22 pm: Edit

Well why not use something the plasma races can already do, shotgun. At some point in history 178 or so when the Gorns started to see the fast drones in other areas of the galaxy they applied the shot gun theory to the F-Torp. spend blank amount of power to divide an F-Torp into of all things 2 or 3 plasma K-torps. Uses an idea already in use, the shotgun and does not require a new SSD.

By A David Merritt (Adm) on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - 05:38 pm: Edit

Module P6 has some interesting plasma shotgun variants that use Pl-Ds.

By Jessica Orsini (Jessica_Orsini) on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - 05:55 pm: Edit

The honest answer to that, Eddie, is that a 3-K-torp shotgun mode of an F-torp is eight points of energy to kill three drones. That's a massive energy cost for anti-drone work.

By Eddie E Crutchfield (Librarian101) on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - 06:30 pm: Edit

Jessica, true unless we reduce the arming, but at the same time you would certainly be able to kill larger drones at a longer range. Then not all weapons are perfect, its the little things in life that make it exciting.

By Douglas Saldana (Dsal) on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - 06:52 pm: Edit

FYI the simulator weapon A. David Merritt mentioned is JFP1.0 Plasma Scattergun which allows a launcher (armed in the same manner as a shotgun) to produce twice as many type-D torpedoes as the equivalent shotgun would produce type-F torpedoes. The rule is in Stellar Shadows Journal #1.