better to...

[rockyr]

As I work on my firepower chart, I see an unusual feature of the rules, and wonder about my understanding.

If a weapon that causes only 1 point of damage hits and penetrates, it causes 1 point of damage plus critical damage, but if it hits and fails to penetrate than it causes no damage (1/2 of 1 rounded down).

However, if a 1 damage value weapon could not penetrate its target, it can still cause a 1d10 critical damage with a hit.

This is also true for weapons that cause more than 1 point of damage, but cannot penetrate the target's armor.

In some cases, it appears to be better to NOT be able to penetrate the target's armor!

OR:

A hit that causes no damage points still causes critical damage? That would make more sense, so I thought I should check.

R

[TheDreadnought]

Thus, any weapon that can penetrate will do damage + a critical on a roll of 10 (or less depending on penetration value) on the penetration roll.

A weapon that cannot penetrate only causes a 1d10 roll (superstructure hit) on the critical chart if you roll a natural 10 on the penetration roll.

Thus penetration = damage plus full strength crit
Non-penetration = no damage plus 1/2 strength crit (possibly)


I think you just need to re-read the section on criticals and penetration carefully.

[rockyr]

And if a shell COULD (with enough of a D10 roll + penetration value), but does not penetrate (too low a roll) , it causes half damage (0 for a 1 point weapon) and NO critical? To be sure here...

I see that I missed the non-penetrating hit only causes a 1/2 strength critical on the penetration d10 = 10. Thanks for reminding me.

R

[TheDreadnought]

Yes, 0 damage and no crit for a 1 point weapon that fails to penetrate.

[rockyr]

Many thanks for the instruction and clarification. I have a learning battle set for Monday.

I very much look forward to i t!

R