Post by TheDreadnought on Jun 28, 2010 8:37:03 GMT -5
So a couple final points on this and then my official stance:
1. There are currently four weapons with 1d10 or better penetration that can be carried by any size ship:
Fusion torpedoes (much maligned as they are )
ASGMs
Disruptors
AP Torps
If you upgrade to a heavy cruiser, you gain access to four more:
Heavy Disruptor
Mag Cannon
AN Torp
Plasma Torp
. . . plus the Ion Cannon which can be a serious threat to the combat utility of a capital ship. (Hmmm. . . all of a sudden heavy cruisers don't look so bad!)
So there are plenty of options below the capital ship level which will threaten them.
2. While much is made of the power of ship/sub launched torpedoes in WWII, against battleships, the combat experience doesn't bear it out.
As far as battleships which were underway - as opposed to sitting ducks in harbor - only WWI era ships with poor internal defense against torpedoes and at best "add on" external defenses were ever sunk.
No contemporary battleship was sunk by torpedo from sub or ship while at sea. (Bismarck doesn't count as she was already dead in the water, listing, and out of the fight by the time they scuttled her with torps.)
Sunk by Destroyer
Fuso (ancient, no upgraded torpedo armor)
Sunk by Submarine
Royal Oak
Barham
Kongo (not even really a BB)
Several modern battleships took torpedo hits that damaged them but left them relatively unimpeded - including North Carolina.
So the conclusion here is, that while torpedoes were undeniably lethal to cruiser sized ships, they could hurt "modern" battleships, but couldn't sink them, and certainly couldn't "one shot" them. So in that respect, CB actually represents similar weapons as more lethal to battleships than the historical record due to the ability to get that lucky reactor hit.
3. Colonial Battlefleet is all about the players making it into the game they want it to be.
If you feel strongly on this topic, please by all means house rule it to whatever you like. You will of course "void your warranty" on our unbreakable game , but so long as the game is playing out the way you want it to. . . it's all good.
Other Comments
As far as the utility of smaller ships go, I don't think anybody who has played would feel like they don't have a purpose in the game. It's just that the purpose is protecting big ships and killing other little ships -- not destroying capital ships.
I'm tentatively on board with the switch of armor value to Orbital Construction. Got to look at it more closely before I make any rules changes though. Can't afford to be switching back and forth all the time. But for now it has my blessing as a "suggested house rule."
1. There are currently four weapons with 1d10 or better penetration that can be carried by any size ship:
Fusion torpedoes (much maligned as they are )
ASGMs
Disruptors
AP Torps
If you upgrade to a heavy cruiser, you gain access to four more:
Heavy Disruptor
Mag Cannon
AN Torp
Plasma Torp
. . . plus the Ion Cannon which can be a serious threat to the combat utility of a capital ship. (Hmmm. . . all of a sudden heavy cruisers don't look so bad!)
So there are plenty of options below the capital ship level which will threaten them.
2. While much is made of the power of ship/sub launched torpedoes in WWII, against battleships, the combat experience doesn't bear it out.
As far as battleships which were underway - as opposed to sitting ducks in harbor - only WWI era ships with poor internal defense against torpedoes and at best "add on" external defenses were ever sunk.
No contemporary battleship was sunk by torpedo from sub or ship while at sea. (Bismarck doesn't count as she was already dead in the water, listing, and out of the fight by the time they scuttled her with torps.)
Sunk by Destroyer
Fuso (ancient, no upgraded torpedo armor)
Sunk by Submarine
Royal Oak
Barham
Kongo (not even really a BB)
Several modern battleships took torpedo hits that damaged them but left them relatively unimpeded - including North Carolina.
So the conclusion here is, that while torpedoes were undeniably lethal to cruiser sized ships, they could hurt "modern" battleships, but couldn't sink them, and certainly couldn't "one shot" them. So in that respect, CB actually represents similar weapons as more lethal to battleships than the historical record due to the ability to get that lucky reactor hit.
3. Colonial Battlefleet is all about the players making it into the game they want it to be.
If you feel strongly on this topic, please by all means house rule it to whatever you like. You will of course "void your warranty" on our unbreakable game , but so long as the game is playing out the way you want it to. . . it's all good.
Other Comments
As far as the utility of smaller ships go, I don't think anybody who has played would feel like they don't have a purpose in the game. It's just that the purpose is protecting big ships and killing other little ships -- not destroying capital ships.
I'm tentatively on board with the switch of armor value to Orbital Construction. Got to look at it more closely before I make any rules changes though. Can't afford to be switching back and forth all the time. But for now it has my blessing as a "suggested house rule."