What's an octopus drone?

Are multiple drones called octopi?

By michael john campbell (Michaelcampbell) on Sunday, March 24, 2002 - 06:56 pm: Edit

An ADD-6 stuffed into ( and onto ) a Type IV drone frame.

Yes, actually.

By George M. Ebersole (George) on Wednesday, November 05, 2003 - 12:34 pm: Edit

No progress here? I want this system for the current So. SF Bay Area campaign.

By Jeremy Gray (Gray) on Wednesday, November 05, 2003 - 03:55 pm: Edit

George, I want a toilet seat made out of solid gold, but its just not in the cards now is it? Seriously, don't expect stuff like this to get added to the Campaign unless it makes it to a Captains Log. That is generally the minimum requirement we have used, and even then it is on a case-by-case basis.

Note, there is the Stonefish Drone from J2 that puts a single ADD in a Type-I/IV. Its a pretty limited use item as is (Starfish drones are usually a better deal, but Stonefish have the advantage of being restricted rather than limited availability). Putting it in a Type-VI frame will put a range limitation on it that will pretty much reduce it to a medium range (4-10 hexes roughly) anti-drone/fighter weapon. The appeal of the Stonefish/Starfish is that it can engage at extended ranges, taking out MRS shuttles and, more importantly, ECM drones at longe range for little cost. Using an Octopus Drone for this would still be possible, but the launcher will need to get a lot closer.

And of course, it does raise the question: Can Octopus Drones be put into a Multi-Warhead Drone? I'm not sure why you would really want to, but I'm sure someone will cook something up.

Cheers,
Your friendly neighborhood GM.

By George M. Ebersole (George) on Friday, November 07, 2003 - 01:31 am: Edit

Bah Humbug

Seriously; some fifteen years back I saw a nifty bit of Anime that showed this anti-missile-missile that blossomed into eight submunitions. They spread out and curved back in converging on the hapless incoming missile. I always thought that the Octopi would act something like that; spitting off all subminitions in one shot. How much damage and how they hit would be anyone's guess. Ah well. I can dream can't I?

I think stuffing three octopi into a MW would be a fantastic weapon. Perhaps on the verge of unbalacing the game. Imagine wiping out a stack of F-14s with one of those babys.

J2; I remember stonefish from P6, but I guess I missed them in J2. A drone with an ADD...what will they think of next?...An MW plasma with shotgun capability? Hey, there's a thought!

By Glenn Hoepfner (Ikabar) on Friday, November 07, 2003 - 02:04 am: Edit

George,
Actually, there are MW plasma weapons (I believe in SSJ1) called something like the starburst or something like that. A plasma S can break into 3 plasma F's. Also, if memory serves, it may only be an ISC thing. I'm speaking strictly from memory here.

By Glenn Hoepfner (Ikabar) on Friday, November 07, 2003 - 02:08 am: Edit

Deleted duplicate post

By George M. Ebersole (George) on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 01:08 am: Edit

Glenn; the Exo-plasma

By Tos Crawford (Tos) on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 01:15 am: Edit

I assume this has been proposed before but having a PL-K or a PL-D pop out of a drone would be tactically interesting. Particularly interesting as a III-XX Drone/plasma-sub Bombardment weapon.