Federation Commander

gar1138

If a unit that has impacted seeking weapons (drones, suicide shuttle, etc) held in a tractor beam is displaced, are the impacted seeking weapons also displaced with it? Thanks,

Garrett

Scoutdad

Kang · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 9:41 pm Post subject:

I'd agree with 'dad. That makes a lot of sense to me, and that was how I've always thought of it. Impacting weapons is just a way of decluttering the system, to let you put off dealing with them until you've got the movement sorted.
_________________

gar1138 · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 9:53 pm Post subject:

Hummm, but you have already had a chance to fire at the previously impacted seeking weapons since they are already being held in tractor beams.

So if the impacted seeking weapons do get displaced along with the unit, do they hit immediately? Disruption (5U4b) says that the displaced unit can not use tractor beams after it is displaced.

I was thinking that it might operate like the Stasis Field Generator rules (granted, a BoM rule from Captain's Log) that has the impacted weapons released, but impact harmlessly against the stasis field. In the case of displacement, the weapons might either be removed completely, or continue seeking the target at it's new position?

Also, the same seeking weapons (drone or suicide shuttle) must be displaced separately if they haven't impacted. But if they have impacted (and are being held in tractor beams) then they can be displaced along with the target ship all at once? Would 5U4b2 come into play at this point?

I'm certainly not arguing, I just want to play it correctly.

Garrett

mjwest · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 10:18 pm Post subject:

Oooo Cool question.

On the second issue, you cannot displace impacted weapons. The general rule has always said you cannot target impacted weapons, so you can't displace them either.

On the original issue. My first inclination is actually the opposite of Kang and Scoutdad. However, that would be messy and cause the seeking weapons to become "unimpacted", which is totally without precident. So, that doesn't work.

Instead, let's go with this: The impacted weapons are displaced with the ship due to their ridiculously close proximity. The tractors are broken (5U6e2), and the seeking weapons are freed. However, the displaced seeking weapons lose tracking (5U4b2). The sum total is that seeking weapons impacted on a displaced ship are simply removed from play.
_________________

Federation Commander Answer Guy

Scoutdad · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 10:25 pm Post subject:

I stick with my original answer (but it'll be up to MJWest to provide the "official" answer)

I tend to think of "impacted" weapons as being differnet than "tractored" weapons, even if the impacted weapon has been fired at, missed and then tractored.
I envision a tractored weapon being held several thousand klicks off the ship (time enough to do something else if the tractor fails - for any reason).
An impacted weapon OTOH, I picture as being grabbed nanoseconds before it hit the shields. From that close, if the tractor fails - BOOM! No time to respond differently.

Now, as for 5U4b... good point. I still think the impacted weapon gets displaced with the ship, but does the tractor continue to hold it?
First inclination would be know... but then you get hit... that makes the DisDev a bit more deadly.
I guess we need mjw after all.

Well... bummer.
I got interupted by the boss and didn't get a chance to submit until after mjwest had answered.

Hmmm. I see Mike's point. I'm not sure I like the "lose tracking aspect"... but I do see a new Command Note!
_________________
Commander, Battlegroup Murfreesboro
Department Head, ACTASF

gar1138 · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 10:41 pm Post subject:

mjwest · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 10:46 pm Post subject:

mjwest · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 10:52 pm Post subject:

Scoutdad · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 11:02 pm Post subject:

True! It is a rarity... or will on;ly occur in special situations, but since not everone reads the FC Forum or acesses the CRUL...

There may be that one person out there who gets in a situation where the cost of displacing an allies ship (or his own ship with drones tractored) will outwight the cost of not doing so and he'll be extremely greatful for hte Command Note! Confused

_________________
Commander, Battlegroup Murfreesboro
Department Head, ACTASF

gar1138 · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 11:13 pm Post subject:

Bolo_MK_XL · Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 1:16 am Post subject:

Since an impacted drone held in a tractor is actually at 1 hex -- it really isn't as close as presented ---

pinecone · Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 1:44 am Post subject:

It's only a light year away... Wink

Kang · Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 5:31 am Post subject:

DirkSJ · Lieutenant Commander Joined: 08 Jun 2010 Posts: 239

I don't see any problems with drones losing tracking. What they were following just jumped through space to some random other place and has it's fire control disrupted. I could easily see it not being able to relock on properly and just going piffle.

Though really it's only relevant in a 3 side mission in which the other two are shooting each other over the andro. Seems rather rare. Seems like it would be uncommon to want to trade fire and leave the andro to mop up.