Most of the time, at least in ST:TOS and ST:TNG, Kirk and Picard only used ship´s phasers, and only when needed.
It is clear to me that - originaly - the authors wanted photon torpedoes to be really heavy weapons, only used when necessary. The decision to use photon torpedoes was usually taken after trying phasers.
Then the new movies kicked in, DS9 went to total war, and Voyager suddenly started to magicaly replicate heavy weapons at will. Torpedoes maybe the coolest think in CGI, but where are their blasts?
I miss the old times, but how to emulate that in RPG?
If I do not mess up with the rules the players will almost aways start battles with the heavies stuff they have. Basicaly almost all the rules (including DECIPHER and LUG induces the players to do it).
I was coinsidering 2 options to keep like the old times:
* Energy weapons could be more precise when you do not want to destroy your target. Using this line of tought, even if a torpedoe is precise to hit certain parts of a target, you cannot assume its blast would not hit other systens and kill people inside.
* Continuing from above, heavy weapons could even be forbidden to use surgicaly. You could target the engines, but even so you could hit: engines, life support, destroy a sickbay full of sick people, and trow some crewman into the space vaccuum, all with 1 shot.
* Heavy weapons could have a bigger blast. Big enough to damage nearby targets. Even with ST huge weapon ranges.
* I left budget restrictions out, becuse usually its not a ST issue. Picard does not use his torpedoes agaist the ferengi for budget issues? Naaaaa.
I could bring this tread to the CODA system I am using but I believe here the discussion could be more interesting.
What do you guys think? What have you been doing? Do you feel like me?