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Vagabond
Mercenary
Mr. Referee
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 5791
Location: United States
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 Posted: 25-Mar-2010 06:36 Post subject: War of 3039, Prototypes, and Autocannons |
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With the release of the prototype weapons in the 3039 book I have started questioning the intelligence of the House leaders.
[enter scene]
Hanse Davion sits in his office awaiting the appointment with the head of development at NAIS. A knock raps on the large old oak doors, "Enter." A small stature man in a lab coat walks in, "Greeting Prince Davion." Hanse smiles and waves to a nearby seat, "Seat Please." Hanse rises and moves to pour himself a drink from the selection of scotch, "Would you like some?" The scientist waves his hand dismissively, "no my friend. I have much work to do tonight."
Hanse pours himself the drink and then occupies the large leather chair across from the small man, "at your leave Artemis." The scientist pulls out a folder and passes Hanse a handout, "our projects are moving forward quickly. With the information recovered from the Helm Core and our own efforts we have recovered over half of the technologies lost to use after the fall of the Star League." Hanse looks over the handout and follows along as Artemis goes over the various technologies being tested along the Kurita front. "I have a question about this next item Artemis?"
The man pauses and reviews his notes, "oh yes, the prototype autocannon. A marvelous technology development that improves our ballistic capabilities. The weapons firing and loading mechanism have been redesigned and reinforced as to allow the weapon to fire at twice the normal rate."
Hanse sips his Scotch, "impressive. your notes indicate that this increases the weapons overall weight." Artemis nods, "yes it increases the weapons weight by a fraction of its total weight." Hanse nods at this impressive development, "very promising." Hanse scans the notes further, "but I see that there are some short comings?"
"Yes, the technology has its shorting comings. While we have increased the weapons firing rate it has proved prone to jamming," Artemis comments. Hanse nods, "and this jam can be cleared?" Artemis shakes his head, "no unfortunately. This jam renders the weapon useless until repaired." Hanse frowns, "and does this occur often?" Artemis thinks about it, "our prototypes jam about 16 percent of the time when at max firing rate and 3 percent of the time when at normal firing rate. Our findings indicate that the Star League version only jammed 3 percent of the time and only at full firing rate."
"Ok. My next question is what effect this increased firing rate has in combat other then using up ammo," Hanse asks. "Well my Lord, the increased firing rate has the ability to practically double the weapons damage profile." Hanse sits forward at this, "very impressive. We have received reports from the front of DC units with such capability." Artemis smiles at his Lord's positive reaction.
"However, I notice in your report here that the weapon experiences terrible recoil. What effect does this have," Hanse asks. Artemis frowns at this question, "unfortunately, the weapon tends to track off target and only the first half of the rounds find their mark. Our testing shows that the gun only yields an improvement in its damage capabilities only 40 percent of the time."
Hanse shakes his head, "so let me get this straight. This development increases the weapons firing rate, but causes the weapon to weigh more then they already do meaning less armor or equipment on the design. The weapon is prone to jamming, even the Star League original, which renders the weapon useless. And as if that is not enough, the promise of improved damage capability given by the improved firing rate occurs less then 50 percent of the time."
"Yes my lord," Artemis answers.
"So your saying we should deploy a weapon that limits the number of other weapons we can incorporate into a design, can become completely useless randomly, and does not always do what it promises," Hanse asks waving his hands around, gesturing.
"That is what the technology promises my Lord," Artemis answers meekly.
"Well that's great. Lets get it done," Hanse says as he stands up and pats Artemis on the back. "Can't let the Dracs be the only one with this toy."
[end scene]
I mean common. The prototypes jammed 16 to 17 percent of the time, weigh 1 more ton then a standard cannon, and only does double damage 42 percent of the time. The SL Version only promises to reduce the jamming to 3 percent of the time. Why on God's green earth would any sane leader have approved this weapon? Really. Is the promise of double damage 42 percent of the time really worth 1 ton and the risk of a jam? Maybe if the double damage was 58 to 72 percent of the time I would be ok with a 3 percent chance of an unfixable weapon's jam.
An RAC weigh's 2 tons more, have variable jamming rates (3% for 2 to 3 shots/8% for 4 to 5 shots, and 16% for 6 shots), and variable damage rates. The damage rates for an RAC in comparison to a UAC are better at higher rates. If you fire 3 rounds with a RAC you will do double damage 83% of the time and triple damage 16% of the time. At 4 times (at a 8% jam risk, only 5 percent over x2 and x3) you'll do double damage 97% of the time, triple damage 58% of the time, and quad damage 8% of the time.
So by risking more ammo and maybe jam percentage, you can do more damage then ammo used more then 50 percent of the time. Plus you can unjam the weapon if it jams.
So... in my analysis, the UAC would never have seen development as it was a terrible design. It misses more then it hits. It becomes useless far to often with no way to render it usable again in the field. And it does this at the expense of equipment that have proven usable and reliable.
IMHO, they should Retcon UACs to add at the least a way to unjam the fouled weapon. To make it truly worth while they should make them able to be unjammed and add a +1 to the Cluster Table roll. In this way, a UAC would not become utterly useless 3% of the time and would do double damage nearly 60% of the time.
So my 2 C-Bills.
_________________
one must work hard to cultivate the mind and body. and one must always cultivate the mind.
//^(^_^)^\\
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Karagin
Imperial Karagin Army
Imperial General
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 4120
Location: United States
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| Posted: 25-Mar-2010 17:47 Post subject: War of 3039, Prototypes, and Autocannons |
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Wasn't there a rule in Mechwarrior about being able to unjam the UACs? I recall hearing about one...
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Karagin
Only the dead have seen the end of war. - Plato
"Wasted trip Man. Nobody said nuthin' about lockin' horns with no tigers." Oddball
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Rudel Gurken
Allisters Light Thunder
Major
Joined: 15-Jun-2005 00:00
Posts: 1470
Location: Germany
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| Posted: 27-Mar-2010 09:07 Post subject: War of 3039, Prototypes, and Autocannons |
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The unclearable jam of the UAC and the rather low ability to really double it's damage was a thorn in my side since it's introduction.
I'll use the clearing rules for RAC's instead and i'm thinking about a cluster table retcon. Just set two hits on the 2-collumn at 7+  That will enhance the SRM-2 too 
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Reality is where the Pizza-man comes from!'Gucken, petzen, verpissen!' (Look at it, squeal it, get the hell away from it!) – Motto of the recon troops'Artillery doesn´t know friend or foe! They only know worthwhile targets!‘ – Kuritan Infantrist
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Stinger
The Knights of Chaos
General
Joined: 30-Apr-2002 00:00
Posts: 1833
Location: United States
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| Posted: 29-Mar-2010 14:50 Post subject: Re: War of 3039, Prototypes, and Autocannons |
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| Karagin wrote: | | Wasn't there a rule in Mechwarrior about being able to unjam the UACs? I recall hearing about one... |
I seem to remember something along thoes lines. But it was something along the lines of you couldnt do anything for a round so something like that.
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Stinger
If it's "creepy" to use the Internet, military satellites, and robot aircraft to find a house full of gorgeous young models so I can drop in on them unexpected, then FINE, I'm "creepy". Howard Wolowitz. BBT.
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ralgith
Blighted Sun Battalion
1st Company
"Ralgith's Renegades"
Colonel
Joined: 18-Aug-2003 00:00
Posts: 2021
Location: United States
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| Posted: 29-Mar-2010 15:19 Post subject: Re: War of 3039, Prototypes, and Autocannons |
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| Stinger wrote: | | Karagin wrote: | | Wasn't there a rule in Mechwarrior about being able to unjam the UACs? I recall hearing about one... |
I seem to remember something along thoes lines. But it was something along the lines of you couldnt do anything for a round so something like that. |
There was a rule for it somewhere. And yes, you couldn't do anything else for a round or couldn't shoot for a round or something. They had it as an optional rule in MegaMek for awhile, its gone now.
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Colonel Ralgith t'Mayasara
Blighted Sun Battalion
1st Company 'Ralgith's Renegades'
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