Displacement Device and Impacted Seeking Weapons

[HappyDaze]

Well, there kind of is - the rule where if a tractor holding a seeking weapon is disabled, the weapon 'impacts' again next impulse and has to run the entire gamut of defenses again. Please bear this in mind when making the ruling!

Really? I thought that if the tractor went down, the held drone (impacted, not one held at Range 1) hit immediately.

[storeylf]

Well, there kind of is - the rule where if a tractor holding a seeking weapon is disabled, the weapon 'impacts' again next impulse and has to run the entire gamut of defenses again. Please bear this in mind when making the ruling!

Really? I thought that if the tractor went down, the held drone (impacted, not one held at Range 1) hit immediately.

I haven't got my rule book on me, but I'm sure you are correct, it hits and does damage with no chance to stop it. I think the re-impact bit only kicks in if you don't power a tractor at start of turn, in which case the drone impacts on impulse 1 again.

[Savedfromwhat]

I think it also re-impacts on a hit and run raid. It is only damage to the tractor that causes it to hit.

[Kang]

I think it also re-impacts on a hit and run raid. It is only damage to the tractor that causes it to hit.

That's the one. Hit&run, and not powering the tractor. Both have the same effect of re-impacting and giving the defences a second bite of the drone.

There's been a Command Note about it, I think.....

[terryoc]

No, it doesn't re-impact, it just hits if there's hit & run or not powered. It doesn't actually do damage until the next Defensive Fire Phase IIRC, but if the tractor breaks that's it.

[storeylf]

No, it doesn't re-impact, it just hits if there's hit & run or not powered. It doesn't actually do damage until the next Defensive Fire Phase IIRC, but if the tractor breaks that's it.

Mm are you sure, I could have sworn on the power down at least that it doesn't just hit, you get another bite of the cherry and can even retractor it?

[terryoc]

No, I'm wrong, the operative rule is (5D4c), which allows a second bite at the cherry in the case of Marine raids and unpowered tractors.

[Kang]

And to complete the picture, it's when a tractor is disabled by direct fire that the weapon is released to impact immediately.

[DirkSJ]

In SFB if someone has a drone tractored at range 1 and is displaced the tractor breaks and the drone reacquires target?

[mjwest]

In SFB if someone has a drone tractored at range 1 and is displaced the tractor breaks and the drone reacquires target?

I believe that, in SFB, the tractor is broken, and the drone continues to seek the now displaced target. Which, I might point out, is how it works in Federation Commander if a ship is displaced while holding a non-impacted drone in a tractor.

Impacted drones (and seeking shuttles) are their own things, unique to the game mechanics of Federation Commander. And the ruling I gave is the most consistent result I can come up with.

[Kang]

Well, don't forget that only seeking weapons held in a tractor will lose tracking.

So does that mean, then, that impacted drones not held in a tractor are not removed from play, but cause damage as normal? I'm kinda assuming it does mean that....

[gar1138]

So does that mean, then, that impacted drones not held in a tractor are not removed from play, but cause damage as normal? I'm kinda assuming it does mean that....

Impacted drones not held in tractor beams are gone by the time Displacement Devices fire. They have already exploded and caused their damage. It is resolved at the end of the Defensive Fire step, then Displacement Devices fire in the Offensive Fire step. Unless I misunderstand something?

Garrett

[mjwest]

Garret got it in one. You are correct.

[Kang]

Of course, duh, my bad. What with not having played for a while on one hand and a teenage daughter having a tantrum on the other, kinda didn't think of that.

Thanks guys!