Federation Commander

I think I know the answer to this but here goes: Direct fire at a cloaked ship is reduced by 50% and fractions are dropped-- Is each individual weapon halved, or is it the entire volley? I think it's the first option, and if true, then it looks like it's impossible to hit a cloaked ship with phaser 3's. Do I have that right?

Yes, you understand it correctly.

Wait, each damage from a weapon is halved, not the entire volley? We've been doing that completely wrong!

That was discussed at one time.
Someone might be able to find it on the
other BBS.

Unless my basic algebra is failing me, it shouldn't make a difference

(dam1 + dam2 + dam3)/2 = dam1/2 + dam2/2 + dam3/2

If a sum is divided in half, it is the same as each individual factor being divided in half prior to being summed

Let me see if I can get this quoting/URL thing right.

The answer to this question is given in this thread:

http://www.starfleetgames.com/federatio ... apons+half


Several of us had this wrong, but Mike West cleared it up. I'm sure something was put into a Communique about it.

But it does make a difference. Weapons are counted individually, not grouped together as volleys.

I still think it is an argument from silence. The fact that the cloaking rule doesn't use the term "volley" is the basis for judging each weapon individually (read the referenced thread).

Perhaps this is something that should be flagged, put in the CRUL, and incorporated into the next rulebook revision.

DNordeen wrote:Unless my basic algebra is failing me, it shouldn't make a difference

(dam1 + dam2 + dam3)/2 = dam1/2 + dam2/2 + dam3/2

If a sum is divided in half, it is the same as each individual factor being divided in half prior to being summed

No, because you drop fraction

(3+3)/2 = 3
3/2 + 3/2 = 2 with dropping fractions

And for phaser 3s:

(1 + 1 + 1 +1)/2 = 2.
1/2 + 1/2 + 1/2 + 1/2 = 0.

Doh! Didn't think about the fractions being dropped.