• Registered: 2006-05-07
  • Posts: 36

Topic: Space Station questions

1. Although I haven't seen any space station construction rules, I'm toying with building my own space station design.  To build a 12" diametre minefield around the station, I envision 16 3" minefields or a mine factor of 16 just used for costing, not recorded on the record sheet. Sound right?

2. If I put a gyroscopic stabilizer on my space station, could it rotate at the same rate as a size one smaller? Could a VL station rotate (45* +90*=) 135* a turn? Or is this too silly?

3. Could I reduce the BTR of a VL ship from 4 to zero by increasing the station's SU by 40%?

I realize that if there are no rules yet for space station construction, the answers I may receive will by non-canon, but, hey, fun is fun. :wink:

Thanks,

Michael.

  • Registered: 2022-11-15
  • Posts: 1,286

Re: Space Station questions

I've not taken an in depth look at the stations themselves, but why not do some 'reverse engineering' to see how the Space Units and such are allocated.  That should provide a baseline until an actual answer is posted. wink

  • From: Denver, CO
  • Registered: 2005-03-27
  • Posts: 3,578

Re: Space Station questions

I suppose I could help, but I'm not exactly sure how I created the stations...

oops...

Daniel Kast
Majestic Twelve Games
cricket@mj12games.com

mj12games's Website

  • Registered: 2006-05-07
  • Posts: 36

Re: Space Station questions

Well, of course, that's what I started doing, but there seems to be a lot missing from this station if one subtracts what one can see from the construction:

Armour 5: is free with the hull
24 light guns is 48 SU
16 secondaries makes 128 SU
8 berths for FAC makes 80 SU
Total for what we can see: 256
Depending on how to make the minefield... Mine Factor 16 makes 80.
So I'm over.

With 30 hull that's 300 SU minimum, without adjusting for no thrust.

I was trying to make an A-G station for a three player scenario, but maybe it will be a crippled BB instead.

My scenario is a (somewhat improbable) three way "friendly fire" incident. Three navies allied against a fourth, that while dealing with a threat, accidently shoot their allies.

[IS multiplayer has one active and x reactive players -- should work]  :wink:

  • Registered: 2022-11-15
  • Posts: 1,286

Re: Space Station questions

Yup.  In reverse engineering out of the construction rules...neither really matches their SU total.  Assuming the minefields are counted into the point total but not the SU total;

I reverse engineered (by hand) the Celestial Queen to 348 SU
(There is costs involved for the +1 AV for the Queen.)

The Diamond Rock is 448 SU, also without accounting for the minefield.

Not factored in... (I ran outta time at lunch puttering through all this.)


since the BTR of the Queen is 4, does she get the +40% SU adjustment to zero or just the +20% max allowed?   The Rock I'm again assuming would be BTR 3, so a +30% or max +20% SU bonus may apply.

Or since they are space stations, do they get a greater SU multiplier per Hull Point than 10?

  • Registered: 2022-11-15
  • Posts: 1,286

Re: Space Station questions

Closest I can come taking into account a +20% SU max. for reduced thrust and ignoring the mine field cost still since it's in place and not aboard I get 12 SU remaining (4%) for the Queen and 32 (8%) remaining for the Rock.  No armor adjustment for the Rock since it gets the BAV 5 anyhow (progressing from VL and BAV 4).


(wonders if Dan made notes) *chuckles*  :wink:

  • Registered: 2005-03-28
  • Posts: 379

Re: Space Station questions

Space stations are unique beasts.  And there shouldn't be a ton of them at this stage in the timeline.  Just take one and rename it if you don't want to use the Diamond Rock or Celestial Queen. 

We have a ton of ship classes in the three books. I wanna hear folks' input on how they play.

  • Registered: 2022-11-15
  • Posts: 1,286

Re: Space Station questions

Oh, I'm not worried about how many space stations there are...:)  Just trying to come up with a workable answer to the question. 

Some folks may want to use *gasp* a different setting :shock: ...and guidelines may be helpful.

  • From: Denver, CO
  • Registered: 2005-03-27
  • Posts: 3,578

Re: Space Station questions

As far as I can remember, I did the following for the space stations:

Build as a normal ship, but do NOT receive bonus SUs for reducing BTV. Instead, all space stations receive +25% to their SU total.

Then, do not include the mines in the SU total, as they are already deployed. However, they do add to the Combat Rating. The minefield around Celestial Queen is 12" in diameter, covering about 5.75 times the area that a large minefield would occupy -- since the large minefield takes 3 mine factors to generate, the Queen's minefield is equivalent to about 17 mine factors. However, this minefield also has the benefit of (1) being already deployed, and (2) being navigable to friendly ships. Thus, I counted it as being twice the "size" for point costing purposes.

Doing all this using the ISSB, I get a "ship" with -7 SUs remaining and a point value of 275... close enough, although I don't know why there is the 3 point discrepancy to the official point value.

Diamond Rock, on the other hand, comes out all wrong... it should be over 300 points.

One wonders if we may have discovered to first bit of errata...

Daniel Kast
Majestic Twelve Games
cricket@mj12games.com

mj12games's Website

  • Registered: 2005-03-28
  • Posts: 379

Re: Space Station questions

Oh, I'm not worried about how many space stations there are... Just trying to come up with a workable answer to the question.

Some folks may want to use *gasp* a different setting  ...and guidelines may be helpful

I'm not worried.  My point was I'd like to hear how people feel the existing stations play.  Feedback is a good thing.  It's how ya get better.

  • Registered: 2005-03-30
  • Posts: 272

Re: Space Station questions

Y'know, presumably every station should have some (maybe even most) of it's SUs tied up on non-combat stuff, like docking gear, expanded living quarters, cargo bays, maybe refinery equipment, and all the little things you need to extend your endurance to "nearly forever" status...it's not like they can go back to Earth to pick up more supplies when they need them.  Combat effectiveness is probably a secondary consideration at best, right?

Rich

  • Registered: 2006-05-07
  • Posts: 36

Re: Space Station questions

themattcurtis,

I wuz going to make a space station without the rules I've yet to introduce to my gaming group.

I wanted something the Russians, Japanese and British to attack, so I figured to use a space station> But all I see are British stations, SO, thouoght I, why not make one for the Austrohungarians? Everyone hates the Austrohungarians.

But okay, okay, I'll just use a thrust crippled A-G Battleship instead.

  • Registered: 2005-03-28
  • Posts: 379

Re: Space Station questions

Why does everyone hate the Austrians!?!?!? :shock:

I DIG the Austrians.  Hodge-podge, second rate empire run by a bunch of warhawks who manage to spark the First World War.

They're fantastic  8)

I've become interested enough in Austro-Hungarian history that I downloaded the PC wargame "1848."

  • Registered: 2006-05-07
  • Posts: 36

Re: Space Station questions

No, no!  :oops:

I like the A-H [why did I call them A-G?] from a game perspective, but let's face it, historically, the A-H were not too popular. Too much pomp and circumstance from such a small empire. Stepping on toes, I imagine.

  • Registered: 2005-03-28
  • Posts: 379

Re: Space Station questions

but let's face it, historically, the A-H were not too popular. Too much pomp and circumstance from such a small empire. Stepping on toes, I imagine.

That's their charm  big_smile

They fancied themselves as rough and tough.....and they weren't.

Attitude goes a long way when you can write alternative timelines.