That was my wondering thought about fields. When I asked about how many Impulses. The fact that only one field will be effective. Means the max one can do with it is 4 no matter how many IPGs are used? The weapon is 360 degrees. So again, fields make no sense.
Rule states.
(G36.342) If two ships operating IPGs in DIW mode have overlapping
fields, there is no increase in effect in the area of overlap. In the case
of size class 6 and 7 units in overlapping DIW fields, they will be
damaged by the stronger of the two (or three, or four, etc.) fields. If
the DIW fields are of equal strength, the damage is not increased.

So as a drone killer it sucks. It will not kill a SS at all. Unless You have one go off each impulse. Clarification I think is really needed. ESG fields work one after the other.

I would have at least thought 2 could be used together to kill heavy drones.

By Alex Chobot (Alendrel) on Monday, November 24, 2025 - 07:05 pm: Edit

The max in one impulse yes. Remember they affect all
SC 6 and 7 units within two hexes, so you do have opportunities to stagger DIW pulses.

What clarification is needed? Are you saying the rules need for operating jamming mode as a duration effect are missing from the DIW effect?

By Gregory S Flusche (Vandar) on Monday, November 24, 2025 - 07:44 pm: Edit

I am thinking Wave instead of field might be a better wording of what is going on in DIW mode.

Two waves do no more damage than one. A Field would assume an area of effect.


(G36.343) An operating DIW field will affect all size class 6 or 7 units
that enter it (G36.334),

Look at G36.343 How can a one impulse shot have units move into it?

By Alex Chobot (Alendrel) on Monday, November 24, 2025 - 07:57 pm: Edit

And (G36.334) also covers hidden movement of cloaked units, so could well be covering what happens when a DIW pulse is made.

And even if that one very particularly specific rule is ambiguous (I certainly agree it could be worded better), I don’t find that a compelling argument over the complete lack of basic rules covering ongoing DIW operations, as the jamming mode has, nor (G36.33) which states it is treated as a direct-fire weapon. (E1.11) says such effects are determined and recorded immediately upon firing.

By Gregory S Flusche (Vandar) on Monday, November 24, 2025 - 08:17 pm: Edit

I agree in that it ambiguous, So can one of the Steves please give a ruling?

By Alex Chobot (Alendrel) on Monday, November 24, 2025 - 11:03 pm: Edit

That *one very specific case* is ambiguous. The rule as a whole is not. For DIW to be ongoing rather than instantaneous, a lot of rules would need to be added.

By Eddie E Crutchfield (Librarian101) on Tuesday, November 25, 2025 - 03:54 pm: Edit

So the strength of the DIW is it prevents stacks because it would damage every drone or fighter. so very effective say a SP were the drones stay bunched vs drones launched individually

By Alex Chobot (Alendrel) on Tuesday, November 25, 2025 - 04:12 pm: Edit

I mean it is capable of dealing infinite damage across an area of 19 hexes.

By Gregory S Flusche (Vandar) on Tuesday, November 25, 2025 - 06:20 pm: Edit

Alex we are talking about IPG (Ion pulse Generator) only a 2-hex range. Not the ISG (Ion storm generator.)

Allan, I have looked all over the blasted keyword search and have found nothing about this.

G36.342 and G36.343 are inferring to fields. While G36.361 calls it a wave and does seem to mean one pulse each imp.

Now ESGs last a number of impulses so does the defensive mode of Rail guns.

The main rules for IPGs are giving a 4 impulse time frame. That is why I am asking

By Eddie E Crutchfield (Librarian101) on Tuesday, November 25, 2025 - 07:16 pm: Edit

OK on the DIW mode, G36.33 says it is treated as a direct fire weapon, and resolved in the direct fire segment. And cannot be fired again in that segment. But the rule also say that as long as it has power it could be used again the next impulse. So direct fire used the power for that impulse, then if it still hpower in the capacitor it could be used again until the capacitor is empty??

By Alex Chobot (Alendrel) on Tuesday, November 25, 2025 - 07:35 pm: Edit

Gregory, note I said “area” not “range”. The DIW mode of the IPG affects 19 hexes: the one the unit is in, the 6 at range 1, and the 12 at range 2.

ESGs and defensive mode rail guns also have rules that cover how their duration works. The duration rules for IPGs are not part of the “main” rules, but are in (G36.32) Jamming Mode, whereas (G36.33) lacks any such rules.

Eddie, correct, there is no delay given for use of an IPG, even when switching modes. Note (G36.222) limits a given IPG to expending a maximum amount of energy equal to its capacitor’s capacity in a given turn, even if reserve power is used to refill it mid-turn.

By Gregory S Flusche (Vandar) on Tuesday, November 25, 2025 - 08:41 pm: Edit

My bad Alan. should have read that closer. Well I am going with 1 imp shots. Still is strange reading it all. If I could double up two or more of them in an impulse would be able to then kill fighters in one shot. As is just hurt them,

By Gregory S Flusche (Vandar) on Wednesday, November 26, 2025 - 09:42 am: Edit

well did find this in my searching

By Steve Petrick (Petrick) on Saturday, June 13, 2020 - 03:10 pm: Edit

Andrew Granger:

You announce the release of a Ionic wave and the amount of power in that wave, and any size class 6 or size class 7 unit that is within two hexes of the IPG is hit by the wave for the amount of energy you put into it.If there were 6 drones and two shuttles within two hexes and you put four points of into the IPG capacitor, all six drones and both shuttles would be hit by four damage points.

There is no differentiation between a unit that is one hex from the IPG, or two hexes from the IPG, both are hit by what ever was in the capacitor (maximum of four points for a non-X capacitor).

If you are concerned that there may be some type-IV drones, you can release an ionic wave from two capacitors (if the ship has such, and cruisers and a above do) so that you can can choose the strength of be six (leaving two points divided between the two capacitors of two points in one of the capacitors).

By Eddie E Crutchfield (Librarian101) on Wednesday, November 26, 2025 - 12:42 pm: Edit

That seems to be different from what the rules says. Since says you only can use the strength of one. I wonder if he was still thinking of the original rules that came out where no limits were mentioned??
(G36.342) If two ships operating IPGs in DIW mode have overlapping fields, there is no increase in effect in the area of overlap. In the case
of size class 6 and 7 units in overlapping DIW fields, they will be damaged by the stronger of the two (or three, or four, etc.) fields. If
the DIW fields are of equal strength, the damage is not increased.
(G36.343) An operating DIW field will affect all size class 6 or 7 units

By Eddie E Crutchfield (Librarian101) on Wednesday, November 26, 2025 - 12:51 pm: Edit

A question on the Sensor drogue. If I have sensor drogue on a ship, but it is not deployed, but I pLan on deploying it during the turn can I during energy allocation allocate the extra 2 points of power to it(still only have available until it is deployed)or do I have to wait until it is deployed and use reserve power.

By Gregory S Flusche (Vandar) on Wednesday, November 26, 2025 - 06:10 pm: Edit

Yes, but it says two ships not one ship. If two ships operating IPGs in DIW mode. So as above a ship can combine two IPGs in DIW mode but not two separate ships.

This I like as now A IPG can kill big drones as well. Just need both IPGs

By Eddie E Crutchfield (Librarian101) on Wednesday, November 26, 2025 - 08:10 pm: Edit

What about this part of the rule. Note the part gains no additional benifit? If you apply G36.
341 to the examplethen you could only recieve 4 points of damage, you cant recieve the capacity of more than 1 field.
(G36.34) MULTIPLE FIELDS: A ship with multiple IPGs can use any or all of them at the same time, but gains no additional benefit if operated in the same mode in the same impulses. The two fields
could be used in different modes and the ship would benefit from each in its individual mode.
(G36.341) If a ship operates two IPGs in jamming mode (G36.32) at the same time, the total gained ECM cannot exceed the capacity of
one IPG (G36.22). This means that if a ship activated two IPGs both with four points of power, it would only gain twelve ECM. But if one IPG released three points of power and the other released one point of power, the ship would still gain twelve ECM. It cannot gain more than twelve points of ECM from IPGs.

By Gregory S Flusche (Vandar) on Wednesday, November 26, 2025 - 08:26 pm: Edit

Yes, that is correct. Is plainly stated. What I am talking about is that a single ship with two IPGs can activate both in DIW mode and do more damage.

This was plainly stated by Steve P. Two separate ships cannot combine two overlapping fields. As stated plainly in the rules.

By Kenneth Humpherys (Pmthecat) on Thursday, November 27, 2025 - 11:57 am: Edit

On the Sensor drogue, you use contingency allocation. If you never use the drogue, the power thus allocated is lost.

By Eddie E Crutchfield (Librarian101) on Thursday, November 27, 2025 - 08:49 pm: Edit

"but gains no additional benefit if operated in the same mode in the same impulses." So exactly what does this line from the rule mean? That is from 1 ship. So you could use 3 points from 1 for 3 damage and 1 from a second for a 4th point.. Looking at the example if you substitute the DIW for the Jamming you get 4 points damage correct, it not more than what 1 could produce. Is Petricks comment in error? We do need a ruling. Not that I have enough drones to make a difference, but for the future.

By Eddie E Crutchfield (Librarian101) on Thursday, November 27, 2025 - 08:53 pm: Edit

Thanks Ken.

By Gregory S Flusche (Vandar) on Friday, November 28, 2025 - 09:48 am: Edit

(G36.342) If two ships operating IPGs in DIW mode have overlapping
fields, there is no increase in effect in the area of overlap. In the case
of size class 6 and 7 units in overlapping DIW fields, they will be
damaged by the stronger of the two (or three, or four, etc.) fields. If
the DIW fields are of equal strength, the damage is not increased.
(G36.343) An operating DIW field will affect all size class 6 or 7 units

Note it says two ships. In jamming mode, you can combine two IPGs just have a max of 12 ECM. Two ships cannot combine ECM. Two ships cannot combine DIW. A single ship can.

By Gregory S Flusche (Vandar) on Friday, November 28, 2025 - 09:57 am: Edit

One thing is for sure. I am feeling a bit better then yesterday. Still sore as (*&&( from Hernia surgery.

By Eddie E Crutchfield (Librarian101) on Friday, November 28, 2025 - 11:54 am: Edit

It says one ship releasing 2 in the same mode cannotgain an additional benifit from the same mode in the same impulse, so releasing 2 in the same impulse in the DIW mode only gets 4 damage. " A ship with multiple IPGs can use any or all of them at the same time, but gains no additional benefit if operated in the same mode in the same impulses." Note it says a ship(1) with multiple, the two ship is a seperate rule.

By Gregory S Flusche (Vandar) on Friday, November 28, 2025 - 06:53 pm: Edit

And yet Steve ruled otherwise as noted. Still no big deal just means two impulses somehow to kill drones launched at range 2 to catch me as i move in on range 1 uhmm