BoM question regarding scatterpacks

rfeceo · Post by **rfeceo** » Mon Nov 05, 2012 6:44 pm

Two-part Borders of Madness question regarding Scatterpacks.

I was talking to a friend who is much, much more experienced in SFB than I am, telling him about our Early Years FC campaign when we got on the subject of Scatterpacks. He was surprised that we used them at Fleet Scale with the full 6-drone loadout.

So, first part question. If scatterpacks were allowed as a BoM addition to standard FedCmdr at Fleet Scale, would you allow them to launch six drones, or reduce their loadout to three drones?

Second part is really a fishing expedition for opinions, concerns, and comments:

As I said, we are using SP in our Early Years campaign, which is all being fought at Fleet Scale. SP loadouts are 6 drones (3 drones for Heavy Drones

rfeceo · Post by **rfeceo** » Mon Nov 05, 2012 6:46 pm

Hmm... it seems to have cut off the rest of my question. I'll submit that part of the question later this evening.

mjwest · Post by **mjwest** » Mon Nov 05, 2012 7:28 pm

Well, you are charting well and truly in the Borders of Madness. As a result, whatever your group goes for is probably as good an idea as any.

Personally, I would recommend the "half as much" idea. A fleet scale ship has half the drone racks, so only carrying 3 drones makes sense to me. (For heavy drones, you are likely screwed. Probably one heavy and one normal drone is the limit.)

But that is just an opinion. It doesn't look like scatter packs are making it into Borders of Madness anytime soon, so, anything on that subject is just someone's opinion.

desmith137 · Post by **desmith137** » Mon Nov 05, 2012 8:39 pm

Even though I am sure that it will upset my Kzinti Ally, I do see the logic in reducing our scatterpacks to 3.

rfeceo · Post by **rfeceo** » Mon Nov 05, 2012 10:32 pm

Hi Mike!

See, I figured that Scatter packs would work the same way regardless of Squadron or Fleet scale, since all weapons, drone control, and even suicide shuttles are full strength.

Our experience with 6-drone scatterpacks at Fleet Scale has been fine, though we're playing in the Early Years with 6-point warheads and speed 8 drones (or speed 16 with one turn endurance). Granted, we also use wild weasels and EW to help. And, since most fleets were required to be like 70% Frigates & Destroyers, most of the drone-carrying warships have a single shuttle to work with. (we also assume that A racks have 4 drones in the rack and 4 in the ready for reload before Damage Control is necessary to reload them).

I'm just nervous about using Middle/Late Years Drones in 6-drone scatterpacks at Fleet Scale.

rfeceo · Post by **rfeceo** » Mon Nov 05, 2012 10:33 pm

desmith137 wrote:Even though I am sure that it will upset my Kzinti Ally, I do see the logic in reducing our scatter-packs to 3.

Well, my fine Imperial player, I'm happy to reduce Imperial scatter-packs to 3 drones each, if you'd prefer...

Bolo_MK_XL · Post by **Bolo_MK_XL** » Tue Nov 06, 2012 12:17 am

Just recall, at Fleet Scale you only get half as many shuttles to start with ---

SS and WW are limited or removed if you use SPs because of the lesser number of shuttles carried.

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Tue Nov 06, 2012 12:29 am

I would think the number of drones that could be carried via scatterpack would be reduced by half in Fleet Scale. The weapons on the ship cards are cut in half as are the number of drone launchers. Warhead strength would still be the same, though.

Just my two cents worth...

mjwest · Post by **mjwest** » Tue Nov 06, 2012 2:42 am

Having a theoretical scatter pack always use six drones regardless of scale is defensible. However, I would significantly worry about the play balance issues of doing so. Six drones in fleet scale is very hard to deal with, particularly if you have the whole fleet doing it. It will overwhelm the defenders' defenses and could easily end up being very overpowering.

Kang · Post by **Kang** » Wed Nov 07, 2012 4:16 pm

Most ships with drone capability have their drone rack numbers halved in Fleet Scale. It folows then that scatterpacks should be reduced in the same proportion.

Three drones, not six.

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Wed Nov 07, 2012 11:21 pm

Just call me the Invisible Man. Sheesh!

rfeceo · Post by **rfeceo** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 5:16 am

Thanks for the comments guys!

Kang · Post by **Kang** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 9:36 am

Mike wrote:Just call me the Invisible Man. Sheesh!

Sorry Mike. Didn't see that comment.....perhaps you're invisible after all