Targeting Specific Systems

[Doug Taylor]

I came across something in the NG that I really like, but I don't know that Decipher ever incorporated it into any of the specific rules for starship combat.

On p. 131, it says "Missile Weapons, such as torpedoes, lack a beam weapon's ability to target specific systems, but make up for it with their greater range and destructive force." [emphasis mine]

I was wondering why the min/maxers among my group (or anyone else) wouldn't just simply use photon (or quantum) torpedoes all the time, as opposed to phasers. They do more damage, have better range, and are overall just a way more impressive (and deadly) weapon. Sure they're expendable, but when you're in a fight for your life and you've got 300 of them, why not use what you need? (and then refill at the nearest Starbase?)

When one looks at the maneuver of Target System, it doesn't list anything other than Lock On as a prerequisite, but it seems from the line I quoted above that it would be reasonable to make this only doable with beam weapons (thus phasers, and not torpedoes).

That feels more 'Trek' to me, anyway, and gives a good use for phasers over torpedoes (in some circumstances).

Anybody seen anything like this among the house rules out there? Or has this ever been addressed before (that you've seen)?

[K.G. Carlson]

In addition to the precision that allows for targeting of specific systems, torpedoes are dangerous at close range; beware the splash damage.

[Doug Taylor]

In addition to the precision that allows for targeting of specific systems, torpedoes are dangerous at close range; beware the splash damage.

Sounds like a good idea, K.G. Do you give a bit of damage to the firing ship when using torpedoes at Point Blank range?

[PGoodman13]

Yeah, there's some blowback. It's in the NG somewhere about torpedo splash damage, but I can't remember where at the moment and I'm not close to my books.

[Doug Taylor]

Thanks, guys. I don't recall seeing that. I'll take a look tonight when I get home as well. If you find it, let me know.

[Doug Taylor]

Just found it, all. I found it in Starships (which makes sense, since I've read the NG and didn't remember seeing it before). Page 21 says that the Target Systems maneuver can't be used with missile weapons and explains what Splash Damage is (half penetration damage to the firing vessel at Point Blank range).

You know, now that I think about it, I think our ship could still not worry much about any splash damage, at least when they're at full strength. Half penetration damage is 4 and our Shield Threshold is 4 as well. Will have to think on that (unless anybody has any ideas?).

[K.G. Carlson]

Both of my campaigns are in the 23rd century, so the lower shield thresholds make splash damage a little more threatening. But even a TNG starship might have to worry in a protracted fight with the threshold worn down, or if they are outnumbered.

Its these little tactical quanderies that I enjoy as Narrator, seeing which gambits my Crews will take in order to emerge victoriousv

[Doug Taylor]

Both of my campaigns are in the 23rd century, so the lower shield thresholds make splash damage a little more threatening. But even a TNG starship might have to worry in a protracted fight with the threshold worn down, or if they are outnumbered.

Its these little tactical quanderies that I enjoy as Narrator, seeing which gambits my Crews will take in order to emerge victoriousv

Yes, I've done a number of practice skirmishes between the Nez Perce (our Akira-class cruiser) against a Vor'cha-class Klingon ship. I've done one by myself, another where my son was playing the Klingon ship, and tonight I did one with the friend who plays the Captain of our ship. I figured doing these practice sessions will help us to iron things out with starship combat, allowing us to learn some of the ins and outs of the system so that his PC (who is a tactical genius) will be more proficient when we do the real thing.

So it ended up being something like the Kobayashi Maru, though to be fair just one powerful Federation ship against a single (not-quite as powerful) Klingon battleship is hardly a no-win scenario!

[Doug Taylor]

I just noticed that the Maneuver Card for Target System actually has "Beam Weapons Only" listed in it's prerequisites, so that at least seems to be updated (though the NG and Maneuvers Sheet doesn't seem to have it correct).

The various errata doesn't seem to have that listed either.

[Fugazi Grrl]

We had an interesting Starship battle when the USS Legacy went up against a Vakluran warship (the Vakluran are a "home made" race - resident baddies) and the Vaklurans could not penetrate the Legacy's shields with their disruptors and they started using torpedoes.

They scored a few hits, before the Legacy took out their weapons and forced them to re-cloak and beat a hasty retreat.

[Doug Taylor]

We had an interesting Starship battle when the USS Legacy went up against a Vakluran warship (the Vakluran are a "home made" race - resident baddies) and the Vaklurans could not penetrate the Legacy's shields with their disruptors and they started using torpedoes.

They scored a few hits, before the Legacy took out their weapons and forced them to re-cloak and beat a hasty retreat.

Sounds like a fun battle. I haven't done much with cloaked ships yet, but in one practice session I had the Klingon ship approach our vessel cloaked. It appears that the TN to beat (with a System Operation: Sensors roll) is only a 20, which our Ops guy can do in his sleep. Any ideas on how to make cloaked ships more of a threat?

[Fugazi Grrl]

Any ideas on how to make cloaked ships more of a threat?

That depends on the ship.

The Vakluran were easy for Lt. Commander Omega, the Legacy's Android ops officer, to track while cloaked because the Legacy has a Class-5 sensor system and Omega is every bit as good as his job as Data.

This was a Voltorin class cruiser- an older Vakluran ship with a Klingon cloaking device and a rating of 20. It fit the episode for Omega to be able to track the cloaked ship, so that Captain Northcote had to make a decision - pursue the Vaklurans or take the Legacy back to Adrua Nonus and finish the rescue and salvage operations the Legacy was there to deal with in the first place.

If you want cloaks that are harder to penetrate just bump up the TN - we have one D'Deridex ship in service that the Legacy and the crew on Starbase Magellan run onto sometimes, that has the Enhanced System (Cloaking Device) edge and a Cloak with a rating of 26, I think.

And the other Vakluran ships - the Vitratin and Volkarran classes, have higher cloak ratings than 20.

[Doug Taylor]

If you want cloaks that are harder to penetrate just bump up the TN - we have one D'Deridex ship in service that the Legacy and the crew on Starbase Magellan run onto sometimes, that has the Enhanced System (Cloaking Device) edge and a Cloak with a rating of 26, I think.

And the other Vakluran ships - the Vitratin and Volkarran classes, have higher cloak ratings than 20.

Sounds like a good plan, especially if I have a particular ship that I really want to surprise the crew with. The Romulans are the primary villains in our series, so I'd like a bit of intrigue and suspense when they're cloaked, rather than having our Ops Officer spot them with a yawn anytime they're about.

Thanks again for all your help; it really is appreciated!

[Fugazi Grrl]

You are most welcome. I love helping out, if I can.