• Registered: 2006-01-18
  • Posts: 21

Topic: PDS ?

According to SX V.2 Point Defense System says on a 1,3 or 5 shield rolls against a starship auto fail.

This seems a bit vauge, a PDS working against everything? Maybe there needs to be a seperate PDS per type of defensive need? Like a PDS against missile/slug, and a PDS against energy weapons or even a PDS against fighter flights?

Now, it depends but it may not require any change in threat multiplier.
the cost, OR and DR dont change, just catagorize the PDS to your need. Like  PDS1 for missile/railslug, PDS2 for energy weapons and PDS3 For what ever you come up with?

OK what ya got to say? smile

Tommy

  • Registered: 2006-08-07
  • Posts: 161

Re: PDS ?

aglass man wrote:

According to SX V.2 Point Defense System says on a 1,3 or 5 shield rolls against a starship auto fail.

This seems a bit vauge, a PDS working against everything? Maybe there needs to be a seperate PDS per type of defensive need? Like a PDS against missile/slug, and a PDS against energy weapons or even a PDS against fighter flights?

Now, it depends but it may not require any change in threat multiplier.
the cost, OR and DR dont change, just catagorize the PDS to your need. Like  PDS1 for missile/railslug, PDS2 for energy weapons and PDS3 For what ever you come up with?

OK what ya got to say? smile

Tommy

VBAM: Starmada actually provides rules for defenses against various weapon types, based somewhat on the shield system. Instead of one shield rating against everything, you have a specific defense level against K/E/M.

I like PDS as it stands, myself. It gives a fluffy alternative for those of us who prefer not to give shields to some species or another, such as my own Terra Ascendant humans.

  • Registered: 2006-01-18
  • Posts: 21

Re: PDS ?

VBAM: Starmada actually provides rules for defenses against various weapon types, based somewhat on the shield system. Instead of one shield rating against everything, you have a specific defense level against K/E/M.

Cool, But does VBAM play exacly like Starmada or is its own game system?

  • Registered: 2005-03-29
  • Posts: 859

Re: PDS ?

VBAM is a campaign system. A year or so ago VBAM and Starmada combined to produce a system which links the two together. The K/E/B system is simply a way of differentiating between different weapons (for example, the E in the K/E/B stands for energy, and is the 'shield' against which all energy weapons have to penetrate. But a railgun would roll to penetrate against the K rating. You can customise your shields against a particular type, so you could be really effective against energy weapons, but pitiful against ballistics.

  • Registered: 2005-03-28
  • Posts: 287

Re: PDS ?

murtalianconfederacy wrote:

VBAM is a campaign system. A year or so ago VBAM and Starmada combined to produce a system which links the two together. The K/E/B system is simply a way of differentiating between different weapons (for example, the E in the K/E/B stands for energy, and is the 'shield' against which all energy weapons have to penetrate. But a railgun would roll to penetrate against the K rating. You can customise your shields against a particular type, so you could be really effective against energy weapons, but pitiful against ballistics.

Which I love as a elegant idea of expanding weapon and defense customization / flavor. And it 'builds in' ideas like those captured in the PDS system description (point defense guns, sand casters, etc.) without adding additional die rolls (which I personally dislike).

It is a taste thing, I know.

  • Registered: 2006-01-22
  • Posts: 38

Re: PDS ?

I like it and would like to see it added as part of the rules in general.
An attack should have a "type" and defences should be set to defend against different "types" of attacks.
  Just like modern tank warfare, different armors are effective against HEAT, some are better against HESH, some better against APDS.
  But it's a trade off one way or another.
   This is not to say that an all purpose good armor can't be made (chobham is one example of an overall good armor comp) and the same can also be said for a race to develop an all purpose good shielding system.
I just like the idea that the races involved have not developed the tech neccesary to develop the all purpose shield/armor and are left having to arrange their ships defences based on what attack type they think they are most likely going to suffer.
Makes you have to think a little more about ship design. Guns or Butter...which to choose.
  Roy

  • Registered: 2006-01-17
  • Posts: 740

Re: PDS ?

Hello everyone,
I have read this thread with much interest and caution everyone not to overcomplicate the game.  StarFleetBattles started out as a fairly playable game when the first "Captain's Edition" came out.  Then it grew and grew and GREW to something so complex as to be virtually unplayable.  I would Not want to see Starmada deteriorate to something such as that...

Steven Gilchrist
Jacksonville, Fla, USA

  • Registered: 2006-01-22
  • Posts: 38

Re: PDS ?

Yeah,
Played that game (after I had a Mentor to show me how).
   As a newbie trying to learn the game was a real pain.
  It was however a rules lawyers dream come true. Sad.
BTW:    SFB really stands for Super Fat Book
  Roy

  • Registered: 2005-03-28
  • Posts: 158

Re: PDS ?

SX V.2

Side note: What is this?

  • Registered: 2006-03-23
  • Posts: 241

Re: PDS ?

KDLadage wrote:

SX V.2

Side note: What is this?

I would say that it is an abbreviaton for Starmada X version 2.0.