Federation Commander

[Kang]

Did I read somewhere about a drone having to fly one hex straight ahead before it can turn? Or was I dreaming..... I ralise a drone can HET if and only if it can then hit its target, and it must do so. But is there any delay after launch before the HET is allowed?

Let me give an example. Launching ship in 0807, facing D. Target in 0808, facing B. Drones just launched at the end of last impulse, facing D. Target and drones all Speed 24, no accels plotted and target has no turn or slip available and has no power for a HET.

So in sub-pulse 2, the target moves to 0908. Now, can the drones HET and move into 0908 to impact the target, or do they have to move forward one first to 0809 and then HET or turn?

Sorry if this sounds a bit daft but I was sure I'd read it somewhere. I have read somewhere that for a same-hex launch, the drones have to follow for 1 impulse, but again, can they not HET and impact? Didn't someone invent a tactic about that?

Please advise!
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[mjwest]

Rule (2C3b) details the requirement (and exceptions) for moving out of a launch hex by a seeking weapon. (It is in the third paragraph.)

Based on the final sentence of the above mentioned third paragraph of (2C3b), the drone would HET and immediately impact the target.

What happens with a same hex launch is this:
- Both ships are in a single hex. Let's say 0505. Target is facing A. Drone is launched, placed in hex 0505, and given facing A to match the target. Everything is moving base speed 24.
- Drone does not immediately impact, as it can only do this in a movement sub-pulse, which has not yet happened.
- At the beginning of the next impulse, Target purchases an acceleration.
- First sub-pulse, the Target moves into hex 0504. Since the drone is speed 24 (not 24+1 like the Target), it does not move. Since neither unit moved into the hex of the other unit, the drone does not impact.
- Next sub-pulse, the Target moves again, this time into 0503. The drone follows, and enters 0504.

As you can see, the Target is now one hex in front of the drone, and can stay there as long as it keeps its speed at 24.

Again, this all assumes that the Target is moving base speed 24 (along with a host of other things).
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Federation Commander Answer Guy

[Kang]

Thank you for that - very fast reply!

As a follow-on, then, iwith a slight modification to your last example, if the target was in the same hex as the launcher but moving in the opposite direction, the drone would have to be fired at the target as it was in front of the launcher - with the target in the drone's FA arc. However, let's say the target was moving spd 24 with no accel [no power left] - would the drone then HET and catch the target on the very next impulse? Hope that's clear...
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[Scoutdad]

Ksang: As I understand the rules, you are correct.

Seeking weapons (i.e., drones in this case) must move straight ahead on the first impulse of movement before they can turn or slip.
Rule (4G3) MOVEMENT modifies this with... "Drones can make one High Energy Turn (2D2) during their entire time on the map, can only make this if doing so would mean hitting the target, and MUST (emphasis mine) if they can hit the target by doing so.

If the drone can HET and strike it's target on the first impulse of movement, it must [by (4G3) Sentence 4] do so.
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Commander, Battlegroup Murfreesboro
Department Head, ACTASF

[Kang]

[Scoutdad]

[mjwest]

Yup. The only way for a ship to avoid impact by a drone launched in the same hex is to be moving 24+1. At any other speed, the drone is guaranteed to hit because of the (4F3e) rule.
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Federation Commander Answer Guy

[Kang]

Very nice. Thank you both, gentlemen.

Incidentally, we played it that way on the day and yep, the drone got me
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[junior]

[mjwest]

Fair point.

Which just reinforces the idea that it is a bad idea to launch drones in the same hex as their target when the target is speed 24 and has energy left.
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Federation Commander Answer Guy

[Kang]

Sorry for the necromany [is that right?] but I have another question on this topic so it's most likely the right place to put it.

Target ship in the same hex as the launcher, facing #1 to #1 shields, as in Junior's example above.

However this time the target is only going speed 8.

So then, does the drone impact in the second sub-pulse [when the drone is scheduled to move], and on the #1 shield of the slow target because the target has not yet moved?

And, does the target have time for a HET before the drone hits?
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[storeylf]

I'm pretty sure the ship can HET on sub pulse 1, in fact he could HET on sub-pulse 2 as well before the drone impacts.

[terryoc]

Kang, the target ship could HET on sub-pulse 1 prior to impact. You can HET on sub-pulses that you're not scheduled to move. The drone would impact at the end of sub-pulse #1. If the drone and the target are in the same hex after all movement is performed on a sub-pulse, it impacts, regardless of whether the drone or target moved on that sub-pulse.
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"Captain" Terry O'Carroll, fourteen papers published including six best of issue
"Man, Terry, you are like a loophole seeking missle!" - Mike West

[Kang]

That's clear - thanks everyone for your input
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[storeylf]