Federation Commander

One thing to remeber: when with a G - launcher, only fire F's. The G - torp itself is wimpy.

Unless... the situation dictates those few extra damage points are worth it. Every situation is different (and you did pay the higher point-cost for that bigger launcher, even if it is kinda sucky).

What if you have Briefing #2 and are playing a Middle Years sceanrio and only have G-Torps (S's aren't available yet)? Do you still launch them as F's, or do you launch them as G's?

I just got briefing two in the mail today . I will still use F's from G launchers.

PC: Before you state that as an unalterable fact, take a word from someone with SFB experience flying these unfitted ships.

Some of Middle Years will require a paradigm shift in thinking. What you knew as simple, unalterable truth... may no longer be. Many of the ships in Middle Years have significantly weaker shielding and weapons suites. Where a F-torp from a G-Launcher in Fed Comm may have been nearly a given (and based ontactical circumstances - I have launched many a G-Torp and been thrilled with the result), there will be many times in MY when the G-torp will punch through a shield that the F-torp may not have and the weaker, defensive weapons suite may not be able to compensate.

"In war, the only certainty is that everything is un-certain!"

The thing is that F's can be fired quicker. However, true it is G-torps may be used, but using a 2 turn F just seems more common to me.

If the energy difference was the only difference, I probably would opt for G. But, as USS Enterprise said, the quicker firing time on the F is much more convineient.

I see your point in that G can be useful in certain situations (especially bolting) but in most cases F is da' Man!

Again, maybe yes - maybe no. The G has some tactical flexibilities that need to be consideredbefore automatically deciding they are useless. As stated in severla threads... one must carefully consider all of the tactical ramifications of one's actions in order to maximize the possibility of victory. This means not automatically discounting a weapon because you are familiar with it or don't like it.

Have you ever fired a probe as a weapon? A lot of players haven't and it's almost always the last act of a desperate player - but I've had my probes take out enemies ships before for a win.
Yes, it takes an unlikely set of circumstances (and not ones you would willing set-up!), but if I'd discounted the probe entirely before the game even began - that wouldn't have been an option.

I have fired probes as weapons. I see what your saying though. I guess G can be useful in certain situations.

Not got my rulebook handy - can you bolt a two-turn 'F'? I know it's a rule question, but the thought occurred in this thread....

(4J2d) PLASMA-F, SPECIAL CASES:
Two-turn F: If a larger torpedo tube (G, S, or R) has received the first two turns of arming energy, it could, during the the second arming turn, launch a Plasma-F. This costs two additional points of energy at the time of launch and uses all of the energy already in the tube.

So no! During the Offensive Fire Phase of the second arming turn, it is just a Plasma G, S, or R on the second turn of arming and since it's not completed armed - it's ineligble for bolting. It doesn't become a two-turn "F" until the launch phase of the second turn when the decision to launch a "two-turn F" is made and the two additional points of energy is added.

Hmm. That kinda makes sense. I guess also that the key word is 'launch' - which is not what you do with a bolt.

Thanks Tony.

I am sorry to say you are wrong Scoutdad, It says under bolts that the torpedo must be completely armed, and that a two turn F can be fired as a Plasma bolt. That kinda overrides any hint such as the word Launch to me.

Yes it does. And until the launch phase of the second turn of arming... the torpedo is simply a G, S, or R torpedo that is 2/3's armed.

Based on the SOP, the launch phase comes after the fire phase