Seeking weapon guidance

Ask your questions about Federation Commander game system rules here.

Moderators: mjwest, Albiegamer

Post Reply
User avatar
Kang
Fleet Captain
Posts: 1976
Joined: Sun Sep 23, 2007 12:13 pm
Location: Devon, UK
Contact:

Seeking weapon guidance

Post by Kang »

I know that seeking weapons lose guidance if they go beyond 25 hexes from the controlling ship.

However is there a rule anywhere that explains when and if seeking weapons (I'm thinking drones specifically, but general SW answers will be accepted) can be launched and/or guided at targets where there is no line of sight?

What needs to be able to 'see' what, and at what time? The drone needs to see the target? The controlling unit? Both? All the time, or just at launch? And what about launching seekers at something where no clear line of sight exists? Think a BATS on the wrong side of the planet......

I seem to remember a thread about this, but for the life of me I can't seem to find it. Any ideas, please, anyone?
Image
Carthaginian
Lieutenant SG
Posts: 156
Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2008 5:12 am

Post by Carthaginian »

I didn't think that plasma torps had a 25 hex restriction; I could be wrong, but they are supposed to be self-guiding. After all, it'd kinda be useless to have a Plasma R with a 30 hex range and a 25 hex guidance restriction.
User avatar
mjwest
Commodore
Posts: 4103
Joined: Sun Oct 08, 2006 4:30 pm
Location: Dallas, Texas
Contact:

Post by mjwest »

The rule you are looking for is (6A1e). Blockage of LoS will prevent launch, but not guidance.

And, yes, plasma is self-guiding. That said, it still is under the restrictions of (6A1e) for launch. Also, plasma is under the 25 hex restrictions, but that only really matters for launch. (As it is self-guiding, it will always be within the range restriction if it is launched within the range restriction.
Image
Federation Commander Answer Guy
User avatar
Rock Hudson
Ensign
Posts: 22
Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2008 5:08 pm
Location: Kingston Upon Thames

Post by Rock Hudson »

Quick extra question on this one, if the seeking weapon is 22 hexes away and the target is cloaked would it lose tracking?
User avatar
mjwest
Commodore
Posts: 4103
Joined: Sun Oct 08, 2006 4:30 pm
Location: Dallas, Texas
Contact:

Post by mjwest »

Since the rule (5P3c) specifically relates the +4 range to only direct-fire weapons, I am going to say no. It is the actual, not adjusted range, for the maximum distance for a seeking weapon.
Image
Federation Commander Answer Guy
storeylf
Fleet Captain
Posts: 1887
Joined: Thu Jul 24, 2008 9:11 pm

Post by storeylf »

After launch, range restrictions only apply between controlling ship and seeker, not between seeker and target, nor controller and target. There is another thread in this somewhere from not to long ago.

Hence cloaking does nothing if the seeker is already out, if the drone is within 25 hexes of the controller ship it will carry on seeking no matter how far the target is.
Post Reply