Federation Commander

mjwest wrote:Energy Allocation represents the planned, scheduled application of energy into a weapon system. Since it is planned, it provides a greater degree of flexibility around its application, and greater stability around whatever is receiving the power. When power is added during the point of fire, it is unplanned and unscheduled. Consequently, whatever is receiving the energy is destabilized by the application of energy and must be used immediately.

Does that work?

I would say that if people want to have a technical explanation to give background to how the rules work, then this idea works. If you enlarged the torpedo at the instant of firing then this is outside of the "normal" arming cycle. If it is done on a "holding" turn rather than final arming turn, you could say insufficient energy has been paid to hold the torpedo at its enlarged size, and so it must be fired as soon as extra energy is applied. If the upgrading of the torpedo occurs in a final arming turn, you could say that adding extra energy outside of the usual steady and contiunous building up of the warhead (which is represented by the pre-arming system), the torpedo is similarly destabilised and must be fired there and then.

Davec_24 wrote:If it is done on a "holding" turn rather than final arming turn, you could say insufficient energy has been paid to hold the torpedo at its enlarged size, and so it must be fired as soon as extra energy is applied. If the upgrading of the torpedo occurs in a final arming turn, you could say that adding extra energy outside of the usual steady and contiunous building up of the warhead (which is represented by the pre-arming system), the torpedo is similarly destabilised and must be fired there and then.

OK, I like these. Consider them adopted ...

Steve Cole wrote:Given what happens whenever we make any change, no matter how trivial or how well-intentioned or how desperately needed, I don't see any reason to change this one.

Heh. I can sympathise with that...

Glad you appreciate some good techno-babble...

On a serious note, I think there could feesibly be "engineering reasons" as described as to why you can't add energy to a tube during the direct-fire phase if you aren't going to fire it there and then. In terms of game balance, I think it doesn't make enough difference to warrant a change. I would agree with Pat that the way to counter the problem is to arm torpedoes to S-standard in an S or R launcher (loading an R torpedo would commit you to launching or bolting it in that same turn as it cannot be held) if you want to be sure you can launch a decent size torpedo should the launcher become disabled during the turn.