Federation Commander

Tractored Drones Question
Situation: lead ship, trailing ship 1 hex behind, drones targeted on trailing ship in hex of lead ship are tractored by lead ship. The trailing ship then accelerates into and thru the lead ships hex. Under tractors or drones in the rule book it does not say what happens when the tractored drones and their target end up in the same hex.

We played the drones were held by the tractor so they did not impact on their target.

The rules should be amended to explicitly say what happens when drones tractored by another ship and their target ship end up in the same hex.

also tractored drones cannot change the facing correct?

thanks
nicole

I will have to investigate on whether a drone in such a situation will impact. Another item for the RRB7 list, once it is answered.

Tractored drones are effectively immobile, yes. Since even the engines of a full starship are negated if tractored by a larger ship, I don't see how a drones engines could compete with a tractor from anything. So, no, it can't move, turn, or do anything other than just be dragged along by the tractoring ship.

Another facet to this situation is what would happen if the tractor is broken, say because of combat damage. Would the drone immediately hit its target if its in the same hex, or would an impulse (or sub-pulse or some other movement situation) have to occur before it hits?

That part is easy.

The following assumes that the answer to the first question is that a drone tractored offensively connot impact is target, even if it is in the same hex. (If that isn't the cas, this question is moot, as the drone has already impacted.)

So, if a drone that was tractored offensively is in the same hex as its target, and the holding tractor is disabled due to damage, the drone will impact in the next subpulse in which they both occupy the same hex. Typically, damage is only taken at the end of the impulse, so that is when the drone will be released. The drone will then hit in subpulse 1 of the hex impulse. Unless, of course, the target ship can move speed 24+1 and leave the hex on subpulse 1. In effect, the drone will operate as if it had been launched in the same hex as its target.

If the tractor is somehow disabled during the movement phase of the impulse, the drone impacts on the next movement subpulse.

This is another one of our favorite tactics...
If a ship has a tractored drone... we make hit and run raids on that ships tractor beams a priority.

It's worth taking longer ranged shots at the ship to drop a shield just so you can use hit and run raids on its tractor beams.

Your commando teams must have a lot of trust in your transporter chief!!!