Drone Speed Upgrade

Blammo · Post by **Blammo** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 5:31 pm

When I first read (4G3b) I interpreted it to say that if you upgrade the drones on a ship, all drones are upgrades. However, after rereading it today, I can see where it might be read that each drone you upgrade increases the point value of the ship.

So, which is correct? Do you have to upgrade every drone in all racks on a ship? Or could you just upgrade one rack (on a multi-rack ship) or just one drone out of a whole rack, for that matter? Or, could you just put one fast drone in each rack?

Scoutdad · Post by **Scoutdad** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 6:49 pm

In SFB, you can upgrade some, all, or none of the drones in a specific rack.. .and vary that load-out from rack to rack.

But I think, to keep the K.I.S.S. principal of Fed Comm, it would be an all or nothing proposition. Either upgrade (or downgrade) every drone on every rack of a ship - or none of them.

Kang · Post by **Kang** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 7:07 pm

This was clarified when the rule first came out, but I have forgotten the exact wording of the clarification.

However iirc, and also my interpretation has always been (not that we use fast drones anyway) but it's per drone that's ready at the start of the game.

So, a Fed CA will increase its point value by one point (because it carries two drones); a D7 by 4 points (8 drones ready to fire). A Kzinti FF, with four drone racks with 4 drones in each, would give you 8 points added to the point value.

mjwest · Post by **mjwest** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 7:22 pm

Yes, the Point Value increase is for all drones carried by the ship at the start of the scenario. Kang's examples look good.

Also, this is a scenario support rule. You only get the option to use the faster drones when specified by a scenario. (Specifically by a scenario set in the "Late War" era.) In a pick-up game, you don't get to use the faster drones without the agreement of your opponent(s).