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New ASF equipment idea
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Opinion of Concept
good first draft
33%
 33%  [ 1 ]
ok but needs work
66%
 66%  [ 2 ]
its not a good idea
0%
 0%  [ 0 ]
other
0%
 0%  [ 0 ]
Total Votes : 3
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Vagabond
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PostPosted: 12-Dec-2007 08:27    Post subject: New ASF equipment idea Reply to topic Reply with quote

I have never been 100 percent happy with ASF design and how it handles maneuverability and overall thrust.

Why is it that in order to gain maneuverability a fighter MUST also move faster?

Well with my idea this is no more.


Maneuvering Thrusters

These small thrusters are of the same design as those presently found on Aerospace fighters for use in trans-atmospheric operations. Using a simple nozzle array at select points on the units exterior surfaces that fire small bursts of propulsion that push the unit in the direction desired these maneuvering thrusters allow a unit improved maneuverability during combat or in times when greater degrees of control are needed. Engineers and designers can elect to increase the number, frequency, and capabilities of these thrusters to gain improved agility at the expense of the units overall weight.

Weight: 2 percent of mass, rounded up to 0.5.
05-25 ton: 0.50t
30-50 ton: 1.00t
55-75 ton: 1.50t
80-100 ton: 2.00t
Crit: None

Rules: A conventional or aerospace fighter may mount a number of Maneuvering Thrusters equal to it Thrust Value. Each Maneuvering Thruster provides 1 mp worth of thrust to the unit mounting them that may be used ONLY for the purpose of supplying thrust for a maneuver that involves some type of direction change. Maneuvering Thrusters do to their smaller size consume half the normal amount of fuel per MP. Maneuvering Thrusters follow all rules that effect normal thrust including critical hits to flight surfaces. Every even critical that affects a units Thrust value is reduced from the Maneuvering Thrusters total value. When a unit with Maneuvering Thrusters carries bombs externally half of the units speed reduction, round down, is subtracted from the units maneuvering thrusters thrust value up to 1/2 (round up) the units total maneuvering thrusters. (ie: a unit carrying 6 tons of bombs that mounts 3 maneuvering thrusters would subtract 1 from the units thrust value and 1 from it maneuvering thrusters. if the same unit was carrying 16 tons of bombs it would subtract 2 from its thrust value and 2 from it maneuvering thrusters.)

What do you guys think? Now you can build low-speed high-maneuverability fighters. Sure a 6/9/6 fighter could not outrace a 12/18/0 fighter but it could maneuver in a low-speed dog fight like one. AND the 6/9/6 would carry more weapons and armor but not unbalancing so me thinks.
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Karagin
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PostPosted: 12-Dec-2007 20:19    Post subject: New ASF equipment idea Reply to topic Reply with quote

I think added manueverability is a good thing to add to the ASF arena. I can see where these devices could be used to gain a positional advantage over a faster opponent - just like jump jets on the ground.

So the jets weigh about 2% of the craft weight, each. But unlike engine size, it doesn't scale -- the thrust-12 ship has 70 of its size in the engine, while the thrust-6(12) ship has maybe 20%, plus 12% of thrusters.

Honestly, I like it! Smile

One thing, though, for taking damage. I would say "any 'Control Surface' hit also reduces available maneuvering thrust by 1", and "every even point of thrust lost, also loses 1 maneuvering thrust". So if the 6/12 ship takes a control surface hit, it is now 6/11. If it takes a "-2 thrust" engine hit next, it is now 4/10 (-1 for control surface, -1 for 2 main thrust lost). No back-and-forth this thrust that thrust... full loss to the main engine. Maneuvering thrusters are extra equipment, not cheap armor for the engine. The guy with the 12-thrust engine deserves the advantage of having higher thrust after an engine hit than the guy with some small reaction jets welded to the fuselage. (I was actually tempted to say "-1 maneuvering loss per Thrust point lost", but I thought that would be too much when combined with the control surface hits.)
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Sleeping Dragon
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PostPosted: 13-Dec-2007 02:11    Post subject: New ASF equipment idea Reply to topic Reply with quote

Why don't we handle the ASF tonnage like JJs on 'Mechs? Just for simplicity...
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Vagabond
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PostPosted: 13-Dec-2007 07:24    Post subject: Re: New ASF equipment idea Reply to topic Reply with quote

Sleeping Dragon wrote:
Why don't we handle the ASF tonnage like JJs on 'Mechs? Just for simplicity...


elaborate?
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Oafman
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PostPosted: 13-Dec-2007 13:04    Post subject: New ASF equipment idea Reply to topic Reply with quote

I never quite got the rules for ASF in the atmosphere so I have only played them by themselves in space. That said, this seems to be a logical solution to the problem. This would allow a Harrier type craft to be built.
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